The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-27
TO PATROL UNDER ARMS.
TROUBLE THREATENED BY THE
COLORED LONGSaOREMEN

The Ocean Steamship Police Furnished
Rifles and Ammunition as a Precau-
tlon in Case Of Trouble-The Long
shoremeD's Demands for On Increase
in Wages Refused-Mayor McDon-
ougn Advises With the Military
Authorities and 5000 Ball Car
tridges Ordered from the State
Observation-Disclosures to Law to be
Compelled az all Hazards and Dis
order to be Summary Suppressed.
Five thousand ball cartridges are on their
way to Savannah for the military of the
city for use in case Of an emergency arising
out Of the threatened strike of the colored
longshoremen.
The cartridges left Atlanta last night and
will arrive here this morning, and will be
distributed among the armories. They were
ordered yesterday by telegraph by Col.
Peter Reilly of the First regiment. after a
conference with Mayor McDonough and
Col. Garrard
The walking delegates of the longshors-
mems organization waited on the officials
at the Ocean steamship and Savannah,
Florida and Western railway wharves yes
terday and notified them that the long
shoremen wanted 20 cents an hour for their
services hereafter, instead Of Is cents
The demand was refused. The delegates
then threatened trouble. They said the
men they represented would not work after
last night for less than 90 cents an hour. nor
would they allow any others to take their
places except by walking over their bodies
A CONFERENCE WITH THE MILITARY.
This kind of talk alarmed the officials and
they at once reported to Mayor McDonough.
He Immediately sent for Lieut.. Col. Peter
Reilly, commanding the First Georgia regi-
ment, and Col. William Garrard of the
Guards battalion and laid the state of
affairs before them. After lengthy
conference, in which, it is understood, the
military authorities pledged themselves to
compel obedience to the law, and prevent
any riotous disturbance, Mayor McDon-
ough requested Col. Reilly to telegraph
Gov. Northen for 5000 ball cartridges, to
DO ready to meet any demonstration in the
nature of a riot.
The telegram was sent at once, and the
requisition was honored by the governor.
Mayor McDonough doesn't think any
thing serious will occur, but he called the
military into the conference for the purpose
of being ready for any emergency that may
possibly arise. He proposes to have the law
recognized aud obeyed, and will take pre-
cautions to have any outbreak promptly
and summsrily suppressed.
10000 BALL CARTRIDGES ON HAND.
Including the 5000 cartridges which will
arrive this morning. there are about 10000
in possession Of the military and police, and
it wouldn't be we'll for either the longshore-
men or any one else to start riot at the
present time
A reserve force Of police was kept in the
barracks yesterday afternoon by Chief
Green but there was no demand made for
their services.
The colored hands quit work at the Ocean
Steamship wharVes at the usual hour last
night without any demonstration, but
many ugly threats were heard about what
would be done if the company adhered to
its refusal of the increase of wages de-
manded.
GUNS TAKEN TO THE wHARvEs.
At midnight Sergt. Muse of the Central
railroad force carried all the rifles belong
ing to his department from the barracks to
the wharf, together with a quantity of
ammunition. This was done as a precau-
tionary measure. A wagon was used to
convey the firearms to the wharf.
The. corporations refuse positively to ac-
cede to the demands of the men. They say
that sufficient labor can be found to work
at the present rate Of wages. and if the old
hands don't want to remain new ones will
be placed in the positions and protected at
all hazards.
There may be trouble to-day or to-
morrow, although the authorities hope that
wiser counsels will prevail upon the dis
satisfied workmen to make their issue in
peaceable and orderly manner.