Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-12-06
A TRUCE DECLARED
THE CITY AND THE NATURAL GAS COMPANY
SUSPEND POSSIBILITIES,
Until After the Meeting of Council, on Tuesday
Evening-POlics Officer Terrill Burned
by Gas = The CremaOry Re-
sumes Operations.

The developments yesterday in the
fight between the city and the Natura'
Gas Company of West Virginia were
quite as interesting as upon any other
day since the war was declared.
The REGISTER yesterday morning
chronicled the fact that the employees Oh
the Company had stolen march upon
the city, cut off the supply from 'ne
water works and the crematory, and
that four men had been placed under
arrest and taken to the City Hall.
Just after these arrests were MADE
and about three o'clock, Officers Terrlii
and Driller, with one or two men from
the water works pumping station, went
TO the valve box on Pike street, Tor the
purpose Of ascertaining just what hau
been done by the Gas Company men,
and whether or not they could get the
gas on again. While making an exam
nation the gas in the valve box was lg-
nited from the lantern, and quite an
explosion followed, Officer Terrlli De-
ing painfully burned about the race
He went TO his home, where MS injuries,
which are not OF very serious nature,
were attended TO. 1t was aScertalned
by the police, after the arrests had
been made, that some one had turned
off all the street lamps IL the vlclnlty
of the location of the valye-ooX, ana IL
is presumed this was done by the Gas
Company men, although there seems TO
be no direct evidence upon TINS point.
It was stated yesterday, however, that
some OF the Company's force were seen
lighting street lamps, and they are sus-
pected Of putting them out, the better
TO cover their operations. 1t was also
ascertaned that the pipes leading 10
the water works and crematory were
not cut. as was at first supposed, but
that the valve-Stems had been sawed OH,
after the valves had been shut
down, thus making it impossible to turn
the gas on again W thout tearing out the
entire outtit, cutting OIL the gas from
the mains, and putting in new valves.
This was done so as to make 1t lmpossl-
bic for the city TO again turn tue gas on.
City employees made an examination OF
the valves, however, and reported that
they could get the gas on, if they were
instructed to do so.
At the morning session OF Police
Court, it was decided that the cases
against MessrS. Deiters, Newhardt,
Arndt aud Riddle should be con-
tinued until seven o'clock in the
evening, no processes being even
made out, on the general suppositlon
that there had been no Oifense commit
ted, The idea entertained by the police,
at the time the arrests were made,
that the streets had been dug up, was
shown TO be erroneous. The Com
pany was represented by Messrs. Cald-
well & Caldwell, while City Solicitor Ri
ley appeared at the City Hall on behalf
of the city. Later in the morning there
was a conference at the Office of Cald-
well & Caldwell between the members of
the firm, President Bachelor and Mr..
Heard, on the part of the Company, and
Mr.. Riley on the part Of the city. After
a good deal Of somewhat scattered and
acrimonious discussion, the Company
submitted a proposition to stop the
fight where il was, pending q reference
Of the whole question to Council on
Tuesday night. Mr.. Riley said he
would not report any such proposition
to the COMMITTEE on Health, which was
expected to meet during the day, but he
made counter proposition, to the eff
feet that the Company turn on the gas
at the crematory, allow it TO remain off
at the water works, and then refer
the matter to Council, neither side to
disturb the statu quo, and the armiS-
tice thus agreed upon to have no bear
ing upon the merits of the case, which
was to remain without prejudice
through the action taken. After con-
ference between the gentlemen repre-
Senting the Company, this was agreed
to, aud Mr.. Riley called the Committee
on Health for two o'clock in the after
noon.
The Committee met at that hour, at
the office of Ewing, Melvin q Riley,
and Mr.. Riley submitted the proposition
70 them, explaining the matter in de-
tail, aud having it well understood that
the case of the city could not be preju-
diced by the agreement: that the Crem-
atory would get gas, at least until Tues
day night, and that If Council and the
Company could not agree, the fight
would drop back TO its condition before
the agreement was entered into. He
also announced that he had conferred
with two members of the Water Board,
and had their concurrence in the propo-
Sition that the gas remain off from the
boilers at the power house until Council
met.
The Committee discussed the matter
in all its phases, and at last agreed TO
the proposition made by Mr.. Riley.
That gentleman at once notified the
Gas Company, which set a gang Of
men TO work repairing the damaged
valve. with the expectation that gas
would be available at the crematory at
dark, or shortly afterwards. 1t was
actually. on at APO p, m.
AT last evenings session of Police
Court, where the cases were expected to
be disposed Of, MeSSrs. W. II. Hearn
and George b. Caldwell appeared for
the Company. Mr.. Caldwell said the
men had been placed under arrest and
he would insist either that they be
tried or the cases dismissed. No fur
ther continuance would be agreed to.
The Mayor bad the defendants, Messrs.
DeiterS, Arndt, Neuhardt and Riddle.
called up 10 the desk, and then an
nounced that the officers had been lit
tie haSty in making the arrests that M
charge had been entered against them,
and that they were all dismissed.
This probably ends the matter until
Tuesdays session OF Council.