Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-10

all for fifteen or twenty miles. 1t is poor
and sparsely inhabited country, covered
with scrub oak and gum trees. and an
swers in many repects 10 the southwestern
land of Kentucky which is still called the
"Barrens." There are few roads and these
are very bad. All local travel ski-ting this
region follows the Clark river on the line
of the Paducah railway. 1t is not at all in
accessible from St. Mary's. 1t is simply
uninviting. About a mile out there is an
old house standing half hidden in the gum
trees and brush near the one road. it was
built ten years before by a man who manu-
featured potash and tannin from The oak
stumps and is said to have done quite a
business there in a drudging way. about
SIX weeks before the troubles broke out at
st. Mary's the place was hired from an old
negro INTO whose possession it had fallen
by a man who gave out that he was going
to ft IT up fo- the manufacture of emery
paper, great deal Of which Wes used nj
St Mary's and material for which had been
found IN a crude state somewhere in the
nelghborhoCd He had been receiving his
STOCK OF machinery and implements over
the PaduCah road.
On the morning TO which refarapce ba,
oeen made St. Mary was in a very de-
moralized condition. The news had gone ONT
over the country and hundreds of strangers
nau poured in across the Ohio and from
Louisville and Cairo. 1t was expected hy
everybody that collision would take place
between the wOrkmen and the COLONY which
tne English company had planted on the
Dank or the river. The sheriff of the county
mad arrived. but the governor had declined
10 interfere at the present state of affairs
SuSh was the condition of matters when
at y clock, to the establishment OF every
BODY, regiment of infantry, loo strong
In full marching order and armed with
magazine guns made its appearance at the
edge OF the town on the Paducah railroad
ana came down the main street as far as
the bank in fine order, preceded by a drum
corps of four pieces.
The establishment and excitement at this
sudden INVASION were increased ten fold by
the banner which spSead out to the morning
breeze and which had inscribed on it legibly:
First Battalion American Workingmen
No Tyranny of Money. No Coercion of
Capital"
Where the regiment had come from how
far 1t had marched or what were its intcn-
lions no one knew. But it did not take long
Tor the ruInor TO form and fly that il was a
workingman's regiment and would NOT take
the side OF the employers
When 1t had reached the little square
where the bank stood IL was drawn up A
skinish line was thrown out. pickets sta
TONED and the crowd forced back
The colonel and his staff then went into
the bank. The disposition of the men in the
street was such that access to the bank was
imposslD!e, ana. as the doorway was on
level with the street, 1T was impossible for
the crowd to see what was going on save
that there was constant fuctuation in the
ranks Of the men.
The regiment stood there quite two hours
and a half. In the meantime there was
great connection at the company's works
The sheriff set off in a carriage with Mr.
Matlock, followed by half a score of depu-
ties. TO reach the bank, but were stopped
by the picketS. The officer protested and
threatened, but in vain. When asked If
the governor had sent Them the soldiers
replied: You must talk To the colonel, but
you cannot pass the lines at present"
IF the colonel desires to protect the
bank he will confer with me-" said Mr.
Matlock
Il don't know what his orders are" said
the soldier. Better wait till he calls on
you at the works"
The sheriff. in high dudgeon, then rushed
10 the telegraph office. 1t is an hour before
ne gets an answer from the governor at
Lexington. and it is: Have not authorized
use of trOOps-must be mistake about regi-
ment. What do you mean?''
Then followed several OF the absurdest of
dispatches.
No mistake" says the sheriff "Regi-
ment, one thousand strong armed with re-
peatng rifles"
impossible" says the governor. Your
fears or your condition has made you wild
Ihere Is not such regimental formation
III the state. III you cannot preserve the
peace will send the Louisville Light Guards
held"
Then Matlock corroborated the sheriff
regiment of armed men in possession of
the bank. Must have the protection of the
state at once. The sheriff is helpless
To this the governor still incredulously
replies: Regiment must have transporta-
ton. How did it come? Answer at once If
1t invaded the state from Ohio"
impossible to tell" was the answer mo
one knows how it got here. 1t is drawn up
on Main street at present. Have failed to
communicate with officers"
After some delay the governor sent this
word:
'Will arrive in the morning with Adjutant
General Luscomb. Do nothing till l get
there"
w nile this was going on an hour was lost
and 1t was ) O'Clock. At half-past 3 O'Clock
the regiment was moved from the bank to
the vicinity of the company's works 1t
proceeded in fine open order and was cheer
ed along the route by the people. A strong
guard was left at the bank and no one al
lowed to enter.
On the company's common il was again
drawn up-a strong encirclng line of pick
cts thrown out and the following note sent
about O'Clock to the director:
Str-The first battalion of the working
mems advance guard will protect property
until the state takes possession / shall en-
camp my men on the outskirts until tomor-
row. Let the citizens retire to their homes
till that time"