The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-06-12

Yesterday morning opened up with
an attempt to execute well planned
coup de main, which would hlYc broken
up tho lawleasncss that has beOn prova.
lent Oh tho West Virginia side oi tho
river by the striking coal minDrs and
their sympath!2crs. The troops had
been cuCampGd several hours in their
cars on the big "loop" at Bonwoud
Jun Ciion, when two companies wero
ordered out for difficult mission. A
conference had boon hold Inte at night
between General SpiIlmau, several Of
his officers, Sheriff Frauzheim, OF Ohio
county, and Deputy United States Mar.
shnls A. D. Garden md McMahon. It
was decided to make Il Dol move, and
II possible capture the strikers and
othcra who arc responsible ior the stop
ping OF coal traffic on tho Baltimore &
Ohio at Boggs run. Tho plan ag it ma
tured was to take out "hlind" coal
train with q sufficient force OF soldiers
and capture tho obstructionists at
whatever point tho "hold-up" oc-
Cured. For this really dangerous
miGsion General Spillmnn selected
Mnjor Banks, now in command of tho
Second regiment, and after due con5id.
Grafton decided TO dotail com panies l
and G. (both OF Huntingdon iOr the
duty, these troops being considered tho
best men in tho brigade for tho occa-
sion. Accordingly about midnight the
soldiers were aroused and ordered ont
fully armed and equipped, TO tho num-
bcr o! about sixty. The boys wero Of
course surprised at being routed out of
their comfortable buuks ut such an un-
earthly hour. In fact neither officers
nor men, with the exception OF Major
Banks and Captains Lyons, and Poyton
OF tho two companies, knew the chatac-
ter o; the work which had been cut out
for them by their supcriors.
In Il short time a train madO
up OF one car Of Monorgah coal and
two empty gondolas pulled up where
the men had boen formed in line
Company G was put in the front empty
gordola md Company LIN tho other
BESIDES the military, Sheriff FranzhGim
and Deputy l[arshals Garden aud Nc
Mahon, wero also on board, the inten-
tion being to arrest the violators Of the
law il they were caught BY the troops.
Abou. o'clock yesterday morning the
"dccoy" train pulled out from Bonwood
Junction at only medium rate OF
speed, care being taken that there
should be nollghts on either Of the cars
in which tho troops wero concealed.
Tho men all rcclined on tho floor OF
tho cars, and strict orders were given
that not word shonid bo spoken.
No distractions were encountered at
BGnwood, none being expected there in
fact. but when the train ncated the
scene Of tho late hold-ups the word was
quietly paesed for the men TO get ready
for immediate action. Tho speed OF tho
train wns reduced 10 facilitate tho ex-
pccted hold-up, but greatly to tho disap-
pointmrrt ot all, the miners and their
sympathizora had not collected In force
sufficient 10 do anything. About ak
men were gathered in tho tipplo ut
Kountz's mines Just above the county
line in Ohio county and Wheeling, but
beyond hurting plenty OF abuse and
profanity at tho trainmnn. they did
nothing. and were evidently unCon-
scious OF the presence OF the soldiers on
the dummy coal train.
The train projected on up the Balti-
moro 4 Ohio through tho city, it being
thought possible that the men had col
lcCtcd at some point along tho limo. To
the surprise OF tho officers there was
not sign OF violence anywhere. the
train going UP 10 Twcnty-second street
on the river front without any trouble
whltevor.
Thus it was seen that the expedition
had been failure go far az accomplish.
ing anything was concerned, and alter 4
short stop III the city the return trip to
the militia camp ut Bcnwood junction
waa made, but not in tho empty Goa!
cars. two coaches being provided by the
railroad. The run to tho camp was
without incident except that the train
mon wore greeted with joers at tho
Kount2 minc4 coal tipple by half dozen
men gathered there.
II was tho intention to keep the ex.
pedition 9 secret, and the men were 30
instructed. but the affair leaked out yes.
tcrdNy afternoon through one OF the
civil officials. and aa n conseq ucnce an-
other attempt 10 corral the strikers will
probably not DO made. 1T brigade
head quarters yesterday some indigna-
tiou was expressed at the inability OF
some people 10 keep q secret.