The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-06
Besides the Shooting of Peaceable Work.
ers, Bridges and Cars Have Been
Burned and officers Terrorized.
DYNAMITE PLOT UNEARTHED
Conspiracy to Kill Deputy Sher.
iffs and Militiamen.
One of the Plotters Arrested and In
duced to COnfess-Attempt to Take
Proprietor Wyants Life.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, March 6-Tha
developments in the disturbed mining dis
trict to-day were of a startling nature.
Ever since the strikers, several hundred
strong and armed with Winchesters.
marched on Wyants place and assaulted
the workers there, killing and wounding
several, there have been rumors of further
contemplated outrages. Last Saturday a
bridge was burned and the wires cut This
morning twenty loaded cars belonging TO
the Chesapeake & Ohio railway, standing
switch at Paint Greek, We're burned
by the rioters. These were minor events
compared with the conspiracy unearthed
to-day.
This afternoon Governor McCorckle re-
ceived a telegram from Major Banks,
commanding at Eagle. stating that a man
had been arrested at Montgomery with a
dynamite cartridge on his person. The
man was brought to this city. He said he
was engaged in the attack on Wyant's
tipple had attended all the meetings and
knew all their plans. From his confession
the following story is obtained: Last night
the Governor received incendiary state
ments from a man purporting TO be act
ing Mayor of Montgomery. They were
to the effect that the military posse Of
the sheriff had no right to accompany the
sheriff within the corporate limits OF the
town of Montgomery. This course would
nullify the power of the sheriff of the
county, and no notice was taken OF the
statement.
Things have developed to-day to show
that there was a deep-seated plan arranged
to violate the law. The authorities have
gotten into the whole business and now
know its true inwardness. The riot at Acme
was carefully planned and was only frus-
trated by the action of the authorities.
The strikers took to Acme twenty-sevcn
large dynamite cartridges to blow up the
works and to destroy the store and tipple,
their purpose being to loot the latter. At
their meetings yesterday, last evening and
on Saturday the arrangements were made,
with the connivance of certain people, to ar
rest Wyant, bring him TO Montgomery and
turn him over to the mob of miners. His
life would not have been worth a penny.
In addition to this dastardly and hor-
rible outrage was to be perpetrated. When
the soldiers came. accompanying the sheriff
in making his arrests for murder the dyna-
mite cartridges distributed, already fused
with percussion caps, were to be lighted
with cigars and thrown among the troops
and posse manning and killing the men,
bers thereof. Part Of this plan was carried
out; dynamite cartridges were distributed,
one of which is in the possession of the
to Montgomery, where his life was to be
taken, and then the riot was TO begin down
the railroad. AS it happened, however, only
a small part of this programme was carried
THE PLOTTERS THwARTED.
Wyant was arrested on the warrant
sworn out before Esquire Adkins, whose
son was one of the ringleaders in the
strike, and for whom warrant has been
issued for murder. But when the four
constables one of whom had said he would
bring Wyant down to Montgomery or kill
him, attempted to take Wyant to Mont
gomery he resisted and told him that he
was perfectly willing to go to Fayetteville.
where he could have some sort of show,
but he did not propose to be taken to
Montgomery for the purpose Of being killed
by a mob. He agreed TO go to Fayette-
vile to-day, but refused to go last night:
1t carefully and certainly ascertained
before morning that if he should be taken
to Fayetteville he would in all probability
be killed on the way and ascertaining that
fact he called on the military for Drotec-
ton, and when the constables attempted 20
take him one of them was arrested for
murder and a platoon of soldiers took Wy
ant TO Fayetteville, where he could have
his preliminary trial 1t ascertained
that the road was picketed by the men
who had been in this strike, and IL IL had
not been for the protection of the military
his life would have been taken.
The authorities have gone to the bottom
of the whole matter. They have ascer-
tained that the original facts were about
true. The attack on Wyant was prear-
ranged, and the next morning IL was in
tended to take Edgewater. the adjacent
mine. This frustrated by the prompt
action of the Governor in having the mill
citement, and since the dastardly and out
rageous attempt to kill by dynamite the
soldiers and posse accompanying the sheriff
tn lxfy1 fF1a her &c scat
ed feeling OF Indignation, both at the men
who were actually engaged in this and at
the authorities and citizens OF Montgomery
who have been aiding and abetting in these
outrages. Vigorous measures have been
taken TO arrest the men engaged in the
dastardly business, and before morning the
principal leaders in the conspiracy Will be
arrested.
The strikers stated in their meeting last
night and the night before that IL any
more arrests were made the Jail at Fay
etteville would be broken and the prisoners
released. There is great apprehension that
this will be attempted and II is understood
that the Governor will send a company OF
troops there at once. II now looks as IL
there is going to be much trouble. The vig-
orous measures of the authorities I'm ar
resting these people seems TO have had its
effect in stopping the contemplated out
RACES, but it is impossible TO tell exactly
what will be the outcome. The sheriff,
without the military, is powerless, and the
attempt of certain people In Montgomery
TO thwart and interfere with the State and
county authorities in their attempt TO ar
rest the men engaged in the desperate
deeds OF the last few days is EIeeting with
universal Indignation.
1t was only an accident that the outrage
upon the posse was not carried cut II was
the intention of the authorities TO take
posse TO arrest a number of people I'm Mont
gomery for whom warrants had been is
sued, but at the last moment. by reason OF
q change of affairs. brought on by the ar
rest of wyant, IL was not done. and the
lives Of the soldiers We're saved. This Is
all that saved the lives OF the men who
were innocent Of anything more than the
fact that they had been summoned 10y the
authorities 70 assist in maintaining the law
This story has the perfect credence OF the
State officials. and is given 10 the Dress
under their full sanction.
The Gatling gun at the States prison at
Moundsville was shipped here to-day for
use, If necessary. in quelling mine riots