Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-08-15
DRIVEN FROM VIRGINIA.
Two Companies of Militia Make an
Attack on the CommonWeaI-
ers' Camp.


socalled industrials who have been camp
ing at Roslyn, Were driven from the soil
of Virginia shortly after daybreak this
morning by the militia. The huts which
had been erected from boughs of trees,
straw, hay and other materials which
could be secured are but remnants of
their former appearance. After their oc
cupants had been forced from them the
torch was applied and every vestige that
the flames could destroy was burned.
At s o'clock this morning the men were
lined along the walks of the aqueduct
which adjoins the outskirts of Washing
ton with the state Of Virginia, watching
their only property go up in smoke. They
had been forced upon the bridge, but
there the authority of the militia ended,
and the industrials knew it. They feared
to enter the District of Columbia, rs they
believed arrest as Migrants awaited them,
and there they are waiting for some
thing to turn up. Their fears, however,
were groundless, for but a single police
man guarded the Washington end of the
bridge, and he had no intention of mo-
testing them, as was evidenced by the
fact that several took their chances and
entered the city limits, though the great
majority remained on the bridge.
Many complaints have poured in upon
Gov. O'Eerrall within the past week or
ten days of the growing nuisance at
ROslyn, for which there seemed to be no
remedy but Il complete routing of the
commOnWealerS by the military. After
mature deliberation and consultation,
Gov. O'Ferrall decided to act. The strict
est secresy was observed in order to keep
the Washington authorities in ignorance
of what was going on. The governor de-
tailed three companies of the First Fir-
ginia regiment at Richmond and the
Alexandria Light infantry, under COM
mand of Adjt.-Gen Anderson. The mi
litiamen We're equipped for field service
with twenty rounds of ammunition each.
The troops started at midnight and
reached ROslyn at Il. M, where they
camped, awaiting daybreak before the
raid should be made.
The lnduStrialS were unaware. of the
coming of the militia, for shortly before
midnight the word was passed around
that they were to be routed from their
camp. Soon all became hustle and eX-
element. Several campfres in addition
to those already lighted were lighted, and
torches were carried from tent to tent
The entire camp seemed to be afoot from
the time the scouts were sent among the
men. Several accommodating parties were
sent out in all directions. 1t was lmpoS-
sibie however, for them to gather any
definite information. They uttered some
threats, saying they would crack the
heads of any person who would attempt
to go into the camp again. The tents and
impr0vlSed hutS were crowded with sleep
erS and scores eff men were lying about
the fires on the ground some with pieces
of blankets and bits of rugs over them,
and some shivering in the colo without
anything but their meager clothing. Sew
eral complained of sickness, not few
suffering from malaria.
Just at dawn the militia appeared and
marched to the aqueduct bridge. From
that point line of skirmisherS was
drawn around the entire camp and the
industrials were hemmed in on all sides
their only exit being the aQueduct bridge
to Washington. Strict orders were given
to allow no man to pass back into Vir-
ginia. Gen Anderson and his officers
then went to the leaders of the industrialS
and told them in plain but courteous and
kindly language that they must leave the
state An hour was allowed for break
fast and gathering up what little effects
each might desire to take away. All of
them except one contingent offered to go
without a word of protest, but the Cali
fOrnia men said they wished a show Of
force before they retired. Promptly at
o'clock company of the militiamen
were marched down the steep slope to
the banks of the river to where the CoXey-
ties had made their homes. Gen. Ander-
son said: Here is your show Of force;
now you must 60.
u
The men packed up their little belong
ings and marched from their hurriedy
constructed tents up the banks and onto
the aqueduct bridge.
After the camp had been routed and the
picket line drawn in a company was
sent back to the fats upon which the
men were encamped and in a few min
utes the flames were destroying every
thing that had been left behind. 1t was
said that there were between 300 and
400 men in camp when the raid occurred.
Three men were too sick to be forced
and were allowed to remain in camp and
Gen Anderson sent the surgeon of the
militia TO give them medical assistance.
They will be removed today. Gen. An
derson says he does not know how long
the troops will be stationed at the Vir-
ginia end of the bridge, but will comnu-
nicate what he has done to Gov OFFER
rail- and await his further instructions.
Soon after coming down to his office,
Maj. Moore, the superintendent Of police,
went to the office of the district commits
sioners and had conference with them
with a view of deviSing means Of getting
the commonwealers out OF the district.
1t was decided that the police should
take charge of the industrials and escort
them to some suitable place most prob
ably Georgetown, until arrangements can
be made for shipping them to the West.
This, it is believed can be accomplished
in two or three days, as the commissioners
have some funds at their disposal and will
receive some assistance from citizens who
wish to rid Washington of the so-called
''armies Of unemployed" Meantime the
men will be kept under surveillance by
the police.
The district authorities are not a lit
tie vexed at the summary action of Gov.
O'Ferrall in forcing the industrials from
Virginia soil. During the past few days
satisfactory progress in having the men
rp+II n
more than a hundred having been fur
nished transportation in that direction
Pending decision as to where to tempo
rarly corral them, the unemployed re-
main on the aqueduct bridge, uncertain Of
what will be their next experience.