The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-06
The States Forces Divided and Sta
toned at SheIburn, EbeneZer's Grave
yard and Farmersburg.
TROUBLE NEAR CANNELBURG
Baltimore & Ohio Coal Train Held
Up by Fifty Strikers.
Deputy Sheriff Sent to the Scene with
Orders to Disperse the Rioters by
Calling Militia to His A d.
special to the indianapolis Journal

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
FARMERSBURG, Ind, June 5.-The ex-
pedFtion Of five hundred troops TO Alum
Cave to-day from this place was barren of
results, and it is doubtful if the militia
can suppress the rioters unless Sheriff Mills
and the county authorities give more eff
cient and more vigorous aid. The people of
Sullivan county, to a large number are
under the impression that the county must
pay the cost OF maintaining the soldiers,
and this has the effect of turning the tide
Of sentiment against the riotous miners.
For six hours to-day General McKee's COM
mand tramped through brake and field un-
der a continuous. cold. drenching rain. and
tonight many of the young men are suffer
ing slight ailments from the exposure, al
though no serious cases are reported.
Over twelve miles of wild country were
covered by the troops, marching chiefly
a skirmish line. Further depredations of
the miners necessitated this trip down the
branch line of the Evansville & Terre
Haute. On Monday night five carloads of
Darlington, KY, coal were captured by
miners and run down the branch to AIHler's
switch, about eight miles from here. Early
this morning a blaze was seen in that di-
recton, and it was surmised that trestles
night mentioning destruction of trestles are
untrue. General Mckee intended to start
down the branch at daylight, but postponed
the departure till shortly before O'Clock
when a special bearing the Indianapolis
Light Artillery. with a Gatling gun, joined
Mckee. The Gatling gun was put on
fiat car, which was pushed by the engine,
the remaining cars following When Mil
ler's switch was reached the soldiers saw
a coal fire big enough 10 warm a regiment.
The five carloads of coal were at a glowing
heat. with a huge column Of dense smoke
rolling away to the southwest. There was
not sufficient water within q mile around
to extinguish the fire. Six coal cars, one an
empty one, were totally destroyed the iron
work being rendered unfit for further use
Several telegraph poles were blazing, but
the troops saved them. The miners had
taken the waste and oil from axle boxes
to use as kindling material. The loss to
the railroad company will exceed 5000.
THE MARCH TO ALUM CAVE.
AS the fire blocked the track the troops
disembarked and the march for Alum Cave,
nearly six miles away. was taken up. Col.
James r. Ross, who had come up on the
artillery special from Vincennes. with the
three Indianapolis companies and the one
from Anderson, took command Of the troops
TO the east of the tracks. while General
Mckee kept his eye on those to the west.
The extreme wings of the skirmish lines
were mile apart. General Mckee, escort
ed by Company A, of Indianapolis, pro-
ceeded down the track, the center of the
line. The artillery and several companies
were left 10 protect the train. The heavy
rain began as the troops set out on foot.
rod 1xx-itk and
canteens, showed much strength and en-
dufance. The country is exceedingly rough,
crossed by many creeks and broken by
swampy thickets. Deputy Sheriff George
Briggs. a brother of Judge Briggs. of Sui
livan county, had been sworn in for special
duty, as he was supposed 10 be a man pc
culiarly fitted for the occasion, and deputy
Willis accompanied him. The purpose of
the broad sweeping of the soldiers was 10
enclose the settlement at the cave and pick
up struggling miners. AS fast as the resi-
dents were corralled by militiamen they
were taken 10 deputy Briggs. who asked
them their names and then added some
assuring remark that the men arrested were
probably not the ones wanted. His manner
was more like that of man en- route TO
barbecue.
AT THE MINES.
Shortly after the noon hour the troops
came upon the rocky hills surrounding the
mines and a crowd OF women and a few
men could be seen at the village. which is
perched high on a ledge OF rock and coal.
Two men working at the first shaft reached
were taken into custody. but soon released.
They had just come from the mine and
wore their lamps. The village was encom-
passed by pickets and the men found there