Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-02-10
A DOZEN SHOTS
FIRED AT TIE ELM GROVE MINES LAST
NIGHT,
And the Window Of W. 7. Chambers Store Broken
In-Revolvsrs in Dsmand-NO One
Hur, So Far as Known.

The usual peace and quiet of Elm
Grove was rudely disturbed last night,
and for time it looked as though the
little town was TO be the scene Of serious
trouble.
Fortunately, however, the rioteus
proceedings were stopped before any
one was hurt, although number Of
shots, estimated at from six to a dozen,
we're fired.
The trouble was caused by COM
mingling Of bad blood and beer, the
former growing out OF the mining COM
pications at the w. T. Chambers coal
works, and the latter brought from this
city.
The disposition to make trouble on
the part OF some of the striking coal
miners and their friends seems to have
been manifested early in the day, and
they were aided 10 arriving at this con-
ditiOn OF mind by two or three kegs OF
beer, which were drank during the az
teFnOon and early evening along the
creek bank west of the &. & o. railroad
bridge. About half-past seven o'clock
crowd Of men. TO some extent uaGer
the influence Of drink, assembled
on the pike near the store of w.
I. Chambers, drawn there probably by
the fact that several OF the new and
working miners were inside the store.
One of those outside started the row by
attempting to get inside the store to
hit one of the working miners, but twas
prevented by Mr.. Chambers, who
appeared In the store door with
an axe handle. Threatening demon-
stratiOns and abusive language was then
INDUCED in by those on the outSidS,
which Chambers was about to resent in
an energetic manner when he was seized
and held by three or four of those who
had been in the store. Offers to whip
any given number OF men were
banded back and forth by both
sides and some stones were thrown
by those out on the pike, one narrowly
missing Chambers head and breaking
the glass in the show window. After
some general turmoil and excitement
the belligerent portion OF the crowd left
the vicinity of the store and scattered,
several men going to Pestinger's and
elsewhere TO procure revolvers. No
weapons were given them at Posting
er's, but several revolvers were procured
from some place, and then n number Of
the crowd which had been at the store
went up the railroad to the vicinity
Of the coal tipple and the quarters of
foreign miners, who are now at
work ia the mine. About the time this
flank movement was made q b. 81 0.
freight pulled up at the coal Triple.
and tive men there began to dump coal
into the tender AS this work went on
the men opened fire, ani from six to a
dozen shots were heard, but whom they
were fred by and at whom could not be
ascertained. It is probable, however,
that some OF the shots were directed at
the men ia the tipple, and others were
intended to generally intimidate some
Of the foreign and working miners,
number of whom live In the frame row
close by. The excitement continued in
the vicinity of the tipple for half an
hour or more, but by nine o'clock il
was all over, and the crowd gradu-
ally dispersed, and the excitement,
which had been high in the vicinity of
the B. & o. depot for time. was al
layed.
Miners seen at the Grove disclaimsd
emphatically that the miners, as body
or class, were at all responsible for the
trouble, aud say il was engaged in by
men upon their individual RESPONSE
bility, and that the working miners
were as much to blame as any one. The
latter proposition the working miners
deny, and say they will make no trouble
il let alone.
News Of the trouble was received in
town about half-past eight, but there
were no details, and the rumors
floating about lost nothing by
being repeated about the streets.
Reporters were soon on their way to
the Grove, but by the time they arrived
along about ten o'cloeK,-all trace of
the trouble had vanished, ana il was
with the greatest difficulty that any one
could be found who would admit that
there had been anything wrong.
At one saloon, not dozen
yards from the 3. & o. station, il was
emphatically denied that there mad been
any shooting at all, or any other trouble,
and two or three citizens seen said they
believed some boys had been drinking,
and fired 3 couple of revolver shots or
so. but that was all. In fact, there was
a general and marked reluctance to talk
about the affair, and it was only By dint
of hard work and persistent question
ing that the above facts could be devsl-
oped.
About ten o'clock Sheriff Franzheim
made enquiries about the trouble, and
later went out in a hack with Deputy
McCulloch, but found everything quiet.
The sheriff had been seriously i'll for
over a week, but still made the trip as
soon as be heard of the trouble.
Well informed persons look for re-
newal Of the trouble tonight, in some
form. hut IL is hoped this prediction