The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-30
How the Ohio Militia Reeaptured a
Stolen Freight Train,
WHILE TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE
SAW THE BLOODLESS BATTLE.

gerie Than as Dangerous Invaders
Hard Times Out West-Nearly 500
ssSoIdiers" Made Prisoners-Gen. Kelly
Lost.
Mount Sterling, Ohio, April 2s.-The
Columbus battalion of the Fourteenth regi-
ment, Ohio National Guard, was called here
today for field service.
About one hundred and seventy-five
Coxeyites, under command of Colonel Gal
win, constituting a wing of General Frye's
Western army, captured freight train
early yesterday at Sabina, fifty miles south
west of Columbus, ,on the Midland division Of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The In
dustrials rode as far as Mount Sterling on
their way to Columbus, when the train was
sidetracked by order of the railroad officials.
The Galvinites retained possession of the
train, and the railroad officials applied to
the sheriff of Madison county for protection.
Failing to get assistance from that source
an appeal was made to sthe governor.
He declined to call out the militia until
civil force had been exhausted. John
Mahoney, chief of detectives of Columubs,
was accordingly deputized as special rail-
road policeman, with power to call any
umUef Ol ultu W LIS dSSlStduCo LII SOobAh5
possession of the train.
With about fifty men hurriedly summoned
he left Columbus at a quarter past one
O'Clock this morning on a special train for
this place, which is twenty miles southwest
of Columbus.
On his arrival here Mahoney ordered the
Galvinites to surrender the train, but they
only jeered at him. They were armed with
4 r1ovn
their intention to fight. AS Mahoney had
strict orders from the governor to use force
only in self defence he telegraphed to that
official for further instructions.
The governor decided to call out the
militia this morning, and at ten minutes
after eleven o'clock, a special train. bearing
companies A, B, G, and f of the Fourteenth
regiment, and Battery II, light artillery,
under command of Colonel A. B. Colt. left
Columbus for Mount Sterling.
On their arrival here at ten minutes
after twelve O'Clock, the Columbus troops
were joined by Company l., of Mount Sterl-
ing, making force of one hundred and
fifty men.
K Adiutant General Howe assumed COM
mand and the companies were drawn up in
position.
COlOn6l COlG bLcH dodIooSOu tLO AAltt uo u i0lc
on the train.
'tMen,'' he said, ''I have asked you kindly
to leave this train. Your commanding
officer has surrendered, and now in the name
of the State of Ohio, order you to leave.
ST notify you that l will give you three
minutes to get off the train, and if you do
not I shall use force, as am authorized to
do.''
G@1o IL &c
watch to count the minutes. He then
started down the train and repeated his
orders, which was taken up by General
Howe and the other officers.
Several of the Galvinites yelled, 1--WE sur
render,'' and began to get off the cars. But
the mass of men frowned and shook their
heads.
Matters looked serious. The troops were
getting into position, the loaded Gatling
guns were trained on the men on the tops
of the long string of freight cars.
Companies A, B and G took position at
the head of the train. There was wavering
on the part of the Coxeyites. The man hold
ing the American flag on top of the forward
box car exclaimed, "I'll stay till last"
Excitement at this time was intense.
Nearly all of the two thousand inhabi tants
Ol Gu0 tOWu ueto COuSIOSdOCei uOoA OilO 1oAt-
way station and every movement on the
part of the troops of Coxeyites was watched
with eagerness. They were ready to expect
anything. Every unusual sound caused a
start of apprehension in the throng.
Women and children were in the crowd of
sightseers, which, with the spectators from
this city and the surrounding country,
numbered fully twenty-five hundred per-
A o,,1 oo6 hyr hn
soldiers hundred yards from all sides of
the train and the space within was kept
clear.
General Howe, anxious to avoid serious
trouble and hoping the stubborn Coxeyites
who remained on the tops of the cars, olld
follow the few of their companions who had
begun to climb down, extended the time
Colonel Colt had allowed the industrials in
which to desert the train.
His leniency met with partial success, as
more of the Coxeyites began to move toward
the ground, slowly, however, and murmur-
ing that they had a right there and pro-
posed to stay.
The extended time allowed by General
Howe having expired, Colonel Colt mounted
to the top of the car on which the color
bearer stood, and detachment of troops
was soon clambering up the sides of the
cars.
The Coxeyites, who up to this time had
moved very slowly, although advised by
Colonel Calvin to surrender, looked at the
bayonets and accelerated their speed.
Still the old color bearer appeared deter
mined to be the last man off the train.
Colonel Colt called on an orderly to take
him in hand. The old man folded his flag
and slowly climbed down. He was the last
Galvinite to surrender.
General Agent Peabody Of the railroad,
announced that the train would move as
soon as it could be made ready, and a line
of soldiers was quickly placed on either
side of the cars to the rear.
General Howe advised the Coxeyites to go
over into field, telling them they would be
perfectly safe, and they reluctantly crawled
down the embankment.
The troops will remain in Mount Sterling
until Monday, but no further trouble is ex-
pected.
a4=4 COxEY ARRIVES.