Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-18
SENDING OF TROOPS.
They Tsrt Placed 1t Pocahontis BY
Order Of Sheriff Crockett.
He Pat the Soldiers Within Reach
Ia Preserve the Peace-The Corre-
spondence with His ExceIlency Mr..
. MacCorkle, of West Virginia.

morning consented to make public the
correspondence that he has had with Gov
ernor MacCorkle. OF West Virginia; Sheriff
Crockett. Of Tazewell county, and others
with reference 10 the troubles In the Flat
Top coal regions. He reached this deter
mination after giving the matter careful
thought, and was only induced to do SO
with a view to meeting the undeserved
criticism that has been heaped upon him
for sending troops to Pocahontas. His
Excellency acted. In the first place, upon
the theory that an ounce Of prevention
was worth pound OF cure. and he feels
satisfied that he has by his course pre-
vented riot and bloodshed and destruction
Of property.
In this connection It will be seen that
the troops were not sent to Pocahontas
by the Governor, but placed at Graham
at the disposal Of the Sheriff Of Taze-
well county. and moved to the former
place by orders Of that official.
HIS FIRST INFORMATION.
On May 1st the Governor receivfd his
first information In reference to the Po-
cahontas troubles. This was to the effect
tIdt tncIt WdS a. 6curioi Oh pf~
West Virginia side. and that the striking
miners would hold a mass-meeting that
afternoon at Keystone, and that after
ward they proposed to use force to pre-
vent the men In the Virginia mines from
continuing at work. The men In the Vir-
GINA mines were represented to be per-
fectly satisfied. and desired to remain
at work The Governor was also In
formed that the Sheriff of Tazewell coun-
ty and fifty deputies were on the ground
to resist such an attempt. but that this
force would be entirely inadequate In
case OF any determined effort by the
striking miners of West Virginia. who
numbered at least 5000. Things
looked serious to his Excellency, when
the Sheriff had felt 1t necessary
TO swear in fifty deputies.
Immediately the Governor wired the
Sheriff as follows: "Wire me fully con-
dtion OF affairs in mining region. Law
must be upheld at all hazards. Take nc
chances
The following reply was received from
the Sheriff, filed at Pocahontas at r. NJ
May LIST:
"Pocahontas, Va, perfectly quiet now,
Elkhorn, w. Va, still on strike. Would
advise that a company Of troops be kept
in readiness
Governor OFerrall also received letters
from private citizens. stating that tbs
situation was very critical. On the same
day Governor O'Ferrall wired Governor
MacCorkle. stating that there might be
! necessity to send troops TO Pocahontas
and asking for authority to transport
Virginia soldiers through West Virginia
The West Virginia Governor replied I'M
mediately as follows:
Authority is hereby given the State
Of Virginia to move troops, armed and
equipped. through the State OF West Wiz
ginia until further orders"
Governor MacCorkle followed this by a
telegram, asking the Governor of Virginia
for authority to send troops through Wiz
ginia, and Governor OFerrall replied as
| follows:
1.-THE State OF West Virginia is hereby
authorized to move troops. armed and
equipped, through the State OF Virginia
until further orders
UNITED ACTION SUGGESTED.
The same evening Governor O'Ferral
received this further telegram from Gov
ernor MacCorkle:
IL will consider II a very great courtesy
II you will send full information OF anafrs
within the strike territory, and i VIII
forward you promptly all information
receive. 1t looks as though 1t may bt
necessary for us TO act In unison
With reference to Governor MacCorlile's
telegram about information. Gov ernol
O'Ferrall wired:
"AlI quiet at Pocahontas. Men satisfied
Elkhorn region on strike, and threats L
force miners at Pocahontas to stop work
Meeting to have been held this evening al
keystone. Have heard nothing from It
VIII be glad to cooperate with you as
far as possible. Shall suppress violence
and uphold law at all hazards in virginia
/ will communicate freely with you"
Information continued to reach the Gov.
ernor that the situation was threatening
and critical, and he again communicated
with the Sheriff OF TaZewell county. anc
ON May Cd received the following telegram
from him:
Have Just returned from Elkhorn.
Everything quiet there: also at Poca-
hontas. as yet. The strikers from West
Virginia mines propose to have public
meeting here Sunday. I cannot foreset
the results at this time. ! am fearful oil
trouble. ! will wire you again II anything
transpires."
HIS COURSE DECIDED UPON.
Upon the receipt Of this telegraph. feel
| ing satisfied from the Information IN
hand that several thousand striking
miners, composed almost entirely OF Hun
garians, Poles, Italians, and negroes
could not meet In Pocahontas for the
purpose that had been indicated, OF
| forcing the miners there to quit work
without serious trouble. the Governor de-
termned to send military force to pre-
serve order, uphold the law, and secure
every man in his right to work II he de-
sired so to do. II determined further
continued his Excellency, ito serd a sum
Gent force to overawe all those who
might feel inclined to break the law
or do acts OF violence, and thereby pre-
vent blOodshed, rather than to send
small force, which would probably have
had the effect OF melting the men to riot
About go men, including the Howitzers
with a ri1e-piece and Calling gun
were sent, under the command of Major
w. Il. Sjmons, with orders to stop a.
Graham, a point on the railroad sever
miles east OF Pocahontas. The troops
| stopped at Graham on Saturday. the 4th
| about O'clock as ordered. Major Simmons
was directed to report to the Sheriff ane
place himself under the orders of thai
| official. who was given due notice ina
| this had been done. On Sunday evening
| the following day. was informed pS
Major Simons that the striking miner:
were holding meetings around Pocahon
| tas, a few yards beyond the Virginia liae
and. believing that they were threaten
| ing the peace Of Virginia, he asked MI
| the question II there were any circum
stances under which he would be justinee
| in acting beyond the State confines. Latel
| that evening l wired Governor MacCorkie
| stating that I had received this telegram
| from the commander of the Virgins
troops. and raid to him: You VIII SEE
| that these people may be laying theii
plans TO break the peace In virginia. aAe
| vet my troops and civil officers are power
| less to dispense or arrest them, because
| lust across the line in your State.
seems 10 me that there should be reel
| procity under such circumstances be
tween virginia and West Virginia-eacf
state recognizing the right Of the othe
| 10 send troops across the line TO dispers'
bodies OF men gathered for the purpose
| OF breaking its peace. 1t does seem =
present a question q self-defence, ana !:
| NV opinion n ,ther Of US should stick u
the bark OF States rights. know TIL
| a an important question:. and both OF u
should act cautiously. but as you hav'
| no troops on the ground. until yoa car
send troops there. would you authorize me
| IA case OF threatened violence. and for
distance of two miles from border. Tor
saw. three days, to act Just as though
the meetings were being held In Virginia
I would be willing to grant such au
L circumstances N