Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-16
MAJOR WILLIAM E. sIMoNs.

plylng TO my report, and that not
single member Of the board represent
fng the best element of this community
attended the meeting. l am also In
formed that four OF the members or the
board have resigned in consequence OF the
hostility Of J. l.. Baber and some OF his
associates 10 the presence Of troops in
pocahontas. | am told that the supposed
author Of the Board fTrade article Is
The same man who wrote the llbellOus ar
licles concerning Messrs Bayhss and
1Teids, which were published In the
star, and whom ! denounced in my re-
port Is being too cowardly 10 make
known his identity. and reiterate the
denuuciatiOn IN the most emphatic man
her.
THEIR ADVICE NOT ASKED.
So far as their criticisms touching the
occupancy Of this town by the military
are concerned. they were not consulted
as TO the propriety of sending troops
here nor as 10 the manner Of using them
while here, nor will they be consulted
rs TO the removal of them. As to my
nauagement Of affairs here. their concem-
nation. together with that of Jawless
and his black cohorts, is.the strongest
evidence that the presence OF troops was
necessary. And II my management had
been such as 70 meet the approval or the
Baber faction. Lawiess and his crowd
would to-day be in possession of Poea-
hontas. the great coal-mines OF ms pace
would be closed, the business OF the Nor
FOLK and Western railroad paralyZed, ana
many great and important Virginia in
terests sacrificed
IL Is true that some persons were ar
rested and confined by my orders for
short periods Of time, but in most in
stances they were not citizens or residents
pf this State. and they were arrested
lecause they were known to be agitators,
and were plying their vocation inside
NV camp lines. and in constant COM
nunication with Lawiess and his strikers
THAT the public may fully understand
This matter. | win state the situation and
environments of my command AT that
tirnc. My command was in camp, in the
town OF Pocahontas, In the narrow valley
pf Laurel creek. and surrounded on all
xliea by. hills and mountains. On the
north side Of the town, and not more
than half a mile from my HEADQUARTERS
IS the line between the State Of Virginia
ana West Virginia. lowering along this
line were I.awless and his crowd OF seve-
val hundred men, and sometimes number
ing thousands. marching and counter
marching to the music OF brass bands;
holding daily meetings. In which violent
apeeches were made, and ] and others
were denounced by them In the most
virulent terms. Ny soldiers. while on
duty. were assaulted. ! have charge OF
a train Of cars, In which are located my
bcadquarters. ordnance. commiSsary, and
ouarterrnaRter stores, and the quarters
80 my command \ locomotive. with
steam up. Is constantly attached 70 my
train. was warned that a scheme had
been concOcted to run off and wreck my
train in the nighttime And subsequent
events satisfied me OF the truthfulness
OF the information. bat by the exercise OF
vigilance their scheme was rendered I'M
practible. Notices were posted inside my
can1p-iines warning the miners not TO 20
10 work In the mines. ana threatening
them with violence II they did.
ANONYMOUS letters were written and
droppcd in the pOst-ofiice In Pocabonias
directed 10 the miners. warning them not
10 20 10 work In the mines and suggesting
that dead men never told no tales.
a letter was written 20 Mr.. William Lang
supertntendcnt OF the coal company al
this place. denorncing him In the Viles'
terms and threatening his lie.
REQUIRED GREAT VIGILANCE
In view Of these facts. | believe that
The safety Of my command. the mainte-
nance OF the public peace, and preserya.
ton OF property required and demanded
10 be the frs; duty OF soldier wher
called into actual service TO take care OF
MS command and he should adopt suci
measures "a n deems necessary for tha'
purpose. This - what ! did. and should
the time ever come when J am not per
,nittei 20 protect my command. VII
CEASE 10 command
The men arrested were part Of tn
forces under command Of iawless. ans
acting under his orders ! believed then
and sim believe. that they were spies In
aide Of my carp, and in constant com
munication With LRwless and his crowd
] very enphaslcally deny that any per
son was arrested. beaten. and forced &c
leave this State By my order. consent, OF
knowledge IL Is not true tha' any soi,
he, OF my command ever participated
On amy sueh acts The charge made b,
the posYd-of--gade article that they did