Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-25
POCAHONTAS QUIET.
The Mines There Rapidly Increasing
Their Output Of Coal.
Efforts of Four Mines 20 Resume
operations-speech Made by Law
less md MacCorkIe's Secretary
The Operators side Presented Too.

The day has been very quiet In focahoh-
tas, and the streets are remarkably free
from excitement and the presence OF the
strikers. The troops afford the only signs
Of a strike here to-day. The mines are
working an increased force, and VIII
reach their usual coal tonnage this week.
The election excitement prevented the
usual amount OF work being done yester-
day, but now II Is believed that Poca-
hontas will settle down to quiet and re-
sumo her usual busy life. A great many
OF the old miners are expected to return
to work, and so far as this place is con-
cerned the strike seems practically
broken.
The Southwest company has posted no.
tees stating that it is their intention TO
increase their mine force. and thereby
largely increase their coal tonnage. and
they prefer 10 give employment to their
old hands rather than TO employ new
men. SO the old men have the alterna-
tive Of going to work on the old scale
Of prices. or waiting TO see their positions
filed by other persons.
PETERSBURG GRAYS RELIEVED.
The Petersburg Grays were relieved to-
day by the Nottoway Rifles. The Grays
left for their homes this morning on the
early train. The boys while here made
many friends among the soldiers ana citl-
zens.
The regimental detail for tomorrow IS:
Officer OF the Day. Captain j. NJ Harris
Company |. Third Infantry; officer OF the
Guard. Lieutenant r.. f. Grove, OF the
same company.
Lieutenant Starke OF the Howitzers Is
somewhat indisposed, but not seriously
so.
The principal fed OF action now Is on
the Elkhorn, in West Virginia, where
four Of the largest mines I'm the Flat-TOp
coal region are making efforts to resume
operatlons--vz. the Houston. Grocer, Pu-
laski. and Upland mines
These operators did not reduce wages,
and will resume, II possible on the old
scale
EXCITEMENT AT GROCER.
The Dispatch reporter visited the region
to-day. and upon reaching Grocer found
that large crowds were assembling and
that some excitement prevailed. Upon in
vestigation IL was learned that twenty
six miners had arrived from Roanoke
during the night. and were expected to go
to work i'm the Grocer mines this morn
ing. The crowd of strikers began to as
semble before daylight. and by o'clock
fully 100 men were on the grounds. Some
few threats were heard at first, but Mr..
Lawless soon arrived and addressed the
strikers, advising them to refrain from
all acts OF lawlessness whatever. They
were also advised by him not TO under
take 10 intimdate the new tnen, but
to use all peaceable means to induce
them 10 Join the strike. Lawless admon-
ished the strikers to remain firm, and
stand together in one solid, united body,
and the victory would be theirs. Co
vecnor O'Ferrall came in for the usual
dose of abuse.
MCORKLE'S PRIVATE SECRETARY.
j. b. White. private secretary to Go
vernon MacCorkle, spoke next. He COM
plimented the men for the quiet and
peaceable manner in which they had con-
Quoted the strike, and assured them Of
Governor MacCorkles friendship and
sympathy. lie advised quiet and pace
able means. and II was very evident from
his remarks that the present West Viz
ginla administration is very much on the
side OF the strikers Mr. White begged
the strikers 10 do nothing whereby Co
vernon MacCorkle would be compelled to
have many OF their lives lost
INTENDED TO WORK.
Mr. T. j. Morgan, superintendent OF the
Grocer mines, next addressed the meet
ing i'm the interest Of the operators. He
stated explicitly that they intended TO
operate their mines. lie submitted "a
proposition that his old men go back 10
work on the old scale OF prices. and
said that when a compromise was ef-
fected between the strikers and the other
operators the Grocer company would
adopt the same scale.
The operators further agreed TO stamp
the cars with their capacity, and allow
the miners to load accordingly, but no
thing seemed 10 satisfy them but scales.
The negroes from Roanoke were evident
" inundated and refused to work. The
Houston mines loaded six cars or coal
yesterday. and did about the same to-
day. Pulaski is laying mine-track and
making preparations TO begin, and to-day
nothing was being done at Upland at ALL
THE END FAR OFF.
Iawless and other leaders are conf
dent that the strike Will end in few
days, and that they will win, but an ope-
rator. who is well informed on the situa-
ton, says the strike Is far from being
not resume work without the miners ac-
cepting the % per cent reduction
Notices have been posted by the Grocer
company that all tenants who do not re-
turn to work at once must vacate their
house.
The Southwest company are evicting
some OF the strikers. who have been
formally notified TO vacate. By setting
their goods in the street. This work Is
being done by the civil authorities, and
the soldiery Is in no way connected
with 1t.
The output for to-day at the Southwest
mines is 81 cars, and at Browning's n
a total of 9S. and an increase Of 20 cars
over yesterday
PRESENTED WITH A BANNER.
The Howitzers were invited to the par
lor of the inn tonight, where they were
waited upon by committee OF the ladies'
OF Pocahontas, composed OF Mrs. w. n.
Black, Mrs. NJ. Gibbon, Mrs. Miles Cary,
Mrs. f. Chalmers. Mrs. n. Il. Black,
Mrs. Voight. and Misses Gibbon. Cary,
Anderson, and Woolwine. The occasion
was the presentation 10 the battery or
a handsome navy -blhe-silk banner lsxi4
inches, with red-silk tassels at the bot
tom, and striped with red, white, and
blue. The presentation speech was MADE
by Miss Woolwne, who in very grace
full manner complimented the Richmond
Howitzers. and told them of the high
esteem in which they were held by the
ladies' OF PocahOntas. Lieutenant Stark
received the beautiful memento, and re-
sponded in a neat speech, In which he
told the ladies that the banner would be
placed in a prominent position In their
HowitZer ArmOry in Richmond, and
would always bring pleasant memories
Of the experience of the company In Poca-
hontas, more especially memories OF the
fair ladies' who had so kindly remembered
them in their absence from loved ones.
A number OF songs were rendered by
members OF the company; also, amusing
and entertaining recitations by the
ladies'.
VIII Cary Every Man.
The First Regiment Of Cavalry have
shown I'D magnlfcently at Poeahontas.
Troop X. OF Charlottesville. when ordered
out by the Governor, reported with 100
per cent Of It's members and Lieutenant
Colonel Branch received the following
kilograms last night from the Surry
Troop. who had been ordered out to re-
lieve the Charlottesville boys:
WAKEFIELD. VA.
ITO aforementioned James r. Branch:
II will report TO Major Simons at Po-
cahontas tomorrow with forty-twO N2)
men-my entire roll
GEORGE A. SAVAGE,
Captain, Commanding Troop b."
MRS. MARTHA A. FLEET.
L.. Il txsew n