Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-30


ifalty Fight In 1t.
Trouble broke out in a fresh place in
the local Republican camp. yesterday
afternoon, and last evening evidences
of it could be seen all around.
To-day an official investigation OF
the matter is scheduled to take place,
when additional facts may be expected
to be developed.
The scene of yesterdays difficulty
was the pumping station of the city wa
ter works, and the parties to the row
were Superintendent George NJ. Narney
and John Felsing, one of the force OF
men employed about the engines and
pumps. The affair eliminated in Mr..
Varney striking Felsing in the face
cutting his lip, and then discharging
him from the force at the works. MI.
Felsing gave his version of the affair
to his friends, and last night, when the
Republican Executive Committee net
at the City Hall, fifteen or twenty
friends of the discharged man appeared
and a statement was made of the affair
from their standpoint. This done, the
committee left TO interview Mr.. Henry
Jones. of the Water Board, and as a re-
suit, ii was announced late last night
tina. there would be a meeting OF the
Board this afternoon, at which there
would be an investigation.
From what could be learned of the
affair last nigh, the trouble dates
away back to the deal made by the
Republicans in Council, three years
ago. by which they succeeded in getting
control of that body and capturing
about all the city offices worth having,
but the Republican contest for Sheriff,
last Saturday. also figures in 1t to a
very considerable extent. When the
original deal was set up for the control
of Council Chief Engineer Schneider,
who had been at the works for a good
while. was slated for Superintendent,
but in the whirling of the political
wheel Mr. Varney, who set up few pins
quietly, got things his way, and was
chosen superintendent, Mr.. Varney
continued Mr.. Schneider in the posi-
ton he formerly held, and this was sat
isfactory all around, but later Mr..
Schneider stepped out Mr.. Richards
and some other Councilmen were favor
able to Schneider's candidacy for Super
intendent, as the story goes, and as a
result of this it is alleged that Mr.. Var
ney had little genuine affection for Mr..
Richards, and was not for the Second
ward man in the primaries. Mr. Eel
sing. on the other hand, was most en-
phatically for Mr.. Richards, and on Sat
urday wanted of. as he and his friends
claim, to work at the polls in favor OF
Richards. Mr.. Varney is said to have
not only refused to let Mr.. Felsing OFF
until his time was up, at noon, but is
further said to have expressed the wish
that Mr.. Felsing's time did not end
until six o'clock in the evening. Mr..
Felsing therefore worked until noon,
and then put in a few ticks for Mr..
Richards where they would do the most
good This, together with the allega-
ton that Mr.. Varney voted against Mr..
Richards himself, and allowed one Of
his employees to work at the Second
ward poll against Mr.. Richards, ap-
pears to have caused some feeling, but
it was tolerably well suppressed until
yesterday. when the men at the pump
ing station got to talking politics pretty
freely. Mr.. Varney is understood to
have objected to this. and one word
led To another until the row and the
blow resulted. followed by Mr.. Eel
sings job becoming vacant. This was
the situation last evening when the
Committee of friends of Mr.. Felsing
appeared before the Executive Com
mittee. They brought word with them
that all of North Wheeling was aroused
over the injustice alleged to have been
done to Mr.. Felsing, and that if neces-
sary four hundred Republicans from
the upper end of town would appear
n Mr.. FelSing's behalf The Excel
tive Committee. OF course, deprecated
any more trouble than was absolutely
necessary, and preferred that the mat
ter should be settled by the Water
Board, but Mr.. Varney got decidedly
the worst Of it in some private CONVEX
sationS during the evening, some I'M
kind things being said about his meth
cd Of running things, viewed from po-
litical standpoint.
II was so late last night before the
details of the situation were grasped
that Mr.. Varney could not be seen, he
residing on the Island, hut doubtless
there is quite a different side to the al
fair. which Will be properly developed
before the Water Board, if the investi-
CATION talked of last night is held.