The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-29
The Sheriff Declares His Ina
biIity to Cope With Situation.
MAKES DEMAND FOR TROOPS
Governor White Regrets the Necessity
but Sees No Other Remedy-Troops
Sent Only to Preserve Peace
and Restore Order, and Not
With a View of Break
ing the Strike.
,s,oci,l p,spstch to The Times.)


CHARLESTON. w. VA, August Is
if Daniel. of Fayette county. Governor
White about . o'clock this morning de-
cided to send troops to the New River
coal field to restore order and preserve
the peace and protect the lives and prop
eity of the men who desire to work in
the mines. and the operators who own
them
Accordingly. orders were sent to eight
companies of the Second Regiment a1d
the signal corps to proceed with all pos.
sible dispatch to Thurmond- In conse-
ouence the companies mentioned and the
signal corps are tonight in camp at
Thurmond and vicinity, and the New
River gorge in that locality presents
warlike and impressive scene.
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
The trouble which was the direct cause
O. calling out the militia occurred at Red
Ash yesterday morning, and consisted
OF the shooting of a number of shots
fo!n ambush al guards and others en-
ployed al the Red Ash mines. The shots
were from the opposite side OF the river.
and We're answered by the guards with
quite fusiade of fire.
on the preceding night at Chapman, a
short distance below Red Ash. two houses
belonging TO the Chapman Coal Company
were set on fire and destroyed and other
ects OF }awlessness had occurred recently
thai made the sheriff declare he was not
able with his posse to cope with the
trouble
GOVERNORS STATEMENT.
Governor White to-day gave out the
following statement:
Il ordered the troops sent because the
sheriff of Fayette county made a formal
demand in writing upon me. and came
8, person Il, see me, stating that he was
powerless with a posse comitatus to con-
troll the situation and keep the peace ana
preserve persons and property IN Fay
cite county from violence and cestruc-
ton: beca use repeated attempts at assas-
sination had been made, several men as
ssulted and wounded. and conditions eN-
ist owing TO the geogra ply of the coun-
T. and the numerous operations, which
made II irnpossihle for him to effectively
repress disorder.
He demanded ad to keep the peace and
order and from investigation maze by me
and the outbreak yesterday at Red ASH.
] felt il my duty to respond to the cali
OF the sheriff for aid. believing that he
mad exhausted CIV ''iSi : 49, >-.N
do his fun duty.
PREsERVERS OF THE PEACE.
I have instructed my private secretary,
who accompanies the troops to the New
River coal fields, TO explicitly state to
all concerned that the militia is sent
only to suppress lawlessness and to pro-
tect life and property. and not for the
purpose of breaking the strike, nor 10
act in any sense as guards or policemen
for any coal operator.
nv purpose IS to enforce the laws of
the State In addition to all this l have
given verbal and written instructions 10
the commanding officers to exercise
wise discretion in preserving the peace
and protecting the persons and property
from violence and destruction, at the
same timereauiling that they be firm IN
maintaining peace and order. personally. l
regret very much the necessity for taking
this step. but when called upon by the
chief officer Of the county for aid there
Is no other alternative but to render
such assistance as the military arm OF
the government can give.
THE TROOPS.
The companies now at Thurmond are
as follows: The Signal Corps. Charles
ton Captain Peyton; Company NJ. OF
Charleston. Captain Rando: Company B.
OF Ronceverte. Captain George; Company
Y. Of Parkersbnrg. Captain Cramer:
Company i. OF Milton. Captain Perry;
Company G. of Huntington, Captain
Davis; Company II. OF Huntington. Cap
tain Lester; Company ], OF Huntington.
Captain LAWS; Company L, of Pariers-
burg. Captain kirgsbury. Major j. f.
Nreelander is in command at Thurmond
and Colonel A, S. Iiutson, of the Ad-
jutant-General's department. and General
Z. / Boges. of the Governors staff, are
on the ground.
Adjutant- General Baker will arrive
Aa-Nnrrcw.
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