Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-05-30
ENGAGEMENT IS SPIRITED
Between City officials and officers
of Telephone Company.
LATTER ERECT BREASTWORKs
But Mayor Evans and Chairman Staubly Exc
cute Flank Movement and Successfully
Storm lnirenchments.

of0rHl lHH6DCIiiHeHIS'
There was n brief but sharp engage
ment Wednesday evening between the
officials Of the Chesapeake 81 Potomac
Telephone company on one side aud
Mayor Evans and A. Staubly,
chairman of the city committee on
streets on the other. and while no
blood was spilled in the encounter IL
was interesting and spirited in the ex-
IRENE.
Some time ago the telephone COM
pany petitIoned the city council for
permission to cut a trench for a dis
lance of about 60 or 70 feet along the
west side Of North Queen street and
thence across that sthoroughfare to the
front of the Little building. in which
| the central office is located. The
trench was to run from the cable pole
in front of the Shepherd drug store
to y point in front of Emmert's es-
tablishment, aud thence directly
across the street. 1t. was for the Dur.
pose of running an underground con-
dult for their wires.
This city council readily granted the
required permission, and the officials
claim that the understanding was
that the trench was to be cut in ae-
or1ance with the above specifica-
tions. There was misunderstood
| ing on the part of the telephone peo-
ple however. for the workmen were
put to work cutting the trench di-
rectlv from the starting point to the
| front of the Little building, instead of
going around the sides Of the TRAN
gle. Thew simply cut along the hypo-
thenuse of the triangle, as more d.
rect and less expansive way of reach
ing the objective point. A number of
workmen were on the job, and it didn't
take them long to get diagonally across
the street. with the exception of a
space between the end of the trench
and the curb wide enough to permit
the passage of vehicle.
About this time Councilman Staublv
happened along. He was the only city
official who had observed the direction
of the trench that was acquainted with
the proper manner in which it should
have been cut When he noticed ii the
telephone forces had thrown up breast
works To the height of couple of feet,
aad were pretty well intrenched. Mr..
| Staubly Immediately charged the enemy
and demanded an unconditional sur
render. He ordered them to Law down
their arms in the name of the sovereign
municipality OF Martinsburg. The tel
eDhone workmen refused 10 evaeuate
their position, and the chairman of
the committee on streets was compelled
to draw off pending the arrival of re-
infort ements. He effected a mastery
retreat as far as the mayors office.
where he found his honor quietly en-
sconced without any knowledge of the
situation Oh the field. A junction of
the two forces was effected, and thus
dbhy SAppOAbOu I'LL. ppuuDlN again
charged the enemy's breastworks.
Coming around the corner at the mar
ket house they executed a flank move
meut and took the opposition forces
souarely in the center. and when the
MAYOR demanded that the other fell
lows lay down their arms and vacate
the field, they very gracefully did so
after a short parley.
The trench had been cut to depth
of about three feet nearly the entire
distance and the loose earth piled
alongside. During the work the men
damaged one Of the big gas mains, and
were required TO make the necessary
repairs They were compelled to put
.ta earth back in the ditch and pack
il tightly. aid didn't finish the Job
until evening, This morning they be-
gan cutting the trench according ~ 80
the former directions and will have it
finished BY night fine misunder.
standing cost the telephone people
about $50 and the loss of whole day
in getting the cable into the central
Office.