Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-09-03
FROSTBURG, Md, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1904.
TOWN AND VICINITY.
The Frostburg'Boy Wins

in Athens county this morning was
marked by a sensational incident which
not only resulted in Il small riOi, but
which will without doubt have its after
math in prOtracted litigation.
1t seems that several members of
Comrany X had been excused on
reasonable grounds, but Levi Porter, IA
street railway conductor, was not of that
number In fact, Porter, who has had
six years experience as guardSman,
was just the man wanted.
The street railway company declined
to grant Porter leave of absence,
claiming it would interfere with their
service. The militia guards, Il squad of
them headed by Sergeant Alien. de
clared early this morning that they
would have their man If they had to
take him at the point of the bayonet.
Sergeant Allen and nine men, with
guns and bayonetS. started to put their
threat into execution. They met the
car in charge of Porter and Joe jeans.
motorman, boarded it, paid their fares
aud at the Upper Market Square at
tempted to forcibly take Porter off the
car, intending to carry him upstairs into
the armory.
MotOrman Jeans knew nothing about
the cause of the trouble. but when
Porter got hold of his mace, a weapon
carried ON all cars and began the battle
to prevent the ten men taking him off
the car, the mrtOrman cam" to his
assistance.
a lively battle then ensued on the car
and in the space of few seconds,
mlitlamcn were tumbling i'll all dircc
tions-off the car, down between the
seats and in the aiSles. their accoutrc-
ment making IL great racket which was
enhanced by the cries of the combatants.
Guns and bayonetS were scattered over
the floor, windows We're smashed to
fragments and the ncrVy crew soon
completely routed the ten armed soldier
boys, and some of them will carry sore
heads during their two weeks of camp life.
AS they We're about to leave the car i'll
defeat, conductor Porter called the ser
gcant back, gathered mp the scattered
guns and handed them over to him.
The SerScant'S squad returned to the
armory and with the company soon de-
parted for the station and train. Captain
Patterson leaving Sergeant Albert Mar
ting behind to bring up the stragglerS.
Conductor Porter, when seen by IL
Htd" man. stated that he knew enough
of civil life to know that Il conductor
having command of car with no relief
at hand could not be arrested and taken
from car, and the car with passengers
aboard allowed to run on without Il
captain. In the second place he knew
it was the duty of the car crew to pre-
serve order on, and protect the car, and
that this squad had simply gone beyond
their duty and had become lawbreakerS.
Under ordinary circumstances, said
Porter, II would have gone to camp,
and rather enjoyed the outing. but my
reasons for not wanting to go We're not
only good, but reasonable and humane.
First, nay wife died Il year ago, leaving
me with child which is now year
old That child is very sick, in the
hands of Il nurse, and needs my atten-
ton. Second, | am poor man depend
ent entirely ON my earnings and to 60,
to camp m,a:,s IA loss of two weeks, as
the pay, if | got it, is but one dollar a
day and i'll this case this amount is used
to dcfray expenses to St. Louis. Third,
my employers would not consent to my
going. My six years experience i'll mill
tary life has learned me something. |
know when man belonging to ii State
guard can be compelled to 90 and'when
where and the company had been called
to quiet it, | would have gone. though
| had lost my position, as military rules
would have demanded that | CO.
Motorman jeans says II did not
know the cause of the trouble, but saw
that my conductor was having trouble
with Il crowd and it was my dnty to as
sist him, turned the car over 70 ii by
stander and ran back and my presence
was soon felt. y
H. II. Higgins, superintendent of
moving cars was seen. He says Il
notified Captain Bltterson the evening
before that we could not spare this man,
and if they wanted to take him by force
there was Il legal way to do it. If the
man is taken, the Sergeant and his squad
will be held responsible for the deStruc-
tiOn of property and attempting to take
the conductor from the car while he
was ON active duty. No notice was
given us to send IL substitute on this car,
and no notice given that they were go
ing to take the conductor off.
Captain Patterson wired Sheriff Ket-
ter from Waverly to arrest Porter and
others and bring them to Beaumont at
the expense of Company X. Sheriff
Ketter concluded that he was not in the
military business, especially as Com
pany X had not put up any money, and
he 50 wired Captain Patterson.
Corporal Marting appealed to the
police to arrest Porter, bur the police de-
clincd to take hand. He then ap-
pealcd to Squire Hall to issue war
rant for Porter's arrest, but Squire Hall
had long since given up military
Jurisprudence.
Later. Porter, who is sensible, law
abiding citizen, in order to avoid further
trouble, and to possibly save his COM
rades from prosecution, agreed to go if
his employers would consent, but this
his employers would not do.
At Bob this afternoon, Sergeant Mar
ting went to the station with John Wat
ters, one of the stragglers, and left
transportation for Pearl Milstead, who
leaves III the morning. Dennis Rice
has been excused, George Porter is ont
of the city and Levi Porter would not
go.-Portsmouth Daily Biodr, August ld.