The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-06-25

con.iapsd sfen paosgrsres.

lyeTs were executed, However il VA
regrettedt that tie maaeuyerss were
confined to a short time. The troops
we're considered the best disciplined
National Guard Organization that ev
err came under notice Of the com.
!manding officer. Companies 4, r., q
and l and headquarters Of I'd Reg
|iment and Companies H, X, and q
lof The list Regiment composed the
troops which participated In the
maneuyecs. They were under com,
mand Of Colonel Charles E Morrison
who displayed much ability Id
handling them during the seryic,
performed.
On July IS. 1904, a provisional
battalion composed Of two companies
Of the First Infantry under command
of Lieutenant Colonel Charles N.
simms, Second Infantry. was ordered
by the Governor direct to accom-,
pany the sheriff OF jefferson county
and a prisoner, George W. VII,
liams, to Charles Town. West VII.
|glnta. II having been found lmpos.
sible to protect the prisoner from,
mob violence.
In compliance with the order Of the
Governor, Colonel slmms With the
two companies went to CIarksburs;
where through a s%tratagem, the pris.
oner was safely put on the train 10.
Grafton en- route for Charles Town.
The latter place having beea reach.
ed without any mob demonstration
and the prisoner was lodged In iafi
there. During the first two. days Of
the stay nothing OF note occurred ex.
cept the pernicious activity Of a
number Of residents Of the town to
stir up trouble. On Sunday, July
81, 1t seems evident that an at.
tempt would be made on the Jail be.
tween midnight and two o'clock. At
nine o'clock It was reported by t1s
sergeant Of the guard that the mob
was gathering; IT was also ascertain.
ed that dynamite had been sent from
a stone quarry and that an attempt
would be made to blow up the jail.
Necessary orders having been Civ.
en- for the arrangement OF the com.
panies, the approach Of the mob was
awfted. Five hundred strong they
came about two o'clock. Five who
composed a committee commissioned
to make a statement Of terms to
Lieutenant Colonel Simms were
placed under arrest. Owing to the
unparalleled good management and
common sense OF the commanding
officer, events took such a shape
that at four O'Clock the crowd had
dispersed and all was quiet. Moth.
Ing particularly exciting happened
during July 81 and August list and
I'd, the days the trial of the prls.
.oner. Charles Town was left An.
gust, 1905. The encampment this year
was held fear Parkersburg, begin.
ming on August Is.
The general condition and eff.
cheney of the Guard was much bet.
ter. On August Sd, a d~laagreeab!e
duty having been performed. Too
much credit can hardly be given the
men and officers Of the command for
their creditable execution Of their
duty.
Camp Dawson.
The improvement which had been
noticed in the Guard during the last
few years conf nued throughout
this camp, and seemed better than
ever before in its history, and the
marked improvement was attributed
a great deal to the experience at the
Manassas maneavers the previous
year. There was still much room for
improvement and later years has
shown this.
The camp at parkersburg was To-
Gated at a considerable distance from
thee lily which fact perhaps accounted
for much better attendance at the
drills. The first few days Of the camp
were very rainy and disagreeable. the
troops landing from the trains In the
rain. Later the weather was fine and
much good work was done with the