Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-07-18
GREAT STRIKE OF 1877
RECALLED HERE TODAY
Flag Of Sunny Italy Raised on
Soil Of Old Berkeley.
ITALIANS CAUSE TROUBLE
Prevent Americans From Going to
Work at vancIevesviIIe Until
They Get Their Pay.

Work at vanclevesyiIIe Until
They Get Their Pay.
from The World of Tuesday.
Ganilroad men and citizens were re
suinded slightly this morning OF the
Boenes that we're enacted around Mar
tuisburg in II. What looked like
trouble, and that, too, of serious ma
tswe, confronted the Baltimore and
Chic officials at this place this morn
Ing.
AS mentioned briefly in The World
of Monday, the Italians employed on
taae tracks OF the b. and o. in the
vicinity of vanclevesville threatened
10 strike.
Yesterday Agent Tonry, with SUI
pervisor Barker went to the camp and
paid the men their money for work
done during June. This didn't satisfy
Them entirely. There are several OF
the men who were not furloughed Hast
winter and they have been receiving
$40 a day, the other men have been
receiving $1.35 day.
The dissatisfaction arose on Friday,
the 10th, when the checks for the pre-
ceding months work were due, but
didn't arrive. These men always want
their money when it Is due, and any
delay in payment causes the Hun
kies' to become suspicious. They re-
fused TO work until they got their
pay. Yesterday when they received
pay for the months work, they were
Still suspicious and wanted what was
coming TO them for work done this
month.
One OF the interpreters. a fellow
named Santelli, seemed to be the NOV
ing spirit in the disorder.
When a gang OF Americans were put
to work this morning in place of the
ItaiH6ans, the foreigners got ugly and
threatened the gang and drove them
from the work They hoisted the
hasian flag at the work. which was
just east of vanclevesville and refus.
cd to allow anyone to cross the line.
They threatened all who attempted to
20 to work and to tear up the tracks
II the company persisted in keeping
the Americans at work -s.~s&-A~-
The officials here were notified OF
ore situation, and the services OF the
sheriff Of Berkeley county were enlist
cd and several deputies, with the rail-
road police force of the division under
Captain Frank Hardy, and others to
the number of % or more, we're sent
to the scene of the trouble to pre-
serve order.
Agent Tonry and Supervisor Bar
lser had made up the pay roll for this
month, and with the cash to pay the
men off were accompanied by the Of
ficers to Vanclevesville, where, the
Italians were paid When they had
all been paid they were told that those
who wanted to leave should go and
those who were willing to go back to
work could do So Some of the men,
however, were discharged, and not
given the privilege TO go back to
work. Others came to this city and
1nrt Co., otbar ,,osp+c
There was no trouble at the camp
as at first anticipated and everything
passed over as smoothly as politi-
cal road roller"
The officers left here on a special
composed OF two coaches, which fol-
flowed No at 1888 and the business
had all eeen disposed of and the men
were back in town at 1880.
For awhile this morning things look
ed bad. Men were seen on the street
and at he station with repeating
Winchesters and the whole force was
well armed, as it was known that the
whole Italian camp was armed and il
occasion presented would put UP a
hard fight.
Some OF the men who were about
the station and VINO were in the posse
'sremembered the troublous time:
Hround here during the great strike o
1877 and many incidents of that mem
urable year were recalled.
Fortunately no such trouble occur
red today and it is expected that moth
ing further will happen.