The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-18

6t on the flghts or any citizen, to 62 9s maintain the peace of the state." 3s 
 With the strike sympathizers apparent ly resting on their arms and two eompa- nies of national guardsmen rushing to Biossburg, the situation in the strike dis triot was perfectly quiet at midnight.
 With every military company in the northern part of the state ready to move at his call, Sheriff Hlgdon is sitting at his telephone commanding all the move ments in the county. Under orders of AdJt. Gen. Bibb Graves, every military company in Montgomery, Selma, Gadsden and Birmingham Is ready for marching orders.
 Perfect Organization Formed.
 Perfect organization for the maintenance of the peace has been effected. Sheriff Higdon Is in communication every few minutes with his regular deputies in each Of the mining towns telephone mes gage to the sheriff's office states thas armed men to probable number of To 0oO are scattered all along the lines of the iioSoi lnC COutilGfH dDQ the BlrfQln2- ham Southern. Upon the reception of tho militia lies the rub, for the first shot might bring on a tragedy, while perfect order may be restored by noon.
 Deputy Sheriff George Courson is sta toned at Blossburg with about 50 depu- ties. By their action at Pratt City in ar- resting four men yesterday at noon it Is reported that they have aroused the an- ger of the 'sympathizers," who after the battle at Jefferson are said to have threat ened vengeance.
 Instead of returning, they are encamped at the Tennessee eompanys mines at Blossburg awaiting relief It was the battle at Jefferson which deterl<ned Sher- fir Higdon to call out the soldiers Mai l.. c. Ledbetter was put in charge, and as fast as the members of Companies A, mory they were formed into provisional companies.
 Halt Ordered at Pratt.
 At 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon they were loaded on special train together with a party of deputies, making a total Oi OFri iOV ittii, WllH QddJ. 1uCIen bTOMn in command, assisted by Maj. Carl Seals, Capt Charles Gregory and Capt, Mel Smith,
 The train consisted of gondola in front of the loeomtive to guard against expo. sives, a passenger coach carrying the militia and caboose with newspapey men and deputy sheriffs.
 It started for AdamsvilIe over the Frisco. However, before arrival at Pratt City the train was held up by two or ders Sheriff Higdon, receiving informa- ton from a reliable source that some 80 men were hidden behind a fence below Pratt City, ready and armed to fire on the train, halted the locomotive at Pratt City and ordered Major Brown to recon hotter. Investigation found that the "sympathizers' had disbanded
 Meantime Superintendent Kesser of the Birmingham Southern, was informed that some score of men had boarded g. North Birmingham car, armed with new axes Fearing bridge-cutting. he warned the train crew to stop at all trestles, but shortly afterward the harmless Woodmen of the World were seen boarding an East Lake car to attend their lodge meeting in Avendale.
 Troop D Ordered Home.
 However, the soldiers were held at Pratt City until joined by another provisional company, and after the train had switch ed some free and convict labor between the Pratt slopes and Thomas, the trip tn da aytIle ma ad ot p,Id,,
 Major Brown is under instructions upon arrival at Adamsville to communicate with all the towns in the neighborhood and wherever there is danger of disturb ance to dispatch a sufficient force to stop It. He Is then to proceed to Blossburg to the relief of ceurson, and from there will assume charge of the situation until peace Is restored.
 Meantime, three companies of infantry in Birmingham and Battery D, with two Gatling guns, which arrived from Mont gomery last night, are ready to board trains at moments notice Troop D, which has been encamped at Montgom- cry since Tuesday, was ordered home and, arriving this morning. will be ready to SCOUT the country on horseback, if necessary. Thirty thousand rounds of cartridges arrived on a night train from Philadelphia.
 Sheriff Higdon, however. stated that he would incur as little expense as possible and would not call for more soldiers un- less conditions change for the worse.
 Late reports from Adamsvlle are to the effect that the large crowd which threatened there had vanished. evidently making off for some other point, Re ports from all the little mining towns are to the effect that great crowds are moving around and many are well armed.
 Kennedy Warns Sheriff.
 Col Hugh B. Kennedy who came in ever the Frisco yesterday afternoon, eall- ed on Colonel Higdon and warned him