Bluefield Daily Telegraph 1897 McDowell Co. WV Bluefield Daily Telegraph Sept. 5, 1897 IN DRUNKEN FRENZY, S. J. TRUMAN SHOOTS COLORED WOMAN Tuesday evening, at Simmons, while in a drunken frenzy, S. J. Truman shot and killed a colored woman named Lucy Dickinson. It seems that John H. Dickinson, the husband of Lucy, had been to Pocahontas, where he was charged with an errand for Truman. On his return Truman, who was drinking heavily and inclined to be ugly, had some words with him and threatened to kill all the d____ N-----s , Dickinson included, and asking George Keasley, who stood near, for a shell, he put it in his gun, a Winchester. About that time Dickinson's wife came to tell him that supper was ready, and as the two turned away Truman fired, the shot taking effect in the left side, killing the woman. We learn that, notwithstanding the fact that officers were there and talked to Truman after the shooting, and he and Keasley were both allowed to get away. Truman is in the butcher business in Simmons. ************************************************ NOTE: Truman's cold-blooded murder of Lucy Dickinson prompted WV's Governor and Attorney General to admonish county law fficials for inaction and to post rewards on Truman. Not long after her murder, a mob in Bramwell lynched a Black man. The Governor offered rewards too on that crime. The following touches upon correspondence re Lucy Dickinson and the Bramwell lynching between the State and the Mercer County, where the lynching occurred. Bluefield Daily Telegraph March 15, 1898 We publish the following correspondence. . . because they relate to local happenings in which our people are interested. One thing can be said and that is that our Governor as soon as his attention was called to this matter offered a reward for $250.00 in each case for the apprehension of th guilty parties. The letters explain themselves. Charleston, February 26, 1898 Hugh G. Woods, Esq. Assisstant Prosecuting Attorney, Princeton, W. Va. ----------------------------------------- Your favor is received and noticed. I at once consulted with the Governor and he is willing to offer a reward of two hundred and fifty dollrs for evidence securing a covinction in the recent Bramwell lynching case but can not pay this amount beforE th first of October, as there are no funds available until then. In addition to this, if a larger reward is necessary, both he and I will unite in a request to the legislature to allow a sum of the like amount--$250 more. I am satisfied this will be done by the legislature and would almost insure it. If this will be of any help to you, write me at once at Welch, and I will communicate with the Governor immediately. I wish you would give me the particulars of the killing of a Negro woman in Bramwell last summer or fall by Truman. I think the Governor will offer a reward for him, too. Both he and I are deeply in sympathy with you, and I desire it to be clearly understood the lynchings in West Virginia must ceease and that the Negro must have the same protection from the law that is extended to the white man. I know your views agree with mine on this subject, so this, of course, is no reflection on you or your associate in the prosecuting attorney's office, but there are certainly some officers in Mercer County who have not done their duty, or ther would be no necessity for the State to interfere in the case. In one instance a Negro woman is shot down in cold blood and the murderer allowed to walk away a free man and remains so to this day. In another instance, a Negro kills a white man and the officers not only permit him to be murdered by a mob, but recognize no one in the mob, and hold an inquest and discharge the jury before sunrise. This haste was, to say the least, peculiar. But I am not writing this letter for the purpose of criticising anyone, but merely to express to you the feelings of the Governor and myself on this subject. Count on our active assistance and co-operation in your efforts to bring the guilty parties to justice. The law knows no color in visiting its penalities. Neither should the officers consider color in administering it decrees. Most sincerely your friend, Edgar P. Rucker, Attorney General ----------------------------------------------------------- Princeton, W. Va., March 7, 1898 Hon. Edgar A. Rucker Welch, W. Va. Dear Sir: Yours of February 23rd received. In relation to the Truman case, I have this to say. Truman was in the butcher business at Simmons. He had a colored man working for him, went to Pocahontas,got on a drunk, came to his shop and accusd the Negro working for him of drinking his whiskey. They got into a dispute, and the Negro's wife came in and was taking her husband out of the door away from Truman, saying not to have any trouble, when Truman loaded up a double-barreled shot-gun and fired. . . ************************************************************ Bluefield Daily Telegraph August 22, 1897 EVERYONE AT WORK: NOT A MINE IN THE FLAT-TOP FIELD IDLE MARCH ON POCA DIDN'T MATERIALIZE GENERAL STRIKE SITUATION Every mine in the Field was at work yesterday. The agitators have succeeded in getting a few men out, but no one operation feels the loss of help. Mahon, Coleman, Webb, Pheps, Askew, Farms, Green and three or four lesser lights with 200 miners from Simmons Mill Creek, Coaldale, Elkhorn and Shamokin works started to march into Pocahontas yesterday. They gathered at Coopers at noon and held a meeting 200 yards east of the station, and decided to postpone the march to Pocahontas until some future time. It is understood they would have met with a very warm reception. The Mayor of Pocahonta having all the force necessary to keep the agitators in the injunction case against President Dolan and others, kept both sides to the struggle busy and on the quiet all daylong. Warrants will be sworn out ad the whole crowd arrested as soon a they set foot inside the corporation limits of the town. Wm. H. Hankins, vice president of the Ohio United Mine Workers, who went to Richmond last Thursday with Fuller, returned yesterday. The Governor was out of the city and they employed ex-Congressman Geo. D. Wise to presnt their case upon his return on Thursday. They will ask the Governor for protection at Pocahontas. Should they not get it, they will go to President McKinley. They have already asked Sheriff Crockett of Tazewell for protection but got no consolation there. Two deputies, Robert Kerr and Frank Anderson, employed as guardians of the New York and Cleveland Gas coal Company, fought yesterday a fternoon, and as a result, Kerr cannot live until morning. Anderson is proprietor of a dive on Water Street, this city, and is known as a bad man. He was in charge of the depputies at Sandy Creek. Kerr, is a river pilot by occupation and has served before as a deputy during strikes. It is not known what the men fought about. There was open rebellion at the Sandy Creek strikers' camp yesterday morning. Some fifteen or twenty foreigners, who were dissatified with the comissssary, complained to Captain May and demanded better food. He told them that the men in charge of the commissary departent were doing all right, and they were being well treated. The foreigners then threatened to march and Captain May ordered the deputies to arrest them if they did not keep quiet. They returned to their quarters. ******************************************************** McDOWELL NOTES Bluefield Daily Telegraph August 22,, 1897 Last Tuesday Mark Gay went to Pocahontas from Keystone and brought Alice Smith back with him. Wednesday night Charles Carter, William Redd, and Thomas Gunn came from Pocahontas and broke into Gay's house. A pitched battle ensued in which Gay was shot three times before he could get out of bed, and, seriously woulded, and the woman was shot twice. Gay shot one of his assailants. Reprinted in the Telegraph from the McDowell Recorder. Sheriff W. W. Whyte of McDowell went to Salem yesterday to bring back a prisoner. Judge T. L. Henritze of Welch, accompanied by his wife, was in the city yesterday enroute from a visit to Tazewell. J. W. Eckmann of Pulaski, who has been in the Field, returned to his home yesterday. Jan 24, 1897 E. M. Noone of Ennis who has been in the city for several days returned home on No. 8 last night. Bluefield Dailey Telegraph Sep't. 18, 1897 Mandy Brown of Kimball insulted Hugh Johnson's daughter by dashing milk in her face on the street. The other night unknown parties went to Mandy Brown's house and blew it up with dynamite. Armour's meat is under a ban the country over. There is now very little, if any, Armour products consumed here and no grocery keeps it. Work on the iron bridges between Coldale and Maybeury is progressing finely. They will be magnificent structures. The first day 's procedings of the State Bar Association which is in session at Morgantown . . . The proposition that the association endorse a law enlarging the present property rights of married women was advocated by all these members except Mr. Daily, who opposed it in a vigorous speech. The husband, he thought, should enjoy greater property rights than the wife under statutory law because the common law liaabilities still rested upon him. Yesterday's shipments from the Flat Top Field reached a total of 602 cars--530 coaland 132 coke. Judge J. M. Sanders who has been holding circuit court in Welch has returned to this city (Bluefield). Bluefield Daily Telegraph October 13, 1897 John Lester was arrested in Wyoming County and lodged in jail in Welch. He is wanted by authorities for the killing of George Mitchell at Helena. Bluefield Daily Telegraph Oct 30, 1897 On the death of A. J. Mays. . .It is with great sorrow that we record the death of our late brother Andrew J. Mays, which occurred in the wreck of the passenger train No. 12 on Oct. 26th 1897 near Vivian, WVa. on the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Brother Mays was under his engine and lived an hour and 40 minutes in that position. Resolved, That in the death of Brother Mays the Brotherhood lost a worthy member; the company by which he was employed a faithful engineer; and we a brother, friend, and companion, who was loved by all who knew him. Resolved. That the death angel is ever busy amonst our members and as we know not on whom his hand may next be laid, the sympathy we would wish extended to loved ones upon an occsion like this one, we now extend to those who have been so deeply afflicted. May the Supreme Father above send his ministering angel to give the consolation we are powerless to bestow. Resolved. That we deeply synpathize with his wife and four fatherless children, and we earnestly commend them to Him who has promised to care for the widow and the fatherless. That our charter be draped in mourning for the space of thirty days in token of respect. That a copy of these resolutions be entered on the minutes of our Division; a cppy sent to the bereaved family, and a copy to be published in the Daily Telegraph and The Engineer's Journal. J. J. McDonald, Committee W. B. Brumble, Committee Bluefield, W. Va. Oct. 29, 1897 The engine and four cars--two passenger--in the fatal wreck at Vivian were sitting in the yard here yesterday . Large numbers of people gathered to see them. ********************************************************* Bluefield Daily Telegraph Petersburg, Va., Feb. 4, 1897 A GREAT COAL TRAFFIC: PREPARING SIDE TRACKS TO ACCOMMODATE 5000 CARS The Norfolk and Wetern Railroad Company is preparing to enlarge their yards at Crew and Lambert's Point. This company expects to lay five miles of track at Crew and nine miles of track at Lambert's Point so as to give the company room to handle more cars. At present, only twenty-six hundred coal ccars can be handled at Lambert's Point. The proposed extension of the track will give the company room for handling 5000 cars. It is also learned that the company contemplates building a double track from Roanoke to Lambert's Point. ******************************************************** Bluefield Daily Telegraph February 5, 1897 T. L. FELTS AND ALLEN BROWN SHOT IN NARROWS It has been learned that the men who shot Allen Brown and T. L. Felts at Narrows are T. H.Atchenson, white, and William Parsons, alias Wm. Red, colored, and another colored man whose name is unknown. Atchenson and Red, formerly lived on Elkhorn and are well known in this section. BILL RED RUN DOWN: MAN WHO SHOT BROWN AND FELTS AT NARROWS CAPTURED Bluefield Daily Telegraph October 13 and 14, 1897 Newport News, Va. Oct. 13. Wiliam Parsons alias Wiliam Coffey alias Bill Johnson alias Bill Red, the Negro who was arrested on Ivy Avenue in Bluefield, Saturday afternoon, is the man who is wanted for the shooting of Allan Brown in Giles County September 24th the last and for whom the local police have been searching for the past two weeks. Parsons, however, is wanted in this county on a previous charge of an and will very likely be tried here first unless an arrangement is made with the Giles County officials showing intent to take him on the charge of an atempted murder. Chief-of-Police Harford received onM onday morning a photograph of a man known as Bill Johnson sent out by the Baldwin Detective Agency of Roanoke, with a description of the man wanted in the photograph was compared with his prisoner by the Chief, and he concuded that William Coffey was Bill Johnson. When first shown the picture, Parsons or Coffey admitted that it was his own likeness, but later denied the picture favored him. Three men are wanted for shooting Allen Brown and T. L. Felts at Narrows, Giles County, on September 24th. Coffey is one, a white man named E. H. Atchison is another, and a small black Negro whose name is unknown is suppposed to be a third. It is said that Coffey is wanted for a crime committed in North Carolina. Bluefield Daily Telegraph September 26, 1897 John Brown a brother of Allen Brown who was shot and seriously wounded Friday came up from Narrows last night. He says that while his brother' wound is, of course, very serious, there had been a very decided improvement in his condition since yesterday morning and he s getting along as well as could be expected. ****************************************************** HE WILL NOT HANG: MURDERER OF JOHN ANTHONY SMITH ESCAPED DEATH BY THE HALTER--WILL BE IMPRISONED FOR LIFE DETAILS OF THE OCCURRENCE Bluefield Daily Telegraph Sep't. 9, 1897 Welch, W. Va., Sep't. 1--Governor Atkinson today commuted the sentence of murderer Seymoour Grey from hanging to life imprisonment. The crime for which Semour Gray must pay the penalty with life imprisonment was the wilful,unprovoked murder of John Anthony Smith at Gilliam, this county (McDowell). Sep't. 24, 1896. At the time political excitement was running high in this section. There was a big meeting which Gray and Smith attended. They did not agree on certain subjects and had a few words, but did not come to blows. After that Gray had it in for Smith. September 23 was payday at the Gilliam Coal and Coke Company, where the men were employed as miners. That evening Smith and a number of his companions went to aa small miner's shanty near the company works and engaged in a game of "craps." Gray heard of this and started on the war path. He took the old cartridges out of his revolver and replaced them with shiny new ones. and then entered the "shanty" and began snapping it at the dice on the table, but it failed to discharge. Smith asked him to please go away and mind his own business. Gray said , "Maybe you think I won't shoot you," and with this he leveled the gun at Smith's head and fired. Smith fell over in the corner and died soon after. Gray escaped to the mountains and went to Fayette County. After a few weeks he returned to this county to surrender himself to the authorities, but the Negroes at Gilliam persuaded him not to do so. He left again and went back to Fayette County, where he was located by Sheriff Whyte, arrested, and brought here for trial. His trial came up in the April term of the criminal court. It was not very lengthy, there being only a few witnesses. He was found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced by Judge Chambers to hang Sep't. 2. Quite an effort was made at the time to have his sentence commuted to life imprisonment, but to no avail. August 25, Gray, with six other prisoners escaped from jail here. He went back to Gilliam and was arrested at that place and lodged behind the bars once more, never to come out again. When visited by your correspondent in the jail, he was asked why he did not leave when he was out and he said he didn't want to disappoint the people and that he had intended to come back on the morning of the hanging. ****************************************************** McDOWELL'S NOTES Bluefield Daily Telegraph Sep't. 5, 1897 H. M. Turner, fireman on the Pocahontas division, received a painful injury at Landgraff yesterday morning. He leaned out of his cab window just as the engine was passing a mail crane and was struck on the head by the upper arm of the crane. His head was cut and his nose broken. Ed Brand, one of the commssioners of the McDowell county court, was in the city yesterday. Mr. Brand was en route home from Salem, where he has been sick for the past two weeks. Yesterday's shpments from the Flat Top Field reached a total of 602 cars--530 coal and 132 coke. NOTICE: The first general meeting of th stockholders of the Klondike Coal Company will be held at their office at Coopers, W. Va., on the 30th day of October 1897, between the hours of 10 o'clock a. m. and 6 o'clock p.m. At which meeting by laws will be adopted, a board of directors will be elected, and such other business transacted as may lawfully be done by its stockholders in general meeting. Thomas II Cooper, M. B. Cooper Edward Cooper F. S. Cooper Geo. J. Walker, Jr. ****************************************************** A DISTRESSING ACCIDENT: MINE WATER BANKED UP FOR YEARS IS TURNED LOOSE; IT MAKES A GREAT FLOOD AND DROWNS TWO CHILDREN-- from the McDowell Recorder (Reprinted in Bluefield Daily Telegraph) For several years the worked-out portion of the McDowell Mine has been gradually filling with water, until it became necessary to get the water out some way. The company decided to drive a passage from the outside into the lowest point of the mine and let the water out. This was done, and on last Saturday the workmen driving the passage fired the last shot, releasing the vast body of water which filled several acres of the mines. When the water started, it brought track and everything before it, twisting the rails around trees as though they were whipcord. At the foot of the mountain immediately in the track of the rushing current were two little boys,the children of Paul Swensky, a German miner, who were caught in the flood, and the youngest, aged four years, was drowned. The other, a couple years older, is not expected to live. The oldest boy, when he saw the water coming, jumped on a stump and made a heroic effort to save his little brother by pulling him up after him, but the water was too strong and the little fellow was wrested from his grasp and carried down the mad waters. The drowned child was buried in the cemetery at Pocahontas Sunday. February 4, 1897 Extracted and submitted by June White **************************************************** 1896 N & W RAILROAD PASSENGER SERVICE IN THE AREA AND AREA ACCOMMODATIONS McDowell County in the 1890's was not isolated from the rest of the state or country. The Norfolk and Western Railroad offered regular passenger service via multiple daily trains along its line into the Pocahontas/Flat Top Coal Field and into McDowell County. Regionally, the N & W serviced passengers traveling in the Tug Fork, Big Sandy, Bluestone, New River, and Clinch Valley watersheds. In addition, it offered extended passenger/Pullman service to points east and west of McDowell County and Bluefield. Norfolk & Western R. R. SCHEDULE IN EFFECT DEC. 1, 1895. March 14, 1896, Bluefield Daily Telegraph Train No. 15 leaves East Radford at 8:45 a. m. and arrives in Bluefield at 10:55 a. m. Leaves Bluefield at 11:15 a. m. for Pocahontas. Train No. 3 leaves East Radford at 6:10 p.m. and arrives in Bluefield at 8:40 p.m. Leaves Bluefield at 8:45 p.m. for Pocahontas. Additional trains for Elkhorn, Pocahontas, Welch and intermediate stations leave Bluefield (daily) at 6:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. For Coopers, Bramwell, Goodwill, leave Bluefield 6:00 a.m. and 11:15 p.m., 4:00 p. m. daily. Pullman services ran to Washington, D. C. , Norfolk, VA; Richmond, VA; and Columbus, OH, via Bluefield, Roanoke, and Radford connections. Through connections in Bluefield, passengers from McDowell could transfer to travel daily on the Clinch Valley Extension to Graham, (Blfd., VA), Tazewell, Richlands, Honaker, and Norton. Likewise, passengers from Clinch Valley could transfer in Bluefield to travel to the Tug River Valley. People, then, traveled steadily and regularly between points within the coal fields, and folks from out-of-state could easily reach most points to the coal fields. In fact, extensive travel prompted one insurance company to offer insurance to travelers. December 5, 1897, Bluefield Daily Telegraph: CASUALTY COMPANY OF NEW YORK: SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SUN. WHAT IS IT? An Accident Ticket for Railroad Employees (freight trainmen excepted) that will, for $1.00, give $1,000 insurance for three months in case of accidental death while on duty. Surely no railroad man can afford to neglect$1,000 insurance that can be had for about 1 cent per day. The Traveling Public--either men or women between the ages of 16 and 80,can get a ticket good for SIX MONTHS , $1,000 for $1.00 in case of accidental death while traveling as a passenger in a railway car, elevated bridge, trolley or cable car, steamboat, or steam ferry boat. A THREE MONTHS' TICKET is sold $1,000 for $1.00 which includes fatal injuries received while riding on horses, bicycles, wagons, or horse cars. Also fatal street accidents afoot, in addition to railway travel. Send $1.00 with address stating which ticket you desire, and it will be promptly mailed to you. O. P. Wheat, Meador and Land Building Bluefield, WVA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporters from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph checked Bluefield's depot and hotel rosters to see who was visiting the city from the coal fields and other points and reported out-of-town- visitors in daily columns they wrote. Bluefield's visitors, if not staying with relatives, stayed at the Bluefield Inn, the Hotel Graham or the Patton House. Some 1897 notes on visitors: * Dr. S A. Daniel, of Welch, is in the city (Feb. 4). * Revs. Olivier and Royer spent a day in the coal fields yesterday (Feb. 4). * W. L. Becker, of Roanoke, is at the Inn (Feb. 4) * A. F. Saunders, of Baltimore, is in the cityFeb. 4) * R. C. Swartz, of Pittsburg, is looking over the town (Feb. 4). * David Cobbs, of New York, was in the city last evening. * O. P. Wheat, the energetic insurance man is at Welch on business. (Feb. 4). * E. C. Kennion, editor of the McDowell Recorder, paid this office a pleasant call last night Feb. 4). * The Telegraph reported the following McDowell guests at the Bluefield Inn, Mar. 2, 1897: D. H. Miller and J. T. Miller, Welch; J. A. Strother, Welch; C. L. Ritter, Welch; W. H. Stokes, Welch. * Staying at the Patton House Mar. 2, 1897 were S. B. Bannon and A. H. Patton of Welch. * The Telegraph ran that a Huntington paper had the following personal: Sheriff-elect Effler, of McDowell County, Ash M. Prince of Bramwell, and John D. Hewitt, of Princeton, are in the city today en route to the inauguration in Washington Mar. 4). * Edward J. McQuail, bookkeeper for the Turkey Gap Coal and Coke Company, was up from Ennis yesterday (May 19) * Yardmaster A. W. Howard, of Gary, who has been in the city for several days, returned home last night (May 19) * Mrs. James Shirley, of Vivian, was in the city yesterday en route home from a visit to relatives and friends in Tazewell (May 19) * Mrs. W. H. Lindsay of Gary, was visiting in Bluefield yesterday (May 19). * President J. J. Tierney, of the Pocahontas Company, was up from Elkhorn yesterday. * R. H. McCullough, passenger conductor on the NorthFork run was up from Ashland yesterday. * Guy Jennings was up from Vivian yesterday visiting his sister, Mrs. S. A. Worley on Carroll Street. * Jas. Johnston, general manager of the Arlington Coal and Coke Company, was in the city yesterday. April 4, 1899's notes on visitors: * R. Hunter Graham, editor of the McDowell Recorder, was up from Welch yesterday. January 9, 1900's notes on visitors: * Mrs. William Sameth returned last night to her home in Welchafter a visit to her sons, Mssrs. Nathan and I. B. Saeth. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Hotel Graham featured a dinner reported in the Telegraph May 9, 1897, that would surpass what many menus offer today: THE VISITING COAL MEN ROYALLY ENTERTAINED AT HOTEL GRAHAM LAST NIGHT. Last night the coal operators of the Flat-Top Field gave a complimentary dinner to Messrs. Curran Burton, and Leipzer of Boston, who have been visiting in the Field for some days. It is needless to say that the hotel surpassed itself in the excellent spread. The operators said their friends had an excellent time. Following is the bill of fare that Landlord Sloan had prepared: Consomme Royal. Soft-Shelled Crabs. Baked Trout Hollandaise. Sauterne. Pomme de Terres. *************** Ribs of Beef au Jus. Spring Lamb, Au Mint Broiled Spring Chicken. ****************** Potato Coquettes. Green peas. Sherry. Asparagus Tips. ****************** Lobster Salad. Tomato Salad. **************** Strawberries. Champagne. German Chocolate Cake. Cocoanut (sic) Cake. Vanilla Ice Cream. Cafe Noir. Nuts. Raisins. *************** Fruits. Segars. (Cigars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The visiting coal men referred to in the above article re dinner at Hotel Graham (May 9, 1897) were all employed by Castner & Curran, a firm of sales agents with headquarters in Philadelphia, PA. Interested in selling Pocahontas Smokeless Coal from the Flat-Top Field,Castner & Curran had national and international branch offices staffed with their agents. An ad the firm placed in the Telegraph Feb. 4, 1897, identifies its branch offices: 1 Broadway, New York Old Colony Building, Chicago, Ill. 36 Main Street, Norfolk, VA Board of Trade Bldg., Columbus, OH Neave Building, Cincinnati, OH 8 Fanchurch Avenue, London, England Terry Building, Roanoke, VA 70 Killby Street, Boston, Mass. The Patton House, in Bluefield, WV, advertised January 1, 1900, "Scott and Banner, Proprietors. The new management has put the house in first-class condition and give their personal attention to their guests. Everything clean and bright. Decidedly the best $1. 50 per day house in this section. Commercial travelers and the public will be made welcome. Convenient to the depot." In Elkhorn, many coal field visitors stayed at the Ennis Inn, owned by W. T. Bowen & Co. An Ennis ad featured in the Telegraph, February 4, 1897, declares the Hotel Ennis to be "the only first class hotel in the center of the Flat-Top coal field and offers special advantages to commercial men who can gain time and secure excellent accommodations at this house. Porter meets trains." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pocahontas Coal Field, then, had interests ranging far beyond this area as well as within the area. Trains and hotels accommodated travelers both near and afar whose business it was to move coal from the mines to markets. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------