Bluefield Daily Telegraph McDowell Co. WV 1903 BLUEFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH JANUARY 6, 1903 NEW COAL COMPANY The Helena Coal Company, of Welch, has been chartered to conduct a general coal mining business. Capital, $30,000. Incorporators: F. L. Henritze, L. M. Henritze, W. W. Henritze, T. F. Henritze, and W. H. Henritze. ****************************************************** FEBRUARY 22, 1903 RUMORS OF WRECK CIRCULATED BEFORE IT HAPPENED; MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF ENGINEMEN AND CREWS There was a head on collision between Wilmore and Roderfield yesterday in which several Bluefielders were injured, but fortunately none of them seriously. Sometime before the accident occurred the news was current that a collision was expected. This foreknowledge of the accident was due to the fact that it was discovered that the opposing trains had gotten on the same block and were dashing towards each other. The engines were in charge of Jos. Flummer and P J. Hoin, both of whom received slight injuries. Several others of the train crew were slightly injured. No. 2 was delayed about seven hours and freight traffic was also interrupted. ************************************************ Bluefield Daily Telegraph, June 6, 1903 Submitted by June White AFFRAY AT WILCOE A few evenings ago at Wilcoe, McDowell County, a battle was engaged in between Italians, Hungarians, and Americans in which Fred Ehni a painter, was killed; Byron Hardin, a carpenter, shot through the thumb and three first fingers of the right hand and through the left arm just above the elbow; and a Hungarian was knocked in the head with an hatchet, but not dangerously injured. Reports are conflicting in regard to the affair, but it appears that the foreigners and the Americans were having a free-for-all fight and that after Hardin and the Hungarian were injured. Ehni was going through the bottom near the store of Jake Schor's when he was fired on three times, the first shot missing and the second taking effect in the upper part of the thigh and the third in his abdomen, which caused his death. The shots were fired from the store door, the perpetrator taking rest on the door. M. Zolsman, who has charge of the store of Schor's, was arrested next day and lodged in jail at Welch, charged with that offense, but released later in the day. Byron Hardin, the man seriously injured in the first encounter, was later arrested and is now in jail at Welch awaiting an investigation. Ehni was from Pennsylvania and had been at Wilcoe for some time. He and Hardin had been engaged with the foreigners in the first fight when Hardin was injured and were roommates. The pistol with which he was shot was a 32 caliber Smith and Wesson special and was procured and loaded in the store. Zolsman claimed that several men rushed in and took the pistol and added it was without his consent. The remains of Ehni were taken to Pittsburg, PA, for burial. Ehni was formerly living there and had relatives in that state. He was an Odd Fellow and belonged to the Magnolia Lodge NO.12 in Birmingham,Alabama. Hardin is from Ashe County, N. C., and had been in the employ of Fair & Son since last September. ************************************************************** Bluefield Daily Telegraph, June 7, 1903 Moral Conditions Along N I& W's Tug River Line Shocking Affray at Wilcoe BLIND TIGER TO EVERY MILE ON TUG RIVER: MORAL CONDITIONS ALONG NEW LINE OF NORFOLK AND WESTERN DESCRIBED AS SHOCKING ( Selling Alcohol) The moral conditions along Tug River, where the new line of the N & W Railroad is being constructed, are described as shocking. . . Liquor is being sold all the time along the line. . .There is an average of an illicit vendor to each mile. The law is evaded by crossing the river, back and forth, between Kentucky and West Virginia. Numerous quantities of beer and whiskey are received at Louisa each day. . .The daily average of beer alone is said to be over 60 cases. Most of this is forwarded to the Tug River dealers, and the remainder to be dispersed by the numerous "sol salon" proprietors just below Louisa. There is enough work to have the officers on both sides of the river busy. **************************************************** Submitted by June White Bluefield Daily Telegraph, June 7, 1903 ZENITH PREPARING TO OPEN BIG COLLIERY AT THE HEAD OF NORTH FORK There is bustle and business at the head of North Fork. The center of activity is the little town of Burke Garden ( Burks Burks)--not to be confused with Tazewell's Burks Garden), about a mile and a half from Ashland Coal, where the Zenith Coal and Coke Company, of this city (Bluefield) is preparing to open up a colliery. This company is grading a track from Ashland to the Zenith lease, about a mile and a quarter. The work is being done by the company itself, and they have provided a good outfit for that purpose consisting of steam drills, scrapers, etc. A noticeable feature is the fine stock of mules and horses. In addition to grading the track, the Zenith Company is building a large number of houses. In fact, they may have broken the record in the house- building line. Trees were felled in the morning, dragged to the Company's new mill, put into lumber,and built into a house, and by night a colored family from Bluefield were living in it. It is expected that the grading will be completed by the `10th of July and that the work of laying the track will begin at once. As soon as the track is down, the Company expects to be ready to ship coal. The colliery will be equipped in-first class shape from the start. The work is in charge of the company's superintendent, Jas. F. Bohannon, who thoroughly understands the business. The officers of the Zenith Company are W. H. Coffman, President and general manager; Mrs.Coffman, Vice-president; S. B. Coffman, Secetary and Treasurer; and the above with H. A. Ritz constitute the Board of Directors. ************************************************** STANDARD RAILROADS IN McDOWELL BEFORE N & W/ N & S BIG RAILROAD BOOM IN WEST VIRGINIA: 36 PROJECTS UNDERWAY Bluefield Daily Telegraph, July 1, 1903 The good times in West Virginia [following the depression in the 1890's] are having a result that could be expected--a boom in railroad construction. According to the semi-annual construction supplement of the Railroad Gazette, there are 37 railroad projects under way in West Virginia, and these are enumerated below. . . [McDOWELL's PROJECTS] Tug River & Elk Fork. Welch, West Virginia. Southeast about twenty miles through McDowell County to a point near the north said fork and south fork of Tug River, and thence across the line to Pocahontas,VA. Incorporated April 29, 1899. C. L. Ritter of Welch and E. M. Watts, Huntington, Incorporators. Clear Fork & Pocahontas Coal. From the N & W at Gordon Station, WV, at the mouth of Clear Fork Creek, to run to Cooper's Creek, with a branch up Jacobs Fork and down Dry Fork to the Virginia line and to another branch down Dry Fork to Perryville, in McDowell County. Incorporated April 11, 1899. Charles E. Ritchie, Akron, Ohio, an incorporator. West Virginia & Kentucky. Devon, WV (at the mouth of Knox Creek, which headquartered Knox Creek Lumber Company) south to Paw Paw, KY. Incorporated January 1899. Surveys made. Work to be begun soon. F. C. Flacher, Coalgrove, OH, an incorporator. NOTE: This railroad became a part of the Big Sandy & Cumberland, which ran from Devon into KY before it crossed into Buchanan County, VA. Until the early 1930's, folks going to Grundy rode to Devon and caught the BS & Cumberland at Devon. After entering and leaving KY, the Big Sandy & Cumberland entered Buchanan County, dropped into Slate Creek, and followed it into Grundy. It was an all- day's journey, but it beat the alternative of following what is today 460 over Sandy Ridge out of Tazewell County. That overland route, once part of the KY Turnpike System constructed in the 1850's,took about a week on rutted roads that disappeared in bad weather. The N & W incorporated the BS & Cumberland when the Buchanan coalfields opened up in the 1930's. West Virginia & Pocahontas. From Welch, WV, south up the South Fork of Tug River, to a point at or near its source at the state line. Incorporated April 1899. Isaac T. Mann, Bramwell, Incorporator. NOTE: Isaac T. Mann always managed to stay one step ahead of the N & W Railroad by incorporating routes he knew the N & W would want at some point. He thus managed to have input with the N & W and to negotiate routes and terms. Mr. Isaac T. Mann played hard ball. Kyle McCormick, in his centennial article on McDowell in West Virginia History, relates that the N & W was "reluctant to extend its lines into the Atkin District of McDowell County" when Judge Gary of United States Coal and Coke wanted to open coal mines for manufacture of steel. "Judge Gary through Isaac T. Mann, a Bramwell banker, secured an option on the coal lands of the territory penetrated by the railway. He sold these lands back to the railway company at a profit of some six million dollars for himself and Mr. Mann, [and ]he contracted to open the mine at Gary. " ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WV'S RAILROAD INCORPORATIONS IN McDOWELL COUNTY, WV (from VPI's Special Library, Manuscript Guide) NOTE: Incorporation didn't necessarily mean railroads were actually built--but that they could be. The N & W later picked up most of the following options: WVA SW Railway. Incorporated 1902 to build a railroad in McDowell WV & Ironton Railway, Inc. Incorporated in 1888 to build a railroad from McDowell County, WV, to Wayne Co., WV. Tug River and North Fork Railroad. Incorporated in WV in 1899 to build a railroad in McDowell. VA and OH Railroad Co. Incorporated in WV in 1887 to build a railroad from McDowell Co. toCabell Co., WV. Caretta Railroad. Ran from Caretta Branch Junction to the Caretta mine of Carter Coal Company (3 miles). Chartered in WV in 1906 to build a railroad in McDowell. The Caretta Line, then, was a working railroad. SW VA Railroad Company. Incorporated in WV in 1901 to build a railroad in McDowell. Submitted by June White ******************************************************88 STRENUOUS TIMES AT BLUESTONE JUNCTION Pomp Wright, colored, was arraigned in Squire Brown's court yesterday afternoon on a charge of felonious assault and gave bond in the sum of $500.00 for his appearance on Monday for further investigation. The following facts were developed at the hearing: Pomp runs a restaurant at Bluestone Junction, and Thursday night, after the arrival of train No. 3, John McFarland and a friend went into the restaurant and ordered fish. They were served the fish and while Pomp went to the rear to get them some bread, McFarland began to quarrel with the quality of the fish. When Pomp came back they had some words and the restaurant keeper was invited to come outside and settle the dispute, fist and skull. Pomp went out and gave McFarland a sound thrashing, but in the encounter sustained a long ugly gash in the top of the head. As soon as he could extricate himself, McFarland went in search of some officer who would have authority to arrest his assailant and succeeded in finding Special Agent D. O Baldwin of this city (Bluefield). Mr. Baldwin at once went to Pomp's place of business and searched the premises. He went, as he thought, into every room and found no one there. McFarland, however, insisted that Wright had not had time to get away and insisted that Mr. Baldwin make another search. This he did and was fired upon from a dark room. Pomp fired three shots from a Winchester rifle at the special agent but all of the bullets went wild. Mr. Baldwin, who was unarmed, called out to McFarland, to give him a pistol quickly. This was done, and the special agent, who has the use of only one hand, his right arm having been broken some time ago and now being in plaster of paris, fired one shot at Pomp. The bullet took effect in the left shoulder, and Pomp at once capitulated. The prisoner was then taken to Welch. ****************************************************** July 1, 1903 KILLED A MULE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ORDERS STANDARD RAILROADS IN McDOWELL BEFORE N & W/ N & S BIG RAILROAD BOOM IN WEST VIRGINIA: 36 PROJECTS UNDERWAY Bluefield Daily Telegraph, The good times in West Virginia [following the depression in the 1890's] are having a result that could be expected--a boom in railroad construction. According to the semi-annual construction supplement of the Railroad Gazette, there are 37 railroad projects under way in West Virginia, and these are enumerated below. . . [McDOWELL's PROJECTS] Tug River & Elk Fork. Welch, West Virginia. Southeast about twenty miles through McDowell County to a point near the north said fork and south fork of Tug River, and thence across the line to Pocahontas,VA. Incorporated April 29, 1899. C. L. Ritter of Welch and E. M. Watts, Huntington, Incorporators. Clear Fork & Pocahontas Coal. From the N & W at Gordon Station, WV, at the mouth of Clear Fork Creek, to run to Cooper's Creek, with a branch up Jacobs Fork and down Dry Fork to the Virginia line and to another branch down Dry Fork to Perryville, in McDowell County. Incorporated April 11, 1899. Charles E. Ritchie, Akron, Ohio, an incorporator. West Virginia & Kentucky. Devon, WV (at the mouth of Knox Creek, which headquartered Knox Creek Lumber Company) south to Paw Paw, KY. Incorporated January 1899. Surveys made. Work to be begun soon. F. C. Flacher, Coalgrove, OH, an incorporator. NOTE: This railroad became a part of the Big Sandy & Cumberland, which ran from Devon into KY before it crossed into Buchanan County, VA. Until the early 1930's, folks going to Grundy rode to Devon and caught the BS & Cumberland at Devon. After entering and leaving KY, the Big Sandy & Cumberland entered Buchanan County, dropped into Slate Creek, and followed it into Grundy. It was an all- day's journey, but it beat the alternative of following what is today 460 over Sandy Ridge out of Tazewell County. That overland route, once part of the KY Turnpike System constructed in the 1850's,took about a week on rutted roads that disappeared in bad weather. The N & W incorporated the BS & Cumberland when the Buchanan coalfields opened up in the 1930's. West Virginia & Pocahontas. From Welch, WV, south up the South Fork of Tug River, to a point at or near its source at the state line. Incorporated April 1899. Isaac T. Mann, Bramwell, Incorporator. NOTE: Isaac T. Mann always managed to stay one step ahead of the N & W Railroad by incorporating routes he knew the N & W would want at some point. He thus managed to have input with the N & W and to negotiate routes and terms. Mr. Isaac T. Mann played hard ball. Kyle McCormick, in his centennial article on McDowell in West Virginia History, relates that the N & W was "reluctant to extend its lines into the Atkin District of McDowell County" when Judge Gary of United States Coal and Coke wanted to open coal mines for manufacture of steel. "Judge Gary through Isaac T. Mann, a Bramwell banker, secured an option on the coal lands of the territory penetrated by the railway. He sold these lands back to the railway company at a profit of some six million dollars for himself and Mr. Mann, [and ]he contracted to open the mine at Gary. " **************************************************** Bluefield Daily Telegraph July 8, 9 1903 This latest story is vouched for by witnesses whose veracity cannot be questioned: The story was given the Daily Telegraph man in detail last night by a gentleman of undoubted integrity and has been corroborated by several reliable parties. The facts in the case are substantially as follows: John McFarland, who is chief of police at North Fork, attended the ball game at Bramwell Thursday and was fired on from a dark room. Pomp fired three shots at the special agent, but all of the bullets went wild. Mr. Baldwin called out to McFarland to give him a pistol quickly. This was done, and the special agent, who has the use of only one hand, his right arm having been broken some time ago and now being in plaster of paris, fired one shot at Pomp. The bullet took effect in the left shoulder, and Pomp at once capitulated. The prisoner was then taken to Welch and was brought her yesterday for trial. ********************************************************** Bluefield Daily Telegraph, July 9, 1903 DUNN IN DETAIL: Further Facts Relating to the Tragedy Furnished by the McDowell Recorder Additional details of the killing of Elmer Dunn, son of John W. Dunn, who lives nearPrinceton in this (Mercer) County, are furnished (to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph) by this following from the McDowell Recorder: Elmer Dunn, a popular young man who has been employed by the Ritter Lumber Company on Bradshaw,about twelve miles from Iaeger, was fatally shot by Corbin Riffe, a native of that section of the county, Thursday evening at 7 o'clock, living only an hour afterward. The shot was fired from a shotgun and tore a large hole in the abdomen of young Dunn. Moonshine "licker" which it is said is manufactured in large quantities in that section of the county, seems to have been the cause of the killing. It is reported that Riffe had had a disagreement with another man named Sparks as well as an abundance of the house-made liquor and had gotten a shot gun and wa presumably going after the man when he passed Dunn, who spoke to him very pleasantly, and in reply Riffe cursed Dunn using the most offensive language. Later in the evening Riffe and Dunn were at a house engaged in a stag dance when Riffe commenced pointing his loaded gun at the feet of Dunn, who asked him what he meant. Riffe continued keeping the tun towards Dunn's feet when the latter called the former out to one side, shortly after which the report of the gun was heard and Dunn was seen to fall to the ground. Riffe was taken before Squire Auville at Iaeger who sent him to jail here to await the grand jury. Both men were young, neither having a family. ********************************************************* Bluefield Daily Telegraph, July 19, 1903 Cap't. J. A. Hedrick has resigned his position as foreman for L. H. Vaughan & Co. to accept a position with the Zenith Coal and Coke Company. ******************************************************** WV'S RAILROAD INCORPORATIONS IN McDOWELL COUNTY, WV (from VPI's Special Library, Manuscript Guide) NOTE: Incorporation didn't necessarily mean railroads were actually built--but that they could be. The N & W later picked up most of the following options: * WVA SW Railway. Incorporated 1902 to build a railroad in McDowell * WV & Ironton Railway, Inc. Incorporated in 1888 to build a railroad from McDowell County, WV, to Wayne Co., WV. * Tug River and North Fork Railroad. Incorporated in WV in 1899 to builda railroad in McDowell. * VA and OH Railroad Co. Incorporated in WV in 1887 to build a railroad from McDowell Co. toCabell Co., WV. * Caretta Railroad. Ran from Caretta Branch Junction to the Caretta mine of Carter Coal Company (3 miles). Chartered in WV in 1906 to build a railroad in McDowell. The Caretta Line, then, was a working railroad. SW VA Railroad Company. Incorporated in WV in 1901 to build a railroad in McDowell. Submitted by June White **************************************************************** Bluefield Daily Telegraph October 10, 1903 (ZENITH) PROGRESSING RAPIDLY BEST EQUIPMENT. . .MONSTER TIPPLE The Zenith Coal and Coke Company, at the head of North Fork in Burks will soon be ready for shipping. One would be surprised to go there and note what has been done within the past two months. The mile and a half of roadbed from Ashland to the new operation has been graded and the ties are down, ready for the rails. This will be one of the best plants in this entire field for the mining and shipping of coal when completed. The drift mouth for No. 1 and also No. 2 mines have been driven for at least one hundred and fifty feet, and the coal is being put in place for shipment. Their electric plant installed by the company will be among the very best and the dynamos are of the largest in the Flat Top section. The machine and blacksmith shops have been erected and are in readiness for installing the machinery, some of which is now on the ground. They have a Bromwell air compressor capable of running light coal cutting mahines. The company has completed a finely constructed tipple. The coal will be hauled from the mines by eight ton Westinghouse electric motors. The work of installing the power-house machinery is being pushed rapidly. The Zenith company has it s own sawmill and the great quantities of timber needed for construction of the many necessary buildings for this huge undertaking are being rapidly turned out. They also have a rockcrusher in full blast furnishing the large amount of sand and crushed rock needed for the construction work. The entries are known as Nos. 1 and 2 and others will be started soon. The dynamos are 150 K.W.250 horse-power and the boilers are 225 horse-power. The store of this company ranks with the best. There is nothing that anyone could wish that cannot be secured at this commissary. We regret that scardity of space forbids our giving a more lengthy account of what is being done by these people. But in a very short time theirs will be one of the best equipped operations in the state, as nothing but the very best of everything is being used. This is one of the prettiest sites in this section for a town, and there is but little doubt in the mind ofthe writer that there will be many new buildings erected and the place will take on the look of a real live, up-to-date town as much individual property can be had. The town is now incorporated with a mayor, one regular and two extra policemen and six councilmen. Lambert is the name of the post office. There are now four good stores, two restaurants and a saloon (of course)--all on independent land not under the control of the company. The Zenith Company now employs about two hundred men. W. H. Coffman (Kaufman) is president, S. F. Kauffman, secretary and treasurer; J. F. Bohannon, general superintendent; and R. M. Shelton, bookkeeper. Mr. M. Finley of this city (Bluefield) the mechanical engineer, is putting in the plant. ************************************************** Bluefield Daily Telegraph, October 10, 11 1903 Submitted by June White COLONEL JOHN D. HEWITT 1847-1903 Col. John D. Hewitt, whose death was noted in yesterday's Daily Telegraph, will be buried at Bramwell. The funeral will take place tomorrow at 2 o'clock. The body will arrive from Philadelphia this afternoon on No. 1. Mrs. Hewitt arrived in Philadelphia before the Colonel's death. Messers. Harry Bowen, John J.Tierney and J. C. Pack were with him during his illness. It seems that he was in Philadelphia on a business visit to Castner, Caran & Bulitt and was taken ill at the hotel. Colonel Hewitt had been ill but a short time and had gone to a sanitorium in Philadelphia to be treated for appendicitis. Pneumonia set in and his condition became alarming. His family were notified by Mr. Pack, who had accompanied Hewitt to Philadelphia. Mrs. Hewitt left for her husband's bedside Thursday afternoon on No. 2. Shortly after she had gone, a message was received that the end had come 11 o'clock yesterday morning. Col. Hewitt was prominent in the social and business life of this section and state. He took an active interest in politics and for fifteen years has been a member of the Republican State Committee. He was on Governor' Atkinson's staff and on the staff of Governor White. He was the party's nominee for state senate in 1898 and has always been high in the councils of the party. Col. Hewitt was born in Lancaster, England, in 1847, and came with his parents to the United States,locating in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in the anthracite coal mines. Afterwardx he went to Blossburg, Troga County, PA, and at the time the Civil War was breaking out, he enlisted into the 13th Pennslvania Cavalry and served nearly two years. At the expirement of his enlistment, he went into the PIttsburgh coal field, where he remained until 1886, when he came to the Flat Top Field. He was among the first to appreciate the great future in store for the Flat Top Field, identified himself with it, and became one foremost of the energetic men who developed this great region. He was president of the Buckeye Coportation and an officer in the Keystone Corporation and was interested in several other operations. He was a member of the Ivanhoe Commandry, Knights Templar, and of Beni-Kedetu Temple of Shriners. He was a member of the Episcopal Church. Col. Hewitt leaves a wife and five children, several of them grown. To those who knew Col. Hewitt, there was no better man. He was a steadfast friend, a good citizen,an indulgent father and husband. His life should be an incentive to every boy who aspires to be successful. By energy and honesty he made his way as a miner to mine owner, and to affluence, wealth, and sincere esteem of a community and state.