Reassuring First Hand Report From Charlotte by S.H. Farabee, Aug. 27, 1919

From the Hickory Daily Record, Aug. 27, 1919

Hickory Guards on Duty in Charlotte Today. . . No Casualties on Charlotte Front. . . Sentiment in Charlotte Decidedly in Favor of Car Men

By S.H. Farabee

Charlotte, N.C., August 27—The Hickory home guards, augmented by men from the marines, “Old Hickory” and “Wild Cat” divisions, composing the reserve militia, spent their first night on the firing line without a casualty or the semblance of a disturbance, and most of the boys are piled up asleep today in the old auditorium building.

The trip to Charlotte was without incident. Hugh D’Anna’s car took the lead and found trouble the other side of Lincolnton, and was passed by K.C. Menzies’ machine, which then caught none of the dust. The cars parked just out of Charlotte and with the arrival of Capt. Abernethy and their other officers and the other machines, trailed into Charlotte behind a local pilot. The boys had supper, received their ammunition and instructions, and walked the cement.

Zell Setzer and Zeb Buchanan came in late, but Zeb was allowed to seek rest in a hotel early, to be followed by K.C. Menzies and John Cilley Sr., in spite of their protests, and this trio was said to be looking pert today. It was midnight before the men were assigned to duty, and it was 1:10 this morning before an unfortunate squad was relieved. The others went off about 7 o’clock. The mistake was on the part of the relieving company, which neglected to send a squad to release Geo. Watson’s men. Those who shared the morning hours with Sergt. Watson and missed a regular breakfast were Corp. Lafayette Miller and Privates Speas, Donald Menzies, Hugh D’Anna, A.L. Pope, and S.H. Farabee, all of whom have secret thoughts. Sgt. Benfield came to the rescue of the lost squad.

Now for the strike. Sentiment in Charlotte was decidedly in favor of the street car men and it is asserted that they would have won out had not a lot of rough necks in North Charlotte, without solicitation, gone on strike at the mills and devoted their efforts to winning the contest for the car men. Not all the citizens of North Charlotte are condemned by any means, but it is generally agreed that there ar a lot of gunmen in that section who would stoop to anything and it is this bunch of ruffians, as they are freely termed, that the trouble is due.

It was declared today that the North Charlotte gang has a big rock across the street car track, marked “Hindenburg Line,” and will defy the car company to operate cars to that section.

A number of cars were operating this morning and will continue to be run. No trouble is feared as long as the State Militia are on the scene, but it is predicted that more rough stuff will follow when they return home.

All the boys are well.

The Hickory company will remain until about Sunday.