Impediments To Departure

This article from the July 21, 1877 issue of the Baltimore Sun describes the rioters' confrontations with a Baltimore and Ohio railroad engineer and brakeman as well as the Baltimore Police.

IMPEDIMENTS TO DEPARTURE.

The train provided by the railroad company to convey the troops to their destination contained ten coaches, including a "palace" car to the rear for the accommodation of the officers. A. J. Fairbank, an officer of the company, superintended the embarkation. Engine No. 410, of which George Barley is engineer and Lewis Hess fireman, stood at the Barre-street crossing, with steam up, ready to haul the train out. The demonstration against the engineer and fireman was so great that they were compelled to desert the engine, having first been stoned by the mob. The engine was afterwards completely disabled by stones thrown at it by the mob.

The riotous demonstration up to this time was principally at the Barre-street crossing, but a charge upon the rioters compelled them to retreat to the lower end of the depot, at the corner of Lee street. The dispatcher's office, located on the platform inside the depot, near Lee street, was next attacked, and completely riddled with stones, and the telegraph operators compelled to leave their posts.

About 200 policemen were in and about the depot, who did all in their power to quell the disturbance, and during the night several arrest [sic] were made, and the prisoners taken to the southern police station. An attack was then made on the policemen Streckfus and Fairbanks while having a prisoner in custody, and the both had their heads cut.