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William G. Thomas
Copyright Statement
The developments of the local railroad strike during the past two days are terrible to relate. On Saturday afternoon an attempt was made to clear the blockade of the Pennsylvania Central line by force of arms, and a terrible slaughter followed. Over thirty people were killed and nearly one hundred were wounded, many of them seriously. This followed an order rashly given to the Philadelphia soldiery to fire into the crowd of citizens, and the scenes of yesterday were scarcely less appalling. The reign of the mob was supreme all day long. Infuriated by the massacre at Twenty-eighth street on Saturday afternoon, the crowds sought revenge not only on the Philadelphia soldiers but also on the Pennsylvania Railroad. From the latter they secured an appalling revenge in the fearful destruction of property, valued at many millions of dollars. From the former they secured the still more terrible revenge of blood for blood and life for life. The destruction of railroad property was complete from Millvale station to the Pan Handle office, a distance of over two miles. The Outer Depot, the Union Depot, the Pan Handle Depot and general office, one hundred and forty locomotives and over a thousand freight cars were laid to ruins by the torch of incendiary. From the public property the flames were communicated to private property on Washington and Fountain streets. But the story is fully told below.
Saturday, a day long to be remembered by Pittsburgers, dawned bright and beautiful. The situation remained practically unchanged from that described in our latest reports of Saturday morning. The strikers of the Pennsylvania Central road remained stationed along the line from Torren's station to the Union depot during the entire night. Many people who had been attracted to the Outer depot, and about East Liberty during Friday retired at a late hour to snatch a few hours' sleep to be refreshed for the next day's proceedings. The departure of these, however, made no appreciable diminution of the vast crowds which remained along the line throughout the night. This vast assemblage was composed of railroad employes [sic] , [rolling] mill men, mechanics, loafers generally and women and children. The actual number of strikers of the Pennsylvania Central line at this juncture did not exceed three hundred men. All the brakemen and flagment [sic] most of the conductors and some few of the engineers and firemen of the freight trians of the Western division made up the list. The engineers as a body had not yet determined by resolution to take part in the strike, but the large majority of their number were eager to do so. The friends and sympathizers with the striking trainmen made up the great majority of the crowds which lined the road at the dawn of Saturday.
All was quit [sic] and orderly about the Outer Depot at the break of day on Saturday. There was a large crowd present, however, which constantly kept increasing as the day advanced. The strikers freely expressed their determination to resist and attempts to start out a freight train under the "double header" order and declared they would fight the last militiaman had been killed if the soldiers were ordered to protect the crew of such a train. The Fourteenth and Nineteenth regiments and the Hutchinson battery had been sent out to the vicinity of Twenty-eighth street during the early morning and the soldiers kept circulating among the crowds, joking with the strikers and their sympathizers. The passenger trains of the Central road and those of the Allegheny Valley line were allowed to pass the surging mass of people unmolested. No attempt had yet been made to remove any of the freight cars, of which nearly a thousand had been blocked on the sidings, and there was therefore no cause for excitement. Soon the report was freely circulated that the Philadelphia militiamen would arrive about noon. It was also stated that these troops would be ordered to the place to protect the company and everybody stood waiting the fulfillment of these prophecies. The officials of the company made an attempt to place ice about in the cars of some of the perishable freight, and forty men were engaged for this purpose. These men went to work but before they had accomplished much, a number of the strikers waiting upon them and thereupon they abandoned their work.
While every person was waiting for something to turn up a meeting of strikers was organized about Twenty-eight street. One engineer secured the attention of some of the strikers and made a speech advocating peace and order. He was follwed by Dr. E. Donnelly, who, addressing the strikers as follows, exhorted them not to resort to violence. No strike, he said, had ever yet succeeded where violence was resorted to. He urged them to be prudent upon the arrival of the troops from the east. "The troops from Philadelphia," said he, "and the troops from Easton and elsewhere, are not to you like Duquesnes Greys, or the Fourteenth regiment, or the Nineteenth regiment. They are not, you may say, your brothere [sic] . You cannot go to them and take their hands and say to them, 'How are you, Jim?' or 'How are you, Tom?' or 'How is it with you, Patrick?' These men will come here strangers to you, and they will come here regarding you as we regarded the rebels during the rebellion, and there will be no friendly feeling between you and them. For this reason, I implore you, for God's sake, to stand back when they arrive, to stand off and allow your leaders, who hold the throttle of this movement, to deal, with them. For this reason I implore those of you who have no business here to go home to your families. It is your duty to do so; it is your duty to them, to your country and to the laws of your country. Leave the matter in the hands of your leaders who know what is for the best better than you do and you will leave it in good hands. I have been assured of this. I have been informed by the men who are leading this strike that they will exercise the greatest caution and forebearance when the soldiers arrive, and I entreat you to stand back and let them manage the thing in their own way." The speech was received with great cheering and shouts of approval. Mr. Newburn, an engineer, wos [sic] next called upon and he, too, exhorted the people to avoid a riot. Col. Moffat and others made addresses, all giving the same counsel, and it was hoped that violence would not follow.
A number of the strikers and their friends, including engineers, firemen, conductors and brakemen at the same time were in session at the round house. By this time it was generally believed that all the employes [sic] the frieght [sic] trains on the central road were participants in the strike, although no official notice that effect had been given to the railroad officials except at the conferences had on Friday. However the meeting was attended by all classes of trainmen who unanimously adopted the following resolutions:
Resolved, By the trainmen and employes [sic] of the Pennsylvania Railroad and leased lines in convention assembled, that we will in no wise interfere with the passenger traffic or the United States mail trains.
Resolved, That we agree to furnish a full crew of men, free of charge, to promptly move all the city freight now in their yard intended for Pittsburgh firms to the Duquesne depot.
Resolved, That we appreciate the sympathy so fully tendered us by the public at large.
The speeches and these resolutions showed that while the strikers are determined to hold the fort they had no desire to resort to riot and bloodshed. A few of the idle men however, who were not and perhaps never had been employed on any of the railroads, talked of fighting and the more prudent and cautious citizens feared that they would put their threats into execution. In the meantime, Major General Pearson, Adjutant General Latta and several of the most of the prominent officials of the road were in consultation. The result of the deliberations they refused to make known. It was declared that they had decided to send out a "double header" freight train at the risk of riot, but no such attempt has been made since Thursday last. The officials knew full well that by far the largest part of the crowd was composed of idle laborers, who were not railroad men, and they felt disposed to have these driven away from their property. They objected to these men aiding the strikers to prevent other men from taking the places of the latter. Dispatches were received by the managers from the head authorities of other railroad companies, exhorting them to stand firm against the strikers. The influence of success to the strikers, they said, would be disastrous to all the railroads of the land.
About one o'clock, when the crowd had been considerably diminished by spectators leaving the Outer Depot for dinner, a passenger train came in sight around the bend at Lawrencevilla. Thinking it was "peculiar" the strikers retained their equilibrium and made no stir over it. But as it came in sight the military hats and clothing were observed, and every striker on the ground was on his feet in an instant. The train slackened up as it approached the crossing and passed at a slow rate, showing six carloads of uniformed men, armed and eqquipped [sic] with blankets. As it passed, some of the more impulsive strikers set up a yell, and others cheered. The train went on to the Union Depot. An intensely bitter feeling was manifested against the foreign soldiers, and here and there man of the striking railroaders, and in many cases among the idlers threats were made of killing them if they were sent upon the ground. From the crowds about the track the excitement over the arrival of the Philadelphians spread to the crowds upon the street corners. The businessmen along Penn avenue, too, joined in the discussion of this topic and the universal verdict was given that a grave mistake had been made in calling out the troops. Shortly before two o'clock and the passenger train came in sight and there was another rush of the crowd to see if there was any foreign militiamen aboard. These who expected to see more troops were not diappointed. It was a special train containing several hundred more Philadelphians. This train too was run slowly past the crowd to the Union Depot.
About noon Messrs Hampton and Dalzeli, solicitors at this point for the Pennsylvania Railroad, applied to Judge Ewing before the Court of Common Pleas No. 2 for warrant for the arrest of the strikers. The required information, charging them with riot, was made by D. M. Watt, the chief clerk to Superintendent Pitcairn. Quite a lengthy affidavit, sworn to by Mr. Watt, was read, setting forth the circumstances of the riot, and giving the names of some of the strikers. The proceedings are had under an act of Assembly approved 1874, providing that any Judge of the Common Pleas Court may sit as a justice of the peace, and issue his warrant for the arrest of participants in the strike. The warrant was issued and shortly after two o'clock Sheriff Fife, with a posse of fifty men, proceeded to Twenty-eighth street, with a view of arresting the ring leaders at that point. He had considerable difficulty in securing persons to serve. Nearly all of the ward constables were captured just in the act of serving important writs, while others begged to be excused from the service. He finally succeeded, however, and started toward the depot. The crowd at Twenty-eighth street had heard of this maneuver, and the leaders of the strikers counseled their men not to resist the civil authorities. The Sheriff, however, found the crowd thoroughly excited and the feeling very bitter. The multitude was so vast that his posse of men amounted to scarcely more than the drop in a bucket of water. In short he found that any attempt to disperse the crowd or capture the ring leaders would be utterly useless. His men, too, became dispersed and beyond one or two arrests their efforts were fruitless.
The Philadelphia soldiers dismounted at the Union Depot and were furnished with refreshments. In the meantime Gen. Pearson, in full uniform, and Messrs. Cassatt and Pitcairn were again in consultation. The railroad officials were anxious to send out a train and it was reported that the soldiers were to be stationed all along the line from the Union Depot to Torrens station. It was arranged that the Philadelphia troops should occupy those positions at which most resistance was likely to be made. The presence of foreign soldiers at these points, it was doubtless though, would frighten the crowd at the Outer Depot. The multitude kept increasing as the afternoon passed away, until towards five o'clock the railroad crossing and tracks at Twenty-eighth street were crowded with eager and excited people. The crowd extended many yards in every direction, until there was almost a solid mass of living humanity covering a large area.
The bloody affray in which over thirty people lost their lives, occured between five and six o'clock. At the latter hour there was a vast assemblage of men, women and chilred loitering about the Outer Depot. The crowd was quiet and orderly, and as the day had thus far passed without the loss of life, many of the more conservative and thinking spectators indulged the hope that the troubles would be finally settled in peace, without a conflict. But how sad was their disappiontment, and how quickly it came! Even while they were indulging in the hope a murmur and cries of "there they come," arose from the multitude. All eyes were turned eagerly towards the Union Depot. In the distance was seen marching up in measured time a solid column of soldiery. Their bright bayonents [sic] glistening in the rays of the sun. Their weary feet came down in measured tread and the entire line moved with the regularity and precision of clock work. Eager to catch a better view of the moving column this vast multitude surged to and fro till there was imminent danger of helpless women and innocent children being crushed to death. As the troops slowly approached the crowd became more and more excited and many of the more cautious moved to places of greater safety. Others rushed madly towards the troops, eager to learn their intentions and unconscious of the danger which awaited them. The monotonous tapping of the drum was distinctly heard as the Philadelphians drew near and Superintendent Pitcairn and Sheriff Fife could be readily recognized at the front of the row, surrounding the Sheriff was the posse of constables and officers who had been summoned to his aid to arrest the ringleaders of the strike on the warrants issued by Judge Ewing. Then the crowd began to scatter to make room for the moving column. As the troops drew nearer the silence of the spectators and strikers was broken by a storm of hisses, hoots, yells and cheers. Steadily, however, the troops marched into the very midst of the crowd, and the next moment the Sheriff and his men had mingled with the surging mass. The sheriff endeavored to make himself heard but this was impossible, owing to the confusion, but still the soldiers pushed slowly into the crowd until the order to halt was given. At this time the hillside was literally covered with men, women and children, mostly spectators, who were in a manner penned up. There was no escape in front; there was no escape behind except by scaling a steep hill. The two Philadelphia regiments, drawn up in a double line, began to march backward and forward to clear the tracks, and the crowd gave way before them. Superintendent Pitcairn and Sheriff Fife occupied a prominent position in the front, standing side by side. Several prominent citizens excitedly rushed to the official, and inquired in an eager and excited manner of the programme that had been prepared. With palid lips Mr. Pitcairn replied that "God only knew what could be done."
In the meantime the cries and yells of the crowd grew louder and fiercer, and the excitement became still more intense. The Jefferson cavalry were drawn up on the right of the platform, while the Fourteenth and Nineteenth regiments were postposted [sic] on the hillside above the tracks, as was Hutchinson's battery, with its two large brass pieces frowning down on the excited throng. The Philadelphia troops, numbering eight hundred men, now made preparations to disperse the crowd. They were ordered to form a hollow square, and it was intended to place the two gatling guns with which they came provided in the centre [sic] . The order was given to this effect, and the jostling and scuffling began. The military were hemmed in on all sides by the strikers and their friends, so that their movements were made with great difficulty. Finally, three sides of the square were formed, one side facing the hill, another facing the east, and thus troops of the third also stood facing the people on the hill, with their backs to Twenty-eighth street. The men back in order to form the eastern line, and during the scuffling which followed the civilians grasped the bayonets of the military. "You sympathized with our cause, and you wouldn't shoot a working man," cried the daring fellows who thus toyed with the deadly instruments in the hands of the visitors. This rashness encouraged the crowd in the rear, the men there continued yelling and hooting, and many insulting epithets were hurled into the faces of the visiting soldiery, while the shouts of derision were no less exasperating. The local troops on the hillside all the while remained passive. The Light Blues of Philadelphia were here ordered to
They performed a soldiers' [sic] duty in obeying the order. Great confusion followed, and the excitement became still more intense. Pressed by the mass of excited people the militia men fell back. Then an order was issued to the Dark Blues of Philadelphia to charge. With fixed bayonet the Dark Blues responded. The jam was great, however, and the crowds struggled fiercely but ineffectually, to make way for the glittering, menacing bayonet, and when the crowd saw the blood trickling from his face, every person became exasperated. The people on the hillside began to scramble toward the top. In the meantime the struggle continued on the platform. Then some malicious boys on the adjacent hill let drive a volley of stones into both the ranks of the militia and the crowd of people. This was the signal for the massacre and there quickly
in sharp, decisive tones. Who gave the command can not be ascertained. It was stated that General Pearson was the man, but the story is not to be credited without further substantiation. Perhaps some excited member of the soldiery, perhaps some malicious person in the crowd gave the order, but the troops understood it to have issued from the officers, and they obeyed the command. Scarcely had the order died away until the firing of a musket resounded in the air. The sharp retort was almost instantly followed by a second and a deadly battle was commenced. The terror of the moment can scarcely be imagined. Before either the soliders or the civilians could realize the fact the massacre was in progress. The troops shot out in every direction. The strikers fled precipitately but the speed of the musket ball was swifter and here and there fell a man or a woman mortally wounded. Many who had the presence of mind dropped to the earth uninjured to escape. Others rushed pell mell into a deep ditch that runs along the hillside. One volley swept the people stationed on the hill. Another volley was sent down Twenty-eighth street. Then the officers of the Philadelphians sent their efforts to prevent further shooting. The soldiers therein as well as the people had been seized with frenzy, and some of them kept firing contrary to the orders of their superiors. The great majority behaved like soldiers in obeying the latter as well as all former commands, however, and it was not long until the shooting had been arrested. Some of the strikers, or rather, many of the crowd were armed with revolvers and not a few answered the shots of musketry with the shots of pistol. The excitement was now up to such a high pitch, the frenzy so great that the people scarcely knew what they did.
The scenes now were fearful and beggar all descriptions. Women and children rushed frantically about, some seeking safety, others calling for friends and relatives. Strong men halted with fears and trembling with excitement, rushed madly to and fro, trampling upon the killed and wounded as well as upon those who had dropped to mother earth to escape injury and death. Then the crowd became more calm and the fearful result of the rash command to fire became more apparent, more startling. Many who it was believed had fallen to escape the leaden shower had fallen, pierced by the bullets of soldiers. Bodies dripping with blood and writhing in agony were tenderly lifted from the earth and carried off the scene of battle. The lifeless forms of the others who, but a few moments before, felt secure in the belief that sympathy would be extended them were sorrowfully gathered from the tracks and streets, and conveyed away, some to adjoining undertaker's establishments, others to the offices of physicians, and still others into private residences. The excited ejaculations of the crowds who swore vengeance failed to drown the cries of the wounded. At one time nine bodies were lying wettering in blood in the office of Dr. McCready, on Penn avenue. Ministers and physicians were eagerly sought to aid and comfort the wounded and dying. Many members of the crowd rushed about yelling and cursing, raving to have blood for blood. The denunciation of the Philadelphians were loud, fierce and bitter.
The members of the local military, stationed on the hillside, witness the firing with horror and beheld the results with mingled feelings of alarm and frenzy. Many of them were among the loudest sympathizers of the railroad men, and it was with difficulty that the officers could restrain some of their men from firing on their brother soldiers from Philadelphia, who had been summoned to their aid by the call of their own commander. They marched from the place, dropped their uniforms and were seen no more. The Philadelphians resolutely stood their ground, amidst all the fierce denunciation and the threats of vengeance which greeted them. At eight o'clock, however, those who had stood their guard at the crossing, prevented all from passing, fell back to the round house, where they were screened from Liberty street by the walls of the Pennsylvania Railroad buildings; also by the numberous freight cars which blocked up the sidings. Then the crowd began to reassemble at the crossing. Not only the crossing, but Penn avenue as far up and down as the eye could reach was thronged with people. At every turn was to be heard nothing but deep and long denunciation of the company, of Gen. Pearson and of the attacking military. Citizens assembled all along the sidewalk, and men were advised to get their arms. Citizens were active in rousing the spirits of the strikers. In the midst of all the dead and wounded would be carried past on stretchers or [hauled] in undertakers' wagons. Still the crowd increased.
Shortly after nine o'clock a score of railroad men stationed themselves about the round house and watched keenly for any soldier who might expose himself to fire, and emptied their revolvers several times without effect. Soon after they planted one piece of the captured Knap's Battery loaded to the muzzle with links and coupling pins. As they were about to discharge this fearful weapon the gunners were shot down by the soldiers and, at each new attempt, met with the same fate until they desisted.
About the time the crowd began firing on the soldiers in the round house, a number of civilians organized and marched up to Forty-third street, where they captured the armery [sic] at that point and secured several stand of arms. They then marched to the [Ralston] school house and forced the janitor to give the arms stored there ever since the rebellion. Another crowd marched to the arsenal but were refused admittance and were not foolhardy enough to attempt to force an entrance. Still another mob broke into a gun store on Penn avenue and secured thirty guns but no ammunition.
After the removal of the dead and wounded at Twenty-eighth street and the six-pound piece of Knap's battery, the leaders of the railroaders, who had been so busy before, suddenly disappeared, and they were seen no more among the wild and unorganized mob that began to burn and pillage freight cars. They mingled no more with the crowd, and were heard to regret deeply the destruction of property for which they felt only indirectly responsible, General Pearson and Sheriff Fife, as well as Superintendent Pitcairn and the other officials of the Pennsylvania Railroad, were not to be found at this time. They were "conspicuously absent" all day long yesterday. The action of the excited throng, from the time the Philadelphia troops took shelter in the round house, is recited elsewhere.
The Duqusne Greys remained all day long at Torrens station. The crowds there were very large but were orderly and after the news of the bloody fray at Twenty-eighth street was received, the crowd at once moved to that point. There was but little excitement at East Liberty yesterday. The stock is still held there, but none of the property there, whether held by private parties or whether belonging to the railroad company, was disturbed. The Greys dispersed when they learned that the men of the Fourteenth and Nineteenth Regiments and Knap's Battery had laid aside their arms and uniforms.
About half past eleven o'clock the crowd of people in the vicinity of the Twenty-eighth street crossing was numberless. Most all had been attracted there, expecting to see a terrible battle between the strikers and the Philadelphia troops. Suddenly a terrific yell went up from a crowd which had assembled about two hundred yards above Twenty-eighth street, and a moment later a burning oil car came down the road and ran against some freight cars standing in front of the round house, in which the Philadelphia troops were, the intention of the incendiaries no doubt being to fire this building and compel the troops to face them. The strikers then began cutting the fire alarm wires, but nevertheless an alarm was sent in from box 64. The department promptly responded, but upon arriving within the square of the fire the engines were stopped by large crowds of workingmen, who threatened to shoot their horses if they attempted to extinguish the flames, which had by this time enveloped one car. The striking of the alarm was the signal for excitement, and thousands of people from all parts of the city proceeded to Twenty-eighth street and the surrounding hills.
As the burning car became well lighted other cars were uncoupled and sent down grade against it. Cars standing a short distance up the track were then fired amidst the cheers of the mob. The crowds continued increasing, both on the hillsides and on the streets, but no one attempted to interfere with the mob, who had everything their own way. It would have been certain death to any one had he attempted to extinguish the flames which were making rapid progress, and threated [sic] destructive work eventually. Several attempts were made by the firemen to gain possession of the plug, but in vain, as they were too well guarded by the friends of the strikers. At one o'clock several cars were totally destroyed and about five were ablaze. Thus the fire continued spreading, until every car on the track, between the round house and Thirty-third street, were destroyed. Before the trains were ignited, however, men, women and children broke into the cars and carried off everything they could get their hands on such as provisions, dry goods, etc. At three o'clock the roundhouse and all the adjoining buildings were in great danger, but it was daylight before the flames began to spread themselves in this direction. Now was the time for the Philadelphia troops to move or never. Several cars in the yard below the Transfer office were set on fire, being laden with combustible material, exploded and caused terror among the excited crowd.
The spread of the flames and the intense excitement of the crowd caused the troops to attempt an escape. They fired several shots into the crowd. At half-past seven the walls of the main office fell in, but meanwhile the soldiers were driven back into the shop. The military then made another desperate attempt to escape. They formed in solid column and came out throught the lumber yard at the side of the building and marched to Liberty street, with an immense mob after them. Their movements from thence are detailed elsewhere.
While many were watching the militia others continued cleaning out the cars of all their contents—soap, flour, hams, tobacco, dry goods, etc. The sand house, in close proximity with the round house, was previously destroyed and as if fell it was found the round house must go. The mob urged the flames on. As soon as one car was laid in ruins another one was shoved against it. None of the strikers who were at first conspicuous in the war against the company were to be found about at ten o'clock. Others took the matter in their own hands and for the sake of pillaging. At twenty minutes past eight o'clock the upper round house caught from the burning cars and in a few moments later it was a mass of ruins. The Union line offices ignited shortly afterwards and in fifteen minutes it was destroyed.
A number of buildings on Liberty street, owned by individuals, took fire at nine o'clock and after some delay the engines were allowed to play on them and succeeded in extinguishing all. As the flames continued progressing down the track towards the depot, which they had been doing all day, the firemen, following and maintined five streams on the buildings on the north side of Liberty street. The firemen experienced considerable trouble in subduing the fire in many places, but they finally did. St. Philomena church, at the corner of Sixteenth and Liberty streets, made a narrow escape. It was necessary for the department to throw four streams on this building for several hours. From this time on until the flames reached the depot yard there was not much trouble with private property on Liberty street.
At noon the crowd continued increasing. Liberty street and Penn avenue were blockaded in several places. And from the hillside overlooking the tracks thousands gazed upon the fiery element, but still no one dared interfere with those who urged its progress. A number of coal cars, heavily laden, were the next to go under. As the last freight car was burning and the strikers continued moving towards the depot threatening to burn the hotel building and in fact all the property of the company Prof. Andrew Burit and Dr. Donnelly stepped on the platform of a passenger coach and counseled with the mob, but no use, the latter were headed by several intoxicated persons (none of them the original strikers) and they were bent on mischief. The last frieght [sic] car having almost burned, and being off the track the mob could not well spread the blaze further unless they again applied the incendiary torch.
Seeing that the fire would not communicate with the depot building as quick as they desired, the mob began hurling stones at the beautiful Pullman palace and other passenger coaches until they were greatly damaged. While some were engaged at this work others entered the first coach and soon extinguished a fire that meant speedy work. Mayor McCarthy here made his appearance with about 25 policemen. Edging his way through the crowd, which was moving backward as the flames came in, he sought out several of the ringleaders, with whom he endeavored to reason. He succeeded in getting them to follow him to the front of the building, where he endeavored to make a speech to them, but they would not allow him to be heard, and the Mayor left the crowd in disgust.
Still the flames did not spread fast enough for the mob, and about fifty entered the Depot Master's office, and there, after taking and destroying everything of value, deliberately set the place on fire. A moment later the building, which was a two-story frame, became enveloped in flames. At this juncture the situation assumed a more serious aspect than at any time during the strike, as most all the ringleaders were discovered to be more or less intoxicated. Citizens on all sides were heard to remark that now the matter had gone far enough and they hoped the mob would desist or be compelled to. Most everybody became alarmed and suggested all sorts of plans to successfully restore the law, but still none dared interfere. In the meantime the flames became fiercer and many shuddred as they gazed on the sight. But a moment more and the
would be ablaze. "Can nothing be done?" "Will nothing be done?" were the expressions of many, to which there was no reply. In the midst of all this the mob shouted and busied themselves carrying off provisions, etc. Suddenly a terrific explosion occurred, followed by another and another. This scattered the crowd, but nothing more. About four o'clock the depot building caught, and at five it was nothing but ruins. However, before the building took fire the mob entered and cleaned out most every department of valuable articles. Some even carried off bed clothes, pitchers, books and papers. As the rear portion of the building was being rapidly enveloped in flames all those who had seen the approaching danger ran from the building. Five men, however, were in
The building was fast going to ruins, and no one dreamt of there being any one within. Presently the vast crowd was startled to see at a third story window a man, who, after staring around took in the situation, and proceeded to climb out of the window. As he was doing so everybody seemed spellbound. Gradually working his way down he reached th second story window, and grasping a firm hold on the cornice work succeeded in reaching the large porch in front of the building. He had no sooner reached here than five other men made their appearance at another window Their position was indeed perilous, but they reached the porch in safety. Still they were not safe, and they ran to and fro in the wildest excitement. At last one of the party was directed to the roof of the shed on the north side of the building, where he escaped followed by the remainder. They had no sooner reached terra firma than another man came to a third story window on the side of the building. He escaped in the same manner, after leaping some twenty feet.
It seemed but a moment from the time this building became ignited till it was totally destroyed. Nothing but the four bare walls were left standing, and they in a dangerous condition. The structure was large and substantially built and will add greatly to the loss of the company. The entire first floor was occupied by the railroad company as offices. The main waiting room was in the front portion of the building. Immediately in the rear on each side were the ticket offices of the Pennsylvania, Pan Handle, Fort Wayne, Allegheny Valley and Pittsburgh and Cleveland roads. Next were the ladies' and gentlemen's waitingrooms, conductor's offices, sleeping car office, telegraph office, barber shop and eating saloon. The second floor was occupied by the Keystone Hotel company as office, dining room, kitchen, reading room, & c., and the third and fourth floors were occupied by the same company as sleeping apartments. On the east side of the building on the first floor were baggage rooms.
After the structure had been totally destroyed those who had made it their headquarters began to congratulate themselves on their narrow escape. There were some regular family boarders in the hotel who had become lost in the vast crowd, but up to last evening everybody had been found except one woman. Her name could not be learned. She was a regular boarder in the hotel with her husband, who, upon seeing the approaching danger ran towards the room where his wife was known to be, but found the door locked, and he was compelled to leave to save his own life. If there are any other guests missing they have not reported up to the time we go to press.
While the depot building was fast going to destruction and the citizens who lived in close proximity were terribly alarmed the mob continued the work of pillaging, and were highly jubilant. Several freight cars were standing on the track between the grain elevator and the depot, on the south side, loaded with wines and whiskies. It took but a moment for the mob to break in the doors and all made a rush towards the cars. In their anxiety to get at the barrels several were broken open and their contents was poured over the track. This work was kept up until the depot building was almost entirely burned out. Then some vicious cuss (not a striker or even a friend of one) ignited a car containing the alcoholic fluid and sent it towards the transfer depot of the Adams Express Company. The flame shot into the air fully fifty feet, and as the car ran down grade everything along the track ignited. Men who were in the building of the Express Company and in the offices of the Pan Handle building, on Seventh street, as well as the residents on Fourteenth street, immediately above the track, were driven from the places with the fiery element close to their heels. Women were screaming, children crying and
It was a terrible scene. Scarcely fifteen minutes later all was one sheet of flame. Many of the mob themselves became frightened, and few attemted to interfere with the fire department, which was making all efforts to stay the progress of the fire. Many of the thousands of spectators, who consisted of the greater portion of the population of both cities, became terribly excited. Persons living fully a quarter of a mile from the fire began removing their household goods. Next to increase the excitement was the
which ignited in the small office on the south side of the building, and is believed to have been set on fire by the incendiary. The department made an attempt to extinguish it, when the mob cut several section of hose, and the firemen had to abandon all efforts in this direction. The building, which was the largest in the city, being of frame work, covered with slate, soon blazed and issued forth sparks that threatened to do great damage in other parts of the city. As the flames began breaking out from the interior of the building the slate commenced loosening and dropping until nothing but the frame work was left. High above the highest of all buildings shot the flames above which again were the huge volumes of smoke. This was a sight beyond description. It required but a few moments to lay the structure, like the other ones which preceded it, in ruins. The building was owned by a stock company and was used for storing grain. A large stock was within at the time of its destruction and the loss on the building and stock is roughly estimated at half a million.
belonging to the railroad company, was destroyed at the same time the elevator was ablaze. It was located immediately above the track, on the south side. It was a large brick building, about one hundred and fifty feet in length, and was used as a maching shop. There were several locomotive within its walls at the time of the fire which were totally destroyed. From here the fire communicated to buildings in the rear, also in front to a frame structure used as a telegraph office by the company.
From the time that the fire reached the elevator, Adams Express Company placed all their wagons into service to haul away baggage. In the meantime the mob broke into several cars which were standing near the transfer and helped themselves to ham and even farming implements. This was kept up until it got too hot for them and all else in that portion of the railroad track was left to the flames The transfer building was used by the express company only, and contained a large amount of baggage for shipment to other places. The loss here cannot be estimated at this writing. It is however, thought to be heavy.
The emigrant station, adjoining the transfer depot went with the latter. It was an open frame platform, roofed. It will not add materially to the loss of the company, but is nevertheless a loss, as it will have to be replaced. While this was burning the fence on Grant street caught and from it the flames communicated to some cars which were standing in the large open lot opposite used for storing pig metal. About ten cars were burned down here.
This building in which were the offices of the Pan Handle road, was located on the corner of Seventh avenue and Fountain street. The entire building was used as offices for the road. It was a large brick and will incur a loss of no less than $15,000. All the contents were destroyed.
The passenger railway depot of the Pittsburgh and Birmingham line was also burned having become ignited from the intense heat of the Elevator. This loss, it is believed, will not exceed $1,000 All the buildings on
a short thoroughfare, elevated about twenty feet above the Pan Handle, were soon converted into a pile of debris. As stated above, the residents here had no time to remove any household goods, some in face had barely time to escape. Following is a list of those who were burned out as far as could be ascertained:
James Fleming, Seventh avenue and Fountain street. House badly damaged. Loss about $1,000.
Mrs. Cooper, widow, house on Fountain street, rear of Fleming's tavern, badly damaged, with contents. Loss about $800.
John Boyle, two-story house. Totally destroyed. Property owned by Mr. Hutchinson.
McKibbens, two-story brick house and large stables, as well as wagons and harness Loss quite heavy.
Mr. Seibert, house destroyed. Loss unknown.
Several houses on this thoroughfare which were totally destroyed were still burning when the above facts were obtained and as their occupatns had fled nothing in regard to them could be ascertained.
The damage on Seventh was not as extensive as on the other thoroughfares. It would, however, have been large had it not been for the timely arrival of the department.
Five or six other buildings on this street were slightly damaged,
Eight or ten houses were more or less damaged on this street, as follows:
Three storehouses in Robert Watson's block were greatly damaged by fire and water. They were F. Coyne's grocery; O'Shaughnessay, sallon; Hicks, saloon, and Mrs. McGuire's boarding house. Two of the buildings nearest the railroad were but recently erected and had not yet been occupied. Loss here will amount to fully $5,000.
The house occupied by G. Van Bolen, no. 73, was badly damaged both by fire and water. Loss between one and two thousand dollars.
The story frame building, occupied by Mr. Heflnan as a rag store, damaged considerably.
Clark's bakery, windows broken and parlor carpet stolen.
F. Kob[?]r's brick building and cooper shop destroyed.
M. Skilton's shoe store. Loss, $100.
Hite's chain factory; badly damaged by fire. Loss unknown.
Weir's wagon shop badly damaged. Loss not very great.
Henke's furniture shop totally destroyed. Loss considerable. Other buildings were destroyed and considerably damaged.
Washington street is now impassable. The bridge which covered the Pan Handle track was destroyed.
Mike Cavanaugh, two story house, totally destroyed. Loss, $2,000.
Mrs. Soup's house, totally destroyed. Loss about $2,000.
Mrs. O'Mara, mother of Detective Roger O'Mara, house totally destroyed. Loss about $2,500.
There were about eight houses on the street which were burning at the time we go to press, consequently we were unable to obtain an accurate account of the loss, or who the occupants or owners were.
When the flames from the grain elevator were at their height they made a sweep towards Liberty street warehouses, with the following result:
Wm. Hutchinson, pipe stone, near Fort Wayne road bed; building badly damaged. Loss, $500.
Roberts & Steele, flour and grain store, adjoining also damaged. Loss, $400.
Rush House, front badly scorched and interior damaged by water. Loss about $500.
Rear of Smith & Fridays' building damaged somewhat by stones by mob. Several other buildings were slightly damaged. A train of cars standing on Liberty street was totally destroyed.
After the destruction of all the property mentioned above the mob made no more attempts to spread the flames, and the firemen began to place a stream wherever they saw fit. At nine o'clock the fire was under control of the department, who kept continually playing on the buildings which were in immediate danger of destruction, thereby confining the flames to the structures which were already half way destroyed. At three o'clock there is little more of the fire left.
Such a pile of debris has never been seen hereabouts. Nothing but the bare walls are left of the burnt buildings, and the old iron which went to make up the cars is piled up in heaps just as it dropped during the blaze. The large stack of the elevator still stands but is thought to be dangerous. Many people remained up last night, some through curiosity, but the majority for pillaging purposes.
At eleven o'clock about eighty policemen made a charge on the mob, who had stolen beer from the cars and were fast becoming still more boisterous, if posible, than before. The policemen raided them, and hold the fort now.
The fire reaches from a short distance west of Millvale station to Seventh Avenue, a distance of over two miles. Everything along the track is destroyed and nothing but ruin lay upon the road bed, which is also badly burned, some of the ties having been destroyed. Previous to the firing 1,940 cars loaded with freight were between Millvale Station and the Union Depot. Of these three hundred were loaded with fresh beef for Europe from Chicago. Each car is estimated to contain 15,000 pounds at ten cents per pound. 240 cars contained fruits—pine apples, bananas, berries, & c., bound for the west. The remainder of the cars contained dry goods and umbrellas and miscellaneous freight. The records of the cars, consigners, &c, were destroyed in the destruction of the transfer depot.
The firemen, expecting severe duty, were in readiness but, as heretofore noted, were interfered with by the mob in their proper work, the extinguishment of the flames. They then turned to the work of saving private property, the buldings, business houses and dwellings on the north side of Liberty street being in dangered by flames and sparks from the burning cars and their contents. The mob or its leaders expressly stated that in this the firemen would not be interfered with. As the firing of the cars was kept up along the line continuously the firemen were complelled to follow it and thus their work was the more arduous, the apparatus having to be moved from square to square and from plug to plug. In throwing water upon the buildings the members of the department suffered from the head in the rear, and were even at one time prevented from throwing water upon the wall on the south side of the street by which they intented to relieve and cool them-themselves [sic] . Thus from eleven o'clock on Saturday night the members of this department, but just reduced in numbers, as were the police, were constantly laboring. At this writing the men are still at it, with no prospects of release through the night, although no spread of the flames is apprehended unless by the further use of the torch by the incendiary. The work of the firemen has been, indeed, most successful, and the labors of Chiefs Evans and Steel and the limited force at their command merits the utmost commendation. Although the flames several times caught buildings at the north side of Liberty street, they were soon extinguished, and no buildings other than railroad property were burned, except at Fountain and Quarry streets, where it was not within human power to prevail, owing to the contignity of the burning railroad buildings. Superintendent Atkinson and other employes [sic] of the water department, were on constant duty and did all in their power to keep up the supply of water, in which they succeeded well. When the elevator on Seventh Avenue (Pan Handle) buildings were fired, two fire engines were taken into the yard of the lower basin and these sucked the water direct. Engineer Rasha, of No. 4 Company (Relief) became exhausted during the afternoon and was relieved by a volunteer, Hugh McMillin.
At about six o'clock in the morning the Philadelphia soldiers found that the round house would surely get too hot for them. The smoke from the burning cars which had been run down to their garrison grew black and choking. About half past seven o'clock when they could endure it no longer Major General Brinton gave the order to break for the street. This was done by companies on the double quick, and the entire division crossed Liberty street and reached there in safety. The account given by citizens living along the route of the march is so interesting that it should be given entire, carefully sifted of errors, as it was by the reporter.
Passing down Twenty-sixth street the troops struck a double quick, firing as they went, somewhat unfrequently, but injuring no one but a boy named Jas. Hurley, who lives on Charlotte street, and was slightly wounded in the leg. They were marching in close ranks, and many of them it was said looked white with fright. At Twenty-eight street it was noticed that one man was following the troops more closely than others, firing his revolver with deliberate aim into the ranks. Shots were fired by others in the crowd at long intervals which was returned as unfrequently by the soldiers. The man referred to was in his shirt sleeves and followed in daring proximity. He would dodge behind posts and corners and nearly every time his revolver cracked a cry of pain was heard from some of the men. The number and the crowd is variously estimated at from ono [sic] hundred to five hundred full grown men. Quick progress was made down Penn avenue, and Butler street was reached about nine o'clock. Here the dare devil, who was so vindictive, was joined by another person with revolvers, and a hot fire was poured into the close ranks of the soldiers. Endurance ceased to be a virtue, and General Brinton ordered a company of soldiers to fire. Several took deliberate aim and the bullets went whistling around the heads of the men, but they, nothing daunted, ran out and fired a number of shots at short range, wounding a number, and killing one soldier dead. The second person of the attacking party then fell back, and the first followed alone, dodging into alleys and annoying as much as ten ordinary men. Several times he escaped eath by a hair's breadth. Once he stood close behind a door jamb. A sharpshooter saw him, and taking careful aim, sent a ball through a corner of the jamb within an inch of the man's skull and and [sic] knocking splinters in his face. At Thirty-sixth street Wm. Gottsdhalk was standing beside his house when a stray shot passed through his left arm, breaking it, and then clean through his body, touching his heart and killing him instantly. He was thirty-two years and leaves a wife and two children. In revenge for this Henry Shaw, of the Wecaco Legion was badly wounded by the vindictive assailant. He was carried to the St. Augustine Catholic Church and thence to the St. Francis Hospital on Forty-fourth street. From Thirty-sixth to Forty-ninth streets the firing was very brisk, but the one assailant of six hundred soldiers seemed to bear a charmed life. He wounded a man nearly every shot. Lieut. J. Dorsey Ash. of the First Regiment, Teller of the Eighth National Bank of Philadelphia, was terribly wounded, a ball entering his thigh near the body and ploughing its way through arteries to the knee. He cannot survive. He, with privates George Dean, Samuel Hess, Joseph Hennessey and Chas. E. Glenworth were carried into the Allegheny garrison and attended by Drs. Le Moyne and Robison. At this point Surgeon Wm. S. Stewart, of the First regiment disappeared and cannot be found. He is a brother of R. E. Stewart, Esq., of 10 Fifth avenue. Between the points mentioned nearly every house bore marks of bullets.
At Forty-ninth street the daring fiend following the regiment performed an act that in a good cause would have immortalized him. A soldier straggled from the ranks. The man rushed, seized him, captured his gun and raised it to shoot him. The man begged for his life and it was spared, but two others bit the dust for it. Levelling it at the ranks, he took steady aim, and shot his man dead. Though bullets whistled about him he stood uncovered, quickly reloaded with cartridge captured with the gun, fired again and killed another instantly. Then he took to the side streets and followed the troops to the Sharpsburgh bridge.
Quietly the hungry men marched in good order through Sharpsburgh, and here the received the first bite they had eaten since reaching Pittsburgh, the day previous. The good citizens of this town gave the soldiers heartily of what they had to spare, and many a poor fellow ready to drop in his track was revived. After three good cheers they marched slowly up the Kittanning road, wound around the hills, and about four o'clock camped in a ravine, below Claremont on the West Penn railroad.
After a time they concluded to move to a more secure position, and accordingly marched to the top of a hill which furnished a commanding situation, directly north of the Allegheny Poor House. Here they were fed to content by Superintendent Grubbs, of the above institution. Mr. Cordier, of the Workhouse, also contributing to their comfort. The camp presented a beautifully picturesque appearance as The Post reporter entered it in the glow of the declining sun, but the men seeme do thave but little sympathy with their surroundings. They looked jaded and unhappy, entirely disgusted with pomp and circumstance of war. They were melancholly at the death of their comrades, and the slow tramp of the guards was like the march of pallbearers. The reporter sought out General Brinton. He looked more dejected even than the rest. He was requested to give a brief account of his movements after reaching the city.
"I never knew," said he, "how good plain food is to the hungry till now. We have had nothing to eat since reaching Pittsburgh yesterday. A lunch that was sent to the round house for myself and other officers was destroyed. When we started to clear the crossing I had no thought of bloodshed. I had cautioned my men not to fire under any circumstances without orders. When the stones came on our heads the men grew excited and fired without orders. After the firing began I rushed along the line, knocking up muskets with my sword and calling upon the men to desist. We retreated to the roundhouse, shut the gates, and barricaded them as best we could. The mob burst the gates I went out with drawn sword to assist in closing them, was caught by a brawny ruffian, and would have been pulled through and beaten to death had not a soldier fired. A number of men were placed at upper windows of the building to watch the proceedings of the crowd.
About nine o'clock we discovered a squad of citizens placing a piece belonging to Knapp's battery, which they had captured, in a position to command a corner of the building. When I saw that they understood their business, I put my head from a window and warned them if they attempted to discharge the piece my men would have no mercy upon them. They seemed devoid of fear, and as they were about to pull the string I gave the order to my sharp shooters to fire. They did so, and several men fell. After that they were picked off as fast as they made the attempt to fire the gun. Our fire was brisky [sic] returned, and, as I stood by the window, a ball struck the bricks within two inches of my breast. I don't want a closer call.
About half-past eleven o'clock the mob began to fire the trains and run the cars one by one past the round house, their intention of burning us out being evident. The first cars sent down ran far past and only fired those below. I went out with a squad of men and placed timbers acros the track. The first car that came down knocked them in every direction. We then rolled trucks across the track above us. Another car came, struck the trucks, jumped the trck [sic] ran almost against the roundhouse [sic] , burst open and the oil or whisky, I don't know which it was, ran all aflame into the room of the place. The smoke soon grew almost insufferable, and what we suffered between three and half-past seven in the morning we can never describe. Several men were slightly wounded, and with many more were overcome with heat. At eight o'clock we made the break for fresh air, half roasted and wholly smoked.
General Brinton's account of their march up Penn avenue is similar to that given above, except that he denies any firing while passing down Twenty-sixth street. At the Allegheny Garrison he requested admittance for his men, and was refused by the commanding officer.
"All I ask is cover that my men may not be shot down," said the General.
"You can't stay here," was the reply.
"But they are being shot down in the street."
"Well, this is United States property, and you can't stay."
"But we are here in place of United States troops."
"It makes no difference, you must get right out."
This is the substance of the conversation as related by General Brinton. The troops went on and in a few minutes the two soldiers above mentioned were instantly killed. When the reporter left the camp the commanding officer was awaiting orders.
"Do you expect orders from General Pearson?" asked the reporter.
"I have not seen or heard of General Pearson since nine o'clock last evening," was the reply. "I may perhaps, act independently now. We may stay here tonight, we may not." General Brinton places his losses yesterday at six killed and twenty-three wounded but the reporter was unable to hear of more than three killed. A number of the wounded marched to camp, one with a ball in his foot, which was extracted after a march of nine miles. Several others in the camp had slight flesh wounds. The killed lie at undertaking rooms and it is as yet impossible to discover their names.
Marjor General Robert M. Brinton is a son of Judge Brinton, of Lancaster, an iron manufacturer of prominence and is only thirty-five years of age. He passed through the late war, was Major of the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was brevied Lieutenant Colonel for gallantry at Five Forks. After the close of the rebellion he was some time in the regular army as Adjutant General for Major General Charles Griffin.
Philadelphia, July 22.—Eleven of the wounded soldiers, belonging to the Philadelphia regiments, arrived here To-Day from Pittsburgh, having left there last night,
It is simply impossible at this writing to give anything like an accurate list of the killed and wounded. Men were shot down, and their bodies quickly gathered up by a sympathizing crowd, and carried off to the undertaker's office, to the offices of physicians, and in some cases into the private dwellings. In nearly every case the victims of the bloody affray were unknown to those who tenderly bore them from the scene of horror, and very probably some are now lying calm in death whom their loved ones suppose to be alive but missing. Some of the victims were left lying where they fell, while the horror stricken crowd trampled upon their dead bodies in their hurry to get to places of safety. Many were wounded of whom no information has been given to the public. Some of the wounded were removed to the West Penn Hospital where four of them have since died. At Devere's undertaking establishment, on Grant street, eight bodies were lying yesterday afternoon. Among them were two Philadelphia soldiers whose names the undertaker was unable to ascertain. One body was taken to Flannery's establishment on Grant street, near Sixth avenue. Half a dozen of the undertakers out Penn avenue, too, were called upon to place the victims in coffins. As nearly as could be ascertained up to a late hour last night, the list of killed comprises thirty men, women and children, and the list of wounded numbers thirty-five. Probably half as many more were wounded of whom no report is given to the public. The names, residences, etc. of the killed and wounded, so far as could be learned up to the hour of going to press, is as follows:
Jacob De Armontt, engingeer Pan Handle Railroad.
An old man named Wagner, lived in the Fifth ward.
C. Fisher, plumber, 1043 Penn avenue.
Samuel Long, laborer, lying at Devore's.
John Long, a boy wounded Saturday, died yesterday.
Jacob New meiter, Comany A, Nineteenth Regiment.
Wm. Wirt, cigar dealer, Penn avenue, instantly killed.
A man named Craig, living on Irwin avenue, Allegheny, was killed on the hillside. He leaves a wife and five children. Mr. Craig left [?] early Saturday morning and did not return. His family became uneasy yesterday, and began looking for him. His body was taken to an undertaker's, and was recognized by some of his friends, who informed the family.
John Kelly of the South Side, lying at Williams' undertaker's shop. He was a laboring man, and leaves a wife and eight children.
—Scott, a laboring man was going up the hillside at the time of the bloody affray. He fell, mortally wounded by a stray ball, which the soldier doubtless thought he had fired harmlessly into the air.
Wm. Gottschalk, corner of Thirty-sixth and Penn, killed while standing on the corner, watching the retreat of the Philadelphians out Penn avenue. The ball passed through his arm, and then through his body.
Benny Buchanan, a lad twelve years old, lived in Minersville.
—Irvin, a laborer, residence unknown.
John Klim, residence unknown.
Brakeman, name unknown.
Dennis Carty, laborer, lived on Diamond street, below Wood.
Two Philadelphia soldiers, lying at Devore's undertaking rooms.
Ben Beamish, residence unknown.
Samuel Cartright, residence unknown.
Wm. Castello, lived on South Side.
A baby was killed while in its mother's arms.
A man named Stuart, living in Allegheny, was shot dead.
James Sims, a member of the Pittsburgh fire department, shot in the mouth and killed.
A man named Keefe, living in Scott alley, was fatally wounded and died about ten o'clock A. M.
Wm. Gottshalk, tavern keeper, Penn avenue, instantly killed.
A little girl, seven years old, wounded—since died.
Two men were taken to West Penn Hospital, badly wounded, and have since died.
A man about twenty-eight shot through the head, was found on the hill dead. His name is supposed to be William Rea.
Two men, names unknown, shot dead.
A man on one of the burning cars was shot and instantly killed.
Wm. Gattshalk, corner of Twenty-eighth and Penn, killed while standing on the corner watching the retreat of the Philadelphians out Penn Avenue. The ball passed through his arm and then his body.
John Rhine, eighteen years old, Sixteenth street.
Wm. H. Ray, nineteen years old, 200 East street, Allegheny.
Patrick Connor, machinist, resided in Twenty-ninth street.
Samuel Jamison, thirty years old, married, leaves wife and family.
Urich Soffle, barber, Smallman street between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth streets, unmarried.
John Euright, thirty years old, South Side, puddler.
Anthony Wachter, Mulberry alley, between Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth streets; married.
Samuel Long, engineer Pan Handle.
John DeCamp, brakeman, Pan Handle.
Wm. Raney shot in the foot, lives on Fourth street.
Pat Sheridan, boy, works at bolt works, shot in the leg, seriously.
John T. Roll, eleven years old, lives at No. 42 Pike street, shot in the head and eye.
Charles White, lives near Penn between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets, shot in the stomach, dangerously.
A man living on Mulberry alley below Twenty-first street.
A man living on Spring alley between Twenty-first and Twenty-second streets.
A man known as "Shorty," belonging to the Allegheny Valley, was shot in the shoulder.
Six members of the military were wounded early in the morning. Among them Lieut. J. Dorsey Ash and Harry Shaw. The names of the other four could not be ascertained. Shaw was shot in the groin. Lieut. Dorsey's wound will likely prove fatal. The wounds of the other men are not fatal.
—McChesney, lives on Clark street. Shot in breast and mortally injured.
—Reese, living in Twelfth ward, shot in left arm.
—Long, shot in breast.
George Stoner, freight conductor, shot in left arm.
Samuel Scott, wounded in leg.
An eight year old girl, standing on the hillside, was shot through both legs.
Charles White, lives in Spring alley. Shot above the knee. His leg will be amputated.
Wm. Weldon, employed in the Union Bank rooms, shot through the wrist, also wounded in the foot.
Richard Allen, shot in leg and arm.
—Robinson, private Fourteenth regiment.
—Staffle, residence unknown.
James Oliver, formerly conductor on Maneheater line, lived on Tagger street; shot fatally in the breast.
Chas. Beers, employed in leather store at Wm. Mooney & Sons; shot in the hip.
George Stoner, lives on Thirty-third street; shot in right elbow.
John Porter, lives on Sixteenth street; eyes shot out.
John Devine, printer; shot in thigh.
John Crawford, lives on Second avenue, shot in leg.
Jacob Newman, engineer, lives on Thirty-third street, shot in right elbow.
Jas. Hofflinger, lives at Stewartatown, laborer, shot in the arm.
Wm. Barnard, resides at Philadelphia, shot in right shoulder.
Wm. Sand, Atlas works, shot in right hand.
Wm. Berner, shot in collar bone and elbow.
Samuel Donaldson, shot in arm.
Ellis McClure, wounded dangerously.
Daniel Frederick, glass blower, South Side, shot in the shoulder.
Samuel Boyd, paddler at Brown's mill, shot in thigh.
T. B. Lemon, of Philadelphia militia was sunstruck and is now in the hospital.
Mrs. Patterson of Forty-ninth street slightly wounded in the head. She was standing at a window watching the thrilling march of the Philadelphians when a ball passed through the glass and grazed her head.
One of the first acts of the infuriated mob, after the immediate excitement occasioned by the firing of the Philadelphia troops, was to search for arms. Information was eagerly sought as to where arms of any kind could be obtained and each suggestion was taken up in turn and volunteers for any duty, no matter how unlawful, were numerous and boisterous. Drum corps were speedily improvised and to the martial music the additions to the mob increased at an alarming rate and showed the coming storm of cruelty and destruction.
Some persons recalled the mind of the fact that a lot of muskets, used for home duty during the great rebellion and more lately used by Guscetti in the Italian mining troubles, were stored in the O'Hara school building on Penn avenue, Bayardstown. Thither the crowd made their way and made demand on the janitor, James Bell, who refused admittance. His resistance
was of no avail, however, and the crowd rushed to the cellar and carried off all there contained, some one hundred muskets. These did not satisfy and the want of ammunition was felt. A raid upon the gun shops was next suggested, and with a National flag, also captured at the school building, the mob marched down Penn avenue, stopping next
at No. 442. Here there was no parley with the proprietor or delay in the work of destruction. The show window was promptly smashed in and every revolver or other fire-arm was promptly taken possession of while an examination and similar appropriation was made inside. Here it was shown that in the crowd were many thieves, and Mr. Gallinger lost a number of watches and other valuable articles. The next halting place was
at 442 Liberty street, just below Oak alley. Here there was commenced a smashing of windows and doors and an appropriation of arms as before. In the crowd who appeared with guns, we noticed many young men and striplings of sixteen to eighteen who recklessly handled and experimented with the weapons. The excitement was at this time increasing and citizens had every reason to fear violence, bloodshed and robbery. The robbery at Schulte's was not confined to guns and other weapons, but other valuable articles were picked up by many of the unlawful visitors.
J. H. Johnston, proprietor, on Smithfield street, was the next point of attack, but on the way guns were noticed in the windows of Schmidt's pawn shop, 184 Smithfield street, and this was gutted. Mr. Johnston met the crowd at his door, and objected to the violation of his rights. Some of the rioters agreed to purchase cheap arms and did so, but the crowd became boisterous and threatening, and Mr. J. was compelled to hand over many weapons without price.
The extensive establishment of James Bown & Sons, 138 Wood street, was the next and most promising field of operation, and thitther [sic] there was a grand rush. Word of the intended visit reached the Mayor's office, and some ten or twelve policemen were hurried down Virgin alley, but they were no protection, nor were the barricades Messrs. Bown had put up in expectation of the visit. Mr. Bown, his two sons, his engineer and the hookkeeper were present, but had the lights put down to the lowest limit without being entierly extinguished. The mob broke in swearing vengeance upon any one who interfered. They proceeded to help themselves with not only muskets, rifles, and small arms of every kind, but many other valuable articles the whole amounting to several, perhaps ten thousand dollars. The mob then marched down Wood to Water street, thence to Smithfield and to Fifth avenue, and hence by Wood and Liberty street to the Outer Depot. On the way frequent shots were fired.
Mr. Bown has taken counsel and is assured that the authorities, having had ample warning of the trouble, the city is liable for the loss.
Professional thieves and, perhaps, thousands who would be indignant at the appellation, plied the voation of robbery from the time of the commencement of the burning of cars and throughout the whole of Sunday. Everywhere men, women and children could be seen lugging armsful of every variety of goods in all directions. In this the colored troops, male and female, labored "nobly." In the presence of the thousands of spectators who lined the hillside and hilltop, these vultures broke into cars and carried off their contents. Flour, whisky, bacon, cheese, tobacco and almost every description of goods were thrown out while hundreds carred them off, the most industrious being women. In many instances men rolled and tugged upon barrels of flour until they reached the top of the long and steep hill overlooking the railroad yards. Many sweated over boxes of cheese, rolls of leather, armsful of tobacco, &c., while chairs and even unfinished buggy wheels were toted up the incline. During this afternoon the boldness of the thieves became unexample. Hams, shoulders, sacks of flour, and other articles were carried by innumerable people through the most promient thoroughfares, and some men stopped to rest with their burdesn at City Hall. On Smithfield street men could be seen rolling along barrles of flour, and sitting upon them occasionally to rest with as much unconcern as if they had paid the highest market price for the property. During the burning of the Union Depot, there was a grand raid by the thieving brigade—men, women and children—upon the cars at the Pan Handle and Adams Express depots, Grant street. From thence they rushed in all direction with many kinds of property. One Irishman emerging with a ham and a sack of flour was heard to remark that this was the "bulliest strike he had ever seen." Behind him was a woman struggling with a fresh new box labeled "Irish Soap." At half-past twelve o'clock Mayor McCarthy, at the head of about twenty policemen, visited the scene of the deprecation, in the yard of the Central road, to put a stop to it, but they were driven away. The crowd at first scattered at the approach of the knights of the mace, but they always ran with full arms. The Mayor stood on Liberty street, encouraging one of the crowd approached and collared him, with the remark that "you and the friend of the workingman and we are friendly to you. But let me tell you that if you remain here you do so at the peril of your neck." Then the crowd turned on the policemen and drove them away, but did it without violence.
Many of the thieves were arrested while passing along the streets and the Central station house this morning presented the appearance of a sutler's establishment in war times. Hams, flitch, soap, butter, eggs, cheese, hardware, bedding, cushions, sleeping car furniture, whips, high wine and almost every description of household articles were stolen. One car laden with whips, which was standing in the Pan Handle yard, at the side of the depot, was broken open, and for the want of something better to steal, many numbers of the crowd appropriated the whips to themselves. Different persons inquired why the Mayor did not have the plunderers arrested, and that official very promptly replied that the jail would not hold half the number. It was simply impossible to prevent the pillaging, and during the greater part of the entire Lord's day the city was absolutely given over to the plunderers. It should be remembered, however, that the thieving was continued to freight goods.
When the church-going people were wending their way homewards yesterday shortly after noon, a mass meeting of citizens convened on the pavement on Market street, immediately in front of the old City Hall. There were two or three hundred persons present comprising representatives of all conditions of business and society. The meeting was called by a self-constituted committee anxious to stay the terrible tide of rioting holding possession of the outer depot locality, by notices posted in front of the newspaper offices.
James Park, Jr., was elected chairman and the reporters of the press indicated as secretaries. Mr. Park, on taking his place on a hastily constructed platform, made a brief and pointed speech. This, he said, is no time for speech-making, but it is the time for action. We are not here to add fuel to the flames, but to conciliate. Some of the people had become excited and hardly knew what they were doing. We want a committee appointed to bring about conciliation and stay the terrible destruction to property. We do not want any more military here. "God knows we have had enough of that," said Mr. Park, with much feeling. He believed the present troubles might be adjusted by some kind of arbitration. He hoped there would be no speeches, and if any resolution was ready proposing action, they would vote on it at once.
Mr. John R. McCune said he had these resolutions to propose for the consideration of the meeting:
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to confer with the State, county and city authorities, with the unemployed workmen and the Pennsylvania Railroad officials, to secure the restoration of peace, prevent the wanton destruction of property, and an accommodation of the defferance between the Railroad Company and the striking employes [sic] .
Resolved, That in making this effort we pledge our faith to the workmen we have no purpose to facilitate the introduction of armed force from a distance, but look solely to the protection of the rights and interests of all by amicable means.
Mr. Park read the resolution and they were favorably received by the meeting. Some discussion took place as to how many should be placed on the Committee, and it was finally determined there should be twenty-five. Subsequently it was still further enlarged to twenty-nine to permit a representation of the workingmen. Mr. Park avowed his own purpose to serve with the Committee. The committee as read to the meeting after the resolution had been adopted was as follows:
A gentleman in the meeting made a motion that the committee place themselves in communication with the striking mechanics and it was also resolved they should communicate with the railroad authorities. These were adopted as the sense of the rioting, although it was understood they were the purposes for which the committee was appointed.
The meeting then adjourned to meet at the same place at four o'clock, and it was announced that the Citizens Committee would meet as soon as the meeting adjourned in Municipal Hall.
The names of the Special Committee were immidately posted in front of the newspaper offices, and at 1 o'clock it was called to order by Mr. John R. McCune, John M. Kennedy was made Chairman. Mr. McCune spoke briefly of the necessity of prompt action to save property being destroyed. The State, county and city authorities had failed, and it was now the only resort that the citizens should take the matter in hands. Mr. James I. Bennett also spoke of the importance of quick action to prevent more ruinous consequences than had yet been realized.
Mr. Littell believed that by proper efforts they could get the unemployed railroad men to agree to place the railroad property in the are [sic] of the police if there was any assurance on of property was not the work of strikers.
Mr. James P. Barr suggested that a committee should place itself immediately in communication with Col. Scott of the Pennsylvania railroad, to ascertain precisely what the railroad would concede, and thus they would have some basis to work on.
Dr. Donnelly, James Littell and John R. Rickitson, made brief speeches on the line of duty develving on the committee.
Mr. Ricketson to put action in a definite shaped, moved that a committee of five, consisting of Bishop Twigg, James I. Bennett, Rev. Dr. Scovel, James P. Barr and Dr. Donnelly, be appointed to proceed at once to the scene of the riots and see what can be done towards an amicable arrangement of the difficulties. This was adopted and the committee adjourned until the hour for the afternoon meeting. The sub-committee taking carriages at Municipal Hall proceeded to the scene of the war.
The sub-committee arriving two squares east of the Union depot, made their way through the railings and climbing over the coal train were at once in the presence of a howling mob—pale-faced, blood-scratched and desperate-looking.
Mr. James Park, Jr., first spoke. He raised his voice and asked who was authoritized to speak for that crowd. That a committee of citizens had come to confer with them. Cries of "Get up in the car!" and confusion ]
[?] Rev. Bishop Tuigg, accompanied by his secretar, Rev. Dr. Kearney and James I. Bennett, got upon the end of a passenger car nearest the crowd and the bishop addressed them. He appealed to them to believe him that if they would desist from further destruction their committee would use its influence to have their wages restored, their hours of labor shortened and every wrong complained of eliminated. (Cheers) He also pledged them that the military would be removed. (Cheers) He begged them as good citizens to desist. He said he had been for a long time stationed at Altoona, on the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the old employes [sic] of that company were never in favor of destroying property and were careful of those men I am well acquainted with. Many of them, and I hope there is some of them, but are willing to take my assurances that a peacable adjustement of these difficulties can be arrived at.
At this point the engine which the strikers had fired up was blowing off steak at a loud rate.
Dr. Donnelly and Mr. Barr of the committee appealed to the engineer in charge to quiet it for a few moments. This they were unwilling to do.
Mr. Bennett attempted to quiet the crowd but his voice was drowned in this execrations of the strikers.
After a short survey of the crowd, the committee withdrew and dodged between men who were carrying cheese and bundles of stuff caught up our of the cars. Barrels of flour and caddies of fine-cut tobacco were being rolled down the streets for squares away.
But a dozen car lengths remained before the Union depot sheds would be reached and this close proximity seemed to madden them. "No stopping this" they cried. They pushed a car ladened with lath into which they put a large roll of paper ignited and [?] closed the door. This is intended to be shoved into the Union depot.
A large amount of ammunition is therein stored and an explosion is looked for.
At four o'clock the Citizens' Committee of Twenty-nine met at the Select Council Chamber to hear the report of the sub-committee sent out to interview the mob. It was noticeable that those in attendance were less hopeful countenances than they had in the morning. It was a sadly visured assemblage.
Dr. Donnelly of the sub-committee, said the committee had proceeded to the railroad yard, and Bishop Tuigg addressed the disorderly crowd. His address had little effect, as most of the crowd was under the influence of liquor. He continued speaking until a piece of iron was thrown at him, when he discontinued. Dr. Donnelly stated that he and Professor Burtt, attempted to follow Bishop, and address the crowd, but they were soon warned by flying bits of iron that it would be best to withdraw. They then went up to Twenty-sixth and Penn streets, where they
They were firemen and engineers who had quit work with their associates. They stated the railroad strikers had no lot or part in the riotous proceedings and destruction of property, but that they disproved of it and were entirely willing to aid the citizens in quelling the disturbance and stop the incendiarism. They were willing to leave the matters in dispute in regard to wages to arbitration. They disown the mob and hold themselves aloof fromt it. Not a single railroad man had anything to do with their acts of plunder.
Mr. J. S. Slagle spoke of the great difficulty they had in finding the strikers, but when they did they were quietly at their homes.
Doctor Donnelly said the mob that was destroying the property and setting law at defiance did not exceed two hundred men, and many of them were intoxicated. A force of one hundred determined men could scatter them like chaff. He was, therefore, in favor of organizing a Vigilance Committee at once, and quell this mob. [Lond [sic] applause] Let every person act as a man and a soldier, and we would soon have peace.
It was resolved to recommend to the meeting to be held at the Old City Hall, that a Vigilance Committee of One Hundred be designated to take immediate steps to preserve order.
Mr. John Moorhead moved that the Mayor be instructed to swear in five hundred extra policemen, and that the Committee guarantee their payment.
The Chairman asked the Mayor if he could secure that number of efficient men.
Mayor McCarthy thought there were difficulties in the way; and was proceeding to elaborate them, criticising Secreatary Quay and the railroad officials about their indisposition to do anything. He also stated his belief that one hundred determined men could stop the mob. The Mayor continued relating his personal experience on Saturday evening, when Dr. Donnelly called His Honor to order, and asked for a vote on the pending proposition for a Vigilance Committee and an increasement of five hundred policemen.
The Chairman asked the Mayor how many efficient men he could get.
The Mayor—Plenty.
A voice—"I'll go for one," "and I," "and I."
Both propositions were then unanimously adopted and the committee adjourned to meet in front of the old City Hall.
At 4:15 James Park, Jr., Chairman of the Citizens' Meeting, called several hundred persons assembled on Market street to order. Dr. Donnally reported the action of the Committee of Twenty-five, and the recommendation for a Vigilance Committee and an addition of 500 special police. He made a stirring address, saying it is for your citizens of Pittsburgh, to say whether our proseperous city shall be ruined or not. If you are men you will act at once. Unless you do Liberty street will be laid in ashes. If we are going to do anything we must do it at once—this minute.
This call for immediate action struck a responsive chord, and the crowd adopted the recommendations of the Committee at once.
James McMunn, a railroad engineer, and one of the strikers, was introduced by Dr. Donnelly as one of the railroad workmen the Committee had conferred with. Mr. McMunn spoke plainly and to the point. He said he had been an employe [sic] of the Pennsylvania Railroad and was connected with the strike and sympathized with the strikers; but I will say this, since the unfortunate order was given the Philadelphia soldiers to fire on the citizens not one of the railroad strikers has had anything to do with the disturbances. The railroad men stood ready and willing to second any movement of the citizens to suppress the rioting and incediarism. The question of wages was a minor one to the public peace, and it could be settled afterwards. The remarks of Mr. McMunn made a good impression.
An enterprising individual here endeavored to throw cold water on the spirit of the meeting by saying they needed a thousand men, but he was suppressed.
Mayor McCarthy rushed to the stand and said there was no use in any more fooling. Let all who wanted to save their city fall into line and go at once to the Mayor's office and be sworn in as extra policemen. The fire was spreading and the incendiaries were still at work, and we must act now.
This suited the meeting, and a portion of the crowd quickly formed in line and under the lead of the Mayor marched off.
As the meeting pledged they would raise the necessary funds under the inspiration of a call from Mr. J. S. Slagle, a subscription was opened and a large number of responsible names handed in as willing to stand the proportion of expense that should be assigned them. Others made subscriptions of fifty and one hundred dollars. This closed the meeting, and the remainder of the assemblage melted away, most of the crowd going to Municipal Hall.
Here M. A. Cargo addressed the crowd that had gathered and urged upon them the necessity of immediate action. A number at once signified their willingness to serve as a vigilance committee, and in a short time about two hundred and fifty citizens had volunteered, who were formed in two companies. Most of this number were furnished arms at the Mayor's office, and when the stock became exhausted they were supplied with base ball bats, ax handles, etc. The companies then started out to different parts of the city. A company under Dr. Donnelly then proceeded along Smithfield to Liberty, when a squad was sent to the freight depot at the foot of Liberty street, as a report had obtained wide circulation that the mob purposed firing the building. The remainder then proceeded up Liberty street to the Union depot, but as no further effort was made by the rioters to set fire to additional buildings, and there was no further disturbances, they returned to City Hall. They remained here only a short time when they again started out to the scene of the fire, but did not come in conflict with the mob.
The guarding of this building was a wise precaution as it only proved too true it was intended to be a target for the rioters and fall prey to the devouring element. The number of citizens guarding the building swelled to nearly three hundred, while great accessions could have been obtained from the crowd of spectators. About half-past eight o'clock two men were detected in the act of throwing lighted matches into the building, but were promptly arrested. No further attempt was made to fire the building.
A gentleman who arrived from Steubenville last night states the excitement there and at all intermediate points is intense. At Steubenville the assemblages of workmen were loud in denunciation of the railroad company, and expressed their determination to allow no troops to go from their place to oppose the strikers, threatening to seize and destroy the arms in the armory if the militia attemtped to move them.
About four o'clock in the afternoon as the committee was proceeding to the citizens' meeting on Market street, as well developed old soak was discovered rolling a barrel of whisky on Wood street near Fifth avenue. In a trice, he was tumbled over and the head of the barrel knocked in, and the whisky let out over the pavement. The shover of the barrel was enveloped in the fluid, but was not touched off. He smelt of whisky and sneaked off in the most subdued manner.
The Pan Handle freight depot or shed, and also that of Adams' Express was fired about four o'clock, two men with slouch hats deliberately went on the platform, knocked in the head of a barrel of whisky, saturating the floor, and then threw lighted paper on it. They did this in the full view of several hundred people, not one hundred feet away. They then made off, and the freight shed was soon in flames. The Pan Handle general office took fire from it, and was gutted, leaving nothing but the bare walls.
The wildest rumors were current in the outlying districts. About Canonsburg, Washingten county, the belief was that a large force of Philadelphia soldiers were engaged in a general massacre of our men, women and children. A body of a fifty armed men immediately started for the city to render aid against the soldiers, and were much surprised upon arrival to find a totally different state of affairs.
About ten o'clock yesterday morning a small number of men - six or seven - deliberately entered the armory of Hutchinson battery, on Dusquesne Way, and took one of the guns said to be a six-pounder, and departed up Penn street in the direction of the fight. Apparently not even a protest was made, and the crowd in the streets took the whole proceedings as a matter of course. Among the myriad instances of plunder, was one man who put on six shirts, one over another, and covered the whole by his own somewhat soiled garment, a woman with a sheet pinned together by the four corners had it filled with flour, another was seen with two buckets of ale, still another was rolling a barrel of flour away, and fell over it at full length in the muddy gutter, much to the merriment of the spectators.
Our reporter met a boasting boy of eighteen on Seventh avenue at five o'clock. "D'ye you see that ball," handing out a large metallic cartridge with an ounce ball, "that's what these damned Philadelphians are shooting down our mothers and sisters with. I fixed one of them, though," he added, "the poor devil got away from his fellows, and wanted to trade suits. So I took him home, gave him an old suit of working clothes, and got his splendid rig, sword and all. But darn it all, I lost fifteen sacks of flour by the opperation [sic] . I had them piled up snugly in an alley, and when I went back some infernal thief had taken them all but one. But I got that and a ham, and they'll keep us."
[Special to The Post.]
Altoona, July 23 4:00 A. M.—Parts of the First, Third, Fifth, Sixth and Twelfth regiments arrived here this morning but could not get away as the strikers "hold the fort." Over a company of soldiers delivered up their arms and refused to fight the strikers when an attmept was made to get an engine out of the upper round house to take them to Pittsburgh. Enginges No. 506, 123, and 206 were taken apart by the strikers. In a riot here this morning several soldiers were struck with stones and one Captain Foresman of Williamsport quite badly on the head. Some of the soldiers left for home on the day express. This evening they were attacked here and two of ther number hurt. The round house gates etc., are barred and watched by strikers. The strikers have been escorting the military around town To-Day showing them the sights. Part of the shopmen struck last evening and the balance will do so in the morning. Frank Tierney, Colonel Jones, Colonel J. F. Milliken and others made speeches to the strikers last evening on Twelfth street favoring them. Part of the Philadelphia troops left for home on the Atlantic express. H.L.W.
Altoona, July 23.—A train bearing soldiers reached here this morning en route for Pittsburgh, and was stopped by strikers and the engine taken from the train. One company stacked arms and refused to do anything. Another company tried to connect the engine to the train, but was attacked and driven off by the strikers. The whole train is now lying here and under complete control of the strikers.
Philadelphia, Pa., July 22.—At six o'clock this evening a strike at the Pennsylvania Railroad depot in this city was inaugurated by men abandoning their places. It was with some difficulty an engineer could be obtained to start at 9 P. M. the Cincinnati Express. Crowds collected about the depot this evening, many of them being of the striking element. The first overt act was committed on the road above Callowhill street where a laden oil train was onthe track. It was determined to remove it to a place of safety, but a crowd of men objected. The police interfered when train men asked that the train should be allowed to stand where it was and that no attempt should be made to move any trains during the night. This was acceded to by Col. Scott.
This afternoon a veteran corps of the First regiment, 350 strong, tendered their services to the Mayor who promised to accept them, if needed. They are all veterans and can at once be armed and equipsed [sic] .
The contrast between the situation in Allegheny and that of this city was very marked. While the strikers on the Fort Wayne road were, without exception, firm and determined, and expressed themselves freely that they would hold out to the bitter end, they would not allow, if it was in their power to prevent it, the company property to be destroyed. The utmost limit they would reach would be to interrupt the traffic of the road until their terms were acceeded to.
On Saturday a report became current among the strikers that the Seventh Division National Guards, Meadville, under command of Major General Hendekoper, had been ordered to report at Pittsburgh without delay. The report was further circulated that the train would be here between eleven and twelve o'clock at night. The strikers then decided that they would board every passenger train to ascertain whether there were any military on board, and if such proved the case not to allow it to proceed. To accomplish this the strikers repaired to Strawberry lane, about a mile below the Outer Depot, and threw up intrenchments at both sides of the road, to prevent the passage of trains carrying soldiers from passing further into the city. The works are thrown up right against the tracks and are filled with desperate men bearing arms. Two guns have been planted at either side of the road, and the mouths are right up against the windows of the passing trains. Every passenger train that arrived was stopped, when a number of strikers went on board, and after being satisfied that there were no military among the passengers, allowed the train to proceed. The early morning mail train was stopped at the same point, and a car containing a large number of laborers and track men was cut off, and the remainder of the train went on. No violence was used in either case. Freight trains are allowed to come in, but none are permitted to go out.
The Crestline mail west was also stopped at the above point by the strikers. Attached to this train was a "caboose" car filled with track hands, fifty in number, destined to their daily labor some eighteen or twenty miles down the road. This car was cut off, and the train allowed to proceed. The Cleveland and Pittsburgh freights were gotten out by strategy. Their usual time for leaving is 5 A. M. but the dispatches got the trains away at 1 A. M. and when Leetsdale was reached they laid over for "time."
The strike on this road is not confined to trainmen but it extends to the machine and carpenter shops. About ten o'clock some of the strikers went to the shops at the outer depot and tried to induce the men to join them. Finding persuasion useless, they went to the engineer and compelled him to shut off the steam. In this way some two hundred men employed in the shops were added to the movement. It is said they made no resistance, although they had previously given no indication of dissatisfaction.
Along the line of the Fort Wayne road, from Federal street to Strawbarry Lane, there were very little signs of a strike. Small groups of men were gathered at the Federal street and outer depots and at Strawberry Lane where the earthworks had been thrown up, talking earnestly over the situation. The number of strikers at Strawberry Lane did not exceed at any one time yesterday one hundred, as this was considered a sufficient number to protect their interest. The remainder had come to this city to witness the exciting scenes transpiring. But the few strikers remaining were very conversant and told their grievances freely to inquiring citizens. They claimed that they could not support their families at the small compensation allowed them and felt justified in their course.
The only event yesterday that served to disturb the quiet that generally reigned was the stoppage of the Pacific Express, which leaves Allegheny about 2 P. M. There had been a change of engineers lately on this train, which the strikers thought unjust. A meeting was held about one o'clock, when a resolution was adopted that the strikers would allow the train to leave only on one condition, and that was the re-instatement of the old engineer. The meeting was a lively one, some of the strikers holding that there should be no interference whatever with passenger travel. As no reporters were admitted, and the strikers were very reticent as to the character of the speeches, we are without details. The officials being notified of the action of the strikers, concluded it was better to reinstate Ben Jewell, the old engineer, than that the traveling public should suffer by the detention of the train. The desired change being made, the train departed at four o'clock, about two hours behind time.
About three o'clock yesterday afternoon a report reached the Outer Depot of the Fort Wayne road that the mob in Pittsburgh, after they had finished their work of destruction there, would proceed to Allegheny to continue their nefarious work. The strikers unanimously decided to protect the company property at all hazzards, being determined not to proceed farther than to interrupt freight traffic. Engineers at once took out their engines from the round house where they had been placed two days before, and are prepared to move all freight cars in the event of the mob setting fire to them. The strikers will not only aid them in this work of moving trains from the city, but will also protect all other property of the company. The majority, however, believe that no effort will be made to destroy any property of the Fort Wayne Company.
The general feeling among the strikers was that the company would soon accede to their terms, and the troubles ended. This impression was based on the work of destruction going on in this city, the strikers believing the company would prefer to restore the old wages than to risk further destruction of property. Most of them expected to go to work in at least a day or two.
During the entire day large crowds of people gathered on Monument and Troy hills, where they could get excellent views of the fires raging in this city.
At the Mayor's office everything was quiet, there being but few visitors, who spent their time in discussing the strike and the destructive work going on. A number of arrests were made of persons carrying bundles on suspicion that they had been stolen. In the upper part of Allegheny a large number of persons could be seen returning from the fire with all kinds of merchandise, shoes, tobacco, chinaware, etc., etc. No effort was made to arrest them but they were allowed to go their to [sic] homes with their booty.
There remains nothing new to report on this line. Everything continues quiet and passenger trains are allowed to move without interference.
A rumor was in circulation last night that the officials of the Fort Wayne road had acceded to the terms of the strikers and restored the old wages. This, however, proved untrue.
The trains on the Pan Handle road, both freight and passenger, run unmolested since the strike was inaugurated until one o'clock on Saturday afternoon, when a coal train was stopped by a crowd gathered at the Fourth street crossing. After stopping cars of the train were [?] on a switch at that point, and the engine was then allowed to pass on. There were no strikers on this section of the road, although they are out at the Dennison end of the line. The men who stopped the train at this point did not belong to the Pan Handle road, but from the other roads—the Pennsylvania road and Connellsville. The crowd was not very large. There are probably sixty or seventy men there and as many more women and children. No passenger trains were molested during the day, but all freight traffic was suspended. On Saturday night three engines were stationed at Mansfield, when the news of the slaughter at the Outer depot was received a crowd of rioters at once commenced stoning the property. All the locomotives Nos. 93, 100 and 103—were badly injured and may not be fit for use. A large part of the western and eastern bound freight had been transported by this line during the past three or four days while traffic was suspended on the Central road. Yesterday the through passenger trains or most of them at least both left and arrived at the city though one of the local trains was suspended. Some of the Pan Handle employes [sic] , it will be remembered, attempted to inaugurate a strike, or rather organized for that purpose some days before the present troubles and the employes [sic] of the Central road refused to join them. For this reason the Pan Handle did not have much sympathy, it was said with the present strike.
The freight men on the Allegheny Valley quit work on Saturday morning. The local freight train from this city was sent out, however, an hour earlier than the usual time, and before the strike was inaugurated. Later in the day the freight blockade extended to this line too. About noon the hands in the Verona shops quit work. It was understood that they had gone out on a strike, but some of the employes [sic] in other departments said the men would resume work To-Day. The passenger trains were running on this road all day yesterday. The ruins at the Outer Depot, rendered it impossible to send the trains into the city so they stopped out at Forty-fifth street and started out from that point. The locomotives of the Valley road are kept at the Verona round house, and about these a strong guard was stationed last night. The destruction of property therefore does not affect this line, further than the loss of tickets and documents at the ticket office in the Union Depot.
The local, as well as the United States and State authorities, have made arrangements to preserve the peace To-Day, and there is reasonable ground for the hope that the pillaging and incendiarism will be prevented.
To the Manufacturers, Merchants and Others, Citizens of Pittsburgh:
I hereby call on you to select and recommend good men to serve as Special Policemen for the City of Pittsburgh. The utmost promptness is required in this matter.
You will send them to the Mayor's office, City Hall, where they will be sworn in.
The local military or a portion of them at least will again come to the front. Here is the order calling out the Washington Infanty [sic] .
Headquarters Washington Infantry,
Pittsburgh, July 23, 1877.
General Order No. 10:
The members of the Washington Infantry are hereby ordered to assemble at the Mayor's office in full dress uniform (black belts and pompons) this morning, at once, without fail.
By order of Capt. J. D. McFarland,
Commanding Company.
H. T. Rowley, O. S.
Headquarter Fourth Brigade,
Sixth Division, N. G. P.
Pittsburgh, July 22, 1877.
?GENERAL ORDER NO. 7,
The troops of this command will assemble at their Armories on MONDAY MORNING, 23d inst., at 7 o'clock, sharp, in fatigue uniform for the purpose of protecting the property of our citizens and assist the civil authorities.
By command,
JOSEPH BROWNE,
Brig. Gen.
As will be seen in our advertising columns, a special meeting of both branches of Councils has been called for ten o'clock this morning. It is hoped there will be a full attendance.
Washington, July 22.—The Government has taken steps for the protection of the arsenal at Pittsburgh and Indianapolis by ordering U. S. troops to these points. Troops for Pittsburgh have been ordered from Columbus and those for Indianapolis from St. Louis. It is reported in army circles that General Sheridan has been ordered to Pittsburgh taking with him troops to operate in that city and vicinity.
Boston, July 22.—Two companies of United States troops stationed here received orders and will start to-night for the scenes of disturbances at Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
Towanda, Pa. July 22.—Company K, Twelfth regiment, N. G. P., left for Pittsburgh this evening.
Scranton, Pa., July 22.—The military of Scranton, Wilkesbarre and Pittston are ordered to be ready to march at a moment's notice. The firemen on the Lehigh Valley, Central, Delaware and Hudson and Delaware, Lackawanna and Western roads will meet to-morrow.
Norristown, Pa., July 22.—Maj. Gen. Bolton received orders to concentrate the Second Division at this place immediately, to await marching orders.
Lebanon, Pa., July 22.—Col. J. P. S. Gobin, commander of the Eighth regiment of National Guards, has just received orders to report with his regiment at Harrisburgh.
Harrisburgh, July 22.—Gov. Hartranft telegraphs Gen. Latta from Cheyenne, to order promptly all troops necessary to support Sheriffs in protecting moving trains on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and to go to Pittsburgh and keep supervision of all troops ordered out.
Large crowd are congregated at the Pennsylvania Railroad depot. As a special train containing detachments of Philadelphia troops en route for Pittsburgh arrived here they were loudly hooted, and as the train started out stones were showered at it by the mob. The police arrested one man, and as they were taking him to the Mayor's office they were also stoned by the crowd.
Philadelphia, July 22.—Gov. Hartranft is en route for Pennsylvania, and telegraphs ahead ordering out every militia company in the State. He has also telegraphed the President of the United States calling for troops and suggesting the propriety of a call for volunteers.
Pottsville, Pa., July 22.—No strike is probable on the Philadelphia & Reading raod [sic] as the back pay due the men has been arranged for. Major General Siegfreid's command, comprising two companies from Pottsville and eight from the outside, left here for Harrisburgh this evening.
Bethlehem, July 22.—The Easton Grays, who have gone camping at Stroudsburg are now en route for Allentown, where they will join the Allentown Rifles, Catasaqua Rifles and Slatington Rifles, and leave by a special train for Pittsburgh.
Easton, Pa., July 22.—Men of Delaware, Lackawanna & Western and all its branches will strike either to-night or to-morrow morning.
Harrisburgh, July 22.—An immense crowd has been around the Pennsylvania Railroad depot all day. The Day Express arrived from the west several hours late, and was not allowed to proceed eastward. Several ineffective attempts were made to start the train, but the engine was detached, and run to the round house, where a large number of strikers are doing guard duty. Major Patterson issued a proclamation this evening, calling on the citizens to preserve order; not to gather in crowds, but to remain at their homes until the excitement subsided. He also recommended the closing of liquor saloons. The State Arsenal is guarded by the City Greys of this place. The Fourth Division of National Guards has been ordered to report at Harrisburgh immediately.
Advices from Huntingdon state a part of the Fifth Regiment, P. N. G., en route from Bedford to Erie for Pittsburgh, were compelled to return home on account of the track being obstructed at Fisher's Summit, on Huntingdon and Broadtop Railroad, by running loaded coal cars off the siding, and wrecking them on the main line.
But for detachments of soldiers on the way to Pittsburgh, no one here would suppose anything unusual was going on. President Scott left in the afternoon for home but is expected back to-night. Major Fell is at the depot superintending the transportation of the military. During the afternoon and evening five hundred soldiers were sent out, making 1,300 in all of the city troops. Forty men took the 9:15 P. M. train.
Philadelphia, July 22.—Mayor's office. To all whom it may concern.
Whereas, violence, tumult and riot exist in various portions of this Commonwealth, to the great injury of domestic industries and trade, and to the discredit of the fair name and fame of American institution and form of government, the perfection of which we last year celebrated in this, the city of the Republic's birth, and,
Whereas, it is of the highest importance that the good name which Philadelphia has made for herself among the nations of the earth during the Centennial year shall be preserved, and that it shall be spared the horrible scenes enacted in our sister cities, now, therefore,
I, William S. Stokley, in the name of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and by virtue of the authority vested in me by law, do appeal to all citizens of every occupation and calling to render it unnecessary that, in the performance of my duty, I should be called upon to suppress outbreak and violence, which I assuredly will do if occasion requires it, and hand over offenders for condign punishment, and I make this appeal in the firm belief that the citizens of Philadelphia appreciate, as I do, the importance of maintaining peace and good will among all classes of society, and I hereby pledge myself to give patient hearing and impartial justice to all persons who desire it. Let all people resume and continue their lawful occupations and avoid assembling and organizing together for discussion or otherwise at the present time. This is the surest and best means of preserving the honor and fair name of the City of Brotherly Love.
Wm. L. Stokley, Mayor.
At five o'clock this morning a company of United States troops arrived in the city from the Barracks at Columbus, Ohio, in command of Lieutenant Robinson of the Seventh United States infantry. They number fifty men fully equipped and have been sent on to protect the arsenal.
Altoona, Pa., July 21.—Troops have all left here for home and everything is quiet.
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