The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-03
TIE ERIE RAILROAD WAR.


meR Among the Peopis-Orer a Thousand As
,embled-Iraek Laid at Hlrbor Creet-F rsf
Irdin from the East Expected 4fyripa! Of Gov.
BigiT-Preparattons for his Reception, &c, &c
The greatest excitement. prevails here to day, In
consequence Of an attempt made by the Northeast
and Erie Railroad Company to connect their road
with the Western. About half past four o'clock
this morning number OF men were set to work on
the track west Of the depot, for the purpose Of
changing lhe EnsseseS1DNtsrn road so as to form
the connection with The wesA1k. It may be well TO
state here that the Western road terminates on the
property q the Northeast company, and they sup
posed they had perfect right to continue the track
as far as they desired ON their own ground. They
acoordinsly,aarsAase early hour-doubtless for fen
OF interrppiion--sst their men to work; but hey
were not more tna1 three or four hours emplJ yed
when it became fnoaT thSpdgaout the city AT
seven o'clock the bell Of the court house rang
general alarm, and hundreds .Aocked to that build
ing, where they informed of what was going on
Impelled by one impulse they rCshei TO the road
determined that the ccntem plated connection should
not be made. They did not, hoxever, interfere
with the men who were at work but went up
to that portion of the road which Sassaras
street about hundred yards from the depot and
there ire up the rails leaving about eighty feet OF
break. II appears that The people have been afraid
roads would be made, aud to prevent IL number OF
special police have been employed 70 waoh them
every night fur the last two weeks The removal VI
The rails this part oi the road sufficient for the
purpose; but ABOUT hundred men, apparently &C
tuateC by the most Malicious motives, made another
break whers the road crosses Chestnut street. which
is about three hundred yards from Sas.afris AZ
the majority of the people dsapprovei or this piece
of wantnDUess, q number OF citizens went to work
at it and had it all reaij IN time for the halfpast
eleven o'clock train from the West to pass over it,
Up TO ten O'Clock the excitement around the depot
was intense; but attack made upon that build
ing, nor, so far as have sscertained were any of
the men employed on the road assaulted. About
this hour four of tse engines belonging 70 the Chicago
and Rock Island road and drawn by ofthe Buffalo
and State line locomotives, we're observed coming
fro n the direction of Hubor Creek. As they ap.
preached the depot crowd of about thousand
persons gathered round them, aud for time feared
there would be wild sofk. One nan, who appeared
to have lost his reason in the midst OF the excite
mept made q terrible assault with stick on the
locomotive in front but as he confined his atten-
tons solely to it no one nterered with him. Soae
OF the boys 10 the crowd amused themselves by
throwing Jumps OF mud at the engineer, but he sue.
ceeded Ia lodging them The engine, which at this
time had stopped few feet beyond the depot, COM
meDced moving, when ONE one among the crowd
PIT large piece OF wood across the track to pre-.
vent II firm proceeding further. One OF The specal
policemen, ramei MereCith, 6as in the net OF re-
moving 1t when he set npon by seven or eight
OF the crowd, and for time IN considerable
danger from their iul,s Several OF The police how
ever seeing his position he'd in am BOG the crowd
AND rescued him before ne reserved any injury. As
there were, however, some apprcheusions that more
violence might be atten pied The Marshal aud Mr..
Galbrath, son OF judge Galbraih Of Erie, mounted
the locomotive and addressed the crowd. Mr.. Gal
brath urged upon the m, in decided language, the
propriety ani importance of obedience 10 the man
date of the United States Court. The whole matter
he said is now in the hands Of the courts and the
Legislature; and there L is proper that the yexed
questions that have realty aud for so long time
fhA liz haa Ai,1 l,olI
determined We ough, all to be content to await q |
legal sdju tment of these difficulties. The assembling
together, he continued of 20 large number Of cit
zens, could lead to no good results, and might posi-
bly, bring about such serious consequences rs would
hereafter be regretted by all. He was glad to see
the great mass OF the people 50 quietly disposed and
hoped that all would now return peaceably 70 their
homes (CTies of . That right !" No, no.'') He
adverted to the expected arrival Of Governor Bigler
and said he hoped that the visit of tai gentle
would lead TO an annie ,be settlement of the contro-
versy, and Ia which the rights OF Erie and OF tue
State of Pennsylvania would be protected, aud con
cluded With earnest appeal in favor Of quiet and
good order.
TIE Marshal followed with few remarks. He
said that he was we'll satisfied with the conduct of
the PEOPLE since bis return aud he desired the ami
cable re- atoms which existed between the citizens OF
Erie to continue. He hoped aud believed that all
would re rain quet, ana obey the authority Of the
court and he assured the people that no further
attempt to connect the Eastern with She Western
road would be made until after the arrival Of the
Governor. (CTes Of Good! good!-Tha;'s rightly
With y RE cheers for the Marshal the crowd sepa
rated AID, in apparent good hunor, generally left
the place.
About eleven o'clock the first trails that has come
up to this city for the past two months arrived To-
day. The Marshal comp led the connection jester
day at Harbor Creek and the people promised him
that not only would the track be allowed to re-
main, but that they would themselves place q
guard over 1t TO Illustrate any attempts that
might be made TO remove 1t after he had
in he highest Of
mediation Of the people there, and says that they
exhibited every desire to 'aclt tie him with his work.
Altogether. think # there was proper disposition
displayed by the ralr Dad men there would be little
or no disturb ance here; but they really appear de-
termined to push matters TO extremity. 1t is said
that If they had succeeded 10 making the connection
between the Eastern and Western ROADS to day they
would have gained an i'm 2ortant legal point How.
ever this may be am unsole te say; bus IL is fact
that the people we're advised this morning by some
legal authority 10 tear up the track extending
Chestnut STREET in order to prevent the come stion
As have already stated, the first train from the
east passed through Harbor Creek this morning and
was received by q large crowd OF people. The cars
were left on the other side OF State street bridge
about hundred yards from the depot, the engin-
ser feared the structure was not srsug enough. The
passengers crossed the bridge on foot aud appeared
considerably surprised al the scene Over thou
sand people were assembled on the track and
about the bridge to witness the first arrival of the
train by way Of Hsbor Greek; but no act OF violence
was committed, and, with very few exceptions, the
crowd appeared to be in the greatest good hunor.
They seemed to think that they had done their duty
in tearing up the track which intended to form
the connection with the Western road. About q
dozen workmen we're employed in making switch
on the obnoxious four foot ten track, upon which
they might tern off the passenger train. There
were about one hundred passengers altogether, and
three cars, besides some freight cars.
II was near twelve when the train from the West
arrived but as the track torn up across Sassa-
fras street the passengers were obliged 10 get out
ard walk 70 the depot, which is very short dis
lance of. however. Here the stages and onnbuses
were waiting to receive them, so that they expert.
enced very slight inconvenience from the celay.
The Governor, as may be seen by the following
programme for his reception, viii arrive here about
seven O'Clock this evening"
RECRFTIoN OF GOV. BIGLsR.
Gov Bger -il arrive this evening" in tbs seven oolock
train ADD oitzsns generally qusste to meet him at
the depot and escort him TO wns tel under til d.
rectiop OF Gen John KnpA,rck, Col d s Clark, and
n. Iohu Nars halls ~ the isv htv IN