The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-07

The Riots az PsermOnt.
EXCITING scEsEs-INvADTRs RsPuLsSs ATTACK ON
ACoNDCcTOK-BOArAKN THROWN INTO THE HUD-
sos-kEw yoxxxRs OBLIGED TO RETURN TO THE
CITY-THE MILITARY UkDER ARMs-ARRIvAL OF
METROPOLITAN POLICE AT THE SEAT OF WAR
ARMS IN THE HANDS OF THE BELLlGERESTs ON
BOTH siDBs-PREsENr STATE OF AFFAIRS, ETC.
Piermont twenty miles above New York. on the right
bank Of the Hsdson extending into the river for the dis
lance Of about mile is pier the end Of which is the
terminus Of branch line OF railway connecting this
point with the trunk line of the New York and Erie
Railroad, which is seventeen miles distant from
Piermont Al the terminus, which is great centre Of
trac between the Hudson and the trunk line of the New
York and Erie Railroad, there between two and three
hundred men employed for the purpose Of removing
freight from the boats they land the pier and trans
errng to the to be conveyed West and uce
They receive their services 81 per
day; but the Railroad Company, in accordance
with the example set by others, determined upon
reducing the wages of all their employees per cent the
reduction to take place the LIST Of December aud OF this
notice given 10 the workmen the 9th last month
This notice passed CT quietly, and all things went on
smoothly until Tuesday last which was TO have been the
day that the reduction TO be commenced. On that
morning, to the astonshnent Of every one, there
general strike Of all the New York and Erie Railroad EN-.
poyes at Piermopt with the exception OF few who held
respectable positions. But although this was the case
the pier was Not without workmen, who congregated
themselves there u express their unanimous deter
abstain from doing anything further for the
Railroad Company until they paid two months wages
that were due and were made satisfied that no re-
ducon should take place in their salaries Upon this they
paid off, and urged by the officers Of the company
work at ninety cents per day. as they could not
reasonably expect to be paid more than any other men
who were employed in the capacity of workmen on the
railroad All reasoning of this kind was however, use
less No work was done that day; and as the railway
authorities that there chance OF the men re-
Stunning work and that all business sagnan, without
any prospect Of change long they had means of
transferring their freight which fast accommodating at
1 he nj her In m
they determined TO try TO have something done by setting
three four men to work on Wednesday morning 70
unload coal from sloop. Meantime the passive attitude
first assumed by the rioters had taken different turn
They had provided themselves with pistols and other
firearms knives daggers md clubs and had assumed
dschargDg of arms, sounding OF horns and yelling Of
voices kept the inhabitants Of Permont in constant alarm
during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.
On the morning Of the latter an attempt was
made by the few engaged for the purpose
to discharge the soop, but no sooner had they
dess their peril by the Infatuated strikers who, with
large number Of their associates stood guard en- ase
at the pier head The OF the soop attempted 10
perey with them aud the result an attack upon the
Corners, which ended il their Fight and the dipping
the boatmen into the frosty river During Wednesday
several persons attacked and beaten and amongst
the rest Mr. Gardner Couch, conductor On tic railway
He caught. while walking in company with frielt,
by about City Of the lahore dragged to bank about ten
twelve feet in height and tho sides of which slope
down almost perpendculary 10 the level of the ground
and after being informed that he must stand trial. drown
down and peited with stones by the entire mob He
to the nearest public house, followed closely by the
strikers who continued the fusiade against him until ne
reached the door, which closed to prevent his
trapce The mob, however did not continue the attack,
ther because they only intended TO chase him TO that
house. because they imagined that he had already re-
ceived enough at their hands and after curses and
pressions Of exuaton, in the form Of cheering and yell
ing they broke Of acquaintance which was unceremo
neus in its commencement and dsagrccable while 1t
continued.
Wednesday night passed Off without anything more to
make IL remarkable than repetition Of the turbulent
spirit manifested the night preceding it, The morning
OF Thursday marked by the ordering out of the mill
thirty and forty bayones and ready for duty in the
evening At ten O'Clock the same morning about sixty
arrived from Suerns under the direction Of Me- Cooper
of the railroad officials, in order to make beginning
and. If possible, induce the other TO resume work
When they arrived at the pier, and "a they stepped
out of the by which they conveyed,
furious onslaught was made upon them by a
large division Of the rioters, aud a desperate
fight began Cooper, their leader, drew pistol and
pointed against the assaiants, but before his fin
ger had time 10 touch the trigger he struck in the
mouth by huge piece OF brick staggered and obliged to
take refuge in fight most Of the whom he brought
had already commenced 10 do. The battle ended
parcel of fugves running fast possible
before their assans who sounded their horns collect
their companions and did not give up the pursuit till the
enemy obtained in a Workshop at the distance OF
mhe from whore they landed. Amongst other trophies,
three prisoners fell into the hands OF the vic
ors, who, after irnmersing them in the Huds IN
to make them feel comfortable, permitted them
20 continue their retreat. On the evening Of
Thursday nothing further occurred worthy OF notice,
although the demonstrations OF the preceding days
continued the riotug virtually ended. Friday
passed quietly many of the men showing disposition to
resume work and ON tho evening Of that day steamer
arrived with % police from New York, AMI 100 aborers
The latter landed but sent back to the city
morning. and the police, after remaining board the
boat for night marched 10 the town unmocsted where
they remained till yesterday, when they down in
the which conveyed reporter. On Saturday all
the had resumed their business and everything Is
now going on as If nothing unusual had occurred.