The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-19
GREAT RIOT ON THE ERIE RAILROAD.


GREAT RIOT ON THE ERIE RAILROAD.
From the ". Y. Post Sept. 17hl
The laborers on the New York and Erie Railroad
tunnel at Bergen, n. j., stopped work on Thursday
afternoon, the second pay day of the month falling
on that day, and the money not being ready. Yes
terday morning about ten o'clock, they rallied on
the track of the road, short distance from the
point where the northern road diverges, to the
number of about four hundred men, and set to work
to obstruct the track. Dirt cars were overturned,
stones and earth were piled up, and thus effec-
tual obstruction raised in a few minutes The early
train from Patterson, and the o'clock Cincinnati
express came up, but the men board were not per-
mitted to clear the way.
At ~ o'clock train arrived from Jersey City
Mayor COllard of Hudson City, Mr.. Marsh, the re-
Gently appointed Receiver; Mr. Burnett, Constable
Dunn, of Jersey City, and number of the en-
ployees of the road, and several citizens but when
they commenced clearing the track, about two hun
dred men interposed to prevent them, and declared
that no train should pass until they received their
money 1t was presently discovered that the strikers
were blocking up the road in th2 rear of the train
to prevent its return, but they finally desised FROM
this, and it allowed it to go back to Jerse ycity
effected anything.
All the trains which were to have left Jersey
City were, of course, detained, including the Mid
detown way train and Cincinnati express
About nine o'clock in the evening, Colonel Gre
CORY called out the Second regiment, but all efforts
to find the Sheriff, whose orders only they could
act were truitless, and at eleven o'clock the regi-
ment was dismissed.
The contractor for building the Bergen tunnel
Is Immediately responsible to the laborers for their
wages, but the impression among them is that the
company does not pay the contractor, hence their
demonstration against it.
When our reporter left Jersey City this after
noon the mob was still in full possession of the
track The work of barricading was carried on
with great vigor to late hour last night and
would have been resumed this morning but for the
heavy rain. Great pieces of rock were employed
during the latter part of the day. and the road was
effectually obstructed for several miles Should
the mob disperse Immediately, the Instructions
could not be moved for several hours
This forenoon one of the officers of the company
proceeded to New ork, and laid the facts officially
before the first assistant Postmaster. Mr. Fowler
being absent.) He told him that a New Jersey
mob had prevented the delivery of the New York
mails and called upon him to procure the immedi-
ate presence of United States troops to disperse
the riOtouS assembly. The Assistant Postmaster
replied that the department here had no authority
for calling out the troops to prevent an obstruction
of the mails. The law provided for the punishment
of persons committing such offence, but went no
further.
The mails will be sent by the Hudson River road
as long as the difficulty continues.
Capt. Rynders was last night sent for, and was
offered thousand dollars TO disperse the mob but
he declined for the same reason that the Postmaster
did-he had no authority.
As is stated above, the Second Regiment was
called out by Colonel Gregory, and held in readi-
ness for service the requistion of the Sheriff.
But the Sheriff was not to be found There was,
naturally, much fault-fndng and ill-humored com
ment his course, but the reason of it, we are in
formed, is the fact that during the last riot at the
Bergen tunnel he called out the military, and was
compelled with the officers, to foot the bills for
provision and ammunition.
He was ''bled" to the amount of 5000 personally,
and the county refused to pay him, on grounds
which were satisfactory to lawyers, but which did
not convince the Sheriff that it was his business
to disperse mobs at his own expense; and his zeal
on the present occasion was, it seems, effectual-
ly dampened by the memory Of his last military
expedition.
Gen. Hatfield, ofHoboken. waited upon the Mayor
of Hudson City, and told him his brigade was at
his service, ifhe wished it that the riot with
in the limits of Hudson City, and, consequently,
the Mayor had the authority to suppress it, that he
conld call out all the military ofhis own city, and
for his part, he would take the responsibility of
placing his entire brigade at his service if he would
but express the wish. The Mayor however did
not express the wish, and it is believed that his
reasons satisfactory those of the Sheriff.
and of a similar nature. Military men complain of
a popular prejudice in the county against their or
and say but for this their services
would have been paid for.
Many passengers were compelled to remain in
the cars all night. The hotels of Jersey City were
crowded, and the proprietors seem to be in no hur-
ry to have the mob broken up.
4ue Dl IChetS dG Ille nlllCe is StI continued,
the passenger rooms of the depot are crowded with
a weary and anxious company of men, wemen and
children.
The sale of tickets is matter of surprise to out
siders, and occasions severe comment.
Among the dscontented was an Ohio clergyman
who, we understood, was the Rev. Dr. Smith, pas
tor of a Presbyt yterian Church in Ravenna At 8
O'Clock this morning he called together as many
passengers as he could muster, and, mounting
proceeded to address them. He
the cOn1urt Of tho RoilrooA
pany as an outrage of thegrossest nature, and de-
clared that the sale of tickets which was still 90
ing on, when it well known it was impossible
to send passengers beyond the junction. ONLY three
miles distant, little better than open robbery
He painted in glowing cOlors the inconvenience of
the passengers whowcre detained by the company's
inactivity. "Scores of men,, said he, care waiting
anXiOns to reach their homes some of US live at a
great distance, and our families and business de-
mand our attention. There are also women and
children waiting in the suffering from cold and
hunger. One woman, to M knowledge, with four
children, compelled to remain in an out-buil-
ding all night without food. What is the company
doing to relieve US? Where are the directors p
where the civil authorities? The road remains
in possession of brutal mob, which fifty bavonets
would disperse in half an hour"
At the close of his remarks, the reverend gentle
man presented a series of resolutions depouncinp
the company in the severest terms, and proposing
that number of the passengers wait upon the di-
rectors at their office in New York, and demand
that mode of conveyance be provided in half an
hour, or the passage money returned
The resolutions were adopted by acclamation
and number of passengers Immediately proceeded
to New Y ork.
1t was determined to send boat to Piedmont,
to-day, with such passengers as this arrangement
would accommodate.
The passenger depot of the company-a wretched
building at best-s undergoing repairs, and is
stripped even Of the scanty conveniences it had.
The floor is open in several places and through
the openings the water is seen dashing in like tor
rent. There is no such thing as comfortable
place to sit or stand in the whole building.
The rioters had jolly time of it last night Camp
fires were built, two violins and flute discoursed
melody, the whiskey took effect and the rioters
made the night resound far and near with shouts
and merry-making.
The huts of the rioters line the track on both
sides for long distance, and the scene last night
was remarkable. The sky was black and in the
light of the fires which blazed in front of the rude
shanties of the workmen, they could be seen run
ming to and fro, regardless of the rain, singing,
shouting, dancing and making various indescribabe
and noisy demonstrations.
The excitement at Jersey City was hardly less
noisy. Passengers and railroad men running
about in fever of anxiety, and the most absurd,
rumors found ready credence. 1t was reported,
among other things, that the mob would attack
Jersey City if they not speedily paid and help
themselves to the good things in the stores and
houses.
This forenoon the rain was sufficient to cool the
excitement. and on the part of such passengers as
are without means, it seemed, Judging from their
countenances, to have changed to despair.
At last accounts there seemed to be no prospect
of the immediate dispersal of the mob
By the terms of the Company's contract with the
government they forfeit certain amount BY fail
ure to deliver the mails; but it is not probable that
under the circumstances any attempt will be made
to enforce the agreement.
The men are, or should be, paid monthly. From
the 1st to the 18th is occupied in making up the
pay rolls, and thus pay day comes at the middle OF
the month. 1t is said by some that the men have
had pay for two months, but the railroad men
deny this.
Mr.. Alonzo Hitchcock, of Chicago, claims to have
been the inventor of the Armstrong gun, for pro
ducing which an Englshman was honored with
title of nobility.
The editor of the New Orleans Bulletin acknowl
edges the receipt of pumpkin raised in Texas
which weighed one hundred and sixty pounds anC
measured seven feet in circumference.