Connecticut western news., 1877-07-27
The Great Railway Strike.

what.has;assumed proportions of almost sufficient magnitude to be denominated a civil war, and:which is a war of labor against capital. The brakemen and fire men of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad struck in opposition to reduction of their wages, at Martinsburg, w. ", last week, since which time the infection has spread abroad until nearly all the through lines are inc.udeds also the workingmen from vsli. ous large manufacturing establishments, all have joined them, together with the mass of humanity known and recognized every where as the flood trash of the world, the street loafers and bummers. and their very worst passions having been aroused, and in most of the places where strikes have oc. cured. fired by rum, the mob has spread terror and destruction Tn it's path. The militia of the various states where strikes have occurred thus far. have been totally inadequate to cope with the strikers and ri- oters, and the United States Government has been called upon to lend aid in sup pressing the rebellion, and at this writing troops arc going from every quarter where they can be spared. to the scenes of dis turhance in the various places.
 This question of labor vs. capital has cer- tainly two sides to 1t. No greater truth ex- ists than that ''the laborer is worthy of his hire" He should be paid a remunerative price for his reasonable service, and an in dividual or corporation who attempts to crush down to almost the suffering point those whom 1t employs, when itself is fat tening upon the exhausting labor of it's ems pioyes, ought not to be permitted to- ex- ist. When railway company pays ten per cent dividends and asks it's employees toIaccept.of a reduction in whatis regarded simply as reasonable and fair wages, it is barbafous and ought not to be approved of by the people; but when company, or. ganization or individual in these times of distress is actually driven to the necessity of asking it's telp to accept of reduction because it cannot pay the wages and avoid bankruptcy, it is simply suicidal to the in- terests of the workingman to strike, and yet many have done, and are doing this.
 Never since our government had an ex- istence has it been so difficult to conduct business of any description whatever, and make 1t pay its own legitimate expenses, as it is to-day. Failures are constantly oc- curing and men are being ruined by their inability to keep their business in exist ence. Financial bankruptcy prevails ev- erywhere, and the laboring man has chosen the worst possible time for his success in ois'demsnds upon capital.
 Certaihly one Of the worst features of these recent strikes is that the strikers not only refuse to labor. which everybody ad- mits they have a supreme right to do. but they useiviolence 10 prevent others who would joyfully accept of the positions they have vacated at the prices the companies are willing and ready to pay. They march in bands and drive the crews from trains, disable the engines and entirely prevent the business of the road to go on and this isl enough for them They burn the buildings of the railway companies, tear up the tracks, and threaten instant death to all who oppose them. No sane man will say this is right, or can be tolerated; and in these extreme measures, the strikers sacri- flee all sympathy from every source, and the whole strength of our government will be, if necessary, brought to the work of putting down this anarchy, bloodAhsd, and riot.
 We cannot on account of lack of space. give the accounts of all the terrible work wrought by this most dreadful strike, but will extract from the New York World . portion of It's account of the great destruc ton of property and the terrible proceed ings of the mob in Pittsburg on Saturday night last. ..,s,. 5..s. ....s...-
 PrTrsBuRe, Pa, July 22.-When my re port closed at 3 o'clock this morning, ir consequence of the interruption Of tn, wires, the great riot in the vicinity of 2Sti Street was at its height, and the whole clty was illuminated by the great sea of fire tha was surging in the outer yards of the Penn sylvania road. The First Brigade wa closely besieged by motley crowd of sev eral thousand men, while fully 5000 spectators crowded the streets and swarme over the heights overlooking the railroad A constant fire of musketry was kept uI and every few moments some one fell either killed or wounded. What executio was being done to the soldiers be leaguered in the round-house VI unknown. <.
 At 8 o'clock, A. M., Q twelve pound gu was taken by the mob and turned on tt round-house, and firing begun, but wilho' doing any damage. In the mean time pel sistent efforts were being made to fire u round house by running burning trail against it. but these efforts failed. By day break some ten persons had been killed, ar twenty or thirty wounded. in addition those killed and wounded in the afternoc fight. But few people went to bed durir the night, and but few slept. Terr
 seized all peacsbly disposed citizens in Il lower portion of the city and in Alleghan
 A general pillage and confagration we
 feared. The scene among the rioters "
 indescribable.
 At o'clock cars of merchandise of e
 cry description were broken open and the
 contents carried away by men, women al
 children or given to the flames. Barrels
 oil would explode, and long lines of far
 like serpants would rush along the trac
 licking up everything combustible in tho
 path, firing valuable cargoes and adding
 the general terror and and destruction. o
 of the roar of the hungry flames came |
 rattle of musketrY and the sharp reports
 revolvera and SnripCfield pifles and Ov