The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-07-26
The Anti-AIonopo1ist

fired on the crowd. The terribly fatal eff
fects of the shots fired by the troops exas-
perated the citizens as well as strikers. and {
in less than an hour thousands of work !
ingmen from the rolling mills, coal mines
and various manufacturing establishments
hurried to the scene of the conflict, deter
mined to have revenge on the troops and
the railroad officials. 1t was stated that
Gen. Pearson, commander of the sixth di-
vision of the State guards, had directed
the troops to fire, though no resistance had
been made, and the fact that many of those
killed and wounded had gathered on the
hillside merely as spectators, served to in
crease the bitterness of the crowd. By s
O'Clock in the evening the mob was NOV
ing about the city in various directions,
sacking stores to secure arms, breaking |
into the armories of the military compan-
les and preparing themselves to execute
the threats freely expressed of massacreing
the entire Philadelphia command. By |
this time the military had withdrawn from
the railroad crossing at Twenty eight
street, where the first conflict took place
and were ordered to one of the round
houses, where they could find better pro-
lection.
"A "
numbering several thousands had congre-
gated about the round house. They had
previously captured the guns belonging
| to the Hutchins battery, a local organiza-
ton, and planted them SO as to command
| the round house. Several solid shots were
fired at the building and break made in
the walls, but when the Infatuated mob at
tempted to rush into the building, the
military were ordered to fire. The volley
of musketry which followed and the ru-
NOR that the Calling guns OF the COM
mand were being brought into requisition
caused panic and the mob fled precipi
lately for several squares, the military
meanwhile keeping up fusilade.
The rioters, however, were soon reas-
sured and as thousands were f1ocking to
their assistance they returned to the at
tack. Finding it difficult to dislodge the
military from the building they resolved
to burn them out An order to this effect
was issued and it was carried into eXecu-
ton with fiendish alacrity by the rioters.
AS consequence of the blockade which
had existed for two days the outer depot
yards, as we'll as those extending east
ward some three or four miles, were
r crowded with freight cars filled with
grain. products aud merchandise of all
kinds. besides which number of loaded
, oil cake and coal cars were piled up In the
mass. While portion Of the mob sur
rounded the building in which the mill
tary had taken refuge large bodies
, proceeded to set fire to the Oil cars
: and in moment huge volume OF black
! smoke which rolled upwards followed by
| flames reaching out in every direction had
e commenced. The sight of the fame:
q seemed to literally craze the rioters, some
o of whom rushed wildly about with fam
0 inc torches in their hands applying then
e to the cars. An alarm was sounded anC
c the fire department promptly responded
!, but the rioters who had complete control O.
e the CITY, refused to permit them to extin
IS guish the flames. They said they wer
e determined to destroy the railroad com
e panys property, but would do no injur,
to that belonging to private citizens. I
II lumber pile belonging to citizen tool
u fire. and the rioters themselves turned il
o and helped to extinguish the flames ant
q remove the lumber to safe place.
% Train after train was fired by the In
IS furiated crowd, but the cars were so ia
t. distant from the round house that tn
II heat did not seriously affect the military
although their position was one of peri
Finally large party of strikers captures
car filled with coke, which they ran fro1
IN the Allegheny valley railway track to
Us siding connecting with the Pennsylvanl
ne railroad. They then procured large quar
y, titles of petroleum oil, and pouring
I'll over the coke ignited the materials. In
y very few moments the car was mass
OF fire. and it was then pushed along tt
a. track and fired against the round house
ct The building was soon ignited, and tt
e soldiers were now compelled to prepare
ne fight their way out through the frenzie
e. mass of humanity, clamoring for the
III blood. The building did not burn as raj
idly as was desired, and the mob, bent c
L. revenge, rushed out on the road and sci
burning trains towards the doome
elk building
u From midnight until O'Clock this a
he ternoon the main efforts of the crowd we
ed directed to firing the buildings and car
but about half an hour later the mob WI
IL had been besieging the military, left I
Tia some unexplained reason. This attords
g, the troops, who were in actual danger
raj being roasted alive, an opportunity
le- escaping from the building, and they su
o. ceeded in reaching Liberty street In
ill very few moments they quickly formed
ill line and marched up to Thirty-third sire
n. and thence to Pennsylvania avenue al
ill Butler street Their objective point W
the United States arsenal on Butler stree
where they expected to obtain shelte
While turning into Butler street, howev
the leaders Of the mob had discover
ne their retreat, and fully 1000 men arm
III and supplied with ammunition, follow
sl- in pursuit. Some of the troops fired
IN the citizens either accidentally or int
:.n tionally, as they were moved along al
10y this added fury to the cry for revene
-; When they reached the arsenal the COZ
III mandant refused to admit them. He sa
Ih he had but ten men and would be powt
~. less to hold the place if the mob shou
W ~. attack it. He consented to take care
LIZ r.o the wounded and they were according
~ carried into the hospital.
IN
ar The main body of troops continued tn
to march out Butler street, a fusilade bel
de- kept upon them by the mob. As tn
md moved forward shots were fired, KILL
ion one of the soldiers. Before they reach
la the arsenal and nearly opposite the cel
no etery gate, fully mile above the arsen
on two others were killed and were left lvi