Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-07-27

from the building, they resolved to burn
them out. An order to this effect was is
sued. and it was carried into execution
with fiendish alacrity by the rioters. LII
consequence of the blockade which had
existed for two days, the sidings in the
outer depot yards, as well as those extend
ing eastward, some three or four miles
were crowded with freight cars filled with
grain. produce and merchandise OF all
kinds, besides which number OF ladened
oil cake and coal cars were piled up IN the
mass.
While portion of the mob surrounded
the building in which the military had
taken refuge, large bodies proceeded to set
fire to the oil cars, and in moment the
huge volumes of black smoke which rolled
upwards out i'll every dlrectlon, told that
the work of destruction had commenced.
The sight of the flames seemed to liter
ally craze the rioters, some of whom rush.
ed wildly about with flaming torches in
their hands, applying them tn the cars in
discriminatory. An alarm was sounded
and the department promptly responded
but the rioters had complete control OF the
city and refused to permit them to go tC
make any effort to extinguish the flames
They said they were determined to destroy
the railroad cOmpany's property but to Go nc
injury to that belonging to private citizens
They kept their word, too, and when a
lumber pile belonging to citizen took fire
the rioters themselves turned in and helped
to extinguish the flames and remove the
lumber to safe place.
Train after train was fired by the infu-
rated crowd, but the cars were so far dis
tant from the round houses that the heal
did not seriously affect the military, al
though their position was one OF peril. Fl
car filled with coke, which they run from
the Allegheny Valley railroad track to {
siding connecting, with the Pennsylvania
railroad. They then procured large guam
titles of petroleum oil, and pouring it ovel
the coke ignited the materials. In a very
few moments the Car was mass of fire
and it was IT, en- pushed along the tracks
and forced against the round-house. The
building was soon ignited, and the soldier!
were now compelled to prepare to figh
their way out through the frenzied mass O.
humanity clamoring for their blood. The
building did not burn as rapidly as was de
sired, and the mob, bent on revenge, rush
ed out on the road and sent burning trainI
towards the doomed buildings.
ESCAPE FROM THE SEA OF FIRE.
From midnight until five O'Clock thi
morning, the main efforts of the Grove
were directed to firing the buildings an(
cars, but about half an hour later the mol
which had been besieging the military
from some unexplained reason, withdrew
This afforded the troops, who were in &C
tual danger of being roasted alive, an OPP
portunity to emerge from the building, anG
they succeeded in reaching Liberty stree
fnx ntu hnv b In
formed III line and marched up to Thirty
third street, and thence to Pennsylvania
avenue and Butler street. Their objective
point was the United States arsenal OF
Butler street, where they expected to oh
tain shelter.
FIGHTING THEIR WAY.
While turning into Butler street, how
ever, the leaders had discovered their re
treat, and fully one thousand, armed an(
equi pped with ammunition. followed in pnr
suit Some of the troops fired at the citi
zens, either accidentally or Intentionally
as they moved along. and this added fury
to the cry for revenge. When they reach
ed the arsenal the commander refused tt
admit them. He said he had but ten mel
and would be powerless to hold the plac
if the mob should attack it. He consented
to take care. of the wounded, and the,
were accordingly carried into the hospital
The main body of the troops continued
their march out Butler street, fusilad
being kept up on them by the mob as they
! moved forward.
The shots fired killed one of the soldier
before they reached the arsenal and nearl
opposite the cemetery gate, fully a mil
above the arsenal. two Others were kille'
and left lying on the side walk. They con
init
north side of the Alleghaney river OF
Sharpsburg bridge, the mob following
them as rapidly as possible. After reach
| ing the north side the troops scattered
and in this way the mob was divided int
very small bodies.
| Some of the scenes, notwithstanding tn
| terror which seemed to paralyZe peaceab
and orderly citizens, were ludicrous in thu
| highest degree, and no one seemed to enjo
| them with greater Zest than those outraged
| in the wholesale plumber. Here a Drawn
woman could be seen hurrying away witt
pairs Of white kid slippers under her arms
| another carrying an infant would be roll
| ing barrel of Hour along the sidewalk
Here man pushing a wheelbarrow LOADED
with white lead boys hurried through til
| crowd with large-sized family Bibles a
| their share of the plumber, while scores o
| females utilized aprons and dresses to car
| ny flour, eggs, dry goods, etc. Bundles 0
umbrellas, fancy parasols, hams, bacon
! leaf lard, calico, blankets, laces and lou
were mixed together in the arms of robus
men or carried on hastily constructed hant
| barrows At eleven o'clock in the morn
| ing it became apparent that something
must be done to check the mob, and a nun
Der of citizens hurriedly posted notices call
| ing meeting of citizens at old city hall t.
take measures to prevent. further destruc
ton OF property.
BUT FEW RAILROAD MEN IN THE RIOT
The mob worked very quietly, and it wa
| noticeable fact that but few of the rail
| road employees were engaged in the worl
of destruction. Here and there man VIII
had been discharged might have been seel
leading crowd, but generally the ring
| leaders were men who had never been EN-
ploYed on any railroad. Many half-grow
boys were foremost in the work of destrte
| ton, and We'd with the older ones in thei
eff orts. The operations were carried O.
very quietly, and the multitude of men
! women and children who filled the street
and occupied positions on the hillside sont
of the railroad looked on with astonish
ment while the destruction of propert
continued.
SHUT UP OR BURN UP.
COLUMBUS, y. JnlY 23.-The mob whicl
raided private establishments to-day close
up early all the rolling mills, machin
shops and factories on the west side of tn
river. The mob was not composed of raj
road men but of tramps, miners and idl
roughs, who seem to have recently com
to the city. No violence was offered b
the mob, as the operatives quit work AM
the shops suspended on the first demand il
almo st every instance. In few instance
protests were made, but the invariable re