Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-07-26

COil panty DidckSnlllH SHOPS. SlOItuOllS6S
and numerous buildings, making. up
the terminal facilities of the mammoth
corporation. In the rOundhouses We're
12o first-claSs locomotives, which had
been housed in consequence of the
strike. These were totally destroyed,
but even the immense loss which will
be sustained In this item alone Is but a
trltie IN the aggregate damage done.
THE SCENES TRANSFERRING ON liberty
STREET, yH} is-i-
along the line of which the tracks of the
railroads run, simply beggars descrip-
ton. While hundreds were engaged IN
firing the cars and making certain of
the destruction of the valuable buildings
at the outer depot, thousands of men,
women and children
- ENGAGED IN PILLAGING THE CARS.
Men armed with heavy sledges were
breaking open cars, then the contents
would be thrown out and carried off by
those bent on profting by the reign of
terror existing. The street was almost
completely blockaded by persons labor
ing to carry off the plunder they had
gathered together. In hundreds of in
stances wagons were pressed into SER
vice to enable the thieves to get away
with their goods. Mayor Mccarthy,
earl y in the day, endeavored to stop the
! pillage, but the handful of men at his
| command were unable to control the
crowd, who were desperate III their
anxiety to secure goods. At one time
the pillage was checked, but the mob
fired the cars and then proceeded
with the work of destruction. 1t
is impossible to form any idea of
| the amount of goods stolen, but
hundreds of thousands will not cover
| the loss. Some of scenes, notwithstand-
| ing the terror which seemed to paralize
peaceable and orderly citizens, were
LUDICRoUs IN THE HIGHEST DEGREE,
and no one seemed to enjoy them with
greater zest than those engaged in the
| wholesale plunder Here a brawny
woman could be seen hurrying away
with pairs of white kid slippers under
her arms. Another carrying an infant,
would be found rolling barrel of flour
along the sidewalk using her feet as the
propelling power. Here a man push
| ing a wheelbarrow loaded with white
lead. Boys hurried through the crowds
with large sized family bibles as their
share of the plumber, while scores of
females utilized aprons and dresses to
carry flour, eggs, dry goods, etc. Bun
dies of umbrellas, fancy parasols, hams,
bacon, leaf lard, calico, blankets, laces
and flour were mixed togethe,. in the
arms of robust men or carrieCxon hasti-
ly constructed hand-barrows.
AT A PUBLIC MEETING OF CITIZENS TO-DAY
atnoon, committee, consisting of Catho-
lie and Protestant clergymen and promi-
nent citizens, were appointed to confer
with the leaders. They went out in car
riages.
THE DESTRUCTION By FIRE
will amount to millions of dollars. Git
liens looked on helpless to-day and saw
incendiaries apply the torch to the
railroad companys union depot and
grain elevators. The confiagration is
still raging tiercel ly and there is no tell
ing where it will stop. Action was Ia
ken this evening toward the formation
! of
VIGILANCE COMMITTEES OF CITIZENS
and the streets are now being paholled
by them. They are armed with
rifles and shotguns. The light
of burning houses can be seen for miles
away, and housetops are crowded by
trembling citizens, who know not how
soon their property may be food for the
| flames. The heart stills with horror in
contemplation of the awful destruction
that has been done in a day.
DEAD MEN LIE IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY,
and no one to take charge of or care
for them. Such scenes have never been
witnessed here before. The people
what to do. One of the vigilance COM
nlittees was attacked by the rioters and
dispersed The destruction has been so
great that [ don't see
HOW THE PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY CAN
ESCAPE BANKRUPTCY,
the pillage has been enormous. Every
thing that could be stolen from the
company or from people was taken
publicly and without fear.
GRAIN ELEVATOR BURNED.
About o'clock the fire from the
Union Depot communicated to the i'm
mense grain elevator at the corner of
Grant and Washington streets. This
was built of huge timbers and covered
with slate, containing large quantity
of grain. The destruction of these
buildings
SEEMED TO SATISFY THE RIOTERS,
as they began to disperse while they
were burning. Most of those who de-
serted the crowd loaded themselves
with plunder, and wended their way
homeward Throughout the entire day
ia. fro ,aerS. of iptarc 11-ara
SEARCHING FOR GEN. PEARSON AND THE
i GENERAL OFFICERS
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The lat
ter had made themselves particularly
obnoxious because they brought the
Philadelphia troops here, while Gen.
Pearson is charged with having given
the order to fire last evening which re-
suited in the death and wOunding of
many citizens. Whether they are re-
sponsible or not they would have GER
tainly been killed had they not man
aged to get out of the way. 1t is said
that Pearson and the railroad officers
left the city this morning At all events
their Whereabouts are unknown.
AT THE ADJOURNED MEETING OF CITIZENS,
held this afternoon, a vigilant commit
! tee was organized to prevent further des-
truction of property. 1t was rapidly re-
: cruited, and each member was first
, provided with base ball bat, but these
were afterward exchanged for guns.
They were designated by white ribbons
: on their arms. As soon as the force was
organized they marched to Seventh
avenue, where hundreds of spectators,
who had been waiting for some one to
, lead,
: JOINED WITH THEM IN PREVENTING. EI-I,-