The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-08-01

C1co tooEtt W ttasS W -. - - 80
i il was proposed to SQUAD an alarm o.
Ere, and thus draw thsc people 70 ths
Mayors office, bnt this was as'
Thought bes. ~ it might create more
excitement than was desired. His
Honor stated the danger with which
the city was threatened and called
for volunteers TO patrol the city and
guard the bridge during the night
About forty men responded epd
were at once sworn in AS special D-
licemen. accompanied by six or eight
Of the regular policemen we're sent to
each bridge Oae squad Of citizens
about City 10 number, were armed
with muskets belonging to Captain
Brighsm's infantry company, and
also we'll provided with ammunition.
This entire squad was sent to the
Point Bridge as it was found the ri
oters would most likely come across
the bridge Another squad OF citi-
zens manned Knap's battery and
planted one gun at the end OF each
bridge. aud one at the outer depot.
They dragged the guns by hand, but
horses were afterwards provided to
move toe guns in case they might be
needed quickly at another point In
lieu of canister aud ball, a large guam
tity OF spikes and nails were furnish
ed to the men handling each gun.
During the progress of these arrange
ments citizens kept aocking into the
Diamond and were also informed Of
the expected trouble. Many Of them
Joined the special police squads. Sew
eral times messengers arrived and re-
ported that the mob was moving to-
wards Allegheny. At eight O'Clock
ali the squads were posted ct the
points to which they were order
ed.
Information was also received from
the railroad men at Strawberry Lane
that they lad turned over their mus
kets and ammunition which they had
taken on Friday night from the ar
mory of the Allegheny guards, to
Mr.. w. f. Ross the dispatcher of
the Fl. Wayne Railroad, and they
also sent word to the Mayor that
they would use all their power to pro-
tect the railroad property 10 the outer
depot yards. norder to keep posted
as to the approach of the mob eitl-
zens on horseback were sent to patrol
Penn and Liberty streets, Pittsburg.
vho were to ride rapidly to Alleghe-
ny ss soon as the rioters made move
ment that way.
The appalling record may thus be
summed up: Thirty-two soldiers and
citizens slain; ffty-four persons vouu-
ded; fully $4,000, 900 worth of prop
erty destroyed. business receiving .
shock that may 'paralyze it for weeks;
one of the most magnificent railroad
buildings in the country was destroy
ed; thousands Of dollars worth of pri-
vate property ir ashes; the city's fair
name -fonlly .disgraced. Such is the
tale of mob law we have had in Pitts
burg.
Up to O'Clock last evening Coro-
ner Thomas had received notice OF
the death of twenty persons. Being
questioned as to when he would hold
the inquest, be said that he did not
know at what time be would COM
mence the task, but certainly not IN
til all the shooting ia over. Juries
will be empannelled to view the bod
les, quite likely to-day, and the in
quests adjourned until matters have
definitely become quiet. The total
number killed will in all probability be
reported by this evening, though it
is possible that in some cases this du-
ty will be neglected.
Between two and three O'Clock
this morning a gang of men supposed
to be thieves. made an attack upon
the freight ears of the Panhandle
road, near Clinton Mills, South Side.
A number seears were broken open
and the torch applied to one An
alarm was sounded promptly, to
which the department responded, and
t1e flames were extinguished before
they had gained much headway.
The thieves were driven away by cit
izens. and guard placed over the
cars to protect them against further
molestatiou.
An incident, which occurred du-
ring the fire at the Union Depot, will
illustrate the spirit of the mob. A
gentleman engaged in the wholesale
liquor trade, who saw q gang be
knew, spoke to them in an endeayor
to dissuade their work when one Of
them said: "Why. d--n it this is a.
bully thing for you. We're just
cleaning out this whisky and it will
Increase the supply"
my friend" said the dealer,
that's not in my line i don't want
any mans property destroyed to in
crease my trade. This is devilisb
work"
See here now, boss," said the
man, "We don't want to be talked to
in that way. This railroad company
tried to beat the werkingmsn. They
find It rough work when he turns the |
tables and beats them"
"But you're not q railroad man.
That's not ad-u bit of difference.
I'm workingman. and by Cd no
one shall beat down our wages. |
Hoop her up. boys"
This last remark was addressed TO |
some Of his companions, who were
industriously carrying all the ports-
BILE property they could, 4
A report was in circulation at l2
O'Clock last night that an attempt bad
been made to FIRE the Fort Wsyne
Offices on Penn street and that Q po-
liceman saw q man apply the torch
aud shot him, killing him Instantly
that the rioters then attacked the Of.
6cer, who was reinforced by other Of.
6cers, and four more of the rioters I
bad been killed. The report caused
quite an excitement for q time, but
on investigation proved 10 b Wild
sxaggersrion. as the only shot 6red
near that locality was at the Ameri-
IAN House, Liberty street, where the
police fired into the air to frigh,en
.rowd II men out of Plum alley.