, 1877-08-11
GREAT RAILROAD STRIKE.
THE TERRIBLE SOCIAL COMMISSIONS II
PIrTsBURG9.

PITTsBURGH PA J, July 22-ll P. M.-The
fire at the Union depot may be sad to have
commenced at about half-past one O'Clock,
when the cars nearest the sheds covering the
platforms ignited. From this time the fear
| ful destruction which followed was inevita-
| bic. At the hour mentioned, at Liberty and
, Twenty-frst streets, sight WAS met that
beggars description. Upward cf 1000 cars
had already been burned, large portion OF
them containing merchandise, and on the
! flames were goaded, and the determination
of the angry assembly seemed to be TO IN
clude in the devastating trail the entire
property of the railroad company.
THE MAYOR
Was upon the spot in a buggy, but his pres
/ ence did not in the least intimidate the mob,
who had resorted to this to enforce the re-
storation of the wages of the railroad men.
/ At twenty-five minutes to two o'clock fire
suddenly burts from under the cars at
Fifteenth street, six squares below, and that
/ much nearer the Union depot sheds; and a
| little further west another mcendlary torch
was applied In 4 moment afterward there
was sort OF
PANIC N TIE CROWD,
! And several children were severely hurt by
being tramplcd Thieves were engaged roll
inr barrels of ilOur, molasseS, etc, along the
sidewalk, and these distractions impeded
the progress Of the half frantic people, and
increased their desire to get to places of
safety.
TIE CAUSE OF TIE ALARM
Was the announcement that the last car fired
contained powder, and the utter dismay
Of the men when they thought that they had
placed themselves in 4 bad trap. The car
had been fired without being broken open
a precaution subsequently observed very
.tIicly. The doors of the cars at Twenty
first street were torn off to asst the
flames along, and at a quarter to two o'clock
the fire vas only two blocks from the sheds
of the Union depot. The mob were work
Ing as vigorously at this juncture as they
did at any time the previous night, and at
short intervals would apply firebrands to the
intervening cars. The occupants of the
buildings opposite the Union depot now be-
gan to move out, as in case the Union depot
was destroyed, they considered it to he i'm
possible TO save the houses opposite. When
the mob Jumped the cars at Twenty-firSt
street, and fred those at Fifteenth,
THE FIREMEE
Knew the confagra.ion would be very severe.
In consequence of their being on the track
toward the wall, they were directed to go
around to head off the tire-that Is, to pro-
tect the property on the opposite siie of the
street. This they did, and succeeded in say
ing all of the property. All of the valuables
and baggage IN the Union depot were remOv-
ed a hJtle after two O'Clock to places Of safe
tv, and a guard Of watchers were placed on
the roof of the depot sheds watching the
progress Of events. MOrel&nd L Mitchell
removed all their horses and carriages The
flames now reached the little switch-bOX at
the east end of the sheds, and in five minutes
the mammoth roof of the platform, where
on passenger trains are loaded and unloaded,
WAS ablaze. The excitement now was intense.
There Is a small space between the switch
box at the east end of the depot
AND \ BURNING CAR II LIEU OF TORCH
Was at 2:45 pushed down 20 set fire tn
the sheds. The greatest alarm was now felt
for the property on the north side OF Liberty
street, and the whole of the Allegheny de-
partment was at this time called TO assist In
protecting the property. This proved futile,
however, to save the depot. At ten minutes
to three o'clock the first passenger coach ex-
tending out from the shed caught fire, and
Immediately the fremen prepared a stream
Of water to throw upon the building. The
mob was pressed inside the fence Of the
Railroad Company, and were at this time in
possession of the depot building intently
watching the progress of the flames Men
were appalled,, women were falntlng on door
steps and children screamed piteously
What scene
NOW PANIC Is STARTED,
And hundreds areheeing toward the elevator
as for their lives. All Is excitement, and it
requires but a word to incite the mob to the
boldest deeds. A few moments before the
big bell rang out, tine great tinder-box, the |
shed of the depot, caught fire. 1t blazed
amid whOOp and loud huzza from the
mob. No effort was made to throw water,
1t being the intention Of the tiremen 20 wait
until the brick building caught Locomotives
on the Panhandle Railroad back of the de- !
pot now began pulling away passenger cars.
There were no locomotives at that time on |
the platform, and those IN the Pan Handle !
yard were at once run over to the south side. I
Ihe crowd now falls b ck, driven by the |
flames of the shed.
GREAT SURGING MASS OF FLAMES
Is all that remains of the shed Peoples |
eyes are dazZled, and their faces wear a wild |
expression, but they are as silent as the |
grave so far as efforts to suppress the work of |
the fire fiend were concerned. Libertystreet, |
Eleventh and Grant were now thronged with |
people, while on the hillside above, in front |
of the High School, at least 5000 persons /
had congregated. Another panic occurred /
at tins Juncture, and several more women /
and children were injured At 3;30
A LOUD REPORT, RESEMBLING AN EXPLOSION,
Was heard, and several men shouted, ''The |
building Is guarded by the soldiers, and We
are to have war - Another said, The mob |
has powder to blow mp the buildiRgl" :" Then
there was another frantic scream. Horses
ran of, men and women were knocked down,
and horrible scene followed. 1t was dis
covered that neither OF the above rumors
was correct; that the section OF the heavy
gravel root falling upon the platform oc-
easI0ned the noise. At 3:45 the depot build !
ing proper caught fire, and another yell of
delight rent the air \ report was immeA-
aueiy put In circulation 10 the effect that
there were 10000 rounds OF fixed anmuni-
ton in the cellar of the hotel, intended for
the use OF the Philadelphia troops; but the
crowd appeared not to care continental, the
mob facing the music with the utmost COM
plaeeney.
At $50 two unpleasant nay, startling,
events had occurred-the falling of the walls
Of what was 4 few moments before beauti-
ful building. 1t seems that cne man broke
open car containing glass IN boxes packed
in straw, and set tire TO the same, and
moment afterward dense column of smoke
shot up from the cars, making the air black.
4 gentle breeze suficed 10 create an immense
blaze