The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-07-26
THE ERAILROAD War
A Week Of Excitement =!
Terrible Riots at Balti- :
more andPittsburgh.
Great Destruction Of Life
and Property

and property
Great excitement has ex isted during
the past week all over the country
owing to the extensive strike of the
operatives on a number of railroads
in various sections.
| The trouble commenced among the
firemen and brakemen on the Ealti-
more aud Ohio Road at Martinsburg,
w. Va, on the evening of the 10th
inst, when some % or 30 in number
of them struck and left their trains on
account of the reduction of wages 10
per cent, which has recently taken
place on most of the Roads throughout
the country. The places of these men
hands, but the strikers interfered to
prevent the trains from starting. The
Mayor and police interfered to protect
the new men and some of the ring
and imprisoned, but the strikers were
reinforced by large body of citizens
and the police were overpowered and
the arrested parties rescued. The
mob had become too powerful and
frantic to be frightened into submits
sion, and in the face of an order given
the soldiers to fire, the new men were
4 hn IN hn
midst of the affray two men lost their
lives and several others were seriously
wounded. On the 18th the difficulty
had assumed such alarming proper
tions that U. S. troops were sent to
the assistance of Governor Matthews,
and proclamation was issued to the
rioters to dispersc. But little heed
was given to it.
The strike has continued TO spread
until some thirteen or fourteen Roads
are involved and fears are entertained
that it will become general through
out the country. The trouble is a seri-
GUS one, interfering as it does with
transportation and travel, and effect
ing all business enterprises.
RIOT AT BALTIMORE.
A terrible riot occurred at Balti-
more on Friday evening, resulting in
murder, arson and rapine. Nine men
were reported killed and many more
seriously wounded. houses were burn
ed and telegraph Offices and railroad
stations destroyed. The details as
given by the daily papers, whose col
umns are mostly occupied with the af-
fair, show the most intense excitement
to exist everywhere, and they read
Ike the descriptions of some of the
great battles during the days of the
rebellion.
The TROUBLE AT PITTSBURGH.
On Saturday night and Sunday the
mob held complete control of Pitts
burgh. and committed all manner of
depredations. They gutted the gum
shops and stores, completely arming
themselves They captured Hutchins'
Battery of severa, cannon, set on fire
lC) cars of oil, and many other cars,
surrounded the rOund-house, where
the Philadelphia militia had taken ref
uge and set it on fire. The soldiers
were fkely to perish, but subsequent
ly m..do ,heir escape, but in doing SO
it is reported fifteen were reported
killed. 1t is reported that during
Saturday night so persons were
killed and 2OO wounded. On Sunday
morning the soldiers made charge
killing Sheriff Fife, wounding General
Pearson aud killing 81 men. A large
number were wounded.
A dispatch dated at 4 Is p. m, Sum
day afternoon says: "The roundhouse,
outer dApot,- -transfer depot and one
mile of cars are burning. The Union
depot is in danger. The loss SO far is
five to ten millions. The strikers are
hardly to blame for this. Their fol-
lowers do the damage. The latter
hold everything in their power. The
depot is entirely burned.
The mob was estimated to have
numbered 900.
There was ramor on Monday af-
tern Oon at half-past three O'Clock that
the stock yards of the Pennsylvania
Central at East Liberty, near Pitts
burgh, were burning, but the report
was not confirmed at last accounts.
at midnight the indications were
that the reign of the mob in Pittsburgh
was over. The loss during the riot is
estimated at SG,t 10000 to the Rail-
roads and 81 100000 to citizens.
A Columbus dispatch of Monday
afternoon says the Ohio State journal
has bulletin that the bridge over the
Schuylkill at Philadelphia has been
destroyed.
There were also reports Of serious
troubles at Reading. Pa.
1t is reported that the c. &. G. 81 I.
II, Il. authorities have agreed to the
terms of the strikers.
There are similar reports respecting
the =. Ft. w. g. &. Road.
How 1t Works.
The Toledo Journal (Rep.) says:
'sThe Presidents policy seems TO
have taken the life out Of the Repub-
iicauc in tho South At an nIecIiou