Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-07-26

every direction, told that the work Of
destruction had beguns An alarm was
and the department prompt
" responded, bat the rioters, who bad
compile control Of the city, refused to
them 70 make any effort to ex-
tiueuish the flames. They said that
they were determined to destroy the
railroad company's property, but
would do no injury 10 that belonging
to private citizens.
TRAIN AFTER TRAIN WAS FIRED BY
THE INFURIATED CROWD,
but the cars were SO far distant from
the round house that the heat did not
seriously affect the military, although
their position was one Of peril. Final
ly large party of strikers captured q
ear filed with coke, which they run
from the Allegheny Valley railroad
track TO siding connected with the
Pennsylvania railroad. They then
procured large quantities Of petroleum
oil. and pouring it over the coke, ig-
nited the materials. Ia q very few
moments the car was mass OF hre,
and it was then pushed along the track
and forced against the round house.
The building was soon ignited, and the
soldiers were How compelled to pre-
pare to fight their way out Through the
frenzied mass of humanity clamoring
for their blood. The building did not
burn as fast as was desired, and the
mob, bent on revenge, rushed out the
road and sent the burning trains to-
wards the doomed building. From
midpight till 5 O'Clock this morning
the main efforts of the crowd were di-
rected to firing the buildings and the
cars but about half an hour later the
mob, which had been besieging the
military, left from some unexplained
reason. This afforded the troops, WIN
were in actual danger of being roasted
alive, q chance to emerge from the
building, and they succeeded reaching
Liberty street in very few moments.
They quickly formed in line and
marched up to Thirty.third street and
thence to Penn avenue and Butler
streets. Their objective point was the
United States arsensl on Butler street
where they expected to obtain shelter
While turning into Butler street, how
ever, the leaders OF the mob had dis
covered their retreat, and fully one
thousand men fully armed and supplied
with ammunition, followed in pursuit
When they reached the arsenal ths
commandaut refused to admit them.
He said he had but ten men and would
be powerless to hold the place If tht
mob should attack it. He offered t.
take care of the wounded and they
were accordingly carried into the hos
pitals. They continued their High
and crossed over to the arsenal; TIVE
others were wounded on the north sid'
of Allegheny river or Sharpsburgf
bridge, the mob following them as fas
as POSSIBLE. After reaching the Nortl
Side the troops scattered, and in thi
way the mob was divided into yer.
small bodies. In the meantime the
CITY WAS IN A STATE OF ANARCHY.
Thousands who had not joined in pur
suit of the fleeing troops gsthere'
about the burning buildings and train
assisted 10 spreading the flames wher
ever they had been applied. BY sever
O'Clock the fire had extended iron
i Milvale station to Twentieth street ant
enveloped a hundred cars, the exten
sive machine shops, two round houses
the depots and offices of the Uniol
Transfer Company, blacksmith shops
storehouses and numerous other build
ings, making up the terminal facilltle
of this mammoth corporation. In tn
round house were one Hundred ALT
twenty. five first-class locomotives
which bad been housed in consequence
cf this strike. These we're totally de
stroyed; but even the immense los
i which will be sustained in this iten
alone is but trifle in the aggregat
4 damage done. The scenes transpirinI
on Liberty street, along the line 9
which the tracks of the railroad run
simply beggars description. Will
hundreds were engaged in firing car
and making certain of the destruction
of the valuable buildings at the QUITE
depot, thousands of men, women am
children were engaged in pillaging tn
cars. Men armed with heavy sledges
would break open the cars and the
their contents would be thrown out ant
carried off by those bent on prnfiting b.
the reign of terror existing. AT on
time the pillage was checked, but th
mob fired the cars and then proceede'
with the work of destruction. ia.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLAR
j IN GOODS STOLEN.
/ 1t is Impossible to form any idea Q
the amount of goods stolen, but hun
dreds of thousands of dollars will no
cover the loss. Some Of the scenes
Notwithstanding the terror which seem
ed to paralyze the peaceable and order
ly citizens, were ludicrOus in the high
est degree, and no one seemed to en-
ljoy them with greater zest than thos
engaged in the wholesale plunder.
A MEETING OF CITIZENS.
At IL o'clock in the morning it be
came apparent that something must b
done to check the mob, and q numbe
of citizens hurriedly prepared notice
calling mass meeting of citizens a
the old City Hall to take measures t
prevent further destruction of property
The meeting was held at noon, and
large number of the leading citizens re
sponded to the call. 1t was decided t
|appoint committee to have confer
ence with the rioters, while anOtho
committee was appointed to wait Ol
the railroad authorities to ascertain
what course they intended to pursue
+. or to suggest compromise that woul'
put an end to the disorder which ex
listed. The meeting then adjourned
to meet again at o'clock in the after
noon. The committee to wait on tn
rioters failed to induce them to refrail
from the further destruction OF proper
ty, and the railroad authorities coult
not be found. From time to time tn
L military fled LIN to & O'clock in thJ