The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-28
THE STRIKERS CAMP.
THE MILITARY ASPECT OF THE FORT
WAYNE ROAD.

THE MILITARY ASPECT OF THE FORT
WAYNE ROAD.
Bob Ammon, the Greatest of Railroad
Kings.
TSt. Louis Republican
P1TTsBuRG, July 2i.-Pittsburg Is get
ting rapidly to have the appearance Of q
camp, and as it's look becomes more
ing era OF order strengthens.
The situation Of affairs upon the Chi
cago, Pittsburg and Fort Wayne road Is
something extraordinary. The road has
been seized bodily with all its property,
and is now operated by those who have
captuied it. Such a thing never occurred
before, save in time OF war. just out
side of Allegheny City are the round
house and shops OF the Fort Wayne
road, and these are now the headquar
ters of the strikers. The roundhouse
has been cleared Of cars aud inside are
now three small field pieces. Along the
operations occupied by the strikers
and just where the tracks of the
depot converge in defile is the
stronghold. The strikers have
thrown up earthworks parallel with
the track here, and armed to
the teeth, are prepared to riddle with
bullets any incoming train conveying
soldiers. Back OF the earthworks are
washed out hollows which are occupied
| upon occasions, as the Modocs held the
Lava Beds, and back of all rise the
abandoned earthworks Of Fort Keeyer,
| thrown up when Lee invaded Pennsyl-
vania. This old fort the strikers pro-
pose to occupy If necessary, and it COM
mands the depot completely. The posi-
t1on held Is strong, strategically speak
ing.
Between the intrenchments of the
round. house is small brick building,
the train dispatchers' Office, and here
now rules the greatest railroad king in
the world, He has thousand men who
obey him without question. He gives
orders which are carried out, though
their intent be to kill. He is more than
the roads superintendent-he Is its alb
absolute owner, and his name is Robert
was unknown three days ago; to-day all
Pittsburg knows him we'll and the coun-
try has heard Of him.
The Republican reporter this after
noon visited Allegheny and there walk
ed out along the line Of the Fort Wayne
road until the army Of the strikers
came in sight. There were few citizens
visible anywhere, but as the intrencb-
ments were neared the trenches swarm
ed with the strikers. Many looked at
the single visitor curiously; one OF them
asked him what he wanted but none
offered any molestation. He inquired
for Ammon and was conducted to the
little train dispatcher building already
mentioned.
The railroad magnate was sitting at
the telegrapher's desk, and about him
were a mingled group Of engineers,
brakemen and firemen.. They were hur-
rying in for orders and out to execute
them. The commands ofAmmon being
given curtly and always verbally, the
men used no particular courtesy in visit
| ing their leader, but they obeyed him.
The leader of the strikers turned
around, and his appearance was start
Ter. Instead OF a beetling- browed,
| strikes, here was boy OF twenty-seven
| in side whiskers and with the appear
ance Of bank clerk. He seemed watch
full and alert amid the duller men about
| him, but otherwise there was nothing
| in his air to attract attention. He asked
| the visitor rather brusquely what his
| business was, and when asked in reply
if he would state, for the benefit of the
| country, the exact attitude Of the men
who had seized railroad, the railroad
| king explained as nearly verbatim as
can be recollected, as follows "We have
seized the railroad and we are going
to hold it until the different cuts
which have been made in our
wages are restored. We have taken up
position here and are going to hold it
against any troops which may come, or
die in our tracks. Not soldier shall
come over the Fort Wayne road to enter
| Pittsburg. We propose to protect the
property Of the railroad and to run
trains regularly, but we propose to do it
ourselves. [ had an offer this morning
| from two thousand miners to come into
Pittsburg and help me. T sent word
| back that didn't need them, but that
| when did, I would send for them. II
road they will be treated the same as
militia. They shall not come in. We
will fight until we are all killed
and the city will be again given over to
confusion. The men will obey me to
the end. We have not as good wages
even as the employees upon other West
ern roads get, and we are going to have
such wages. 1 have received no notifi-
cation from the officers Of the road Of
an accession to my terms, but the news
that change OF management is likely
would indicate that they are weakening.
Anyhow, the road will never be surren-
dered without terrible fight until what
we ask has been done for us. We have
the thing in our hands, and we propose
to keep it.'
In response to questions, Ammon then
stated curtly that some of the conduc-
tors had been removed because their
sentiments were not all right, but that
the money collected for tickets would
not be stolen. In case Of further riots
in the city Ammon said that he might
be willing to help the citizens with mis-
men. AS regarded the miners he stated
that he would work with those whose
cause seemed all right to him and that
he would aid striking railroad men il
any live anywhere 80 far as he could.
I'VE have our own affairs to attend to
first, though" said he.
During the conversation a crowd of
strikers mad gathered about to listen to
the conversation, and to Ammen's ex-
pressions at intervals they added their
-, IS