Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-07-27

cred about the burning building |
and trains, and assisted In spreading the |
fames. By I O'Clock the IRE had extended |
from Melville station TO Twentieth street, |
and envelOped hundreds Of cars, the ex- |
tensive machine shops, two round'houses,
and depOts and Offices Ofthe Union Trans |
fer Company, blacksmith shops, store |
houses, and numerous other b,ildinGs, /
breaking up the terminal facilities OF this |
mammoth corporation. In rOund'hOuseS !
were one hundred and twentyhy hrst. 7.
class locomotives which had been housed
In consequences OF the strike, these we're
totally destroyed. But even the immense
loss which win be sustained In this item Is
but trifie in the aggregate damage done.
The scenes transpiring on Liberty
street, along the line OF which the
tracks OF the railroad run, simply
beggar description. While hundreds
were engaged In firing the cars and max
ngcertain Of the destruction OF the vaiu-
ablelbulldings at the outer depot, thous-
ands OF men, women and children were en-
gagged In plllaging the cars. Men armed
with heavy sledges would break open the
cars and then the contents would be
thrown out and carried OF by those bent
on profiting by the reign Of terror ex-
listing, The street was almost complete
ly blOckaded by persons labOring to
carry OF the plunder they had gathered
together. In hundreds OF instances wagons
were pressed into service to enable thieves
N get away with their goods.
Mayor Mccarthy early In the day en-
deav0red to stop pillage. but the handful
Of men at his command were unable to
control the crowd, who we're disposed In
their anxiety TO secure the goods' The
pillage was checked, but the mob
HFah tho OaFa and than HFnNoAdnd
with the work Of destruction. Il is i'm.
possible to form any idea Of the amount Of
gOeds stolen, Ibut hundreds Of thousands
will not cover the loss. Some scenes,
Notwithstanding the terror which seemed
TO paralyiZe peaceable and orderly citi.
zens, were ludicrous In the highest degree,
and no one seemed to enjoy them with
greater zest than those outraged.
There brAwny woman could have
been seen hurrying away with pairs OF
kid clippers under her arms; another, car
rying an infant, would be rolling barrel
OF -four along the sidewalk, using her feet
ing q " Wheel.barrow loaded with white lead
bags; others hurried through the crowds
with large-sized family bibles as their
share OF the plunder, while scores OF fe.
males utilized aprons and dresses to carry
-four, eggs, dry goods, etc; bundles
Of umbrellas, fancy parasols, hams, bacon,
leaf lard, calico, blankets, laces and -four
were mixed together In the arms OF robust
men, or carried on hastily constructed
hand.baTr0ws.
At II O'Clock In the morning 1t became
apparent something must be done to cheek
the mob, and number OF citizens hur-
meeting Of citizens at the old City Hall, to
take measures to prevent further
destruction OF property. The meeting
was held at noon, and Committee ap-
pointed. A Committee 10 wait on the
rioters, failed to induce them TO refrain
from further destruction Of property, and
the railroad authorities could not be found
from the time the military fed.
Up to pm, no efforts had been made
to check the riot, other than the meeting
OF citizens referred to. The mob worked
very quietly, and 1t was noticeable fact
that few OF the railroad employees were
engaged in the work OF destruction; here
and there man who had been discharged
might have been seen leading a crowd, but
generally the ringleAders were men who
never been employed on any railroad,
Many hali.gr0wn boys were foremost In
the work Of devastation.
AT $3.50 q burning car was sent down the
grade under sheds surrounding the Union
Depot. Up to this time, 1t was hoped that
the building would escape, but the mass
OF pine lumber used In shedding over the
track was soon sea of FIRE. While the
hre was raging here the mob pillaged the
freight depot OF p. T.. and st. Louis rail.
road, which 10 In close vicinity. Boxes Of
treigh. received o. shipment were broken
open and valuable contents carried OF.
After plundering the depot an hour, and
when all kinds OF provisions had
been carried away, the torch was applied
and soon the vast depot and the compa.
nies general Offices adjoining were a mass
Of flames. The Union Depot was 4 large
iour-story building. IL had frontage
on Liberty street, about 70 feet. and ex-
tended back about 20J feet. The lower
moor was used as waiting.roOm, ticket
onices, and the company's Offices: the up.
per floor was occupied by the Keystone
Hotel Company, aud was one Of the finest
houses In this city. Tne whole building
was the modern style Of architecture, and
was considered one Of the best arranged
depots In the country, aud was finished
about seven years since. In the rear OF
the depot and standing back 800 feet, were
lines Of neat pine sheds covering the differ
ent tracks 10 protect passenger cars from
the weather. II was under these the burn.
Ing car was run. The freight depot ofthe
Pennsylvania Central end st. Louis rail.
road was large shed, built 'front.'
Ing on Grant street, extending
from Washington to seventh Avenue
The Company's General 06ces were in q
iour-stOry brick building, fronting on eth
Avenue. These we're totally destrOyed,As
was also the depot OF the Adams Express
Company. The books and valuable pa.
pers had been removed from the Union
Depot offices, as well as from the other
buildings before the fire reached them.
The Fire Department was on duty from
the tirst alarm, but was not allowed to
save railroad property; cOnse quently they
directed their efforts to saving the private
property In the vicinity. In this they were
mainly successful, although six dwellings
and sash factory near were destrOJe ed.
Order Restored at PittsbuTg-the City
Under Control Of the Civil Authori-
tiss-Good Conduct Of the Real
Strikers.
PITTsBURG, July 23.--The citizens early
to-day effected an organization which has
subdued the rioters and restored control
OF the town TO its municipal authorities.
They have invited the fugitive Philadel.
phia soldiers 10 return, assuring them OF
protection. The Mayor and cltlzens
marched TO the wharf and prevented ac.
oessiOns to the thieves from the river. The
dlsorderly element should not now be |
called strikers, because the real strikera
are rendering effective aid 10 the munici. |
pal authorities In maintaining order. The |
Mayor has possession Of the artillery and |
most OF the arms used bV the moh and tho |