The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-07-28

bnilt fronting on Grant street, and extending
from Washington street 10 Seventh avenue
The company general Offices were IN
c,nr. story brick building fronting on Seventh
avoapa These we're totally DESTROYED n
wac Also the depot Of the Adams Express
comnany located on Grant street Ia,
) books md valuable papers had been removed
from the Union depot offices as wei as rom
other buildings before the fire reached tneu''
Tho Ere department Of the city continued ON
du,v from the time of the first alarm, but
were not allowed TO throw any water on OF
make any effort to save the property OF tue
railroad company.
They consequently directed their efforts to
saving private property on the north side oil
Liberty street In this they were mainly sue
cessfni although six dwellings and q sash ine
tory, located near the round -houses, were
DESTROYED early in the day. When the un,on
dep6t building was fired, followed by the ran
Handle offices, panic seized the clhkehs,
who had up to this time calmly folded the'r
arms and looked on. ~
Il was feared that the conilagration would
sweep the entire portion Of the city south OF
the Pan Handle railroad tracks, as many oil
| the buildings were small frames, as dry as
| finder. At this iuncture the lire department
OF Allegheny, which had been held IN reaui !,
! ness in case of an outbreak on that Ade OF
\ the river, was summoned TO assist in staying
| The nrorress of the flames. The Pan Handle
| railroad building was the last one in line. and
the Allegheny department was placed on
| Seventh avenue to check the progress OF the
| flames in that direction.
When this last building was fired the whole
territory between Seventh avenue and Mill
vale station. a distance of three miles, was a
mass Of flames, tho railway company prop
erty being all between the south side OF lab
erty and the blud--thc hill extending from
Seventh avenue to Mllvale. The small hou'
SEES on the hillside, although badly scorched,
were not destroyed.
The railroad buildings destroyed were as
follows Two round. houses, one machine
shop, superintendent office, car repair shop,
blacksmith shop, three or four oil houses,
Union Transfer depot aud Offices of the Pull
man Car Company, laundry and Offices, dis.
patchers office, powder house, Union Depot
Hotel, Pan Handle railroad engine house,
general offices aud freight dcpots of the
Adams Express Company. The freight depot
Of the Pltisburg, Cincinnati and ST. Louis and
general offices Of the same company were fired
at 400 clock this afternoon. These are in
close proximity to the Union depot.
Citizens are organizing and marching to
the scene Of the conflict 10 prevent further
damage All are armed with concealed wea.
pous and heavy base ball bats.
About five o clock the fire from the Union
depot communicated TO the immense grain
elevator at the corner Of Grant and Washing.
ton streets. This was built Of huge tmbers
aud covered with slate. 1t contained large
quantity Of gain. The destruction Of these
buildings seemed to satisfy the rioters, as
they began to dispense while they were burn.
ing. Most OF those who deserted the crowd
loaded themselves down with plumber and
wended their way homeward.
Throughout the entire day various gangs OF
rioters were searching for Gen. Pearson and
the general officers Of the Pennsylvania rail.
road, the latter being obnoxious to them on
account of bringing the Philadelphia troops
here, while Gen. Pearson is charged with hav.
ing given the order to fire last evening. He
would certainly have been killed had he not
managed to get out of the way tits said that
he aud the railroad officers left the city early
this morning.
At the adjourned meeting Of the citizens
held this afternoon a vigilance committee was
organized to prevent further destruction OF
property. 1t was rapidly recruited, and each
member was first provided with base ball
bats, but these were afterwards exchanged
for guns. They were designated by white
ribbons on their arms. As soon as tho force
was organized they marched to Seventh ave
nue., where hundreds Of spectators who had
been waiting for some one to lead Joined with
them in preventing further incendiarism.
The indications now are that the reign Of
the mob is over, although threats have been
made that the buildings belonging to the
Plttsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad,
the Cleveland and Pittsburg road on Penn
street, and the Duquesne freight depot, on
Liberty street, will be fired this evening A
large number of the vigilance committee will
guard these depots through the night aud it
is thought that they will be saved.
1t is stated that the Pittsburg and Fort
Wayne Company have notified their men that
they have acceded to their demands, and will
pay wages rs before the reduction of June H.
The men are nov husily engaged in getting
the road in running order.
The Fort Wayne blockade being raised, it il
likely the Cleveland and Pittsburg and Erie
aud Pittsburg roads will be able to run as
usual. The situation on other roads remains
unchanged. The crowds about the burned
district aud along Penn road are gradually
growing less. Crowds of drunken men are to
be seen on the streets on the way to their
homes
The vigilant committee is hourly growing
stronger, and it is thought the destruction Of
life aud property is at an end The loss here
within the past twenty four hours can only be
estimated. Along the Pennsylvania road
from Union Depot to East Liberty the nu.
merous tracks were filled with loaded cars
These were burned from Millyille, Thirty.
third street to Thirteenth street, distance Of
twenty blocks. II is estimated that three
thousand cars loaded with oil, coal and ali
kinds Of merchandise were totally DESTROYED.
Add these together with locomotives, build.
ings and other property destroyed swells the
Pennsylvania Railroad Companys losses To
an aggregate amount that is variously estima,
ted at from three 10 four million dollars.
The Philadelphia military are eneamped ON
hill above Claremont, on the north side of
the Allegheny river, aud about ten miles
above the city. They are well fortified and
are in position to defend themselves should
occasion rpuuirp II