New-York tribune., 1877-07-23
on THE BALTIMORE AND ONO.
THE STRIKERS NOT THE RIOTERS.
The WAR TAKEN CP BY NORKiNGAfN AND VAGA-
HoNDs-HANCOCKs PRESENCE RESTORES CONF
DENCE.
lnr rrLraRArn TO TIE rRInrxE.l

lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRBCNEl
baltimore, July %. Il is only too evident
that the sympatnies OF large proportion of 'he
population Of this city arc with The strikers The
number Of railroad employees engaged in ihe Iioting
here has from the first no; exceeded 100; tut
at the outset of the affair they were joined by thou
sands of aborers and mechanics ont OF employment
and by the entire criminal classes Of the city, eager
Tor an OCCASION 90 pundor. a large number of men
besides these in various occupations, who have SUI
fercd reduction of wages Of late, are IN sulen
temper with their employers and with capitalists
generally They iInagira that they have been
wrongcd and welcome what they think i an at-
tempt Of the railroad inan t. right similar wrong
Some have actively aided the rioters, and nearly
ali have ferneuted the movement by reckless and
inlaumatory talk 1he Communis;c character Of
the riots is shown by every incident.
The mob which assaicd tie 9Th Regiment, Fri
day night. was rot composed Of railroad men. hu
was a miscellaneous assonbace OF iaboTers. The
crowd that stoned The United States troops to-day.
probably had not single striker in its midst So ol
the gangs gathered up by tine police in the numerous
conbats around Camden Station last night. Some
were thieves and rowd.cs, and Others were working
mcn usually well behaved, bat now cIazed By tie
excitement Of the outbTeaa. 1t is il notable fact
tiat mos, Of the men who yelled bread in the
crowd that sursed against tic lines of the police aud
The soldiers last night had evidently money enough
to buy whiskcy. for they were half drunk.
Some Of the strikers affirm that they and their
friend, were taking 10 part il the iawles acts and
that the movement has passed altogether ont OF
taeir hands The prejudice against tie Baltimore and
Ohio Road among lie working classeSand tOsOme cX-
tent among people IN the hghervaiks OF life furnish
cd at the beginning strong fund OF sympathy to sus
tain the strike. Ii was currently beiicgcd that the
policy cf the Company has been to starye its men III
order 10 keep up its ten per cent dividends There
is 40 doubt that this prejudice the real basis OF
the outbreak. Desperate men took advantage Of it
10 defy the law, relying upon popular support.
The unfortunate affair with the 9th Regiment
added fuel 10 the fire Of hatred against the Company
already raging among tie labOnng classes. The a.
gument of these people Is that the Company need
l,ssly called on the military. AID the shedding Of
innocent blood that followed was chargeabe to it,
and not 10 TIE rioters 1t was not strange that the
soldiers fred without orders when their comrades
were falling under v0ilcy Of stones, but the deaths
that resulted made the mob furious. and to the
outbreak is formidable proportions Ever since
the 9Th Regiment got into Camden us men have
virtually been the prisoners Of the mob OF the 100
who marched in only sixteen remain. All the
r.st have sunk off, by one, in citizens clothes,
furnished by friends. The J;h Regiment, on the
wlen assailed, ana the popular animosity does not
extend to it, Last night and to-day it did efficient
guard duty.
The main reliance of the wabiding people
seems however 10 be upon the Federal troops that
have arrived to-day from Fortress Monroe and New
York Tic presence of Gen. Hancock in command
has had an excellent effect in quietng apprehension
Il is thought if tonight can be passed. without ser
Gus trouble the danger will be over. Last night
was a night Of alarms, and few people slept. The
lurid glare of incendiagy fires lighting up the sky
the frequent tong of bells and the rushing of the
re-ergues through the streets caused the most dis
tressirg apprehension. II was feared that the mob
was firing the City at many points, seeking 10 emu
late the terrible deeds Of the Commune
Thus far il must b. confessed that the victory is
with tie rioters. They have been kept from bum
ing the Baltimore and Ohio depot aud restrained
fom the wholesale destruction OF other property Of
the Company. The soldiers and police have the
upper hand here, but no trains. passenger or freight
are moving over the road. The strikers have Ell
fectuay blockaded il, which Is exactly what they
set ont 70 do until the road is opened 10 traffic and