River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-02

The following is an extract from
private letter written at Pittsburg, the
scene of the late railroad riot.
PITrsBURG, Pam, July 23d
- You can hardly imagine, even
from the full and graphic accounts given in
the ''Gazette," the terrible scenes that Pitts
burg has passed through the last fOrty-eight
hours. The strike proper, which up to
Saturday had been peaceful, gave way to
violence, blOodshed, incendiarism and pill
lage. II was as though the French Com
mune had been suddenly vomited over us,
and all the scenes characteristic OF the Com
mune were re-enacted in our city before an
unresisting population. On Saturday morn
ing every thing was comparatively quiet.
The strikers had taken possession Of the
road, as you know, and would not allow any
freight to be moved. The passenger trains
were run as usual. At 2sth St. tabout 8
miles from the heart OF the ethyl large body
of men had assembled and were guarding the
track, so that no train could pass. The X.
K. company did not seem to realize that the
strike was more than local affair, and so at
tempted to quell il by force. The civil au-
thorities were called on for assistance. The
militia, under Gen. Pearson, were called out
and a message was sent to Philadelphia re-
questing troops On Saturday afternoon the
Philadelphia troops arrived in the city, tired
and hungry, and with only light lunch
were sent out to 2sth st. to clear the track.
By the time they reached the outer depot
thousands were gathered, and these in not a
very agreeable 'humor. They were ordered
to dispense and the troops were forced to
push the people aside in order to form their
line. Amid these movements one or two
stones were thrown and an order to fire toll
lowed 1t is in dispute who gave the order
to fire At all events the troops did fire.
The first shots went up the hill, and took
effect among the Spectators. Other shots
were fired into the crowd in front and others
to the lett down 2Sth ST. About 20 persons
were killed and 80 wounded. The firing
produced an immediate panic among the
crowd, and it scattered in all directions. The
scene was fearful Wounded men, women,
and children were picked up and taken away,
people ran to and fro inquiring for lost rela-
tives, and the crowd vowing vengence started
in various directions to beat up recruits, OBJ
tam arms and return Tor vengence which
they subsequently took. From this hour
mob law was inaugurated. Arsenals, armor-
les and gun stores were broken into aud
arms of every kind seized. The streets of
the city We're thronged with an excited, in
furiated crowd-marching along singing
national airs, calling for recruits, and shout
ing the most lawless and incendiary senti-
ments. About eleven o'clock they assembled
at 2Sth ST. the scene OF the first firing. The
soldiers were soon closed in upon and driven
into the i'round house" "a large depot for
locomotiYes.) Once the soldiers were driven
under cover the next scheme was to burn
them out and slaughter them. A train of
loaded oil cars was fired and sent down the
grade against the railway building. BY this
means it was fired and the troops compelled
to retreat across the country 20 place Of
safety. Once incendarism was started and a
new spirit took possession of the mob. A
demoniacal spirit of destruction prevailed.
All through Sunday the fiendish work pro-
crossed, and more than six millions of prop
erty was destroyed. The streets were filed
with persons, generally of the lowest type,
carrying parcels, rolling barrels and in all
ways bearing off plumber from the cars be
fore they burned. On Sunday night, through
the efforts of the citizens the mob was con.
trolled and at this writing am confident we
need apprehend no further violence. There
are many thrilling incidents connected with
the affair which have not space here to re-
relate You will find many of them in the
/ 'Gazette"