Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-07-26
The Murkrille Guqnirer,
YORKVTLLE, s. C.. 4:
THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 26, 1877
LABOR TROUBLES AT THE NORTH.


Several days ago the locomotive runners OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad strucl
against the contemplated action of the mana
gers of the road, in doubling the length o
train for each locomotive, whereby one-hal
the engineers would be discharged from tn
employment of the company. A strike by 81
large number of men as is employed on tn
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is no small at
fair for besides the engineers on the road
the fremen, brakemen and other train hand
sympathise in the movement. In this case, th'
strike extending all along the line of one o
the principal roads of the North, assumed
formidable proportions, endangering life ant
property to such an extent that the local civi
authorities were unable to afford protection
by the usual process of law, and the military
was brought into requisition.
At Martinsburg and Wheeling, West Vir
ginia, where the strike seems to have had it
incipiency, after the powerless efforts of tw'
local militia companies to suppress the disor
der and threatened violence, Governor Mat
thews appealed to the President for United
States troops, which was responded to favora
bly,, and detachments at once ordered from
Washington, Fort McHenry and other points
to the scene of the disturbance.
On Thursday, Governor Matthews tele
graphed the President that the strike had as
sumed such proportions that the force sent wa
not adequate to overawe it, the strike having
become general, extending from Martinsbure
to Parkersburg, Benwood. Columbus, Newark
and Chicago.
At Martinsburg the strikers surrounded th'
militia in such force that the latter retired
for reinforcements.
Col. French was placed in command of th'
United States troops. with orders to hold then
in reserve as support to the militia.
On Friday the railroad officials called OF
the Governor of Ohio for troops to quell the
disturbance then arising in that State, the
fremen having struck and refused to allow
new men to take their places, and the civi
authorities having declared themselves pow
erless.
On the same day the strikers at Grafton
Pennsylvania, numbering one hundred, struck
and were beyond control of the civil authori
ties, and a regiment of State militia was SEM
to the assistance of the Sheriff of the county
At Pittsburg, meeting of the strikers was
held on Friday, when they resolved to stick
together, demand their wages prior to june
1st, and that double trains, except coal trains
should be abolished.
Governor Carroll, of Maryland, issued
a proclamation, and ordered out troops or
Friday, on account of the detention of trains
at Cumberland. As the sixth Regiment, Col
Clarence Peters, was marching from its ar
mory along Baltimore street to Camden Sta
tion to proceed to Cumberland, in compliance
with the Governors orders, the regiment wa:
stoned and fred into by crowds on the streets
The regiment fired into the crowd and 6
number were killed and wounded. Much con
fusion and great excitement ensued. Foul
dead bodies were taken to the Middle District
Station, and number of wounded, six OF
seven, to the various drug stores
Or Saturday two companies of artillery
were ordered from Fort Monroe to Balti
more. Gen. French sent two companies from
Martinsburg to Cumberland
At Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on the same
day, at p. M, the military we're ordered te
clear the crossing at 2Sth street, when the
crowd attacked them with stones. The mill
tary fired volley, when the crowd returned
fire from revolvers. Four were killed out
right and a number wounded.
A dispatch gives the following account O
the riot in Pittsburg:
At twenty minutes to four o'clock, the Phil
adelphia troops left Union depot for the scene
of the disturbance on 2Sth street crossing, by
marching out along the track, and preceded
by the sheriff and his posse. Expecting tt
fail in an effort to disperse the strikers, the
sheriff would endeavor to make arrests ano
call upon the military for required assistance
This was understood to be the plan of actor
determined upon, and conflict was expected
They arrived at 2Sth street shortly before
o'clock, the railroad tracks at that point be
ing completely blockaded with strikers. The
black Hussars, of Philadelphia, we're ordered
to clear the railroad crossing but not being
able to do so, another company was ordered
to their assistance. The military advanced
with fixed bayonets, but were met with 6
shower of stones and missiles from the crowd
They opened fire on the crowd indiscrimi
nately and in rapid succession. The crowd
retreated towards East Liberty. There is 8
long list of killed and wounded.
After the conflict at Pittsburg, the Secre
tary of War ordered Gen. Hancock to Bal
timore, and the Secretary of the Navy order
ed vessels of the North Atlantic squadron tc
assist in transporting troops
The President also issued another procla
nation ignoring State lines. His orders cover
the entire United States, and warn the OBJ
structionists to disperse on or before IL o'clock
on the 22d instant.
A dispatch from Columbus, Ohio, datec
last Saturday says:
"Complications have arisen at Newark
The county commissioners refuse to vote
money for the sustenance of the military
The strikers came forward and guaranteed tt
furnish food to the troops. 1t is reported
that the citizens have guaranteed the strikers
that they shall not want for eatables to sus
tain life. The troops appear friendly to tht
strikers, laughing and joking with them
Rsmor prevails that the troops will shortly
be withdrawn. Passenger travel over thu
Pan-H Handle and Pennsylvania line is not in
terrupted. All trains are running schedule
t;noon