The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-07-26


Riot, BlOOdslacd and whole.
sale Destruction.
The News from Europe Made
Tame and Uninteresting.
Five Million Dollars Worth al
Property Destroyed.
For week the attention of the
whole country has been directed with
ever increasing absorption toward the
railway strikes which commenced
with section of firemen at Martins
burg, on the Baltimore 4 Ohio road,
ten days ago. The cause was a ten
per cent. reduction of wages. Trains
were stopped and lawlessness prevail
ed. Having no State Militia, after
the failure Of two small volunteer
companies to effect anything-one OF
them having its guns taken away al
Grafton by the strikers-the Demo
cratic State-rights Governor Mathews
was reluctantly compelled to call upon
the President for troops, which were
at once sent upon the sacred soil o.
Virginia, and speedily set things in
that immediate vicinity TO rights.
But the spark was abroad and the
| fire kindled. The strike ran along
the line into Maryland, the course o.
the strikers in every instance being
the peremptory stoppage of all freigh,
trains. Governor Carol responded
promptly to the call for aid, and called
out the militia of that State. The
Sixth regiment, while marching
| through the streets of the bloody and
riotous city Of Baltimore, on Friday
was attacked with stones and reyolv.
ers by an immense crowd Of roughs
and had finally tofire on them, killing
eight and wounding three times as
many-many of them, of course, in.
| nocent citizens. This was the first
bloodshed, except the wounding OF
one striker and one militiaman al
Martinsburg; but, alas, it was not the
last. However, prompt and efficient
action by the Governor, the Mayor
and the police of Baltimore. aided 10y
the Presidential proclamation and the
regulars under Gen. Hancock i'm per-
son, which came in response toGover-
nor Carroll's official request, OVERRIDE
the storm which the initial conflict
seemed sure to evoke. For some
time following the shooting, mad riot
seemed likely to gain ascendeDcy, but
the leaders were promptly arrested,
crowds were driven from the streets,
depots and arsenals were guarded, and
law and order asserted itself.
But in the meantime, on Thursday,
strike had been declared on thew west
ern Division of the great Pennsylya-
mia railroad, based upon small re-
duction of wages which took effect
June LIST, and a subsequent increase of
the size of freight trains without en-
larging the crews. This rapidly ran
along the line, the policy of stopping
freight trains, sending the lOcomo-
tives to the round houses and leaving
the loaded cars standing upon the
track, being the universal rule of pro-
cedure. Pittsburg, being great en-
repot, was the natural center of this
business. Up to Saturday noon near
1900 loaded ears stood on the tracks
and sidings there. The civil authori-
ties were powerless, and the Governor
of the State being telegraphed, Gen.
Pearson, commander of the local MILL
tia, was ordered to assist in enforcing
authority with his troops. The Gener.
al and Fife, Sherifiof Allegheny coun.
ty, on Friday afternoon took loco.
motive and went to the outer depot
where 1000 strikers were engaged in
preventing the departure Of trains,
and addressing the men told them how
serious was the wrong which they
were provoking; that while deeply
sympathizing with them as men, rs
officers they would be compelled to
do their duty; that the interruption to
commerce must cease, an trains move
on if the whole military force of the
country had to be called out; remind
ed them that in such conflict the in
nocent must suffer a. much or more
than actual contestants, and begged
them to desist. They were answered
with jeers, laughter and volleys of
missiles, as was also the reading of the
Governors proclamation to disperse.
But We can make no attempt To fol-
low all details of the terrible events
to which these circumstances were a
prelude. Every line in this issue
would be used without half doing it.
The strikers kept Oh their work of
capturing every arriving freight train,
either being reinforced by or driving
of its crew of hands, and all the time
allowing none to move out. Mean
while the crowd was constantly being
Increased. by much baser dement's
than the original strikers, and the ter
rible situation eliminated Saturday
evening in fearful riot at the Tween
ty-eighth street depot.
At o'clock Saturday afternoon the
Philadelphia troops arrived at the L n
ion Depot, and at o'clock, preceded
by Sheriff Fife and IA posse comitatus
started north along the railroad track
to the spot where the rioters were in
force. The hill overl looking Twenty
eighth street was lined with men
women and children. The Sheriff at
tempted to make arrests, being sup
ported by the Philadelphia militia
There was no demonstration until til,
order was given by Gen. Pearson t,
clear the track. The dismountet
Black Hussars attempted to obey, bu
were greeted with jeers and shower
Of stones from the mob on the side o
the hill. The troops becoming mad
dened, order was given to fire. Tn,
first yolley was aimed above the head.
of the crowd. This only added fue
to the flames, and the Philadelphis
soldiers received another volley o.
stone and bricks. The mob also drew
rcvolvers and fired at the militar,
without any apparent effect. The
military then directed another volIey
this time infn the croMI Iirnnt NIL