Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-07-23

their goods. Mayo: Mccarthy carly 10 tne
day euGeav0red TO stop the plagi0E, Gut tue
hardlul Of mcu at his command Wero unable 10
control the crowd, who were desperate IN their
anxiety TO secure the goods. The pil'aee was
checked, but the mob fired the cars anu thcn
proceeded with the work Of destruction. 1t Is
impossible to form any idea oil the amount OF
goods stoleo, but hundreds 0! thousands OF dol'
lars will not cover the loss. Some OF the scenes
notwithstanding the terror which seemed to
n4ra,cize pcaceable and orderly citizens, were
ludjcrous 10 the highest degree, and no one
seemed to enjoy them with greater zast tho
those outraged by the wholesale plumber.
Her, a brawny woman could be seen hurry
lux away with pairs Of white kid slippers under
her arms; another, carrying an infant, would be
rolling barrel of -four along the sidewalk, u.s.
ipg her feet as the propelling power; here
man pushipg wheebarrow loaded with white
lead. Boys hurried through the crowds with
large sized family Bibles as their share OF the
n|unde1; while scores f females utilized aprons
and dresses to carry -four, egg, dry goods, DC.
Bundles Of umbrellas, fancy psraso!s, hams,
hacon, leaf lard, calico, blankets, accs and Hour
were mixed together 10 the arms OF robust meo,
or carried % hastily constructed handbarrows.
At IL o'clock in the morning it became an-
parent that something must BIO done TO check
the mob ADD number OF clIlzrns hurrledy
prepared poticcs calling mass meeting OF ci'l
z.us 81 the old city hall, to take measures 10
rrcrcnt the further destruction OF property
The meeting WAS held at noon, and large
number OF the leading cltZ,ns responded 10
the call. |! was decided to appoint commit
tee, consisting of Bishop Twigg, of the Catholic
| Church; James Park, it,, Or. h. Donnety,
james |. Bennett and Dr.. 5. L. Scovcl, OF the
4, Hpon Tor
encc With tie rioters, while another committee
WIS appointed 10 wait on the railroad authori-
| ties to .=ecr;ain what course they Intended to
puFsuc, or 10 suggest Z compromise that you'd
| tut an end to the disorder which existed. The
meeting then adjourned, to meet again at t
p. n. ,,
| Tie committee 10 wait GA the rioters 1aliGd
! = induce them 10 refra1 from further Gestruc-
ton of property, and the railroad authorities
cou', 40; BE- fouud. FROM the time the mill
tary I'D ~ to :; o'clock 10 the afternoon 20 ct-
Tort had been made to check the riot ether than
TIC msatiDg Of citz3ps referred to.
ffho nab worked very quietly, aud It waS .
noti.eah!r lac that few Of the railroad employ
rc: we're engaged 10 the work Of destruction
Here apd there man who had been discharged
Dirht have been sacn Leading crowd, but eeu-
orally the rnglttaders were men WHO had naver
tccn employed on acy railroad. Many half
crown bors were foremost ia the work OF de-
yasta;iop, and We'd with the older on:s in their
Efforts
TIE oyera:;ou- were carried On varS quietly,
aud the multitude CT Dcn, women and children
ahc filled The streets aud occupied POSITIONS on
the hillside south OF the railroad looked on with
astonishmcnt while the destruction OF property
continued At $3.50 burning car was run down
the grade under the sheds surrounding the
Union depot. Up to this time 1t was hoped
thai the building would escape, but the masses
Of pine lumber used 10 the shedding over the
trick were soon sea OF lire. " bile the hrc
was raging here the mob pillaged the freight
depot of the PittsSurg, CinclnDali and st. Louis
Railroad, which is in close vicinity.
Boxes of freight received for shipment were
brakcn open and valuable contents carried off.
After plund.rng the depot for 40 hour, and
when bur, hams and all kinds OF provisions
had been carried away the torch WAS applied,
and soon the vast depot aad the company )
Offices adjoining were mass OF flames.
The Union depot was large four story build
lug. 1t had frontage 90 Liberty street OF
about seventy feet and extended back about
two hundred feet The lower floor was used
as waiting rooms, ticket Offices aud the c9m.
panys offices The upper floor was occupied
by the keystone Hotel Company, and was one
Of the lirs. houses in the city.
The whole building was Of modern style OF
architecture, aud was considered one OF the best
arranged drpots 10 the country, and was tnlSh.
cd about seven years since. 10 the rear OF the
depot, and extending back FIVE hundred feet,
were lines Of neat pine sheds, covering the dit
fcrent tracks to protect passengers from the
weather 1t was under these the burning cars
were fun. The freight depot Of the Plttsburg
Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad was large
shed fronting on Grant street, and extending
from Washington street to Seventh avenue.
rha complnys general Offices were 10 four
story brick building fronting on Seventh ave.
Que These were totally destroyed, as was also
the depot of the Adams Express Company, 10
papcrs had been removed FROM the Union de
pot Offices as we'll as from the other buildings
before the fire reached them. The fire depart.
mcut Of the city conlinued 90 duty from the
time OF The first alarm, but were not allowed to
throw any water 90 or make a0y effort to save
the property vi The railroad company.
They consequently directed their efforts to
saving tue private property 90 the north side
| Of Liberty street. In this they were mainly
| successful, although six dwellings aud q sash
| factory located near the round house were de-
stroyed calIy ir the day. When the Uoion de-
pot building vas fired foll2wed by the Pan
Handle Offices panic seized the cltlz ?us, who
had up to this time calmly folded their arms
aud looked on, aud it was feared that the con-
nagtalioa would sweep the eotire portion OF the
city south of tue Pan Handle railroad tracks,
as many of the buildings were small frames, as
drg as tiader. At this juncture the ire depart.
| mrot of Allegheny. which had becu held in
readiness in case OF an outbreak % that side OF
the river, was summoned to assist 10 staying
the progress Of the flames.
The Pan Handle railroad building was the
last one 10 the line. aud the Allegheny depart
ucnt was placed on Sevcolh avenue to check
the flames 10 thai direction. When this last
| Eul1iug was fired the whole territory between
Seycu;a avenue aud MlIvlIe station, dis
| tancc Of three miles, was a mass Of flames, the
railway company property being all between
| the south side Of Liberty street aud the bluff,
the hin cxf"ndius trom Seventh avenue and
Mi!lr;'Ie Tie snail houses on the side, al
| thou.n badly scorcbcd were Got destroyed. The
| r,iIro,A bu;!, iincs I,S,rnVe1 wore az full1Gs