The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-31

GENERAL REEDER TELLS THE STORY OF TIE
FIGHT WITH THE READING MOB
ALLEsTowY. Pa. July 80, 1877.
The following is General Reeders reply tho ques-
tions asked by Coroner Goodhart, of Reading in re-
gara to the firing the mob on Monday last by the
militia under his General Recder's) commando
GENERAL REEpER's STORY FIRING.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH BRIGADE
SECOND DIVISION, N. q. T.
ALLENTOWN, Pa, July 80, 1871
Gro. S. GooDnAEr, Reading Pa -
DEAR SIR-Yonr notification, dated July ~. Gov
erng certain inquiries 10 when you desire replies
concede your right to demand SUCH replies IRON
at this time, while know perfectly well that my
official report OF the occurrenees NJ Reading On
the I'D inst. to my superior officers Is the only
account which | eau at this time be re-
CURED to make, ! am nevertheless quite wiling to
furnish you with whatever Information Is In my pos
session calculated To throw light upon the subject
matter now under Official invest CATION by YOU TO
that end reply categoricaly 10 your questions fol-
O. who ordered your command TO this placer A.
was ordered to Reading with the Fourth regiment Of
my brigade by Major General William j. Bolton, CON-
manding Second division, National Guards, Pennsyl
vania
O. Who gave you orders to march through tho cut
to seventh and Penn atreetsf A. received orders
march through the cut but was requested to march
into the herate train In the possession Of tho
rioters by an Official Of tho Reading Railroad Com
o Who ordered you TO Ore upon the crowdY A. No
person ordered me to Gre neither did tire direct
any other person 10 IRE upon the crowd.
Y Which Of the companies discharged their guns
and how oenY A. All tho companies did firing, but
no living creature can give tho iurthcr Information
desired.
q Did you acquaint the High Sheriff OF this county
with your coming and presence IN tho cityy II not,
why not? A. l did not; II was not my duty to nc
quaint him with my coming, and 1t was while was
proceeding in the direction OF the High Shers house
that my command was attacked by the mob upon re-
ceiving orders repair TO Reading, took cars with
my command at Allentown, and proceeded with
out incident to Temple where the train was
officials; these gentlemen informed mo that the
Reading depot In possession OF a mob numbering
from TWO 10 three thousand. desired them To stop
the train just out OF sight oil the depot, which being
done dsembarkcd the troops, and having formed we
marched TO the depot finding 1t in the hands and IN
der protection OF tho coal and police. l then
requested to release tram from tho hands OF tho
strikers and was informed that this cut was tho
direct road TO the Penn street crossing, which
u necessary TO clear TO permit the running Of
trains. moved my command in the direction Of the
cut; but before reaching It We were mot by largo
body Of men whose viocnt gestures, coarse insults,
unspokon threats and general bearing suggested the
Idea OF hating tho regiment loading the pieces and
moving the musicians to the roar
THE ATTACK ny THE Mob
Before entering tho cut We were salutcd by tho
crowd with voley OF stones and some pistol shots
We moved down the cut, stoned at every step by
yelling mob without nrlng shot or speaking word
III reply TO the shouts which almost deaiened us,
until We reached the second bridge. During the
march, seconded by all the other officers of the
wthsiandlng that every step was being marked by the
blood oil the men, and that many OF the troops had
been knocked down by the flying stones
BEGAN
Near the second bridge single shot, fired without
orders, was the signal for dropping nre which,
while doing little or no damage to tho
mob of rioters served to check the
fast falling shower. OF stones Pressing
on, the command reached Penn street and
was confronted by large crowd OF persons, who met
US by hurlnp stones aud firing pistols at the Regiment
which was only stopped by what | have since learned
was a very effective volley, which entirely dispersed
them Not single shot lrca by OIL Penn
etree either up or down; nor was there single shot
fired alter the last halt was made by us Seventh
street.
OF all the five cartoads VI stones VIII ch heard the
day were collected in the cut very lew were thrown
the first shot WIS hred Most OF the stones
such and weight that it Is almost certain strong
arms employed IN the work.
WHERE WERE THE AUTnoRIrIEs?
Upon reaching Penn square inquired Tor the Mayor,
aud told that he at the shore. also in
CURED the high Sheriff. but could learn dings
OF his whereabouts thercupon returned To the depot
which had been asked 70 protect from the mob.
Later ia the night the Mayor having returned tho
CITY, WAS requested by him to send a company OF
troops into the cut to drive oil the mob then alleged W
declined to do, principally because short OF
muntion, having bad but 1900 rounds
IN ANSWER TO AsPgRsIoSs.
am led to supplement: this narrative with word
two defence Of the military proprioty Of moving
into tho cut by the structures which your District At
orney and one Of your daily papers have boon pleased
to make upon me for having selected that route Tor
my advance into the town. Raw recruits greater
risks IRON having their formation destroyed
anu the confusion incident upon broken aligno-
mcnts than from any other cause Had
the mob succeeded In breaking It's formation, the
Fourth regiment might itself have degsncratcd iuto
moi and would have been completely at the mercy Of
the rioters. This might have been accomplished had
becn In wide street where the mob could press
upon our Hanks but In tho cut II impossible rs
our TANKS were clear, our formation preserved,
the men had room TO thor rifles with reasonable
elect and We emerged from the without the loss
Of single soldier think can safely rely upon tho
result oil tue battle with tho mob us the most
answerabe argument against tho theory OF military
Dlunder In accordance with your request sond this
letter as sworn statement FRANK KEEDER,
Brgadior GcnoraL