Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-27
THE CHEAT RAILROAD sTHIHLs

PlTr-BrRG, July 22.-Thc crisis OF the
railway strike in this city was reached ytx-
terday p. III. at 5 o'clock. when the Phila-
delphia troops. who had been sent here to
suppress the strikers fired upon the crowd
The terribly fatal effects of the shots fired v
the troops exasperated the citizens as we'll
as the strikers, and in less than an hour
thousands of wOrkmen from the rolling
mills, coal mines and various manufacturing
establishments hurried to the scene of the
conflict. By eight in the evening mObs were
moving about the city IN various directions,
sacking stores to secure arms brea king into
armories of military companies, and prepar-
ing themselves to execute threats freely OK
pressed of massacreing the whole OF the
Philadelphia command. BY this time the
military were ordered to one Of the round
houses where they cOuld find better protec-
tiun. About 10, mObS numbering several
thousand had cOngregated about the round
house. They had previously captured the
guns belonging to Hutchinson Battery, a
local Organization, and planted them 50 a.
to command the round house. Several vol
leys were fired at the building, and n breach
made in the wall, but when the Infatuated
mob attempted to rush into the build
ing. the military were ordered to fire
volley of musketry which follow
ed. and the rumOr that the GatlIng
guns of the company were being brought
into rCquisitIOn caused panic and the mob
fled precipitately for several squares, the
military meanwhile keeping in. The rioters,
however, were soon treasured and thousands
hocking to their assistance, they re
turned to the attack. Finding it difficult
to dislodGe the military irol the building
al "a 80, b,,r tbo,, I'd sd
to this effect issued. In cons, fence of the
blockade which had existed r two days,
on the sidings in the outer C. Ut yards. as
well as those extending e, ward, some
three or four miles were c.Jwded with
freight cars filled with grain, produce and
merchandise, besides which were 4 number
OF cars loaded with oil and coal. A number
of these cars were piled no in mass, and
while portion of the mob surrounded the
building in which the military had taken
refuge. large bodies proceeded to set fire to
the oil ears and in a moment the large
volumes of smoke which rolled upward
followed by turbld flame reaching out in
every direction told that The work of de
structiOn had commenced The sight Of
the flames seemed to literally craze the
rioters, some OF whom rushed wildly about
with flaming torches in their hands
applying them to cars Unfortunately.
The alarm was sounded and the fire depart
ment promptly responded, but the rioters
who had complete control OF the city re-
fused to permit them to 90 to extlnguish
the flames. They said they were deter
mined to destroy the railroad cOmpany's
property. but would do no injury to that
belonging to private citizens. They Kept
their word, too, and when the lumber piles
belonging to citizens took fire the rioters
themselves turned IN and helped to OK
tinguish the flames. Train alter train was
fired by the Infatuated crowd, but the cars
were 50 lar distant from the round house
that the heat did not seriously effect the
military, although their position was one
of peril. Finally large party of strikers
captured ear filled with coke which they
ran from the Allegheny Valley railroad
track to the siding connecting with the
Pennsylvania railway. They then procured
large quantity OF petroleum oil and pour
ing it over the coke ignited the materials.
In a very few moments the car was a mass
OF fire and it was then pushed along the
track and forced against the round house.
The building was soon ignited but did not
burn as rapidly as desired. and the rioters
rushed out on the road and sent the burn
ing trains towards the building. From mid
night until 5 O'Clock this morning the main
efforts OF the crowds were directed to firing
the buildings and cars, but about half an
hour later the mob which had been besies
ing the military, left for some unexplained
reason. This afforded the troops, who were
in actual danger of being roasted alive, an
opportunity to emerge from the building.
They quickly marched up to Thirty third
street and thence to Pennsylvania avenue
and Butler street. Their objective point
WAS the United States arsenal on Butler
street, where they expected to obtain shell
ter. While turning in to Butler street,
however, the rioters discovered their retreat
and fully a thousand, armed and supplied
with ammunition. followed in pursuit.
Some of the troops fired at citizens either
accidentally or intentionally as they were
moving along When they reached the ar
senal the commandant refused II admit
them. lie said he had bat few men and
would be powerless to hold the place if the
mob should attack it. lie consented to take
cordingly carried into the hospital,
and the main body OF the
troops continued their march out of
Butler street, fusilade being kept up
on them by the mob as they moved forward
The shots fired killed one Of the soldiers
before they reached the arsenal and nearly
opposite the cemetery gate, fully a mile
above the arsenal, two others were killed
and were left lying on the sidewalk. They
continued their flight and crossed over to
the north side of Allegheny river, on the
Sharpsburgh bridge, the mob following
them as rapidly as possible. After reach
ing the north side the troops scat
tered. In this way the mob was divided
into very small bodies. In the meantime
the city was in state of terror. Thous-
snds who had not joined in the pursuit of
the fleeing troops, gathered about the burn
ing buildings and trains and assisted in
spreading the flames. BY seven clock the
fire had extended from Melville station to
Twentieth street and envelOpei hundreds of
cars, the extensive machine shops, two round
houses, depOts and Offices Of the Union
Transfer Company, many blacksmith shops,
store houses and numerous other buildings,
making up terminal facilities of this corpo-
ration. In the round houses were l25 first
class locomotives which are totally destroy
ed. The scenes Transporting on Liberty street
along the line of which the tracks of the
railroad run. simply beggar description.
While hundreds were engaged in firing cars
an d max ing certain OF the destruction of the
valuable buildings of the outer depot, thou
sands of men, women and children engaged
in pillaging cars. Men armed with
heavy slcdges would break open cars and
their contents would be thrown ont and
carried OFF by those bent on protiting by the
reign of terror existing. The streets were
almost completely blockadei by persons
laboring to carry off the plumber they had
gathered together. In hundreds of instances
rIra 60 In
the thieves to get away with their goods.
Mayor Mccarthy early in the day endeavOr
cd to stop the pIllsging. but the handful OF
men at his command we're unable to control
the crowd. The pillaging was checked, but
tho mob fired the cars and then proceeded
with the work of destruction. 1t Is impOs-
sible to form any idea of the amount OF
goods stolen, but hundreds OF thousands of
dollars will not cover the loss. Here
brawny woman could 10 seen hurrying
away with pairs OF white kid slippers under
her arms; another carry an infant would
be rolling barrel of flour along the side
walk, using her feet rs prOpeliing power,
while scores OF females utilized aprons and
dresses to carry i1ur, eggs. dry goods, &C..
BCndles OF umbrellas, fancy parasOls. hams.
bacon, beef, lard. calico. blankets. laces and
flour were mixed together in the arms OF
robust men or carried on hastily constructed
hand barrows. About II o'clock it became
apparent that something must bo done to
check the mob and a number of citizens
hurriedly prepared notices calling u mass
meeting OF citizens at the old city hall to
take measures to prevent further destruc-
ton of property. A meeting was held at
noon and large number of leading
citizens responded to the call 1t was de-
cided to appoint committee consisting of
Bishop Quigg, of the Catholic church,
James Park. Dr.. DIR. l.. Donnelly. james
Bennett. and Dr. 5 F. ScoSc!. pastor Of the
First Presbyterian church to have a confer
ence with the rioters. while another com
mittee was appointed to wait on the rail |
road authorities to ascertain what course |
they intended to pursue, OF suggest com
promise that would put IN end to The dis
order. Tho meeting then adjourned to meet |
again at o'clOck. The committee to wait |
on the rioters tried to induce them to re-
irain from further destruction OF property,
and tho railroad authorities could not be
found From the time the military He'd up
to , clock no effort has been made TO
check the riot other than the meeting ui the
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