The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-07-26
1---- - - -
THE GREAT STRIKE.

The great strike commenced with the
fremen on the Baltimore O. Ohio Rail.
road Mt Martinsburg, West Virginia, and
il was not many hours before it was
general on all the divisions. The strike
spread like acontagious disease until now
a large majority of the railroads of the
country run no trains, unless pas
sengcr and mail trains. Of course it is
not tho province of a weekly newspaper
10 give all the Geographic nows of the
week. We are compelled to skip the
greater part of the dispatches relating to
the strike and take up those which tell on.
Iy of the outragcs at Pittsburg-the
bloody and APPALLING chapter of the drama;
PITTsBURG, Pa, July 22.--The crisis of the
strike In the city was reached yesterday after
noon about > o'clock, when the Philadelphia
troops, who had been sent here TO suppress
the strikers, fired upon the crowd The ter
ribly fatal effect of the shots exasperated the
citizens rs well as strikers, and in less than an
hour thousands of workingmen from the roll
ing mills, coal mines and various manuiactu-
ring establishments hurried To the scene of the
conflict, de. ernined TO have revenge on the
troops and railway officials.
By o'clock in the evening the mobS were
moving about the city in various directions.
Sacking stores TO get arms, breaking into the
armories of the military companies and pre-
pairing themselves TO execute the threats freely
expressed, of massacring the entire Philadel-
phia company.
The military took refuge in round house
for better protection. The mob.numbering
several thousand congregated about the round
house at III O'Clock. They had previously
captured guns belonging TO a Battery. and
planted them so as 10 command the round
house. Seven solid shots were fired at the
building, and 4 breach was made in the walls;
hut, when the Infatuated mob tried To rush in
10 the building. the military fired volley of
musketry, and "a rumor that the Calling guns
of the command were being brought into re-
QUESTION caused panic, and the mob retreated
precipitately for several squares. The mill
tary in the meanwhile kept up the fusilade.
The rioters, however, were flockiug TO their
assistance and they returned the attack.
Finding il difficult TO dislodge the military
from the building, they resolved 10 burn them
ont. An order TO this effect was issued. and IL
was carried into execution with a fiendish
alacrity by the rioters. As a consequence of
the blockade which had existed for two days, !
the siding in the outer depot, aS well as those
extending eastward some 3 or miles were
crowded with freight ears filled with grain
products and merchandise OF all kinds, besides I
which number of oil, coke and coal ears
were piled in the mass. portion of the mob
surrounded the building in which the military
had taken refuge. Large bodies proceeded To I
set fire TO TO the oil ears. and in a moment /
huge volumes of black smoke which rolled up
wards, followed by flames reaching ont in ev
~ direction, told the work of dt,t1iction had
commenced. The sight of the H. .'S seem 10 4
craze the rioters, some OF whom RI lcd Wild
ly about with torches in their hands. 1pplying
them TO ears Unfortunately. An a ..rm was
sounded and the Erie Department p-nmptlv
but the rioters who had complete
control OF the CITY. refused to permit them 10
make an effort IL eNtinguish the flames. They
said they were determined TO destroy railroad
but would do no INJURY 10 that be-
longing TO private citizens. They kept their
word too. and when lumber pile belonging
10 a private citizen caught fire the riotors
themselves turned in and helped eNtinguish-
the flames and remove the lumber 10 a safe
place.
Train after train was fired by the infuriaied
crowd, but the cars were SO distinct from the
round houses that the heat did not seriously
affect the military. although their position was
rue OF peril. Faally large party of strikers
captured car Tiled with coke. which they ran
rom the Allegheny Valley Railroad track TO
he siding connecting with the Pennsylvania
Railroad. They shen procured large quantities (:
q petroleum, aud pouring il over the coke. .
gnited the materials. Ia n lew moments the
ar Was a mass OF fire. and il was then pashed
dong the track and forced against the round !
ieuse. the building was soon ignited. and {
lac soldiers were now compelled 20 prepare 10 I
ight iheir way out through the frenzled mass t,
4 humanjir elanoring for their blood. The :
building d. no; burn Is rapidly as Was 9sSiE- (
"a, and the mob. bent on revenge. rushed 10 G
lie ro3i aud sent the burning trains towards :,
nc doomed buildings. From midnight until /,
O'Clock tins morning the nam efforts OF J.
nc crowd were directed 10 firing buildings and .
are. bat sbont half an hour Liter the mob 4
vhch had been tesieeing the military .left, for 4
one unexplained reason. This Afforded the &
rAapS. who were in actual danger Of being :
"a sfed alive an opportunity 10 emerge from
10 building ard they succeeded in rc7eling c