The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-01
The Railroad War.


late hour of the 22d, during which interval
| the entire city was ut the mercy of a mob
estimated to number $4,000 mon. The out
break grew out of the arrival of the Philadel-
pha militia late in the evening of the 2lst,
| when the mob attacked them and forced them
into the round house for shelter after killing
Sheriff Fife and badly wounding Gen. Brenton
commanding the militia That night and
next day, over 5000 cars laden with mcrchun-
disc, and railroad buildings covering twenty
blocks were destroyed. The soldiers being
driven from the round house which was
burned over their heads, sought safety by
flight. Late on the afternoon of the 92d the
citizens formed vigilance committees and
guarded the town all night ahd restored com
parative order. In Baltimore strong guards
of military and police patrolled the city and
preserved order.
From small beginnings the railroad
employees strike has assumed mammoth
proportions and to-day is more or less ctfec-
| tually in force i'll every State from the Missis-
sippi to the seaboard. Factory workmen,
miners and laborers in most of the large cities
are in full sympathy with the strikers and in
many cases, are giving the latter material and
assistance. There is, however, among the
majority of the strikers manifest indisposi-,
ton to resort to yiolencc-thc terrible scenes
enacted at Pittsburgh and Baltimore hayin"
in this respect at least, borne good fruit
Still the strikers are daily growing in num-
bers, and as yet their avowed determination
to prevent the running of freight trains is in
most instances strictly enforced. In Pitts
burg since the terrible scenes OF Saturday
night and Sunday quiet and order have pre-
vailed though the excitement still runs high
In Reading serious outbreak occurred on the
night of the 22d, in which the Labanon Rail-
road bridge across the Schuylkill was fired
and burned as were also five or more cars.
The object Of this Wholesale destruction is
said to be to prevent the passage of troops
through the city to Pittsburgh. The strike it
IS reported, is now i'll force all along the Penn
sylvania Road as we'll as its leased lines. In
Buffalo early on the afternoon Of the 23d, 1900
rioters attacked 200 soldiers who were guard
ing the Lake shore round house and captur-
ing the building barricaded it with cars.
Engineers OF the Eric and Lake shore Road
have agreed with the tiremen not to run with
green hands. In Cleveland the strike is gen
cral and the blockade complete. In Column
bus the strikers went through the city and
forced the closing of the shops and manufac-
tories. No violence was committed but the
embargo ON the trains were strictly NAM
tanned. In st. Louis, the situation is about
the same. Most Of the railroads ccntcring
there are involved in the strike and SO far all
efforts ut compromise have failed. In Chica-
60 movements indicating possibility ola strike
have taken place, and the excitement is .vcrv
great
The great strike still continues to
swell and at this time, tn inst involves nearly
every prominent road in the country. Mail
trains alone arc allowed to run without inter-
ruption but on almost every line complete
embargo on freight and an almost entire sus.
pension of passenger travel have been estab
lished and strictly enforced Scenes of yio-
lence and intimidation have occurred at sever
al widely distant points, but as vet
nothing approaching the horror of
Ptsburg and Baltimore has been recnacted
except at Reading, Pa, where very serious
and unfortunate affair occurred on Monday
night, the Goth. Fuller details of this melee
show that as seven companies of State Nation
al Guards arrived at the depot about s D. n,.,
they were assailed by the mob with stones
&C., when they Immediately began firing into
the large mass of people in the vicinity
among whom were many respectable
citizens, ladies and children. Five persons
were instantly killed and twenty five wounded:
several MORALLY. Among the latter were
seven police, including Chief Cullen who had
narrow cscupc, the bail having struck a
large memorandum book which he carried
in the breast pocket of his coat, which saved
his life. Great excitement then prevailed
Inc mob forthwith broke into the armory
Of the Reading Rifles, carried off
all the guns and sacked other Gun
stones They threatened vengeance upon the
military, and tearing up the tracks soon cs-
tabllshcd complete blockade of all passenger
and freight traffic. Strong guards were put
around the railroad machine shops and other
buildings, and several companies OF L. S
troops were expected soon to arrive Later
reports show the number of killed to be Stand
wounded 1.-the latter being soldiers.
In PittsburG, mob rule has run it's course and
Ia" and order have been restored This was
accomplished by the vigorous measures of
the civil authorities aided by the citizens who
strongly guarded the city ut every point.
Every thing is now running quietly, the civil
authorities having complete coutrol Arrests
Of all suspicious parties arc being made,
and the parties placed in continc
ment. In making arrests, the strikers
are:'aiding the civil authorities, and these have
also been joined by the workmen from various
manufacturing establishments In Philadcl-
phia, the Eric train men struck, on the night
OF the "3d, and next morning compelled tic
shop hands and machinests to follow their OK
ample. Great excitement but no disorder.
Police force has been doubled, giving that de-