The New York herald., 1877-07-23

lame; merchants mechanics and worklngnen
OF all classes locked TO the scene, not In
twos or threes but In scores. "low was ity" would
be the invariabe form OF The question put by the
new comers 10 any one on the ground. Plenty of
ready tongues would volunteer TO tell IT, and the
comments OF their listeners as they heard II
was not calculated 10 stem the torrent of
denunciation. Staid Old business men, hereto
fore regarded as the strongest conservators
OF the peace, were foremost in advocating an
organized attack 10 satisfy their vengeance ana In
the midst OF this feeling word would come every
few moments that such and such a one VINO had
been wounded had died. A story OF small boy
with his arm torn OH while seated far up the hill
side. 1t seemed, could not be told often enough,
everybody wanted to hear 1t, and bitter were the
expressions they uttered While being told IL the
unanimity OF feeling was every moment running
higher Some of the party suggested they should
not waste time In Idle words but proceed To action:
men made speeches On the corners about their
lack of bread and their scanty subsistence. The
suggestion to proceed to action obtained among
them unanimously. The crowd began to diminish
alter that and became more quiet Reports came
out that there was an intense feeling down town
against the military. The strikers proclaimed them
selves strong as ever and still detc rmined resist
all attempts to pass ireIghts. Shortly after night.
went down the street past the round house where
the Philadephians were intrenched and called on
them loudly to show themselves. Failing to get
sight Of them they discharged their revolvers and
returned to the crossing.
MAIL TRAINS STOPPED
Previous to the shooting 1t had been the boast
OF the strikers that they stopped no passenger
trains, but the recent scene OF blood had changed
them. When the last line, east, with the United
States mail, approached the crossing 1t was stopped
and IN an instant the strikers crowded aboard on
either side demanding OF the engineer If any OF the
Philadelphia troops were among his passengers.
They moved through the cars, and finding none,
dismounted satisfied.
IN ARMS.
Shortly after nine O'Clock drums were heard on
Penn street. several squares above The bulk OF the
crowd OH crossing was transferred to Penn street.
where moving toward them was force OF about five
hundred men with guns and bayonets. They were
strikers and citizens together, and had broker into
the arnory OF Company +, local military. and taken
the arms. Among tae leaders were several young
merchants who eXhorted all they passed to join in
The order was to move down town for more guns
and ammunition. They passed along cheering
loudly and swelling their ranks rapidly. ARRIVED
down town they broke into the gunshop OF James
Bcnn on Wood street, and sacked IL OF all II con-
tanned. They obtained $4,000 worth OF rilcs mus
kets, revolvers and hunting knives and ammuni
tiOn. Pawpshops were next invaded, doors broken
IN and windows smashed, and revoiyers and am
muntion seized. They returned with cheers, pro-
claiming they were going 10 move to the Seven
teenth ward and capture tho Arsenal. They were
short OF powder, and the stores were under the
order. Of Mayor Mccarthy, who refused to
sell any. On Penn street they reused
q storckceper and forced him to give
them arms by threatening If he refused, to cut his
throat. They fired several shots into the round
house and then began to fall apart and became dis.
organized. Some OF those carrying guns were
Irish laborers and made loud threats. A party OF
these latter, accompanied by boys, went to the Ar.
senal and demanded guns and ammunition. They
withdrew finally without doing any acts OF violence
POSSESSION OF A BATTERY. 81
The reliable body of the force OF citizens went to
Allegheny and got possession OF Knapps battery.
This they brought over and stationed on Twenty
sixth street and poured fire on the round
house Shots had no effect on the brick
walls and the Philadephians did not return the
fire. Al the same time the hill overlooking the
railroad was covered with strikers and their sypa-
thizers They had the battery up there and pow
der, but ne balls Stones were substituted instead
and firing from the battery was commenced on the
round house. The windows were shattered and
holes were torn in the roof The military returned
the fire from both sides. On the street side sew
eral citizens were wounded and the rest deserted
the battery. On the hin the parties held their po-
sition but probably ran out OF ammunition, as
there was 10 more firing from tile battery.
Silence succeeding, the cessation OF firing was
broken by % cry that an oil car was afre. The car
had been fired by some one in the darkness up the
rack nd u-oa mn IN fha In
trains of loaded freight cara. When the citizens
saw the situation they broke forth in tl,muItuous
yells The car exploded ana ignied freight trains
on either side OF 1t. Then commenced the WORK oi
piage Cars were broken open one after another
by Irish laborcrs, who brought out their wives and
children and carried Off the contents. Dry goods
fiannels, muslin and cashmere, rubber shoes, UNI
brclas, carpet sacks and hardware were among the
first articles stolen. Pilagors went boldly and re-
moved the goods without molcstatIon.
DESTRUCTION or PROPERTY.
1t Is absolutely impossible at this writing to get
the exact number of cars DESTROYED, but in the
wreck there can hardly be less than five hundred
box freight cars. with hall dozen Of Pullman's
finest coaches; two postal cars and thirty n sc
passenger coaches; number Of freight cars belong.
Ing TO the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, some OF
which were loaded while others were empty.
For hai inuc anu more, cAtenuln4 rom
the mouth OF the tunnel OF the Pitts
burg Columbus and st. Louis Railway TO
far beyond the outer depot OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad, Is n constant succession OF burned red
trucks, which Is hcapcd lot OF smouldcrIng rub
blsh The loss of cars alone to the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company ia a small fortune In itself. and
must work for some time to the dctrimcnt OF the
shippers. Fortunately there was no mail matter
n the postal cars DESTROYED Most OF all the line ~
OF the Western roads suffered In the way OF freight
cars, and individual losses in this direction Is also
all important item in the losses Of to-day
VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.
At the adjourned meeting OF the citizens, held
this afternoon, q vigilance committee was organ
lied TO prevent any further destruction
Of property. II was rapidly recuritcd and
each member was at first provided win base
ball bats. but these were afterwards exchanged
Tor guns. They were designated by white ribbons
their arms. As soon as the force organized