Nebraska advertiser., 1877-07-26
The Great Strike.

hthobB VIC OinSicnI OTdHCu6S vi Ia
boring men Of this country, was tina
inaugurated last week in the East b.
railroad firemen and brakemen. AnC
1t is said that the engineers on som,
OF the roads, have ia their secre
meetings resolved to stand by anC
take their chances with the fremer
and brakemen rather than enoourag,
green and cheaper hands. The cause
Of the strike was the reduction of the
wages of the employees ten per cent
1t commenced on the Baltimore &
Ohio road at MartInsburg, w. Va.
and soon spread to Baltimore, and
it kept on spreading until now, on the
principal roads-especially the trunk
lines-it Is nearly impossible to move
freight train without the aid oi
militia and U. s. soldiers which have
been sent by the president to put
down what has assumed nearly the
magnitude of an insurrection. Al
many points the number of strikers
have been so great as to defy the ef-
forts of the soldiers.
The strikers blockade the roads,
holding freight traIns-passenger
trains are not interfered with-and by
violence driving away new employees.
At Pittsbu-g on the night of the
10th the sheriff visited the strikers at
Twenty-eighth street and ordered
them to disperse. This they refused
to do. The sheriff remained there un-
I'll after 8 a. m, but his authority was
defied. He was informed that trains
should not go out If they could pre-
vent 1t, and they did not care for any
posse he could muster, nor for any
troops that could be brought out.
Finding the strikers not disposed to
yield obedience to civil authority, the
officers decided to call upon
the military. The Governor was at
once appealed TO, who responded by
ordering to Pittsburg two regiments
Of the National Guards.
Ohio, Maryland and Virginia. have
ordered out large numbers of militia
and In West Virginia, the Governor
being unable to maintain order, called
on the President.
At Pittsburg on the Goth fifteen
hundred loaded cars for all parts of
the country, were at one time OH the
tracks, but not permitted to move.
Telegraph wires have been cut on
several of the roads, at one place de-
pot building was fired, and several
deaths have occurred by shooting and
the wrecking of trains at different
points where the strikers are numer-
BUS. AT Omaha the railroad employ
ss have had meeting and remon-
;trated against reduction of their
wages, but advise against Joining the
strike only as last resort. In Balti-
more on the Goth while two regiments
-5th and 6th-of the Baltimore MI
lila were getting ready to leave for
Cum berland, in obedience to the or
Ter Of the Governor, they were stoned
~ a mob of excited citizens who sym
,athized with the strikers. Several |
oldiers were hit and the first COM
ANY that undertook to leave the ar
nory were driven back with several |
wounded by the flying bTickbats,
tones, clubs, etc. Three companies
# the 9th regiment finally marched |
ut into the street and started for the |
epot, the stoning was continued by
he mob, when the soldiers in defense
hot into the crowd, and killed and
Tounded twenty TO thirty persons. A
lspatch describing the terrible riot
ays: 1.-THE Sixth Regiment turned
n the mob and fired into them again,
nd continued their march, firing In
iscriminately, but, as It has proven,
nth frlghtful and disastrous effect.
he firing of the soldiers, the shouts
the mob, and the shrieks of the
rounded and dying. commingled In
ideous confusion. The mob fell
ack and the soldiers marched on
ard. leaving the people to carry off
heir dead and wounded" So. far as
about twelve persons
ERE killed instantly and as many
lore seriously wounded.
The depot, and round house on
amden street, Baltimore were set on
re, the telegraph offices cleaned out,
le wires cut, engines were tumbled
ON the track, the track torn up and
'erything belonging to railroads de-
olished as far as the frenzied mob
'uld demolish them.
All the trunk lines are now involy-
J, and many of the connecting
ads; and apprehension Is felt by
treats made that the strike will ex-
nd to all important roads East and
'est. The Pittsburg, Ft. W.. & C. is
to it. and at Cincinnati the employ
declare they will join the strike as
on as they receive their pay for the ,
onth. A special from PIttsburg to :
e Inter Ocean says: :,
The sentiment of the people of this e
~ Is almost wholly with the strik- y
3, and but little sympathy is felt or
pressed for the railroad company.
he reason is not hard to give. For I
'ars the Pennsylvania Railroad has e
lrFued a course of systematic dis 4
limitation In freight rates against !
ttsburg industries. The result has
en to parslyze our vast iron inter Il
ts, and nearly destroy the extensive {
trade of this city. 1t is q fact cap D
lie of proof that in the last few years q
g Pennsylvania Railroad has, by its
in favor OF the other .
les, inflicted upon Pittsburg as G
uch injury as resulted from the e. 81
Incial panic. Freights can be ship |,
d over the Pennsylvania Road from /.
NV York and Philadelphia to ST. y =
,uis cheaper than from Pittshnro d