The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-07-28


, besides which number Of ladened oil cal'
and coal cars were piled up IN the mass
While portion Of tho mob SURROUNDED th
building in which the military hau ua@e'
refuge, large bodies proceeded t. set hre
I tho oil cars, and in q moment the huge vol
umes of black smoke which rolled upward
out IN every direction told that the work O
destruction had commenced. The sight o
the flames seemed TO literally craze the riot
ers, some OF whom rushed wildly about viii
flaming torches in their hands. applying then
10 the ears Unfortunately. An alarm wa
sounded and the department promptly re
sponded, but the rioters had complete contro
Of the city and refused to permit them TO g
to make any effort 10 extiugnish the hames
They said they we're determined to destro!
the railroads eompany's property, but do M
injury to that belonging to private citizens
They kept their word, too. and when lum
Der pile belonging to citizen took lire th'
rioters themselves turned in and help TO eN
tinpnish the flames aud remove the lumber tt
a safe place.
Train after train was fired by the iniuriatec
crowd, but the cars were so far distant iron
the round houses that the heat did not serl
ously affect the military, although their posi-
ton was not one Of peril, Finally larg,
party OF strikers captured car filled with
coke, which they run from the Allegheny
[ Valley railroad track to u siding connecting
with the Pennsylvania railroad. They then
/ procured large quantities Of petroleum oil,
I and pouring it over the coke ignited tho
materials In n very few moments the car
was u mass Of fire, aud it was then pushed
alone the tracks and forced against the round.
house. The building was soon ignied aud
the soldiers were now compelled TO prepare
to fight their way out through the trenzled
mass OF humanity clamoring for their blood,
The building did not burn as rapidly as was
desired, and the mob, bent on revenge, rush
ed out the road and sent burning trains to-
wards the doomed buildings.
From midnight until five o clock this morn
ing the main efforts of the crowd were direct
ed to firing buildings and cars, but about half
an hour later the mob which had been
besiegng the military from some unexplained
reason withdrew. This afforded the troops,
who We're in actual danger of being roasted
alive, an opportunity TO emerge from the
building, and they succeeded in reaching
Liberty street in a very few moments. They
quickly formed in line and marched up to
Thirty.third street, and thence to Pcunsyiva.
MIA avenue and Butler street. Their objective
point was the United States arsenal on Butler
street where they expected to find shelter.
While turning into Butler street, however,
the leaders had discovered their retreat, aud
fully one thousand. armed and equipped with
ammunition, followed in pursuit. Some of
the troops fired at the citizens, either acci.
dentally or Intentionally, rs they moved along
and this added fury to the cry for revenge.
When the reached the arsenal the cOmman-
der refused to admit them. lie said he had
but ten men, aud would be powerless to hold
the place if the mob should attack il. He
consented to take care Of the wounded, and
they were accordingly carried into the hos
pital. The main body of the troops contiuu.
ed their march out 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 cemetry gate fully mile above
the arsenal, two Others were killed and were
left lying on the sidewalk. They continued
their flight, crossed over to the north side of
the Allegheny river on Sharpsburg bridge,
the mob following them as rapidly as possible.
After reaching the north side the troops
scattered, and in this way the mob was diyid.
ed into very small bodies.
In the meantime the city was in state of
anarchy thousands who had not Joined in
the pursuit of fleeing troops gathered about
the burning buildings and trains and assisted
in spreading the flames wherever they had
not been applied. By seven o'clock the fire
had extended from Millyile station to Tween.
teth street, aud enveloped hundreds Of cars,
the extensive machine shops, two round.
houses, the depots and Office of the Union
Transfer Company, blacksmith shops, store.
houses and numerous other buildings making
up the terminal facilities of this mammoth
corporation. In the round houses were I2j
irst-class locomotives, which had been housed
in consequence of the strike. These were
totally destroyed, but even the immense loss
which will be sustained in this item is but u
'riiie in the aggregate damage done.
The scenes Transporting on Liberty street,
along the line OF which the tracks of the rail
-oad run, simply beggar description. While
were engaged in firing the cars
lnd making certain of the destruction of the
iaiuable buildings at the outer depot, thous.
lnds OF men, women aud children engaged in
lllaglng the ears; men armed with heavy
hedges would break open the cars and then
he contents would be thrown out and carried
vi by those bent ON protting by the reign Of
ne
'letely blockaded by persons laborinr To
AIRY OF the plumber they had gathered 10.
ether. In hundreds of instances wagons
we're pressed into service to enable thieves 10
Jet away with their goods. Major McCarty
arly in the day eudeayored TO stop the
'illage, but the handful of men at his com.
nand were unable 10 control the crowd. who
we're desperate in their anxiety to secure the
'oods. The pillage was checked, but the
mob fired the cars, and then proceeded with
he work OF destruction. 1t is impossible TO
orm any idea OF the amount Of goods stolen
tut hundreds Of thousands will not cover the
oss.
Some of the scenes, notwithstanding the
error which seemed to paralyze poaceable
lnd orderly citizens, were ludicrous in the
highest degree, and no one seemed to enjoy
hem with greater Zest than those outraged in
he wholesale piunder. Here brawny woman
could be seen hurrying away with pairs of
white KID slippers under her arms, another
carrying an infant would be rolling a barrel of
Hour along the sidewalk, using her feet MS the
power. Here n man pushipg a
loaded with white lead: bovs
hurried through the crowd with large. sized
family Bibles as their share of the plunder
while scores of females utilized aprons and
dresses to carry flour, eggs, dry goods. etc
Bundles Of umbrellas, fancy parasols hams
bacon, leaf lard, calico, blankets, laces and
Hour were mixed together in the arms nr
robust men or carried on hastily.constructe
Al eleven o clock in the morn.
ing It became apparent that something mus,
be done to check the mob, and a number &c
citizens hurriedly posted notices calling 4
meeting OF citizens ut old city hall to take