Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-07-27
An Immense Amount Of Railroad Prop.
srty Burned, including the Union
Depot, ROund-hOusss, Freight
DepOts, Cars and I25
Locomotives.
Tho Strike Fever Unabated, and the
Excitement Spreading.
Movement Of TFOOps-C Cabinet Meet
ing; Doubt as to What Course
to Pursue.

PITTsBURG, July 22.-The crisis Of the
railroad strike Ia this city as indicated In
the dispatch OF Saturday night, was reach
ed yesterday afternoon about O'Clock,
when the Philadelphia troops who had
been sent here TO suppress strikers fred
upon the crowd. The terribly fatal effects
OF shots fred by the troops exasperated
the citizens as well as strikers, and In
less than an hour, the band Of working
mer from the rolling mills coal miners and
various manufacturing establishments
established q scene oil conflict, determined
TO have revenge on the troops and railroad
officials. IL was stated that Gen. Pearson,
commanding troops Of the state guard,
had directed the troops 10 tire before any
resistance hiG been made, and the fact
that many Ui those killed and wounded
had gathered on the hillside merely las
spectators served TO increase the bitter.
ness OF the crowd. BY three O'Clock
in the evening mobs were moving
about the city in various districts, sack.
ing stores 10 secure arms, breaking into
the arm0rles Of the military companies,
and preparing themselves to execute the
threats freely expressed OF massacreing
the entire Philadelphia command. By
this time, the military had Withdrawn
from the railroad crossing at Twenty
eighth street, where the hrst conflict took
place, and were ordered 10 one Of the
round-houses, where they could lind better
protection. About 10 O'clock in the evening
mob numbering several thousand had
congregated about the rOu nd.house. They
had previously captured the guns belong.
ing TO Hutchinson's battery, a local or.
ganization, and planted them 90 as 10
command the round-hOuse. Several solid
shots were fred at the building, and a
breach made In the walls, but when the
infuriated mob attempted TO rusn into the
building, the military were ordered to tire.
The voiley Of musketry which followed,
and the rumor that the Calling guns OF the
command were being brought into requi.
siti0n, caused panic, and the mob hed
for several squares, the military In the
meanwhile keeping up the iusilade. The
rioters, however, were soon reassured, and
as thousands were h0cking 10 their assis.
tance, they returned TO the attack. Find.
ingit difficult 10 dlstodge the military
from the building, they resolved
to burn them out. An order TO this eject
was Issued, and IL was carried into exc
cuti0n with hendibh alacrity by the riot.
eTs. In consequence OF the blockade
which had existed for two days, the cid.
ings IN the outer depot yard as well as
those extending eastward some three or
four miles, were crowded with freight cars
hlled with grain, produce and merchandise
OF all kinds, besides which q number Of
ladened oil and coal cars were piled up In
the mass. While portion Of the mob
surrounded the building In which the mil.
itary had taken refuge, large bodies pro.
ceeded 70 set hre to the oil cars, aud in
moment the huge columns OF black smoke
which rolled upwards in every direction,
told the work OF destruction had com.
menced. The sight OF the flames seemed
10 literally craze the rioters, some OF whom
rushed wildly about with flaming torches
In their hands applying them to the cars
Unfortunately. An alarm was sounded
and the Fire Department promptly re.
spOnded, but the TiOters, who had com.
plete control OF tee city, refused to permit
them 10 make any effort TO eXtinguish the
danes. They said they were determined
TO destroy the railroad company's proper.
~, but to do no injury TO that belonging
to private citizens. They keptthelr word,
too, and when . lumber pile belonging to
citizen took fire, the rioters themselves
turned Ia and helped to extinguish the
flames and remove the lumber TO q safe
place. Train after train was fred Oy the
iniuriated crowd, but the cars we're 30 far
distant from the rOund.hOuses that II did
not seriously AFFECT the military, although
their position was one OF peril. Finally, q
large party Of strikers captured a car
oiled with coke, which they run
tron the Allegheny Valley Rail.
road track to siding connecting
with the Pennsylvania X. K. They then
procured large quantities Of petroleum oil,
andpOuring 1t over the coke, ignited the
materials, and In a very few moments the
car was a mass of are, and II was then
pulled along the tracks and forced against
the round house. The building was soon
lgnhed. and the soldiers were now CON-
pelld 10 prepare to fight their way out
through the lrenZied mass OF humanity
clauoTlng for their blood. The building
did not burn as rapidly as was desired,
and The mob, bent on revenge, rushed out
the mad and sent burning trains towards
the loOmed building, From midnight
Till O'Clock this am. the main efforts OF
the .rowd were directed to fling the
buildings and cars, but about half an hour
later he mob which had been besieging
the military, lett for some unexplained
reasOI. This afforded the troops, who
were n actual danger Of being roasted
alive, opportunity 70 emerge from the
building, and they succeeded In reaching
Ltbert, street In very few moments.
They quickly formed and march, d up to
J3d street and thence to PennsylVania
Avenu, and Butler street. Their object.
i've point was the United States Arsenal,
on Butter street, where they expected 10
obtain Ihelter. While turning into Butler
street, however, the leaders OF the mob
had dllcovered their retreat, and fully
1000 armed and supplied with ammunition,
followed In pursuit. Some OF the troops
tred at the citizens, either accidentally
or intentionally as they we're moving
along, AID this added fury to the cry for
revenge. When they reached the Arsenal,
the I0mnandant refused to admit them.
He said ie had but ten men, aud would be
poWerles TO hold the place II the mob
should attack 1t. He consented
TO take care OF the wounded,
and the! we're accordingly carried
into the hospitals. The main body Of the
troops continued their march out Butler
street, msllade being kept up on them
by the MD as they moved forward. The
shots Hrel killed one Of the soldiers before
they reacled the arsenal, and nearly Op.
posite ths Cemetery gate, fully Q mile
above theaTsenal, two others we're killed.
and were left lying on the sidewalk. They
OOutinuedth niFhk and armand 0var ~