The New York herald., 1877-07-26
ILLINOIS.

THE REIGN OF TERROR IN cHIcAGo-rEAns OF
TIES OF THE BUSINESS sITUArIoN--A DAY
GIVEN UP 10 THE MOB AND THE POLICE
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO, July %, 1877.
The reign OF terrorism in this city has by means
endcd, In fact the excitement did not got fairly
way until to-day. Business almost entirely sus-
pended and the great question arising in the Ia nds Of
the merchants and bankers how to protect them
selves and their property from mob violence.
PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTACK.
Nearly every wholesale and retail house Is garr-
soned The employees all armed and ready for tho
ntiack of the Communists, which is expected hourly.
There is nothing to be heard the streets but the
wild rumors o fresh outbreaks IN the southern and
southwestern portion oil the city, and panicky fecl-
ing prevails everywhere.
THE BUSINESS SITUATION
Tho strike has brought business at tho banks to a
complete standstill The express companies un-
able receive currency Tor shipment, hence the city
banks are unable to respond TO the calls OF
,ountry institutions ior funds Tho impossibty
d obtaining currency from New York is also
nconvenient, and places OF the banks
who had previously tccsraphcd there Tor funds to be
forwarded by express in awkward pos tion Ex
leemed useless to remit East with the expectation
hat it will 20 through To the expression OF
prorhihcn; banker they completely up, being
short at both ends and in the m ddIe."
THE MoBs AND THE POLICE
To-day the police and tho MODS have met face to
face about o dozen times. On Twentysecond street,
which penetrates the lumber districts, two skirmshos
occurred. The police attacked with stones, clubs
and missiles OF all kinds but they did loso their
temper their PATIENCE and boodshed avoided.
They have been provoked to the very verge OF mad
ness several times during the day; many OF them have
been hurt severely with clubs and stones, but they
have obeyed orders and behaved admirably.
There were as many as twenty different MODS pa
radng the city at oil hours from seven O'Clock this
morning up TO the present writing These moDs VS.
ited the factories, wagon shops, ionndres yards
and lumber yards on thcir line oi march, and pre-
vailed, either by argument threats. upon the men
to strike work and help to swell their crowd
A SERIOUS OUTLOOK.
AT noon to-day the state OF affairs looked very serious
indeed aud the Mayor was at his Wits cnd curb the
constantly increasing strength OF the Communists
He issued another proclamation asking oil good citi-
Ecns organize themselves INTO safety guards their
respective wards, called upon all to respect tho laws
and asked aid and encouragement for the military
companies now un Ter arms
MASS MEETING.
THIS was followed soon after by an address
signed by the Mayor and number OF tho
leading merchants, bankers and journalists 6f the
city calling grand meeting the rabernacle
at haf-past three Z NJ Al this meeting ,hcrc were
fully sixty thousand business men present and
luton adoptel approving the course Of the auhori
ties aud standing oy them IN their prcsent efforts to
preserve the peace special meeting OF the CITY
Council was also held, aud resolution adopted
giving the Mayor plcnary powers The merchants are
holding meetings IN different parts of the city TO-
night, for the purpose O. Affecting an organization
PROTECTING
Tho city s protected by 400 regular policemen,
500 special policemen, two State regiments, CON-
panes OF federal soldiers three regiments OF
Grand Army OF the Republic, and number OF vigil
lance committees
STRENGTH THE STRIKERS
Against these there fully 40 600 socaed strikers,
many OF whom, however, arc oaers, Thugs and
munIsts whose Only object Is plunder.
Ts-nlsLt great trouble is anticipated. There are