The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-13
Who Commands the Pennsylvania Mi.
Itiaf

We're official proof needed Of the pressure
exertcd by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany during the Pittsburgh labor riots
both to bring troops from Philadelphia and
to control them after they were brought the
reports Of Gen. BRINToN and Adjutant-ticn.
LATTA. which accompany the annual mes
sage OF Gov. HARTRANFr. would supply it.
Gen. LATTA begins his story by saying
that his first notice OF trouble requiring the
use Of troops came from the Pennsylvania
Railway officials; and several hours after
came the call OF Sheriff FIFE Gen LATrA
Immediately ordered out PEARsoN's Pitts
burgh division: but the next day arrived
from Gen. PEARSON this queer despatch:
M Cass,rr mot haze Other icg~ and a. II
viii take Ions time 10 get country troops together the
Philadelphia troops could be brought here less time
than any others and would not Ice IN sympathy with the
strikers NJ cAssAr sgyoh hif you hat, pol r,gitoa
under arms
It is at once evident that already the
railroad officials. instead Of either the Sheriff
! OF the Major-General were regulating the
resort tc troops. and specifying the number.
and the point fICm which they should come.
To this despatch we Ind Gen. LArrA re-
plying:
Your dcsrateh received You saw c,s',T 'ncse't'
that the order be issuciin
Thus reminded not to entirely vacatc his
judgment in favor of the railroad officials.
Gen. PEARSON answered in the Affirmative,
and the Philadelphia division was sent to
Pittsburgh.
Turning to the report Of Gen. BRISToS,
commanding the First or Philadelphia
division, we find him saying;
Major Gen PEARsoS ordered MY entire column 70
move down the railroad track to Twenty eighth street
figsr rhih Ie,,.f,d, desiring to down Liberty
street instead Of the railroad once, which was done
with the sheriff. posse N advance
Before reaching Twenty el.hih street however. gen
PkAHsoS had ordered me todctach the second Brigade
from command order part o them to guard tile train
that tho Ponn,,y RAILROAD proposed running OUT
and the balance to keep the crowd from coming tie
railroad
lie also directed that regiment should guard the
crossing near the outer depot AMI protect the entrances
g. the shops at that place leaviu. but the FIRST Resi
m"ni N'ccacoc Lesion Washington 'rav-, AMI the Key
stone Battery. to'd OF about three hundred men 10
dperc tho crowd and keep the railroad clear rwen.
tfci.lih street
"Pryviou, to leaving the Union depot I hal CONVEX
seiion with Mr. clssArr wee Prcsid,u Penn, lyania
Railroad ami Gen PEllsoS. when was informed taat
soun A. the track cleared, trains would lnlnc.
di"tels commence running
1t is here very evident that the railroad
officials, acting upon PEARSON had substan-
Aihlle b'Nh'' lltAi NN' All'A NlSlfl 10 lllikkt
Of the militia, what points they wanted
guarded, and over what route the column
should march; and also that everything
was subQrdnated to the instant runnin,, Of
trains. Then followed the fatal ENCOUNTER
oil the railroad track, which resulted in the
temporary scattering OF the mob, and the
clearing of the track; and Gen. BRlSTOS
adds
"Inror'cl TO Gen PrAr,os an ne ,af'ail o,iorri,.
that haA executed ms orders AMI To- SEMI their rains
ami wnuld protect their starting
Then fo Iwci long wait OF some Two hour. for the
promised train the mob ~ tne moan time, CROWNS
larger and larger
Meanwhile" says Gen. BRINTON, "Gcn.
PEARSON had gone to consult with the rail
road officials" 50 that BRINroN and his
troops were left there on the track which
they had "opcned, at such cost, for trains
that were not ready to run for now the
railroad authorities announced they had no
crews to man the trains" At length he got
n telegram from PEARSON, saying, 4" am at
outer depot with Mr.. CAssATr, whore you
can send stan officers if you DESIRE On
his way thithcr, BRINroN received word
from Gen. PEARSON that tho latter had
taken portion OF the regiment you left in
the rear, to protect the buildings Of the rail-
road company His report then says
60 found Gen fF,nsoS on my arrival at the companys
outer depot IN consultation with Mr. CAs.Ar Informed
them OF the condition OF AFFAIRS At Twentyeigih :,fect
and that uio tracks in the vicinity were free from any
force that could prevent the trains from running re
csiN'd verbal orders from Gen ~, Rsos u remove my
trts division into the outer depot and guard the OIL
fees roundhon,c ac during the night as the mob had
threatened t. hurn thcm.n
1t Is thus clear that tho first bloody ARRAY
between the military and the mob resulted
from BRINToN's marching, under protest
down the track. In order to protect trains