The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-11
TROOPS IN POSSESSION.

TROOPS IN POSSESSION.
The Incendiarism of Friday Nighttime Dis
turbances During Yesteray.
EAST ST. LOUIS. April 10-The city has been
in a state of panic during the entire night, ow-
ing to the numerous incendiary fires but with the
presence Of the military which is guarding all
the main lines diverging from the
relay depot, something like order ap
pears to promise for tho day 1t
is not possible. at this hour. to more than ap-
proximate the damage by the nights fires. They
were all confined to railroad property, and the
officers sent with troops report that about twenty
to thirty cars, in ALL we're destroyed which were
| loaded with merchandise and coal. The greater
damage occurred at the Cairo Shortline yards,
about one mile from the relay depot. where prob
ably fifteen cars we're destroyed, and the flames,
for time, threatened the destruction Of one or
two hundred cars in the immediate vicinity. The
yards swere unprotected by the presence of an
active deputy or officer of any kind, and. until
Company D. of Champaign, arrived at the
scene the fire was permitted to burn at its will.
Two members of this company were found who
could FIRE and run a locomotive. and switch
ceeded in dragging away from the burning cars
fully one hundred box and coal cars.
Three companies of troops, from Greenville,
Paris and Champaign. are now stationed at the
Louisville g Nashville and Cairo Short-lne
yards The main body of the troops beyond
the fes*s1 sentries stationed at the railroad
switches, remain in the vicinity of the relay
depot No serious opposition of any character
has beset the troops. The first companies to
rive-Company K of the Eighth Regiment,
from Nashville, and Company H, of the Fifth,
from Decatur-were temporarily quartered
in the railroad branch of the Young Mems
Christian Association building, near the
relay depot. The crowd offered a
little wordy opposition, but nothing further.
The troops. after divesting themselves of their
clothing bags and blankets, left to take their al
lotted stations which were at first confined to
the switches near the depot The troops arrested
one man in the Cairo Short-lne yards, who re-
fused to quit the premises, early this morning,
and he was turned over the local authorities
Col. Riley M. Smith, who is In command of
the forces on the ground, eight companies in all.
has his headquarters at the Martell House, i'm
mediately opposite the relay depot, whore Ad-
jutant-general Vance is also staying Brigadier-
general Reece commanding the Second Brigade,
arrived this morning but will not assume COM
mand unless other troops are ordered here,
which at present does not appear probable. The
troops on the ground number about 300.
No disturbances of any character have oc-
Cured since o'clock this morning. At few
of the railroad crossings and at street corners
there have been small gatherings of, discontented
men, but they are quietly dispersed by the SEN
tinels The sheriff has discharged all of his
deputies with the exception Of three or four
men, depending entirely upon the troops. All
of the platform men and yard men of the Bur-
lington road have returned. and freight train
left this morning without molestation. Two
freight trains arrived over the same road this
morning. A portion of the men employed in the
Chicago g. Alton and Ohio & Mississippi yards
have returned, and they are handling without
difficulty all freight offered
The incoming passenger trains over all the
roads, without exception, arrived close to sched
ule time, and were sent over the bridge into the
city. The Bridge and Transfer Company also sent
over to ST. Louis train of twenty coal cars
The bridge company has all of It's twenty
switch engines fully manned, and bat for
the absence of their yard switchmen would
be able to handle both freight and passenger
trains without any delay. The superintendent
of the bridge company stated this morning that
had Governor Oglesby sent small body Of
troops here when first requested, none Of the
men would have been intimidated, and would
have remained at their posts A few railroad
officials have remained here on duty, but in the
confusion and alarm occasioned by the fires last
night there were very few people in authority
who could even guide the troops to the scene of
the burning cars, but for which very little of the
railroad property would have been consumed.
General Manager Stone, Of the Burlington road
who remained on the scene. personally headed
all the men in his employ at 8 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, and in the capacity of deputy sheriffs
went to the Louisville s. Nashville freight depot.
where forty unarmed clerks were imprisoned
and were afraid to leave the building to encoun-
ter the angry crowds which remained in the
vicinity. They found no difficulty in leaving the
scene under the guidance of these unarmed civil
ians
Both the sheriff and Mayor hold the view that
the presence of the soldiery was all that was re-
quired to restore peace and order. The city gov
| eminent is confessedly weak. and the sentiment