The morning call., 1894-10-26

without any loss of life, if possible. 1t
was i'll advised TO make any attempt
against the depot on such national holi-
day."
referring to the delays on the morning
of the arrival and the lack of breakfast
the court says that General Dimond is not
directly responsible. but, on the other
hand, when the trains were halted at
Twenty-frst street he should have issued
orders to proceed to the depot. and If nee
essary should have taken charge OF the
trains himself. On the arrival Of the trains
at Twenty first street and while at break
fast at the armory the major-general COM
handing consulted Brigadier- General Shee-
han of the Fourth Brigade, who. as he re-
sided in Sacramento, was supposed TO De
familiar with the situation and competent
to give the major-general such information
| as might be necessary.
| Brigader-General Sheehan assured the
ma or-general that the strikers would oner
no resistance, and would allow tnem 10
enter the depot without opposition. NOT
withstanding these assurances the MAJOR
general should have taken the proper pre-
cautions, so that there could have oeen no
question of success in case OF resistance.
After a delay of about two ana nall
| ours the troops took ND the marcn nom
the armory to the depot in single col
umn. The depot is situated In open
ground, and can be reached by three or
| four different streets.
| The court IS of the opinion that the
command should have moved IN two or
more parallel columns, so that on It's ar
rival at the open ground near the depot
the troops could have deployed and force
of skirmishers been thrown forward. The
court finds that the major general is,eQually
with the brigade commanders, responsible
for the faulty formation of the troops
when advancing to the depot. On the ar
rival of the column in the open near the
depot. the major-general esta blshed head
quarters In the depot building, out of the
immediate presence of his troops.
The court is of the opinion that his post
should have been with the column, so
that he could have personally issued his
orders and verified their executions; il his
orders were neglected, those disobeying
should have been placed under arrest or
| deprived of command. It was great mis-
fortune to place the Sacramento compa-
MES at the head of the column, as the
members of these organizations resided in
Sacramento. Many Of them belonged to
trade organizations and. in all PROBABLE
ity, sympathized with the strikers. Ii
was undoubtedly one OF the grave errors
of the day to place these troops in posi-
ton where they would RECOGNIZES in The
crowd their daily associates, neigh bors.
friends. and perhaps relatives.
The court is of the opinion that If the
San Francisco troops had been placed al
the head of the column an entry into the
depot could have been effected without
trouble or loss of life. General Dimond
did, after some delay, issue the necessary
orders TO take the depot, and if it had mol
been for the delinquency of some of his
subordinate officers the depot would have
been occupied. General Dmond issued
orders to his brigade commanders. in posi-
tive terms, authorizing and directing then
to use all force necessary to dislodge ths
strikers, and they were directed to use tn,
bayonet or lead if necessary. Ittherefort
results that the failure TO take the depo
does not rest entirely on the shoulders o.
the division commander.
Continuing on this subject the rep0r
says:
There seems 10 be an impression that Brig
adier-General Sheeban was responsible for thu
stoppage OF the trains at Tweniy-fiTst street
but In view of the testimony the court eanno
ind that he is blamable in The matter. 1t wa,
evidently the wish OF tile Southern Pacific Com
pany TO stop trains going into Sacramento %,
way OF Stockholm at Twenty-eighth street. an,
in the absence OF any orders TO the contrary tn
sections containing the First and Third regi
ments would in all probability have stopped a
that point.
At The suggestion OF General Allen, Genera
SheehaD directed the quarteImaster of til
Second Infantry to prepare bre kfast for tn
San Francisco troops which were expecte
early in the morning. Ii being Il p III, IL wa
difficult TO buyiproyisions. and as DO posiIiv
orders had been issued there seems 10 hav
been 10 one who had any real charge of Ihes
arrangements. Ii seems that II a determine
: effort had been made. coffee, bread and came
meats coDld have been provided sufficient t
make meal. Under all the circumstances til
| breakfast was i'll advised, as Ii consumed nearl
three hours Of valuable time. and it would hav
been much simpler proposition TO have take
Fations In bulk and distributed them 10 I'll
troops while on the march at the depot
Time on that dry was OF Vital importance
General Sheehan had under his command tw
, companies of Sacramento troops. TWO companie
of Stockton troops Calling Gun detachmen
and detail from the Signal Corps. This wa
i. virtually only DdbtdilOD, anu lneT6 Rer
present with these four companies, COlone
Guthrie OF the Second Infantry Of Sacrament
and Colonel Nunan Of the Sixth Infantry c
! Stockton, one iieutenant-colonel and tw
majors. The line of march from the armor
was not well devised. More care should hay
been exercised In selecting the route. A PAL
| Of Second street, over which the comman
, moved, was torn up for repairs. The street wa
filled with stones of conven lent size for throw
ing, old lumber, boxes and barrels lined tn
streets. and In places greatly impeded trave
determined mob could have easily barricade
this street and used the loose stones wit
3 serious effect
, Crowas Of people-men, women and children
gathered along the streets and sidewalks au
. accompanied the troops to the depot. Whe
General Sheehan's command reached the plac
where the crowd was gathered In his front. h
> command was marching In close column
companies and with front of sixteen file
There was no order to deploy. no thought of
/ skirmisb line, but The first company was a
lowed 10 bump up against the mob until the
D stopped without ordrrs There was a GalliB
n gun between the Sacramento and Stockto
companies. Citizens were standing betwee
J the companies, around the gun, so that d.
: | termined mob could have made rush throug
the TANKS. destroyed the formation and cal
tured the gun.
General Sheehan not only addressed the mo
T several times at length. but he pleaded with tt
. strikers and requested them to leave the dept
t and allow him to take possession. In this
{ forgot his duty as an officer and violated I'll
la lnfd Il 49, f...