The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-25

Crossing. on the outskirts of the city along
the Illinois Central tracks. During the
day two men were shot by railroad de-
tective, who was with difficulty protected
from the infuriated strikers. Upward OF
200 cars, some of them Pullman sleepers,
were burned. These depredations continued
until late in the night, the force OF deputies
and the one company OF regulars under COM
mand Of Captain De lamar being totally In
adequate to afford protection to the immense
amount Of railroad property to wnich tne
incendiaries had free access.
Two hundred and twenty-five freight cars
on the Pan Handle tracks between Forty
fifth and Forty-ntnth streets, Chicago,
proper-s distance Of about one mile-were
destroyed by fire between the hours OF and
8 o'clock p. m.
Soon after 5 O'Clock immense crowds Of
men, women and boys were seen coming
from the stock yards toward the network Of
tracks at the crossing ofForty-saventh Of street.
The gathering was increased every minute
by q seemingly never-ending string Of the
strikers and their sympathizers, and about
6 o'clock fully 1000 people were massed
along the tracks from Forty-ffth street
south. They we're the stock yards crowd.
intent on destruction. and the few police
who remained on duty were powerless.
who went to work at once.
'sDown the tracks p was the cry, and with
q rush the strikers started southwark.
Bunches Of waste were stolen from switch.
mems shanties, and, soaked with the dope
used In oiling the cars, made an excellent
torch.
At Forty-seventh street five cars standing
on the Grand Trunks line were the first to
meet destruction. Some OF them were
loaded. This did not deter the frenzed
crowd from their work, and the seals were
broken and the doors slid back. A bunch OF
the burning waste was thrown inside, quickly
ienited the contents, and In less than three
minutes the FIVE cars were blazing flercely.
Without waiting to gee that their work
was complete the crowd surged on. They
kept to the Pan Handle tracks, and at Forty
ninth street came upon six more cars. These
were fired in twinSling, and on went the
crowd.
In the Garfield boulevard yards of the Pan
Handle tour tracks were full OF freight cars,
more than half Of which were loaded. AT
this crossing Is switchman's tower, and
this was first fred.
At Fifty-eighth street is the station OF the
combined roads. This was fred and quick
ly destroyed.
Upon the approach Of the Fire and Police
Departments, the crowd turned about AMI
started for the city. On their way to Forty
seventh street they set fire to all cars that
they had missed in their hurried trip south
ward. No water could be obtained near the
Garfield boulevard yards, and the cars
slowly burned up.
twas noticed that the leaders ofthe crowd
were mostly foreigners, and as they retraced
their steps few OF the leaders, accompanied
by hundreds. started OF In the direction OF
the stock yards.
The $50 cars in the yards were destroyed,
and when the crowd reached the stock yards
they divided up into small gangs and sepa-
rated among the big packing houses.
An alarm OF fire was sent in from Forty
ninth and Ashland avenue, but 1t was sew
eral minutes before the f1remen reached the
scene. The overworked horses were so ex-
hausted that 1t was With difficulty that they
could be forced off q walk.
The firemen in this district had responded
to nearly sixty calls during twenty-four
hours. and as they reached the tracks they
| were received with jeers and curses by a
crowd OF Bohemians. Poles and Italians.
The f1remen did not succeed in quenchtng
| the flames before the cars were destroyed,
aud had har lily reached the engine house
again when they were called from the same
| box.
The crowd had set fire to other cars. This
| time the wornout flremen made but feeDle
efforts to extinguish the blaze. At O'Clock
the cars had been reduced to ashes.
| Governor Altgeld, acting on Il request
from Mayor Hopkins, who had learned OF
the above lawless acts, ordered State militia
10 Chicago and the troops were sent to points
where the dangers seem greatest.
The scenes In the city were to the old res
idents q vivid reminder Of war times. The
broad expanse OF lawn on the historic lake
front, from the Chicago Club far south o.
the Auditorium Hotel, was dotted with tho
white tents of the regulars from Forts Sher-
idan, Lsavenworth and Brady. Sentrles pa
trolled the broad sidewalk to compel the
crowds of onlookers to keep at respectful
distance.
A few blocks north another big crowd sur
rounded the armory ofthe Second Regiment
where six OF its companies with two regl
ments of the Second Brigade wore quarteret
awaiting a call to service.
Company G OF the Thirteenth Regiment
from Fort Sheridan, was camped in the 70
tunda Of the Government building, the Post
office, as result OF orders issued by Gener
al Miles, who regarded it as wise to give
protection, especially as its roofs shelter th'
Postof1ce and the Sub-Treasury.
The regulars numbered 1900 men aad tn
National Guard 5000 men. In addition tn