Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-10-19

States mails, interfcrences in the inter
state commerce and the enforcement of
the mandates and warrants of the United
States courts"
After describing the condition Of affairs
at Los Angeles and the dispa tch of Col.
onel Skaters troops to that place, the re-
port goes on as follows:
THE result of the presence of troops was
that the mail train service was soon re-
sumed on all main lines-first to the east
and later on to San Francisco. The trains
were guarded by detachments of troops
from the 9TH until the ID of July, when
they were discontinued. With the excep-
ton of the overturning by strikers on July
10 of some cars on a railroad crossing to
interrupt the running of trains no overt
act was committed during this time, but
there is sufficient evidence for belief that
the strikers would have resorted, in the
absence of a military force, to any degree
of violence to prevent the operation of
railroads centering at this point, except
upon terms dictated by themselves"
The Presidents Order.
General Ruger next tells of the recep.
ton of the presidents order of July Z to
remove the distractions to mails and in
prevailing where he decided to begin
work, because the strikers were in great
est force and were beligerent. He says
there were $3.50 men in the railroad
shops there, and of these 2, 100 Joined the
strike, either willingly or under intimida-
ton. These were Joined by at least 500
strikers from other points, making about
1900 men, the greater part armed ut least
300 of them, with rifles and guns. General
Rugar touches lightly upon the conduct
of the militia in these words:
"On July force of the state troops of
California, composed of two regiments
and part of another, were assembled at
Sacramento on request for made assistance
by the United States marshal under the
provisions of a statute of the state, for the
purpose of affording such assistance rs
might be necessary to resumption of the
operation of the railroad for the carrying
of mails and for the purposes of Interstate
commerce. For reasons and owing to
facts, which it is not within the purpose
of this report to state, the object was not
accomplished
Report on the Train Wreck.
Regarding the wrccking of the train
bearing soldiers from Sacramento to San
Francisco on July II, and the killing of
IOur SOlu1erS, tne report says:
''There is no doubt the murder of the
four soldiers and the engineer was the act
of the strikers who left Sacramento be-
fore the train was started and also little
doubt that it was known beforehand to a
considerable number of other strikers
| that the track had been tempered with
for the purpose of derailing the train
The place selected for throwing the train
from the track was at n trestle crossing
water and approached by narrow cause
way. That loss of life would occur in
case the train was thrown from the track
was almost inevitable Proceedings arc
in progress in the civil courts against
several men charged with the murder in
causing death by the wrecking of the
train
Naval Forces Complimented.
General Ruger pays a high compliment
to the naval forces landed Mt Oakland
saying they wero of essential assistance
| and especially in permitting action with
| more confidence rs to favorable results
than would otherwise have been the case
Great praise is also accorded to Colonel
Shafter and his command, and to Colonel
Graham and the troops at Sacramento
General Kruger says:
"At sacramento the phase of the trouble
| upon the arrival of the troops had far
passed the limits implied by the word
| strike
"The acts, manner of procedure and in
tent rs evidenced by the acts of those en-
gagged were distintly insurrectionary Ex-
cept for the action of the troops the dis
order would have been prolonged and in
| all probability would not have ended with.
out serious bloodshed and afterilestruction
of much property"