The record-union., 1894-07-09

No sooner was he in view before stOut
upon shout and cheer upon cheer rent the
air. Quiet being restored, the General
stated he had but the simple request to
make that the mob fall back about five
feet. without compelling force to be used.
Instantly chorus of voices shouted,
Move back, boys, move back; let's give
them what they ask for.''
The space having been cleared the
command was given: 'Fours right .
Column right! March !" Immediately
the Sacramento troops were marched OFT
the grounds to take possession of the
bridges that were to be guarded.
No sooner was the movement executed
and the troops seen marching from the
grounds when the multitude became de-
lirlous with joy. Men hugged each
other, threw their hats in the air. pranced
and danced about like so many wild
| Comanche Indians. They yelled and
screamed and shouted and cheered and
howled themselves hoarse with delight.
Immediately the false report went forth
that the militia had been ordered to fire
upon the strikers, had refused to obey
and were deserting their posts.
The JOY OF those in sympathy with the
strikers knew no bounds. The feelings
of citizens who had expected the militia
to do their duty were those of contempt
and disgust for the National Guard.
Feelings that were changed only when it
was learnt that they had not been
ordered to fire, and when the true situa-
ton and the true causes that led TO the
withdrawal of the Sacramento troops
were later more clearly understood.
! Nearly two hours had elapsed since the
| soldiers were halted in front OF the depot
In the meanwhile nearly a thousand
troops, thirsty, hungry and suffering
from loss of sleep, stood boiling and
! hx@s ft.O l..
shone in the Sacramento Valley in years.
Whatever enthusiasm may have filled
the hearts and minds of the soldiers from
abroad when the line of march was
started had now largely oozed out. In
stead OF meeting a lot of riotous law
breakers to greet them with Misses and
n>ults, stones aud brick bats, they met
great crowd of citizens, who spoke to
them kindly, brought them cool water to
wet their parched lips and to slake their
burning thirsts, cared for those Frustrated
by the intense heat and made the soldiers
in every way feel that they were among
friends who respected them and who had
for them only kindly feelings.
Under those circumstances it can
| readily be understood that had all order
been given TO fire upon the assem- bled
| crowd, the troops would have been in no
mood mentally and in no condition
physically to do any heroic lighting.
The Sacramento companies having left
the grounds anu no order coming for any
further action, Colonel Nunan, comman-
der OF the Stockton companies, which
had been standing in the immediate rear
OF the Sacramento troops, took the re-
sponsibility upon himself of ordering his
sweltering, weakened and almost pros
| trated men to fall out of line and get into
the shade. Again there arose shouts
upon shouts and cheer upon cheer
Again the false report spread like Wild
fire that the Stockton companies had
likewise refused to obey orders to fire
upon the strikers. There were left upon
the ground yet, III line, the two regi-
ments of the Second Brigade from San
Francisco under command of General
Dickinson who stood awaiting orders.
Presently United States Marshal Bald
win came upon the scene, and mounting
locomotive, made long and strong ap-
peal to the strikers to give way and to
permit the troops to peacefully enter the
depot, explaining that written order to
fire upon the mob had been issued and
would, If necessary, be executed. AS a
result of the United States MarshaPS ap-
peal truce was agreed to between the
Marshal and the strikers until P. NJ, for
the purpose of holding a conference with
their leaders in the hope of arriving at
some mutually satisfactory solution.
With this understanding the strikers
dispersed, and the remainder OF the
troops, hungry, thirsty, weary and al
most Frustrated, were finally marched
from the grounds