Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-18
REPORT OF GEN. RUGER
Condition of the Army in the Department
Of California.
Review of the Services Rendered by
the Troops During the July
Railroad Riots.

The annual report of Brig Gen. Thomas
III. Ruger, comma aiding the Department of
California, made public today, is devoted
largely to a recital of the stirring events
of the great strife. OF this subject the re-
port treats as follows:
The service of most Importance per-
formed during the year by the troops serv-
ing in the department was that recently
rendered under orders received recurring
prevention OF obstruction to the United
states mails, interferences with interstate
commerce and the enforcement of the man
dates aEd warrants of the United States
courts"
After describing the condition of affairs
at Los Angeles, and the dispatch of Col
Shafter's troops to that place the report
goes on as follows:
Soldiers and Strikers.
THE result of the presence of the troops
that the mail train service was soon
resumed on sll the main lines, first to the
east and later ON to san Francisco. The
trains were guarded by detachments of
troops from the 7th until the 10Th of july
when they We're discontinued. With the
exception of the overturninS by strikers, on
July Ia, of some cars on a railroad crossing
to interrupt the running Of trains, no overt
act was committed during this time; but
the strikers would have -eSorted, in the ab-
sence of a military force, TO any degree of
violence thought necessary to prevent the
operation of the railroads centering at that
point, except upon terms dictated by them
selves"
Carrying On, the Presidents Order.
Gen. Ruger next tells of the reception of
the Presidents order of July to remove
Instructions to mails and Interstate COM
merce, and of the conditions prevailing
where he decided to begin the work, because
the strikers were in greatest force and were
most belligerent. He says there were 2,JUO
men in the railroad shops there, and of
these =, loD joined the strike, either willingly
or under intimidation. These were joined
by at least $40 strikers from other points,
making about 5000 men, the greater part
armed, at least 800 of them with rifles and
guns.
Conduct of California Militia.
Gen. Ruger touches lightly upon the con-
duct 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 upon request made for assist
anCe by the United States marshal, under
the provisions of 4 Statute of the state for
the purpose of alfOrdlnS such assistance as
might tee necessary tU resumption OF the
operation Of the railroads, for the carriage
OF the mails and for the Purposes Of inter
state commerce. For reasons and owing to
facts which 1t is not within the purpose Of
this report TO state the object was not ac-
cOmpIshed.'
The killing OF the Soldiers.
Regarding the wreckng of the train bear
ing soldiers from Sacramento to San Fran
cisco on July IL, ana the killing of our
soldiers, the report says:
There is no doubt the murder of the four
soldiers and the engineer was the act of
strikers who left Sacramento before the
JraIn was started. anu also little doubt that
At was known beforehand To d CUnsIdeTaU!e
number Oi other sIrIheIS tnstt the track nau
been tamperCu with Tor the purpose Uf de-
railing the tram. The place selected for
throwing the train iTvin the track was at
a uCSUC crossing water. and approached
by q narrow cddseWdy. That loss OF lie
would occur ir case the train were thrown
II ON the track was almost inevitable. Pro
CceGIIils are IN p.JSrCsS IN the civil courts
against several men charged with murder
IN causing death Dy the Wrccking Of the
train"
Pruisc where ii is Due.
Gen RuScr pays high compliment to
the naval forces landed at Oakland, saying
they were Of essential assistance, especially
IN permitting actIon with more confidence
as 10 favorable results than have been the
case. Great praise is also accorded TO Col
Si,after and has cvIAmslud and to Col G-a-
h..m ana the troops at Sacramento, Gel.
ito5er say AT oIcralneutU the phase oI
the trouble upon tlc ARRIVAL Of the truups
h,Jd far passed the limits implied by the
word strike. The aC;s, manner OF Droce-
dure and intent, as eylGenCrt by the acts of
those ensa3ed, were distinctly nsurrcctluu-
it.y. Except for the acton OF the troups
the dl5Ortcr wUIId have been prolonged
anu III ali probability would not have ended
without serious biooQshed and after IeSfrnr-
zion Of mucn PROPERTY"
Attached 10 the rep-rt of Gen. Ruger are
reports IrOin Co.'s. Slaljcr and Crab
ana Coi.ln&nder I;eeduI, depicting in grapn-
iC style and in great detail the rnnst in
tercsllns phases Of th- great struggle be-
tween .,.w and Ord,r ana anarchy