The morning call., 1894-07-06


rank"
" The generals own proceedings are in his
own words:
ION my arrival at the depot l imme-
diately opened my headquarters at the
depot where l remained during the entire
day with the Marshal The brigade COM
manders were instructed to take possess
sion and occupy depot ana yards OF rail-
. road com pauy, and to report to me in due
time. General Sheehan reported to ME
that the depot was filed with men. women
and children who refused to move, and
that it would be absolutely necessary TO
use force in order to carry ont his instruc-
lions. Knowing that such action would
bring on a conflict and neceSsitate the fir
ing on the immense crowd L at once re-
quested written authority from the
United States Marshal before proceed
ing. to such extreme measures. After
satisfying himself of his authority in ths
matter lie issued the necessary order, but.
before the execution thereof, he requested
sufficient time TO warn the people to leave
the premises. In this he was unsuccessful.
He also demanded that two companies
should be Immediately detached for the
purpose of guarding the railroad bridges.
Z pon his return, after unSuccessIully
warning the people to leave the depot. he
counteTmanded his order TO use force. The
troops were then ordered to retire TO more
sheltered positions, which were maintained
in accordance with the instructions OF the
Marshal-that there should be no offensive
movements, and that l should cOnnne my
operations strictly 10 the protection OF lie
and property. Upon receipt OF orders MOTTO
: occupy depot building for sleeping quar-
ters the troops were withdrawn and quar-
tered in the pavilion for the night. Under
these circumstances. and feeling confident
of no immediate danger, l decided TO en-
camp the troops on the Capitol grounds
the following morning, under command of
General Sheehan. and 10 proceed in per-
son 10 my headquarters 10 San Fran
cisco, where my presence was urgently
called for.
''Iu conclusion, I desire to say that /
have acted throughout in accordance with
the law, strictly under the directions of
the United States Marshal, Barry Bald
win, and that at no time was an order
given to the troops to FIRE"
When this statement had been issued
the general seemed satisfied that his duty
of explanation was done, but did not hold
himself aloof from further questioning. In
the first place, his attention was called to
tile fact that the typewriter statement did
not speak explicitly as to the published
press reports that Company of the San
Francisco militia and all companies from
Stockton aud Sacramento had laid down
their arms and refused to fire a. the strik-
ers. The general responded through his
chief of staff, Colonel Castle:
Yes, my statement covers that. You
will observe by what l have already re-
lated that the companies were at no time
asked to ire. They went in to diSperse
the strikers with instructions from Mar
shall Baldwin to use force if necessary.
Then after they had got into the thick of
matters the Marshal countermanded his
order to use force.
LAS the strikers we're vastly superior to
the militia in numbers there remained
then but one thing to do. and that was to
retire the latter to more sheltered places
and to confne my efforts for the future to
protection of life and property. My state
ment tells the rest.
. The men displayed admirable and salts
factory courage, and there was no cause
for complaint against them. They would
have fred if ordered to do so with the excep-
ton of the one company. The captain of
this company informed General Sheehan
before the militia went into the affair that
he thought his men would DOT fire if or
dered to do so. The comuany, therefore.
was retired at once, but not in disgrace as
the papers announced"
Major Hooper and other members of
General Dmond's staff agreed with their
superior officer that the militia boys al
showed courage and devotion to duty and
TO their oaths as officers.
You would have thought So" said
Major Hooper. ''if you had seen them
marching down Third street. They looked
like business"
When pressed to speak further as to the
confusion of orders received from Marshal
Baldwin, General DmoDd said that he
could not expand on the explanation con-
Iained in the formal statement. He re-
ferred to Colonel Castle for an explanation
of the law in the matter. Colonel Castle
quoted from section T31 OF the army and
navy code of the State. The section pro-
vides that the commander Of the militia
may place the same under the direction of
any civil officer. or under United States
Marshal. When he does so the forces pass
out from under his control entirely and be
becomes a mere executing officer.
In this case the militia had been called
for by Marshal Baldwin and so had
to be placed under his direction. General
Dimond or his subordinate. General Shee-
han, had no discretion whatever in the
matter Of the use of force or firing.
.. After the companies had retired affairs
quieted down and the General felt at liberty
to return to the city where his presence
was urgently called for.
In conclusion, with reference to the situ-
alton at Sacramento, the General let it be
understood that none of the troops had
been retired either in disgrace or other
wise. as had been reported. The proof he
adduced was in the shape of dispatch be
- received on arrival at headquarters in this
city. By it he was informed that the
second brigade (Which means the San
Francisco companies) were encamped on
the capitol grounds, and the Stockton and
Sacramento companies were at the ar
mory.