Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-07-14
THE STRIKE OF ~.
4 Marked Similarity 70 lie one b.
ing Waged at Present.

In the railroad riots of 1877 we enc
a marked similarity to those of today
While there was no general order
ing out of the men then as now. vel
the trouble spread from road to roas
until traffic was paralyzed, commun
ication destroyed and property burn
ed. Strikers were in possession of en-
tire districts and the State militia anG
Federal troops were in the field 70
weeks before the rioters were subduet
and then not without several bloody
conflicts. In 1877 Pittsburg occupiet
the place in strike history that Chicago
holds today, being the scene of the
worst outbreaks aud bloodshed.
| The trouble in 1877 began on Jul,
10, or the B. s. O.road. About forty
brakemen and firemen on the Balti
more division struck because of re
duction in wages. They became vic
lent immediately and proceeded tc
stop trains. The strike spread and
Martinsburg became such centre Of
violence that Governor Matthews or.
dered out the State militia under
command of Col. c. j. Faulkner, now
Senator. A conflict took place in
which several rioters were killed
President Hayes then ordered Federal
troops to the scene. The strike
spread along the B. &. o. lines until
it reached Chicago, and Governor
Young, of Ohio, was the next Execu.
tive to call out troops to quell disturb
ances.
On Thursday, July 10, the trouble
spread on to Pennsylvania lines. The
freight trainmen on the Western di-
vision at Pittsburg struck because the
company had increased the number
of cars to be handled by train crew.
Violence was Immediately resorted TO
and several engineers and brakemen,
who wished to work, were severely
beaten. On the morning Of July 20
the men tied up the Pennsylvania
road at Pittsburg completely. Gov
ernor Hartranft issued proclamation
ordering the men to disperse, but il
was ignored. The militia in the west
ern part of the State was called ont
under the command OF Gen. Pearson,
| Adjutant- General I.atta also ordered
out the Philadelphia regiments under
command of Gen Brinton. They
were taken to Pittsburg over the
Pennsylvania.
On the B. & o. the day was one OF
of violence. In Baltimore the Sixth
Regiment, Col. Peters, was stoned and
fired into the mob, killing ten inen-and
wounding many more. The strikers
were worke up to frenzy and fired
the Camden Station. Along the b.
& o. in Ohio and Indiana, the roads
were in the hands of strikers. The
hremen and switchmen on the Fri,
went out and trouble was anticipated
on many of the other roads.
In Pittsburg the morning of Satur-
day, July FL, dawned upon day of il.
omen. The Philadelphia troops, num-
bering over 700 men, arrived there in
the evening. In marching from the
trains they fired on the mob, killing
seven people, including three children
arousing the strikers thirst for ven.
geance. All evening the rioters gath
cred; about 10 o'clock they congrega
ted about the round house, where the
troops were quartered. They had Sc
cured the guns belonging to Hutch
inson Battery, a local organization,
and fired solid shot at the round house
When the mob attempted to rush
into the building they we're driver
back by whitening volley of musket-
rs. After several attacks the rioters
determined to burn the troops out.
Cars were set on fire and pushed
against the round house, which was
soon on fire. The sight of the flames
seemed to craze some Of the men who
rushed around setting fire to every
thing at hand. In the midst of sea
of flame about S O'Clock Sunday morn
ing the troops retreated from the
round house and marched for the sub
ufbs. They were pursued for miles
by the strikers and running fight
was made. during which four or five
of the soldiers and some seven rioters
were killed. Altogether twenty six
rioters and FIVE soldiers were killed in
Saturdays's fight. The fire at one
time threatened to destroy the entire
city. The Union Depot and company
offices were burned. The property
burned in Pittsburg Saturday and Sun
day was valued at s., 900, 600.
Sunday the trouble on the Reading
road began at Pottsville and on the
Lehigh Valley at Bethlehem. Trains
of the Pennsylvania were stopped at
harrisburg. In the West, at St. Louis
and Chicago, the situation grew worse.
On the Erie the twn of Hornellsville
was fired.
On Monday morning. July % short
ly after midnight, the strikers on the
Reading road began to commit acts Of
violence all along the line. The most
serious outbreak occurred at Reading
The Lebanon Valley Bridge, crossing
the Schuylkill and belonging to the
Reading Company, was fired and to-
tally destroyed, entailing a loss Of
$3.50, 900. The strikers set FIRE to cars
burned property, and terrorized the
city all Monday night. Early Tues
day morning militia under the COM
nand of Gen. Reeder arrived. While
marching along the tracks in the CEN
ter of the city they were attacked by
the mob. The militia opened fire and
FIVE persons were killed and thirty