The record-union., 1894-10-19
to the RECoRD-UNIoS.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S.-The annual re-
port of Brigadier-General Ruger, COM
mandlng the Department of California,
was made public to-day. 1t is devoted
largely to recital of the stirring events
OF the great strike. After describing the
condition of affairs at Los Angeles. and
the dispatch of Colonel Skaters troops
to that place. the report goes on:
The result of the presence of the troops
was that the mail train service was soon
resumed to the East and later to San
Francisco. The trains were guarded by
detachments of troops from the 9TH until
the 10Th of July, when they were discon-
tinued.
with the exception of the overturn-
ing by the strikers on July 10th of some
cars on railroad crossing to interrupt
the running of trains, no overt act was
committed during the strike, but there is
su1hclent evidence for belief that the
strikers would have reSorted. in The alb
sence of military force, to auy degree of
violence to prevent the operation of the
railroads operating at this point, except
upon the Terms dictated by themselves -
General Ruger touches lightly upon the
conduct OF the militia at Sacramento in
these words: "On July 4th force of the
State troops OF California, composed of
two regiments and part of another, were
assem- Dled at Sacramento upon a request
made for such assistance as might be
necessary to effect The resumption of the
operation of the railroad, for the carriage
OF mails and for the purposes OF interstate
commerce.
For reasons and owing to facts which
1t Is not within the purpose of this report
to state, the object was not accom-
plished."
Regarding the wreck of the train carry
ing troops from sacramento to San Fran
cisco, July llth, and the killing OF four
soldiers. the report says: There is no
doubt that the murder Of the four soldiers
and the engineer was an act of certain
strikers who left Sacramento before the
train started, and there is also little dou bt
that it was known beforehand to a con-
siderable number OF other strikers that
the track had been tampered with for the
purpose of derailing the train.
The place selected for throwing the
train from the track was a trestle cross
ing the water and approached by mar
row causeway. That loss k life would
occur in case the train was thrown
from the track was almost inevitable.
Proceedings are pending in the courts
against the men charged with the muir
ders by the wrecking of the train"
General Ruger pays high compliment
to the naval forces landed at Oakland,
saying they were OF essential assistance,
Great praise is also accorded Colonel
Shafter and his command and Colonel
Graham and the troops at Sacramento.
The report saya: 'At Sacramento the
| trouble upon the arrival of the troops had
passed the limits implied by the word
strike The acts, manner, procedure
! and intent, as evidenced by those en-
gagged, were distinctly insurrectionary.
Except for the action of the troops the
disorder would have been prolonged and
in all probability would not have ended
without serious bloodshed and after the
destruction OF much property"
Attached to the report of General Ruger
are reports fIom Colonels Shafter and
Graham and Commander Reeder, de-
picting in great detail the most interest
| ing phases of the struggle.