The record-union., 1894-07-09

Send in your resignation and help US to
fight for our bread and butter.n
Now, look here, Major" said
another, addressing one of the
staff, "you are on the wrong
side for once in your life. We're your
friends and we know you are ours. You
belong with US. We know you wouldn't
shoot us down in cold blood when we are
lighting for our homes aud for bread for
our wives and Children
Boys" said the staff officer, "we have
not come here TO fight nor to injure you.
We are here simply to preserve law and
order and to protect property"
"rhat's exactly what we ourselves are
doing. We, all of us, are here to see
that not a stick of the company's prop
erty is injured nor destroyed" cried
another.
''Then," said the officer, you have
absolutely nothing to fear from u.s."
Continuing. he said: why not let Us
pass on peacefully. without compelling
US to use force? Don't you see that by
interfering with US you are violating the
law? And do you not realize that if you
have wrongs TO right, the way to right
them is to become law makers and not
law breakers? DO you not see," he con-
tinued, ''that the ballot and not the bullet
should be the instrument of correcting
such evils as you feel are now hurting
you ?"
"Thats sol That's so % cried out one
old fellow. THAT'S the way TO talk TO
the boys: that's the kind of talk we want
to hear.o
Just then a cry went up from the crowd
OF strikers, who had meanwhile sur
rounded General Sheehan: ''Give way
there, boys, give wayi Let the troops
pass through; they're all right" And
presently the crowd began TO surge and
to make way for the soldiers to march
on, some of the leaders having seemingly
been persuaded by General Sheehan tnat
it was unwise for the strikers to longer
block the way, when suddenly voice
called out: Hold on, boys! Before we
give way, let's find out how we stand, !"
and turning to General Sheehan he said:
"Will you promise US. General, that If we
give way, you will not permit Pullman
cars to be taken out of the depot?'
Il will promise you, boys" answered
the General, that my men shall not
touch car, nor aid in making up or dis
patching single train, but must hold
myself in readiness, If called upon, to
protect the men that may be employed to
perform such duty"
"Then," answered chorus OF voices,
''you can never enter here unless you do
SO over our dead bodies
Fully an hour or more was thus spent
in persuasive efforts without avail. The
strikers kept their tempers and both sides
remained good uatured. Finally General
Sheehan, becoming thoroughly convinced
that gentle methods were fruitless and
noting that for some reason the sugges-
ton made by him had not been acted on
that flank movement be executed by
General Dickinson's troops, and the de-
pot entered from the other end, he
gave the strikers one last warning
to give way and permit the troops a
peaceful entrance to the building. The
mob still refusing to bulge and remain
ing FAST standing almost body to body
against the front rank of the troops, he
took his position on the right Of the line,
and with look Of deepest determination
ordered the troops to fall back few PAGES.
and before the strikers could close in on
them gave the command Charge bayo-
netsW Down came every musket IN the
front rank with bayonets pointed di-
rectly at the breasts of the strikers. The
supreme moment had arrived. Faces
turned pale and knees began to remble.
A deathly silence suddenly passed over
the assembled multitude. The next move
might mean the precipitation of a scene
of bloodshed and carnage such as the
State had never before In its history wit
messed, Multitudes stood with bated
breath dreading to hear the next order.
1t but needed the further command on
the part of the General, Forward,
marchv' for the bayonets to force their
way into the exposed and unprotected
breasts of the strikers, who fearlessly
stood their ground. But the fatal words
never passed, and doubtless were never
intended to pass the Generals lips, whose
faith most likely lay in the hope that the
strikers would break and give way at the
execution of the preliminary command.
"Charge bayonets!' He had, however,
not fully realized the determination of
the men who stood before him. They
manifested absolutely not the slightest
fear, but instead of breaking away. barred
their bosoms and invited the soldiers to
press on withtheir bayonetS.
"Yon wouldn't put that steel through
me, Bill ?" said a striker to his own
brother in uniform, whose bayonet was
held within few inches OF the strikers
breast. ''Then, for heavens sake step
aside, Jim," said the soldier, with a face
pale as death and lips that quivered.
go ahead, jack" said another; lab
your bayonet through me and make a
widow of your sister," go ahead. boys;
run us through" said third, 1--WE may
as well die on the spot as starve."
The General, seeing the hopelessness of
the situation, slipped away, and gradu-
ally the rifles one by one in default of
further orders found their way to au Or
der arms. Meanwhile General Sheehan
hurried to the headquarters of United
States Marshal Baldwin and reported
to him the condition of affairs,
stating that it was impossible for him to
take possession of the depot by any
means other than by force, and that if it
was the MarshaPs desire to employ force,
he, General Sheehan, must declineto take
action unless first served with written
order to that effect.
The Marshal took the position that the
troops were under the command of Major
General Dimond, to whom he referred
General Sheehan for orders.
Major General Dimond, who was pres
ent, thereupon, as was his privilege under
the law, transferred the control OF the
troops TO the United States Marshal.
Marshal Baldwin. finding the response
bility now resting upon him, addressing
General Dimond, said that since be must
take charge, his first order should be
that the Yolo and American River
bridges must be Immediately guarded
and protected by troops.
Whereupon General Dimond, turning
TO General Sheehan, ordered them to de-
tail two of his companies and light bat
terry to take position on the bridges
named.
Marshal Baldwin, continuing. said that
since 1t was imperative to use force In
order that the depot be cleared, he would
give General Dlmond a written order
to fire upon the mob, but that the order
should not be executed until he (the Mar
shall should first be permitted to make a
last appeal to the crowd, in the hope of
persuading them to allow the troops to
peaceably enter the depot.
Meanwhile, General Sheehan hurried
back TO the head of his troops to execute
General Dimond's order TO guard the
bridges. Arriving at the head of his
command, he found the situation un-
changed.
The mob still held its position, densely
packing the passage to the depot. Dur
inn the anInrcad ahsenca OF General