The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-06
AT THE STOCK YARDS.
MObs Charged and Dispersed by IN
fnntry md Cavalry.


CHICAGO, July 5.-United States troops
had several skirmishes with mobs in the
vicinity of the stockyards to-day, and
two companies of regulars were summoned
from Blue Island TO reinforce those sta
toned in Packington.
The soldiers made their first charge this
morning. Ninety men of the fifteenth Regi-
ment, under Major Harts and Captains
Chaplin. Company b, and Mitchell, Com
pany ID. dispersed three thousand men
that were blockading the passage of a
meat train near the main entrance to
the yards. Swift & Co. were starting a
meat train for New York. 1t was ready
to leave the yards. but the crowd pre-
vented it's departure and refused to move
from the tracks. Troops were sent for,
and the detachment under Major Harts
was soon on the ground A short distance
from the scene of trouble the order to
move the double quick with fixed bay
onets was given. Through the crowd the
soldiers moved without resistance and the
strikers and their sympathizers fled with
out reforming
After the troops had scattered the crowd
at the first charge the train started. The
foot soldiers guarded the tracks am the
cavalry preceded the train. Hootng and
yelling, on all sides an increasing mob ran
along calling the men ''scabs' and trying
to hinder the operation of switches. Many
women were in the crowd, and Joined the
men in derding the troops and peace
under which the train passed, was crowd
ed with angry spectators, but at this time
At Wallace eet the train stopped while
an attempt was made TO replace a switch
for the first time INTERRUPTED the work.
NJ. :. Wright, an officer of the packing
comDany, was struck and knocked sense
less by a rock He had been trying TO
throw the switch. His fall was the sig
nal for an order TO the cavalry in ad-
vance of the train. At the first move
of the horsemen the rioters turned back
Without further trouble the train pro-
Again the crowd closed in the engine,
and the threat of charge by the cav
clear the, tracks was given, and the horse
men rode into the crowd. The rioters
scattered without being harmed.
From this point to the Fort Wayne
crossing the train made good headway
Closed gates at the crossing barred further
progress. and the train came TO a stand
the delay was prolonged Beyond the
crossing several freight cars were dumped
BILE TO remove them. Neither police nor the
soldiers would touch the cars. AT other
points along the line the same blockade
was made. and the afternoon was spent in
an attempt TO straighten up the roadway.
About ten thousand people gathered around
the stalled train, and any move by the
railway officers, IL was expected, would
meet with violent opposition.
Leaving the meat train at the crossing
the mob started down the tracks intent
upon mischief. Rioters fired a switch tow
er and interlocking boxes near Fortieth
street and Stewart avenue. They drove the
operating gang from the tower, and when
the structure was deserted il was set on
fire. A switch box controlling the inter-
locking system was fired, but in both
cases the flames were extinguished without
causing the destruction of property.
a dummy train on the Fort Wayne from
East Chicago stopped near the crossing at
which the meat train was standing. II