Report of the Committee Appointed to Investigate the Railroad Riots in July, 1877 Read in the Senate and House of Representatives May 23, 1878 (part 4 of 7)
A. The first part I took in any suppressing the riot--on Sunday I stayed at home, thought I might be needed, and that that was the best place for me. When it got so bad, and the Union depot had been fired, I thought it was my duty to go to the side of the hill to see what I could do there, and somebody proposed, or said, that as the grain elevator had already been set afire, that the next would be the Duquesne depot, and Mr. Bissell and myself and some others--quite a number started. I think he and I were the only ones of our party that got there. We went down to the Duquesne depot, and met a few persons there we knew and a great many we did not know. I do not know who was in sympathy with us or not. After being there some time, and trying to devise means of preventing the depot from being fired, if an attempt was made, we talked of getting a cable, and shutting off the leading avenues to the depot. There was a man rode up in a buggy and stated there was an attempt to fire the lower end of the depot. We were then at the upper end. We walked down, and there was a party examining a car. I went up and looked into the car, and there was some smoke and embers there, which somebody had scattered before I got there, to prevent it from catching fire. There was a barrel of oil rolled under the car--I do not know for what purpose it was, I suppose to set fire to it, and there was one man in particular by the name of David Carney or Carter. He was arrested afterwards; he was ringleader. I talked to him, and tried to persuade him not to do anything of the kind. He said he had been up all day at the fire above, and that he was one of the advance to set fire to the Duquesne depot. I asked him where he was from. He told me he was first an engineer on the Oil City railroad, and then he said he was from Ohio, then he told me he was from Greene county. He was so drunk and so excited and wild, with the burning, that he didn't know what he was talking about. He was bound to do mischief, and we talked to him one after the other, trying to persuade him, while one was holding him in control, and the party, the rest of the gentlemen, were interested in protecting the depot. They talked to a crowd, trying to persuade the people that lived there, if the Duquesne depot was fired, the whole lower part of the town would be burned, that the fire department were trying to save property on Wilder street on the hill, and that there would be several squares of valuable property destroyed if this depot was set on fire, as it is a mere shell, an old frame building, and very large. This man who was a ringleader of them, he said he didn't care a damn; he said that the property holders would have to pay for it, and the rich would have to pay for it, and he was a friend of the workingman. I told him if he would burn this property the working people, so many of them, would be burned out of house and home. He said there would be good come of it, at any rate, and that he was bound to burn that, and that they would burn the Connellsville depot, and that they would burn the bridges, and then they didn't care a damn what became of the rest of the town. I told him he had better not do that, that it was a very bad thing to do. Mr. Bissell told him, to try and keep him under control, that he had sent for policemen. The policemen came and I made information against him, and as soon as a couple of policemen nabbed him he wilted right away. He was very willing to be marched off to the lock-up. In his testimony at court, he said that he had arrived in the city Saturday afternoon, at two o'clock, from the oil regions, that he had been working that summer on his father's farm, some place up there, I have forgotten where he said--at some place, Parker, Oil City--had been working there during the summer, and heard there was going to be some fun down in Harrisburg, and he was coming down to have some of it, and that he had gotten drunk and didn't know what he was doing--that was according to his own testimony in the criminal court. He was convicted, I believe, for something like four years, that was about the total of my experience. I made an information against him.
Q. How did you learn his name?
A. I asked his name at the time, and he told me. He gave me two or three names, but his right name is either Carney or Carter. He gave one four or five days afterwards, at municipal hall, and at first he denied that he was the man at all--he never had seen me. Said he had been arrested on the south side for drunkenness, but he was recognized by Bissell and others, and he owned up he had been there. His name is Carney alias Carter.
* * * * *
Alexander King, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you live?
A. Pittsburgh, Nineteenth ward.
Q. What is your business here?
A. Merchant.
Q. In what kind of mercantile business are you engaged?
A. In glass material. I am not doing much now--winding up.
Q. Employ a large number of men?
A. No, sir; we have only two. I have been manufacturing heretofore, and have had quite a lot of them in a glass manufactory.
Q. You may go on and state what you desire to on the subject?
A. I noticed a few days ago, in an evening paper, a statement made by Sheriff Fife, or said to have been by him--of course, I do not know, I only read it in the papers--that I had offered the rioters a thousand barrels of flour.
Q. That was in Sheriff Fife's statement?
A. You gentlemen know, of course, what he did say. It was in the evening papers. It is altogether unfounded; it was neither flour nor money, nor have I ever offered nor paid one cent, or spoken to anybody on the subject. It is utterly without foundation.
Q. What you desire is to correct----
A. Any impression of that kind.
Q. And if such statements were made by the crowd, they were made without authority?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Was it not an assertion made here that that was the strikers this side, not the rioters?
A. The strikers. The crowd there claimed that the citizens were in sympathy with them, and they, too, had offered them a thousand barrels of flour. I think that was mentioned in the Chronicle. I should just say, I had never seen one of the strikers or rioters until I saw one of them in July--that is the first I ever saw any of them.
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C. L. Jackson, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. 202 Juniata street, Allegheny.
Q. What is your business?
A. Engineer of the Fort Wayne railroad.
Q. Were you an engineer of that road in July last?
A. I was.
Q. State, Mr. Jackson, whether you had any knowledge of any pre-arranged plan among the railroad employés to strike?
A. I had not.
Q. Before the day of the 19th of July?
A. I had not. The first time I heard of it I came in in the evening at nine-twenty, Friday evening. I heard that they were stopping the trains from coming out.
Q. You came in from the west on Friday evening?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That was the first you knew anything about it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you know anything about the organization of the Trainmen's Union?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. For what class of employés was that organized?
A. Brakesmen and firemen.
Q. Conductors?
A. Conductors.
Q. Engineers, too?
A. Engineers, I think.
Q. What was the purpose and object of that union?
A. Indeed, I could not say.
Q. Were you connected with it?
A. No, sir.
Q. Don't belong to it?
A. No, sir.
Q. Had you any talk with men that did belong to it?
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you solicited by other employés to join it?
A. Yes; I was asked to join it.
Q. What reasons did they give--what inducements did they hold out for your joining it?
A. Indeed, I hardly know what they were.
Q. Who asked you to join it?
A. Conductors.
Q. What persons?
A. Indeed, I could not say.
Q. Conductors asked you to join it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What did they say was the object of the union?
A. They did not say.
Q. Didn't they give you any object?
A. Didn't give me any information.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Did they say to you how much advantage it would be to you to join it?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Was it secret?
A. Yes; I believe it was.
Q. You know how extensive it was?
A. No, sir; I do not.
Q. Don't you know how many lodges there were organized?
A. Lodges organized all over the country, I think.
Q. You say you knew nothing of any pre-arranged plan for a strike?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you go out again after coming in on Friday night?
A. No, sir; not until after it was settled.
Q. And remained in the city of Allegheny all the time?
A. Yes, sir; I was over Sunday afternoon.
Q. Were you over Saturday to Pittsburgh?
A. I came over Saturday about two-thirty, or near two-thirty to three o'clock.
Q. Where did you go Friday night?
A. During the night I stayed in about two squares of home--Washington avenue, there.
Q. With the crowd?
A. There was a crowd around there. There was not very many.
Q. What class of men--railroad employés?
A. There was very few railroad men there.
Q. What were you staying there for?
A. I thought it was best to stay there. I heard of the trouble over in the city here, and I thought I would not come over, and that the best place to stay was at home.
Q. You were not at home?
A. Within two squares of home.
Q. How many men were there with you?
A. I suppose the forepart of the evening there was a good many men around there.
Q. How many would you judge?
A. I suppose maybe fifty or hundred; but they scattered away.
Q. All railroad men?
A. No, sir.
Q. What other men were there, besides railroad employés?
A. There was men that lived around there.
Q. And you remained there all night?
A. I remained there. I stayed there until about two o'clock in the morning.
Q. What was the object of that meeting?
A. There was no meeting.
Q. About fifty of you together. Would not you call that a meeting?
A. There was only two or three of us at seven or eight o'clock.
Q. What was the purposes or the objects of the coming there?
A. The men were just waiting. They saw the fire over at Pittsburgh.
Q. Was there any fire Friday night?
A. This was Saturday night.
Q. Friday night, you said?
A. I went right home Friday night.
Q. And stayed at home?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Then it was Saturday night you spoke of the coming there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Sunday morning, where were you?
A. I did not get up at all until about ten o'clock.
Q. What time did you come over to the depot?
A. I came over about half-past two.
Q. How long did you remain at Union depot?
A. About ten or fifteen minutes.
Q. Did you come up to Twenty-fifth street?
A. No, sir.
Q. Where did you go from Union depot?
A. I came down Smithfield street, and went over the bridge to Allegheny again.
Q. You remained with this crowd until two o'clock, that you have spoken of?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where were you during the day on Sunday?
A. Sunday night came over to the city, between one and two o'clock on Sunday.
Q. Go up to the ground?
A. I was over at the Union depot. I was up on the hill side.
Q. How large a crowd was engaged in burning and plundering?
A. I do not know. I could see eighteen or twenty in the crowd.
Q. Did you see any railroad men among them?
A. I did not see a railroad man.
Q. Did you know any of the men?
A. I know some of them.
Q. Who were they?
A. I thought you asked me if I knew any of the railroad men--no, I did not know the men there.
Q. Did you know any of the men you saw there?
A. No.
Q. How long have you been working on the railroad?
A. About seventeen years.
Q. Then you knew most of the men who were working on railroads leading out of Pittsburgh, did you not?
A. I did not know a very few of them, except on our own road.
Q. Except on the Fort Wayne road?
A. I have stopped right there.
Q. You know nothing of any pre-arranged plan among the men for a strike?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. You belong to the Engineers' Brotherhood?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was there anything talked of in that organization of strikes?
A. No, sir; there was not.
Q. Was there anything communicated from the Trainmen's Union to the Engineers' Brotherhood of a strike?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. If you know anything of the origin or the cause of the strike, I wish you to state it to us fully?
A. All I know about it, is the reduction of the wages ten per cent.
Q. That you think was the cause of it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was there any order on the Fort Wayne road for running double-headers?
A. No, sir.
Q. Then the only thing that they had to complain of on the Fort Wayne and Chicago road, was the ten per cent. reduction, was it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. When did that take effect?
A. I think it was on the 1st of July. I could not say certain.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Was there a necessity to run double-headers on the Fort Wayne and Chicago road, if they want to do it?
A. I do not know. I guess there is about as much necessity as there is on the Central road, if they wanted to do it.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Are double-headers used as a general thing where there are heavy grades?
A. Not on our road, there ain't.
Q. You have no very heavy grades on the Fort Wayne road?
A. We pull seventeen cars as our load.
Q. Don't you know, as a railroad man, that double-headers are used generally on heavy grades, if at all?
A. I know they are used on the Pennsylvania road.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Were there any other complaints or grievances by the men of that road?
A. Indeed, I can't say that there was.
Q. Have you ever heard?
A. No, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Is there any other secret organization of railroad men, besides the Engineers' Brotherhood, that you know of?
A. No, sir.
Q. Are you at liberty to state the object of the Engineers' Brotherhood?
A. It is a more beneficial thing than anything else.
Q. The object of that association is not to control railroad companies, is it?
A. No, sir.
Q. Simply for their own benefit?
A. Benefit; yes, sir.
Q. During the trouble at the outer depot, or on the Fort Wayne, did you know of any armed force of railroad men that were prepared to protect any trains from coming into the city of Pittsburgh that had troops on?
A. I know there was a lot of them went to get some guns. Went down to the lower end of the yard.
Q. Railroad men?
A. I could say I did not see that. I saw a crowd about two squares off from our house. I could see them move down the track. I understood afterwards that was who they were.
Q. In your conversation with railroad men of the Pennsylvania Central, did you learn what their grievances were?
A. No; not particularly.
Q. Did they not complain of double-headers?
A. Yes; I believe there was a complaint of double-headers.
Q. Anything else?
A. Indeed, I could not say that there was.
Q. On your road it was on account of reduction of wages, was it, that they struck?
A. I think that is what it was.
Q. Are you acquainted with Bob Ammon?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you receive any orders from him?
A. No, sir.
Q. During the strike?
A. Never saw him during the strike.
Q. Did you assist the railroad men in protecting the property of the company?
A. I did, sir.
Q. Help to guard it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Against the mob?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was there any violence used to prevent the running of trains that you know of?
A. Not as I know of.
Q. No threats made?
A. No, sir; I didn't hear any.
Q. Were you on duty during the riots--were you at work, or did you run your engines during the troubles?
A. I would if they had wanted me to.
Q. If the company wanted you to?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you assist the strikers in running the cars down out of danger?
A. I was over at the city the afternoon they were taken out.
Q. Take any of the cars out yourself?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you run any engine during that time--from Thursday until Monday?
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you called on by the railroad officials?
A. No, sir.
Q. Or by Bob Ammon?
A. No, sir.
Q. You are still in the employment of the road?
A. Yes, sir.
At this point the committee adjourned until three o'clock, this afternoon.
PITTSBURGH, Saturday, February 23, 1878.
The committee met at three o'clock, pursuant to adjournment, Mr. Lindsey in the chair. All members present.
* * * * *
William W. Thompson, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Fourth ward, Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your business?
A. Attorney.
Q. State, Mr. Thompson, what knowledge you have of the riots and means taken to suppress--I do not know the fact that you are called to prove particularly, but go on and state it?
A. I just say this: That during the time of the riots, I was chairman of the police committee of the city of Pittsburgh, and that on the evening of Saturday, the 21st of July, I was up at city hall. The mayor had called a special meeting in order to enable him to employ additional police, and he employed the policemen round about the city hall at that time to deliver the notices, and we had a meeting on Sunday morning, at ten o'clock, and authorized the mayor to employ as many additional policemen as he deemed necessary for the emergency. That was all that the police committee had authority to stop.
Q. What time was that meeting?
A. On Sunday, the 22d of July, at ten o'clock.
Q. You then authorized him to employ as many police as he deemed necessary?
A. Yes; for the emergency that was all we could do. Afterwards that evening I was at city hall, and Colonel Howard--I do not remember the number of his regiment--
Q. The Nineteenth, I believe?
A. I think it was the Nineteenth--asked me to call a meeting of the councils. At that time, on account of the absence of Negley, I was president of common council, and at his instance I called a meeting of the common council, and also issued a call, in the name of Mr. Aiken, president of the select council, for a meeting of the select council the next morning at ten o'clock, for the meeting to authorize the payment of any expenses that might be necessary for the purpose of suppressing the riot. We had a meeting next morning, at ten o'clock, and authorized the payment of whatever expenses were necessary for that purpose.
Q. Did the mayor increase his police force after that, to your knowledge?
A. I know before that time the policemen had been reduced, on account of want of appropriation--had been reduced one half--and he sent out notices for all the discharged policemen to come in and be sworn in as additional policemen. That was Saturday, and on Sunday morning there were some of them there, but not many of them. There were a good many of the police refused to serve on account of being employed for an emergency. They said if they were to be employed for the balance of the year they would serve, but if they were to be employed for a few days, to go into this fight, they would not act. That evening--that Sunday evening--there were several residents down in the Fourth ward, in the neighborhood of the Duquesne depot, employed a force to guard the Duquesne depot there that night. It was said there was going to be an attack on it, and they had a guard around it to protect it that night--to prevent the rioters from setting it on fire. There were two men arrested for making an attempt to burn it. I believe they were tried and convicted afterwards for attempted arson.
Q. Was there any disposition on the part of either branch to employ all the force required in the city to suppress the riot?
A. That whole matter rested with the police committee, and the vote of the police committee was unanimous authorizing the mayor to employ as many men as he deemed necessary. There was no opposition. We held a joint session Monday morning for the purpose of authorizing the payment of all expenses necessary for that purpose. My recollection for that purpose has been paid without any objection that I know of.
* * * * *
E. P. Jones, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. In the Thirteenth ward, Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your business?
A. Attorney.
Q. I do not know the fact you are called upon to prove, but if you will just go on and state it----
A. I hardly know myself. I saw a good deal of the riot, but I think some one mentioned to me that it was with reference to the circumstances that I saw Saturday night. I rode past the round-house between nine and ten o'clock, on Saturday night.
Q. What time?
A. Between nine and ten o'clock. When I got to the round-house, and was just passing it, there was a two horse carriage drove up. It stopped, or was stopped, just when I was there, and they had something in the carriage that they delivered to the crowd, taking the articles from under the seats, and as soon as they delivered them to the crowd, the whole crowd burst in one applause and hurrah. I presume, too, without knowing the fact--I did not see the articles--but I thought they were ammunition and arms. I went on, after that. There was a great crowd of people there, and I rode by way of Liberty street from that point down to the depot. Every avenue leading on Liberty street, and to the round-house, were crowded with people going that way. They were all in a great hurry.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You did not see what was in the carriage?
A. No; I could not say that I saw the articles, positively. I happened to mention that circumstance, and some one----
Q. Did you hear in the crowd anything expressive of what it was?
A. Nothing but applause. They received whatever there was there, with great applause and excitement. I saw the burning on Sunday.
Q. Do you know who drove the carriage?
A. No, sir; the driver was sitting up in one of those high sitting carriages--a two horse carriage. It stopped right at the round-house, in the midst of the crowd, and the articles, whatever they were, were delivered.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did you know the carriage?
A. No, sir; it appeared to be a hired carriage. I am satisfied of that.
Q. Belonging to----
A. I would take it that it was one of those livery stable rigs.
Q. A hack?
A. Yes, one of those carriages. It was not a private carriage. I do not know any other facts.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Where were you during Sunday, during the burning of the property there and rioting?
A. I was on the hill--I was on Grant street, and different places during the day. Went to church in the morning, and then in the afternoon I was among the rioters.
Q. Were you near the scene of the riot?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What kind of people appeared to be engaged in this riot?
A. They appeared to be foreigners, and I must say that looking at them, and being among them, I could not recognize one face.
Q. You speak of foreigners. You mean not living in this vicinity?
A. Yes, sir; and I saw some Germans, but the burners were Irish--a few negroes, but very few.
Q. Did you have any conversation with many of those people?
A. Yes; talked with them some.
Q. Did you remonstrate with any of them for the rioting?
A. Yes; talked of the impropriety of what they were doing. I was stationed at the last part of the riot at Grant street, when the elevator was burning. There were a great many there. I had some talk with people there. I was struck by one--it was an Irishman that struck me.
Q. How did it happen--how did he come to strike you?
A. I was just in the street there, and he struck me.
Q. Without any provocation?
A. Without any provocation at all.
Q. What did he say?
A. He damned me.
Q. Give any reasons for striking you?
A. No reasons at all.
Q. Was it for remonstrating with him?
A. No; I was not talking with him. I was standing in the street, talking to another man, and he came along, and I believe he jostled against somebody, and his hat went off, and I heard him command some one to take up his hat, and I paid no attention to it. The gent I was talking to, said we had better get away from here. He stepped in the street and went away, and this fellow made a pitch at me, and struck me.
Q. Without assigning any reason?
A. He says, "Damn you, pick up that hat, or I will make you do it."
Q. Did you pick it up?
A. No; I did not. After he struck me, I knocked him down, and kicked him twice. I struck him. Knocked him down, and kicked him twice, and wheeled right in the crowd and remained there, and did not go away.
* * * * *
Henry Warner, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State your residence?
A. Allegheny City.
Q. And official position?
A. Comptroller of Allegheny City.
Q. You may just go on and state the facts.
A. My testimony will bear entirely on the restoration of order and closing scenes of the riot. I will state that on Saturday, the day the riot broke out, I left my office here, at fifteen minutes after five o'clock in the evening, and took the train to a place I was boarding at, in the country, with my family. I did not hear before I left the office, nor hear on the train, one word of any disturbance that had taken place on the Pennsylvania railroad. I knew that there had been a strike. I knew that the trains were prevented from running by the strikers, but I did not know of any overt act of violence having been committed, either by the public authorities or the strikers. There is no telegraphic communication with the place I was boarding at, and on Sabbath day, late in the day, rumors commenced to circulate throughout the country of the scenes that were occurring in the city, and when the night was pretty far advanced, the light from the burning could be seen at that distance, over twelve miles--the glare in the sky. I made arrangements with some persons, thinking that, probably, the train might be detained at Little Washington, and not come in. I made arrangements to come with some other gentlemen by private conveyance, but the train came along that day, and I arrived at my office on Monday at half past eight o'clock. The first message I received was from Mayor McCarthy to come to his office without delay, and I took one of the county commissioners and started for his office. I had no opportunity of learning the extent of the disaster that had occurred. I met him on the corner of Fifth and Smithfield. He appeared to me to have been coming up in this direction. As soon as he saw me, he hallooed me, and said that the Philadelphia military had been driven from the city, and had taken refuge at the Allegheny county work-house, and the authorities had refused to provide them with victuals, and requested me to order the authorities at the work-house to provide the soldiers with something to eat. Mr. Begard and I--Mr. Begard is the county commissioner--started for the Western Union telegraph office, and at my request, the telegraph company put one of their lines--gave me the use of one of their lines to communicate as long and much as I wished. The nearest telegraph station to the work-house was a mile and a half away from the work-house. The operator tried his line, and found that they were down, and reported the fact, and stated, that probably if I would go to Allegheny City, and the West Penn station, that probably I would get communication there. I went over to the West Penn station, and the proprietor there tried the lines also, and his lines were down--could not get any communication. He then advised me to go to the transfer station of the West Penn railroad, about three quarters of a mile out, and probably I could get communication there. When I went out there, we got telegraphic communication, and discovered that the soldiers were all loaded on cars, and were then on their way to Blairsville. On my return to the Allegheny depot, I met one of the soldiers of the Philadelphia command, who had straggled away from his regiment, and who was in citizen's dress. Some citizens called my attention to the man, and said that he was eager for protection, that he was in fear of personal danger, and they requested that I would take charge of him and do something for him. I told him the circumstances, where his command had been shipped to, and went to one of the officials of the West Penn railroad, and got him transportation on the first line that left the depot. I took a card out of my pocket, and directed it to the commanding officer, requesting him to come back with his command to the work-house, and that he would be provisioned there and be taken care of. I don't know whether that note ever reached the commanding officer or not. It certainly had no effect. That and the meeting of the committee of safety, in Pittsburgh, on Monday afternoon, in which they requested the prompt coöperation of the county authorities, and especially the use of the means under our control, and restore order, was my first day's work. On Tuesday, at the request of the committee of public safety, I went to Colonel Howe, superintendent Western Union Telegraph Company, and requested him to send a man to Claremont to put the work-house in telegraphic communication with the city, as there were very serious rumors prevailing that the coopers, who were much opposed, in this vicinity, to prison labor, were about to assault the work-house, and probably destroy it. Colonel Rowe did so. He sent his men there, and in less than two hours I had a dispatch from the superintendent of the work-house. The dispatch was to the effect that I should send him out arms and ammunition. Senator McNeil was then in the city, and he and I got a buggy, and went out to the arsenal, stated our case to the commandant of the Allegheny arsenal, and he told us he had authority to issue five hundred stand of arms from the Secretary of War--authority from the Secretary of War to issue five hundred stand of arms to the mayor of Allegheny City. As the mayor of Allegheny had only drawn four hundred, he had one hundred left, and suggested that we should get an order for the balance. We took a flour wagon over to the arsenal. The mayor of Allegheny told McNeil, and some citizens also told us, that we could not possibly get away from the arsenal with arms and ammunition, as we should be watched, and that all avenues leading to and from the city were carefully guarded by the rioters. We got one hundred stand of arms from the arsenal, five thousand rounds of ammunition, and loaded it in our flour wagon, and, with a single driver, and McNeil and myself in the buggy, took them to the Allegheny work-house, a distance of eight miles, by country roads. We were not misled nor questioned by any person. At the time we left the arsenal, the commandant showed us out a private entrance. I might state here that the superintendent of the work-house proposed to defend that institution with the employés of the institution, and with some trusty criminals that he had in charge. He thought that if he had the arms and ammunition he would be perfectly safe. We remained all night at the work-house, and on Wednesday morning instructed the sheriff of the county--the county commissioner and myself, instructed the sheriff of the county, in view of the fact that the railroad officials had appeared to have abandoned their property entirely, to immediately throw a guard of men of not less than one hundred around all the burned district to protect what remaining property was on the ground, scrap iron, &c., and it was rumored that a car load of bullion had been melted and run into the debris, and the sheriff immediately did so. We also called into our aid--although we were advised that it was out of our jurisdiction--that is, there appeared to be no person to undertake these things--we called into our aid the county detective, and instructed him to employ as many detectives, and as many wagons as he could possibly use, and to hunt for and restore the stolen property that had been taken away, and to bring it to a warehouse that we rented on Liberty street--a large warehouse for the purpose, and also put notices--had notices inserted in all the papers, morning and evening, directing any persons who had any property in their possession that had been taken during the riot to deliver it to those detectives, or at that warehouse. A very large amount of property was recovered--property of all descriptions, and under an arrangement with the officials of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, as this property was nearly all theirs and taken from their cars, they were delivered over to the officials of the railroad company, and their receipts were taken for the same. That covers a period of probably two weeks, and various instances happened in regard to that property that would scarcely be necessary for me to repeat. Some of them were very curious. A great deal of the property was voluntarily brought back, and the excuse was given that, as it seemed to be a general thing, and as every person was taking property, thought that that property, a barrel of flour, or a ham, or box of cigars, or whatever it may be, might as well be taken by them as be lost. I had a conversation with the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company a few days after that--Colonel Thomas A. Scott--and an arrangement was entered into in regard to those losses--in regard to an account being taken of them, and to have them as definitely settled as possible. The county commissioners and myself appointed a commission, composed of the fire marshal of Allegheny county, and Robert Thorn, an experienced insurance adjuster, and Mr. Trimble, an experienced carpenter, to go upon the ground and thoroughly investigate any claims for loss or damage, which they did, and I have in my office now over one hundred and sixty-nine adjusted claims; that is, claims that were settled--the amount settled by this commission. Colonel Scott was to investigate the losses of freights, which would take a very considerable time, and obtain such proofs as were in the possession of the railroad company in regard to the losses; and the estimated value of the goods that were returned to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company could not have been much short of sixty thousand dollars, at first cost--the cost to the owners. They were disposed of by auction, many of them being broken packages, and much of the goods being such as would spoil by being kept on hand. We also appointed a commission, composed of three experienced locomotive and car builders, to go upon the ground and carefully estimate the damage that was done to locomotives and cars. I have also that report on file in my office; and after a period of about four weeks we suspended, as the civil officers--as the financial officers really had no jurisdiction in thosematters--suspended all operations in that line, and handed it over to the civil authorities of the county. I may say here, in addition to that, that we considered, as financial officers of the county, that no expense should be spared nor efforts spared to make restitution, and return all the property it was possible to get hold of. A great deal of property was returned to private individuals, besides that that was returned to the railroad company.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. What was the amount of losses adjusted by the two commissions?
A. The amount that was adjusted of strictly private property, that has been finished by the fire marshall's commission, as we call it, has been fixed at about $160,000, in round figures. The locomotive engineers' report----
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Let me understand. What do you mean by strictly private property, does that include furniture?
A. No; that includes houses that were burned, and furniture destroyed.
Q. Any railroad property?
A. No railroad property. I will also state that there was some claims of that nature, that the parties who had the claims refused to present them to the commission, and have them adjusted by the commission. A notable instance of that kind is the Pittsburgh elevator. Their claim for loss is above, I believe, $200,000, alone. Some person will come along with a claim for a suit of clothes, or something of that kind, that was lost in a hotel, or in some house. The commissions reported in regard to locomotive property--railroad property. I considered it private, and have not given the figures to the public.
Q. Have you any estimate of the loss of freight?
A. We have no authentic estimate. I wrote to Colonel Scott in regard to that before I published my annual report, and got no reply, but I understood that the matter was in the hands of a gentleman in Altoona, who had not got through with it. I want to impress the committee with the fact that every effort was made to make restitution.
* * * * *
James Little, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Twenty-first ward, city of Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your business?
A. Wholesale liquor.
Q. I believe you are called to give us some information as to what was done to suppress the riot on Sunday night?
A. The trouble is to know where to begin and not detain you with unnecessary ideas. I came in on Sabbath morning, when I heard of it. As I came down street, William Smith, the pipeman, proposed we would hold a meeting, and I went down street, and as I went down every prominent man I met I announced it to them, and went on down at the meeting--down at the old market-house.
Q. Citizens' meeting?
A. Citizens' meeting, Sunday. When the meeting was called to order, James Parke was called to the chair, and he assumed to run the whole meeting. He didn't want any one else to speak but himself, and he had been managing the strikers for twenty-five years, and cut me out entirely, and I felt, perhaps, a little personal disgust with how it was managed. I went up to the depot. Citizens came to me and pleaded with me to take part. I went among the railroad men I knew, and asked, Where are the leaders--where is the man that has this thing in charge, where can we go to get parties to prevail on them to stop? They would say, That man over there, pointing to some man; and the first answer he would give would be a rebuff, very harsh generally. I would tell them, That is no use--I don't want to be treated in that way. This thing is disgracing and injuring you and all of us. I treated them as railroad men. Railroad men would send me to those parties. They were invariably strangers. Those that took command were men that were not known here--that is, gave the hints to stand along and managed the guards that were keeping the citizens back that were interfering with them firing the cars.
Q. Railroad men seemed to know who they were?
A. Railroad men knew who they were. At first they denied me any conversation, then I would get and talk with them, and after awhile they would say. So far as I am concerned we will consent to have the thing stopped. Then here was a crowd that I did see some among--I knew the faces of a large number--that would not permit the fire to stop. Told them to burn, apparently, through spite they had of the employers. About the time the fire got round to Seventh street, they had exhausted the line of railroad there--it goes into the tunnel--and we heard the remark, "Now for the point depot." They were quite drunk. There was a car of whisky behind the elevator--they had broken open the car--high wines--and it was perhaps the saving of any further destruction--had made them dead drunk. We gathered up five or six and started with them, explaining to them what districts would be burned, if they didn't furnish assistance. One or two men set fire to cars and in a short time we prevailed on the citizens. I made a speech on a barrel, and we found we had backing enough to call in the police officers and have one of the men arrested, and to stop the riot there. They made declarations that have come before the courts here--that the attorney who has been attending to these courts will recollect--how they were going to proceed to burn the railroad property on the south side.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did these men tell you how they were going to proceed?
A. They said they would not stop until they would burn the cars that were standing on the south side, and the different depots--they were going to burn these depots, and so forth. Some of them made remarks, and some of them did not, on that question. I was treated with perfect respect--announced myself, and we discussed it there. I was one of those unfortunate men that thought I could stop that riot with fifty men.
Q. You mean by remonstrances?
A. By talking, not by force.
Q. Pick handle persuasion?
A. No; white handkerchief. Go right at it, and when a man won't submit to be arrested, try to put him out of the way; if we had to hurt him, hurt him. I served a short time in the military, and we done things very quick in that way there. We would try to handle men gently, and if he would not submit, he was handled roughly.
By Mr. Englebert:
Q. What you would call knock down arguments?
A. There was no chance for white handkerchief nor pick handle arguments there. The crowd was too close.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Could you have quelled the disturbance without the use of fire arms?
A. No, sir; not at all. Perhaps, without the use of them. I would think that, if they had seen men determined to do their work, there would be no necessity for any trouble.
Q. The idea was to be prepared, in case there was a necessity for using fire arms.
A. I, unfortunately, employed in the army, on police duty, through the country, and would arrest many a man who shot a dozen, and you come at them quietly and determined, and they would surrender.
Q. You thought it was necessary to use a show of force and resolution?
A. Yes; and I consider State officers and all were interested by "don't hurt anybody," that that idea got through the crowd, and they were confident that there was nobody going to be hurt.
Q. Do you know of anybody waiting upon the city authorities?
A. I was not connected with that part. I had connection with the mayor's proceeding, to some extent, as a councilor.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. What efforts did he make?
A. He sent for some of the leading councilmen, and called a meeting of the council, and we met in general session, and resolved that we would sustain the mayor in paying any expense that he would incur.
Q. When was that?
A. I think on Monday.
Q. After the riot?
A. They supposed the riot was still unquelled.
Q. What I mean is, before the breaking out of the riot--before Saturday night--during Thursday and Friday--was there any steps taken before any consultations with the councilmen?
A. There was, to some extent, but in the shape of a meeting of council.
Q. Was there any talk about calling a meeting, and it would be necessary to take means to suppress any disturbance that might grow out of it?
A. There was, up to the time the county and the military took hold. Then it looked as if the force was immense to a great many--the military force being called out--they had called on them, and the exertions, perhaps, relaxed on the part of the city authorities.
Q. What seemed to animate these men among this crowd?
A. These men that stood back and threatened to shoot any man that would interfere--was a man that appeared to be animated by a spirit of opposition to the railroad--to burn out the railroad--and those that were doing the burning were parties that apparently acted under this direction and were generally strangers that none of us could recognize. On the other hand, it was citizens of Harrisburg that was generally doing the wrecking and carrying away goods. That is as near as I can judge from my connection with them, and I mingled right among them.
Q. Were you among them there Thursday or Friday--have you any knowledge?
A. The first that surprised me in the transactions--I went up to the Union depot on--I think it was Saturday, and the military there--some of the companies--were marched out to go to East Liberty, and instead of ridding the crowd away, they bundled through the crowd, so that they could hardly hold ranks--got out as best they could. I was surprised at it. I thought there was no disposition shown by the military to disperse these crowds.
Q. Have you any knowledge of the causes leading to the riot, at all?
A. Oh, yes.
Q. From personal knowledge?
A. Yes; I suppose I have as good a knowledge of that as most people, because you mingled with railroad men and heard them talk. They were clamoring on account of the reduction of wages and the double-headers. These two were the arguments they plead their cases on. As a general thing they had a good deal of sympathy, I think.
Q. What do you mean by sympathy?
A. They represented their case so that a great many people thought that they were imposed on.
Q. What cause did they assign--a reduction in wages?
A. The reduction in wages was such that, for instance, one brakesman I know to be of good character, he had his last check or warrant, showing that eighteen dollars and some cents was all he could make during the month. His argument was in this shape: Brakesmen would not go out for a day or so, and they could not make a living at the wages they paid; that too many of them were employed. He did not use that argument, but his argument went to show that there was too many of them employed, and that they could not get steady work, and it was still being cut down lower. That was the argument of one man, as a sample.
Q. He seemed to express the ideas of all of them--he was a man of intelligence?
A. He was a very nice man, a man I have known for some time. I think he has a wife and some children. He pulled out his warrant and showed me, as a part of his argument.
Q. He only received eighteen dollars a month?
A. Only got in time enough to make that. While the railroad men stood in the position of defending themselves, they had a great many friends, until it got into the shape of a riot, and then people began to complain. They were uneasy, and saw that things were changed.
Q. Have you any other information on that subject--the cause, which is, as you have expressed, this man's opinion?
A. No other argument that was used in regard to the double-headers. They were on these heavy trains, with only the same number of brakemen as on a single train, and it was so hard to work, and at the same time it was throwing a part of them out of work, and making their time so much less to the men--the same as that man described--he only made eighteen dollars. Numbers of them talked. There was a neighborhood handy to me, where railroad men live, and I often dropped in with them, and talked with them to see what their views are during the week, and that was a leading argument among the common men. I can explain that almost as fully as a road man. I am so familiar with that--any question you wish to ask about it. Double-header is where there is a locomotive put to thirty-six cars, and where they will take about half of that with a single one, and then they would put on a crew to break the cars and attend to them--one conductor and one or two brakemen--the same number that was put on a single train, and they would have to do the work of a number of hands, and they objected to that work--was too heavy, with the mountains and the heavy grades, and with the heavy trains, made their breaking so heavy that it was very hard and dangerous. They complained, of the way they were abused by handling these heavy trains.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did the men appear to think that they should be allowed to make ... and higher up, and none of them discharged?
A. They argued, that the pay should not be reduced and the labor increased. They talked against these double-headers, the reduction being made on their wages, and their labor increased by doubling up the train, making their labor heavier and those who were doing the work. This is the shape they objected.
Q. Did you learn whether it was their idea that they should be getting full time, or were they willing that part should be discharged, and then let them make full time?
A. I never heard them express their views on that point, but they complained they were not getting full time. Were standing, waiting for days, looking for a job, and that if they were not there for a moment, they would lose their chance.
* * * * *
J. L. Kennedy, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where is your residence, Mr. Kennedy?
A. Claremont.
Q. What is your official business?
A. Warden of the county work-house, at present.
Q. Were you in July last?
A. I was assistant warden at that time.
Q. State whether the militia under the command of General Brinton came to the work-house, and what you saw and heard?
A. On the Sunday afternoon General Brinton came to the building, about two o'clock, I guess, him and another gentleman from Philadelphia came there in a buggy, and wanted to know if he could put his troops inside. I told him the superintendent was not at home, and I did not feel like them going inside, as they would not be more secure than outside. I advised him to take his men up on the hill in camp. They said they had been driven from the city, and the mob was following them. I told him I did not think there would be much danger in taking the men up on the hill. They would be just as secure. He inquired the way back to Sharpsburg. He had not his troops with him. He was in advance of them. I told him the way to Sharpsburg, and he wanted to know if he could get back without going back on the public road. I told him he could not, unless he would leave his horse there, and walk through the field. He appeared to be very much frightened, and very much demoralized. He started back to meet his troops, and took them upon the hill, and kept them in camp there. The next morning he left, I believe, and put them aboard cars, and took them to Blairsville. In the evening some men came down, and asked if we could give them some provisions. We gave them as much bread as they wanted, and all the meat about the institution. At that time the superintendent came back, and him and I went up, and we saw more bread than the troops had any use for. I believe the poor-house gave them all the coffee they wanted.
Q. Did you converse with the troops any?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you see them when they marched up?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did they march in regular order?
A. Some of them, and some did not--kept straggling up there all the evening, after the main body came through, they kept straggling up all the evening. In fact, the next two days they came there one or two at a time. Some of them had their uniforms on, and several came around with citizen's clothes on. The next day after they left, there were two came there, one of them had been wounded. We took him inside, and had our hospital steward dress his wound, and kept him there until we got transportation for them, and they were sent to Blairsville.
Q. Did any of the mob follow them up Sunday?
A. No, sir; no person came after them at all.
Q. Was there any attack made upon this institution, or threatened?
A. It was threatened very strongly, but they never made any attack.
Q. What preparations did you make to meet them?
A. There had been a lot of arms sent out to us through the county commissioners, and we were prepared to meet any emergency.
* * * * *
W. G. Johnson, sworn:
Witness: I do not know that I can give you anything in addition to what you have already had.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. There was information that it was suggested that you might give about something that was done on the south side in the way of protection of the depot or the trains there--of patrolling the approaches to the city on that side.
A. The committee of safety on Monday immediately took steps. They organized military force of the citizens. General Negley had already made a start in that direction, and our committee coöperated with him. In fact, he was a member of that committee. He was in continual correspondence with the committee. Quite a number of military organizations were formed under General Negley's command; among others was that of Major Paul. That was a mounted patrol. The safety committee purchased horses and hired horses for some two or three weeks; had them patrol all the highways and streets at all hours of the day and night, and wherever there was any disturbance they were, of course, sent in that direction to see what was necessary to put it down. I suppose what you refer to is over at the Cork Run tunnel. There were no disturbance there, but there were some threatenings of burning of cars in the tunnel. Major Paul visited that point and scoured the whole country.
Q. Is that on the Allegheny road?
A. No, sir; that is on the Pan Handle. He scoured the country around and found--the only thing he found in that direction in the way of an assemblage was a lot of miners out by Mansfield holding a meeting there. They saw nothing that looked riotous among those miners. They were holding a meeting in regard to the strike at the time. Whether any damage would have arisen to the cars there in Cork Run tunnel, we would see if there were any parties having an eye to it, and Major Paul's command would have kept the post pretty clear.
Q. You do not think of anything new, Mr. Johnson, in relation to the organizations. We had a pretty full explanation of the organization by the citizens.
A. You have had a pretty full explanation through Mr. Park and Mr. McKune and others. They have testified to the main facts in relation to what the committee did. At the very outset the pledging of these individuals to unlimited amounts to restore peace and order. They have already told you of what the nature of the disquiet was on Monday morning. The streets were crowded to excess, apparently by strangers never seen here before, and it looked very threatening, indeed--very alarming. Every precaution was taken by this committee at the time. They were in session continuously from Monday morning until Saturday night, from nine o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock at night, and sometimes until midnight. We were in correspondence with the Secretary of War, as to ammunition, and got all we wanted--arms and ammunition; in correspondence with Governor Hartranft on his route from the west here. We met him on his arrival. Urged him to remain here, thinking his presence would be of great benefit, but he only consented to remain until three o'clock on the following morning. He remained from eight or nine o'clock until three o'clock the following morning, saying he could do us more good by going to Philadelphia to consult with General Hancock, and he would have sufficient force of military here to restore perfect quiet.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. I understood you to say that you organized this citizens' committee--this committee organized of companies--and armed them?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How did you arm them?
A. We procured arms from the arsenal.
Q. Muskets?
A. Muskets--rifles--Springfield rifles.
Q. What class of men were those you organized into companies?
A. Some of them--some members of them--were men who had been out in the last war.
Q. Were any of them in those companies among the rioters or part of the rioters?
A. Yes; I will explain a little matter of that character. General Negley had his head-quarters in Lafayette hall, and I think it was on Tuesday noon I had left the Chamber of Commerce rooms to go to my dinner, and I noticed a squad of probably sixty men, about as rough looking chaps as I had ever laid eyes on, going through some military motions on Wood street. I saw General Negley on the opposite corner, and I asked him the question whether he was feeding a lot of tramps. We were paying the expense of feeding them. Says he, "You are about right. We are mustering those fellows out." He had taken under his command all that would offer, and he had to sift them out afterwards. He said these he had sifted out, and he was going to muster them out--going to pay them a dollar a piece and tell them "go." The night previous he discovered that some of these men had been among the rioters. They were regular tramps, undoubtedly, and he had these men arrested and sent to the lockup, and found that they had been among the rioters, and these others were undoubtedly tramps of the same character. The city was infested with them at that time.
Q. These men had been armed by your committee, without knowing what class of men they were?
A. General Negley had placed arms in the hands of the men under his control.
Q. Some of them had turned out to be some of the rioters?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. As soon as it was discovered----
A. As soon as it was discovered, those he knew to be rioters he had arrested, and sent to the lockup. The others were picked out by their appearance, and he had them mustered out.
Q. Did you keep any men in these commands you knew were among the rioters?
A. None we knew of. General Negley was very particular in regard to them. My own knowledge in reference to tramps was brought out on Sunday, the day of the riot. I wanted to come to town to see what was going on, and my family persuaded me to remain at home for a double reason. They were not very far from the stock-yards, which were threatened by fire, and the hotel out there, and another reason for my remaining at home was the great number of tramps, that for some days before had been coming along the road and getting food. East Liberty was a great camping ground for these tramps.
Q. Were there more than the usual number of those tramps?
A. A great many more than usual. At that time I did not connect the fact of the unusual number of tramps with the riots.
Q. What direction did they go?
A. Heading towards the city invariably.
* * * * *
J. L. Bigham, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. I now reside in Allegheny.
Q. Are you a member of the National Guard?
A. Yes, sir; I am captain of the Nineteenth regiment, commanding company G, of that regiment.
Q. Were you with your command on the 21st of July?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. State what orders you heard given by General Brown, at the transfer station, in reference to the regiments disbanding?
A. General Brown came in, I suppose, about eleven o'clock. There was some consultation between him and the colonels--Colonel Howard and Colonel Gray. There was some move talked about. I came down and asked Colonel Howard what was to be done, and he said he didn't know, and in a few moments General Brown came up, and directed him to have his arms and equipments concealed in the building, where the mob would not get them when they came in, and dismiss his men there in the sheds, and directed them to find their way home the best way they could, each man for himself.
Q. That was done, was it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What was done by you and by the balance of the regiment as to re-assembling?
A. I went home that night. The next morning when I got up--I had breakfast about eight o'clock--everything was on fire then. I got my lieutenant to come out and hunt up some of the men, and sent for my sergeant to have the armory open, and went over to the Union depot to see what was to be done. I saw General Brown there, and asked him if he would allow the regiment to be re-assembled and let us go out to protect the fire department. I got information that the mob had stopped the fire department from work. He says: No, it will exasperate the mob. I saw General Latta, and made the same request of him; he first said our regiment had not behaved well the day before, and there was no use in re-assembling us, and finally he said he would not take the responsibility--refused to allow us to re-assemble and go out. I went from there down to see the adjutant, and told him what occurred, and I understand that he went up by some direction of the colonel, and asked for orders to the same effect. That evening Mayor Philips organized the citizens, and made arrangements to go down and protect one of the lower bridges there. Part of my men were in that, and partly citizens. There were twenty of my muskets used there. I was down at the bridge when Colonel Howard came there, about one o'clock in the morning, and ordered me to re-assemble and report for duty at nine o'clock. I left there, and started men out to order the other men to report, and reported shortly after nine o'clock with a portion of my men, and got the other men gathered by eleven, and we were on duty from that time, continuously, until we were dismissed.
Q. Had the regiment re-assembled as a regiment?
A. They re-assembled as a regiment on Monday morning, and were used in suppressing several disturbances that occurred on Monday.
Q. How many men were together on Monday?
A. I suppose about a hundred men. When the regiment came together, Captain McFarland was not with us. He had been assembled earlier than the rest of the regiment, and was sent up to Second avenue park here, where there was some disturbance, and was kept moving about. I, myself, had only about sixteen men. I and a part of Captain Batchelor's company and a part of Captain Archibald's were taken down to Limerick, where there had been an attack made on some cars. We went down there and came back, and when we came back, the regiment was re-assembled as a regiment. The balance of Captain Bachelor's company and Captain Gordon's company. He had been operating by scattered detachments until near two o'clock.
Q. You remained here until the arrival of the Governor with troops from the east?
A. We remained until I think the night of the 21st of July, when we left for Scranton.
Q. How many men did you have when you left for Scranton?
A. I do not how many, exactly, sir. I think thirty-six men with me, and I think our companies averaged about that--seven companies on duty.
Q. Something over two hundred, then?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What does the regiment number when all the men are present?
A. We had only six companies, of about thirty-five or thirty-six men. There should be forty men to each company. There were one or two companies that ran about fifty men, but usually the companies did not run over forty. We considered turning out thirty-six men as a pretty full turnout.
Q. Were the men obedient--did they perform their duty?
A. I had no trouble. None of my men refusing to obey orders. Two or three of them deserted. I had two of them in jail for it afterwards. There was no disobedience of orders.
* * * * *
Colonel Robert Monroe, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State where you live, if you please?
A. In Allegheny City.
Q. What is your business?
A. Boiler manufacturer.
Q. I do not know what point you are called to testify to, but you may go on and state?
A. I could not say because I saw very little of the riot. I was kept down at the Point. My location is at the Point.
Q. I presume that it is perhaps best to state to us what was done towards protecting the Duquesne depot?
A. I was at the Duquesne depot on Saturday evening. When I first went there, probably, it was four o'clock. Persons that I was acquainted with there, stated there was going to be trouble. People were moving their goods from the houses around the depot. I asked them what the trouble would be, and they said they had been notified to move all their personal effects, as the mob would be down in a short time--to turn out, stating the hour.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did they say who notified them?
A. Persons that came down from the upper depot stated they were to burn it at a certain hour, I think five o'clock was the hour. My place of business was located just below it, and I kept at the lower part of the depot. Between five and six o'clock, there were seven or eight persons congregated at the lower part of the depot, trying to break open the depot. They talked as though they were going to set fire to the depot, and also burn up some cars that were across on Water street siding that was there. They broke open a car door and set fire to one of the cars. There were probably five or six of us standing there at the time. Several remonstrated with them for trying to set fire to the cars--objections were made. They had that on fire and it was kicked out. They got a keg of beer from some store or other, and about six or eight of them drank that keg of beer. They tried to start a fire in a second car, and Mr. Reeves, one of the party, told him he would put a ball through the man that put a match to that car. He asked me for a pistol at the time. He said he had none, but he made that remark to frighten them--the men were intoxicated. A number of us agreed to stick together in case any attack was made, that we could assist each other in resisting these drunken men that were trying to burn the depot and the cars. One young man hammered a good deal at the depot door, trying to get the door started to get in, but did not succeed. The crowd continued there probably an hour--from three quarters of an hour to an hour. Some gentlemen. Doctor Dixon among the rest, came down from the upper end of the depot, hearing that we were there, and, as I understand, they arrested the parties that were drinking and threatening the depot with destruction.
Q. These men intoxicated?
A. Every one of them.
Q. Any other facts?
A. I do not know of anything. I kept down at the Point all the time.
Q. How large was the crowd there; about how many?
A. They gathered towards six o'clock--a pretty large crowd--and at the time I allude to when they were trying to burn the cars in the depot, or wanted to burn the depot--the drunken men--about six or eight. They talked very loud. There were but three of us at first, when we were at the lower part of the depot, and stayed there until we got more force.
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John Slagle, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State to the committee where you reside?
A. Allegheny City.
Q. And your business?
A. Business is iron commission merchant, in Pittsburgh.
Q. You may state to the committee any facts--any information--you are in possession of, in regard to the riot, and the means used to suppress it, that have not been already fully gone over?
A. You have got most of the facts that I am conversant with, I expect, Mr. Chairman. During the week preceding the Sunday of the riots, I had learned, through the papers and by hearsay, that the Pennsylvania Railroad Company were going to enforce what was known as the double-header order. I heard of the attack upon Mr. Watt, and the question came up as to what was to be done in reference to it, and on inquiry of some parties, we learned that the railroad company did not suppose it was going to be a very serious strike, or would be very difficult for them to run their trains, as they had a large number of loyal men that would run trains as soon as they issued the order, and the rest would be taken care of. I paid no special attention to the matter, until I heard the military were coming that day. Failing to get their double-header order put into effect by the police, that they had arranged for military, and the excitement began to get up a little; and I remember very well how I felt, for the reason that I had a boy just about the age that boys want to go to such places. He was anxious to go to the scene of the trouble. I charged him that he must not go, and that everybody that went to a place of that sort was a rioter, unless he went there to help put down the strikes, and he had better stay away. As the consequence, I stayed at home, even after the shooting took place that evening. I might say, however, about that, that on Saturday evening I visited the house of my brother, on the hill above, on Centre avenue, and after leaving his house, along about five or six o'clock, to go to my own home, I met some of these soldiers coming, without their guns, on the street. Saw one of them talking to a girl immediately in front of my brother's house, and overheard him say that he had abandoned the field; that the Philadelphia troops had fired on the crowd, and there were a good many people killed and a terrible riot there, and he had abandoned the field, and was going home. I followed to my own home, and stayed there until the citizens were called out, on Sunday at noon, with this exception, that I had watched a little of the operations of what was going on in Allegheny, at the outer depot, and I went that Saturday evening down to the transfer station to see what they were doing there, and found a large number of people--railroad men and others--and in talking with them, I asked what they were doing. They said that they were stopping all trains that came into Allegheny, housing the freights, and seeing that nobody went to Pittsburgh on the passenger trains that had any arms, or was likely to interfere with the strike at the Pennsylvania railroad. One of the men I talked to was a railroad employé, working in the machine shop--the son was a fireman, and the son and father were standing together. Said I, "You do not seem to be among the strikers." "No," he said, "we think it is best to keep off the railroad property in times like this, and we are leaving that to some other fellows." As to my own part, it began on Sunday noon. I was appointed on a committee of twenty-five to see what could be done to stop the burning and riot, and went with the committee to the scene of the fire about one o'clock, and you have heard from Mr. Scoville and others all that Mr. Bennett and Mr. Tuigg, the bishop, and Doctor Donnelly, and Mr. Barr did and said while they were in the railroad yards. I remained in my buggy outside of the railroad yards, and saw a good many people that I knew, and a great many that I did not know, and in answer to a question that was put to me as to what we were doing there, I said these gentlemen that had gone in the yard came there to see if they could not devise some means to stop this burning before there was any further destruction of railroad cars, and especially to save the Union depot. They asked me, "How do you propose to do it?" I stood up in the buggy, and addressed the crowd--told them we wanted to find some of the railroad strikers that could handle the cars, and then we would take them up with citizens to stop the burning. If we could find ten railroaders to handle the cars, we would go into the depot grounds, and stop that fire and save the depot. A fellow on top of the cars says: "You can't do that. We are going to burn clear to the river, and the lower depot as well, before we are done." I looked at the fellow, who was on top of one of the burning cars. They had run it down, and checked the brakes at the side of a freight train, so that the fire would communicate. I had a curiosity to hitch my horse, and climb up and see that fellow. There was three of them. He appeared to be guiding the others, and had charge of the car, and checked it alongside of two other box cars, so that the fire might communicate. He said they were going to burn the whole train--they were going to continue until they burned everything the railroad owned. I got into my buggy and drove a square further toward the round-house, and stopped again and asked the crowd if there was any railroad men who were strikers in that crowd, and at that point a young man came to me in his shirt sleeves, with a handkerchief, says he, "Slagle, you don't remember me. I am a railroader, but not a P.R.R. man." I said, "Can you find any P.R.R. men? They all abandoned the property last night." Says I, "Will you take me to where they can be found?" He said he would, and he jumped in my buggy, and drove me down to Twenty-fourth street. He wouldn't take me any further. Says he, "You stop here, and I will bring them to you." I stopped and sat in my buggy a little while, and, after a while, he came back, and he said he could only find two, but we will go to Twenty-sixth street, and I can find you two or three. I got into the buggy, and drove to Twenty-sixth street, I stopped again at the corner of Twenty-sixth, and he went up toward the railroad, and came back with one man. This man said, "What do you want?" Says I, "We want from ten to twenty railroaders to go to stop this firing before it reaches the depot." Said I, "I don't know you." Says he, "You have got no advantage of me, for I don't know you, and we will go on one condition, that is, I think we can get the men to go on one condition, and that is, that we are protected against arrest for what we have done in the way of striking, for," says he, "we have destroyed no property, and we abandoned it as soon as the mob begun to burn, and we fear we will be arrested, and if you will guarantee us against the arrest, we will arrest the men." I asked him to arrest the men, and I would see about the other. So I took my buggy and drove back, and met some of the other committee coming up--Tuigg, Scoville, Park, and McCune, and others--and we arranged a meeting at Twenty-sixth street, and on the curb-stone we talked it over, and told them we could not guarantee them against arrest, but, if they would come down and help us to put out the fire, and they were arrested, we would go their bail. Three men stepped out, and said they were strikers, and they would go. They started then to find more, and we met again at Twenty-fourth street, I think it was, and had another meeting. At that meeting they arranged to go down to the city hall, and they began to back out a little. At that point I left them, and they arranged with Park and McCune to meet at the city hall, at half past three o'clock, and said they would go with the citizens, and stop the burning. From that point, I had left my young friend, and took the buggy and started, when a fireman says to me, "You are going down town?" Says I, "I guess you are the man I am hunting. We want some one to put out this fire." Says I, "Who are you?" Says he, "I am the chief. I would like to borrow your buggy a little bit. I have got a message to bring men to the elevator." I whipped my horse up a little until we found his own horse, and then he jumped from the buggy. I told him we wanted to get a hose company to go in there, and I thought we could water the fellows off the cars. Says he, "We will get you one, and we will try it." When I got down, he had got a hose company, and started in. They had not thrown long, I think, till somebody cut the hose, and they were backed out, or pushed out of the crowd, and were not allowed to throw water for some cause. This took two hours or more of time, and we came back to a point a short distance above the Union depot, and, while we were conferring with these firemen and some others, a fire was started down below in the back shed. Then I left, and attended this meeting at the city hall. At the city hall you have heard was done there. From there I went to the Duquesne depot, and met this man that Colonel Monroe and Doctor Dixon told you about, and I saw what they were doing. In the meantime, the elevator was burned. I went over to Allegheny, and took some little steps to protect the railroad property at the outer depot and the dispatcher's office. The only point I would like to say anything about after that was this: From that time until the end of the strike, and the trains were running, I was busy every day and every night going back and forth between the railroad employés and officials, and the mayor, and committee of safety. There is one point I have heard much said about, and it is this: I had been in the immediate vicinity of the dispatcher's office in Allegheny, back and forth to see what was going on. I happened to be there about the time that Ross vacated his place, and Ammon took it, and watched a little of the operations by which the trains were run under Ammon's administration, and I saw, with my own eyes, what the trainmen appear very unwilling to testify to, and that was whenever an engine came into that yard it was immediately assailed by from three to twenty men, and the men that were on it were told, called generally by their first name, "You get off, and let that engine be just where she is; this thing has got to be fought out now." Whilst they did not use personal violence in taking a man off a train, I saw a passenger train stand there one hour after it had come away from the Union depot before they could get a crew, for the reason that as fast as they got one fireman on they would intimidate him by threats of violence. It would not be safe for him if he got out of town with the mob and crowd somewhere else, and he had better stay where he was. I have seen three sets of men taken out in an hour before they got enough men to take a passenger train out. I was sent for after the strikers begun to disagree. A man had been displaced from his position there by his fellow strikers, and Ross had been re-instated. It was rumored that man was going to be arrested, that they had a warrant out for him. I was sent for to go to the Chronicle office one day, to know if I would go with Bob Ammon, and see Layng, McCullough, and Thaw, of the railroad. I said I did not want to do so. I didn't want to have anything to do with Ammon; thought he was a bad man; didn't care about it. Ammon had a proposition to make by which he could break the blockade. As a merchant interested in shipping, I agreed to go with Ammon, and I met him at the Chronicle office, went to the railroad office, and stayed there in the building while he was making his proposition to Layng and McCullough and others to break the blockade. I did not hear what his proposition was, for while he was talking to them I was with Solicitor Scott, talking with him. After he came down to Layng's office again they had a warrant for him, but they concluded they would not arrest him then. Then afterwards, it was proposed that Ammon said he could break that blockade--would I go to Allegheny with him, and see if we could. I didn't want to go to Allegheny with Ammon. I thought they were going to kill him over there; finally I consented to go to Allegheny, and did so. This was early in the week after the Sunday. I went over there with him, down Penn street, and went in the street cars, and on the way he introduced me to a railroad passenger conductor, and appeared to be on good terms with him. We went down to the dispatcher's office, and walked along the track, and now says he, "You will see if they are going to kill me or not." We walked together and joined the crowd--one hundred and fifty or two hundred railroaders. I was introduced to one whose name was Cole, from Chicago. I asked Cole what he was doing there, and he had been advised that there was going to be a strike, and he had come there, because he was one of the officers of the union, at Chicago, and he was there in the discharge of his business. I asked where those other men were from. I would not know him again if I would see him. I said, I don't see many of our Allegheny boys, where are they? He said, You can see them over at the hall directly, we are going to have a meeting. Nobody molested Ammon at all. We went to the dispatcher's office, and he looked in and spoke to people that were there, and stayed with me there, for I was going to see what he was going to propose. We then went to a meeting of railroaders in the hall, and at that meeting this citizens' committee and the mayor was present, and as I had not been appointed for that office, I took my place in the back part of the hall. There was about three hundred or four hundred railroaders there, so they said. The hall was jammed full--there was not room for more. They organized by having a chairman and secretary. McCune and Captain Gray, and Mr. Morehead, Mayor Phillips, and somebody else was the committee. They began to call for Slagle, knowing me, being an Allegheny man, and living near there, and knew a good many of their faces. I told them I hadn't anything to say at that meeting; I had come with one of the railroaders, and Mr. McCune was foreman of that committee, and then after awhile they talked the matter over, back and forth, those citizens and railroaders went over their grievances. Here was Ammon's proposition: "Now, I am going to make my proposition; I want you to wait." He got up and addressed the chairman, and they began to hoot at him--howl, you have no right here, you are a scamp, and abused him as though he was a man they did not want to associate with, and the meeting got very boisterous, and the chairman took his position and tapped on the table, and, says he, "Ammon has a right to speak here." Ammon said, "I propose we break this blockade by organizing two or three crews, and I am authorized to say that the engines will be furnished, if we can get the crews to run. I propose that we organize two or three crews, and take the first freight train that is on the track below the city, and run it through to Chicago." I never heard such yelling: throw him out the window, kill him--all sorts of threats were made--but they quieted down, and the result of that meeting was an interview between nine railroaders appointed by that meeting, at the office of the mayor, at which I was invited to be present, and we sat three hours.
Q. At the mayor's office? What mayor?
A. Mayor Phillips. I did not participate in that discussion only to be a witness at the interview between those nine men and the committee, which was all in reference to their illegal possession of property that did not belong them, and they ought to abandon their possession, and give the property back to the railroad company in the condition they left it the first day of the strike. It was understood that the railroad officials had abandoned the property to the strikers, insisting that it had been taken away from them illegally, and they wanted to get possession of their property in a legal way. I believe, Mr. Chairman, except the little part I took with this safety committee in raising money and men to do whatever might be needed, that that is all I know about the strike.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did these men state what their grievances were?
A. It was very clear. They said they had no double-header order to be rescinded, but they were bound to get back this reduction of ten per cent. and to break up this classification of engineers, and they said a great deal on that subject in this boisterous meeting. Some of the speeches were very intemperate and very boisterous--bread or blood--and all that sort of thing, but they were hot-headed fellows. Then other men thought they had made a mistake. They all admitted they had made a mistake in striking and holding possession of the property. They admitted that when we argued it quietly. The mayor argued it with them, and they admitted to him that they had made a mistake in striking, and in abandoning their jobs to the road, and they said they were so organized that the road could not run a train out without the consent of the strikers. Mayor Phillips said to them, "What do you mean by so organized?" Says he, "We have our Brotherhood of Engineers and Trainmen's Union, and they extend all over, and if one man or the association says strike, his train is not to go, and you cannot get any man to run that train, and the road will have to give us what we demand." You have been aware of this movement to save the freight on Saturday, when it was run down the road, and it is not necessary for me to detail that. I might just say this about that: Having lived in Allegheny for twenty years, and several years right down there in the neighborhood of the depot, that I was surprised to find so few of these men that were on the track that afternoon, and other afternoons, to be our own Allegheny railroaders, and in answer to a question that I put to these men, calling to a man named Sourbeer, and one or two others, he said, You must understand that a great many of these trainsmen that are young men that are not married, and have no fixed home, and they are just where their train happens to be. There is a man, for instance, who has a wife and family, lives near Union. The day he is in Allegheny he boards at the house, and a large number of those men that are striking are men that live at the places along the line of the road, and that accounted for why I didn't know more of them.
* * * * *
James P. Barr, being duly sworn, testified as follows:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State your residence?
A. Fourteenth ward of Pittsburgh.
Q. Editor of the Pittsburgh Post?
A. Editor of the Post.
Q. Editor and publisher?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Just go on and make a statement and what you know of the causes of the riot that came within your knowledge by conversation with the employés of the road, etc., and what came under your observation during the riot and the days of the progress of the riot?
A. I think I should prefer to answer questions first before I go into anything like that, because my personal observation does not extend over a great deal.
Q. When did you first learn of any disturbance among the railroad employés?
A. On Friday morning. The first was on Thursday at noon. I did not know anything about it at all till Friday morning's paper. I do not know any of our people knew there was any trouble beyond the railroad employés, but it was mentioned in Friday morning's paper, and on Friday morning we learned that a proclamation was issued, and the military were called for. I went to the depot about twelve o'clock. About half-past one I went out to the Eighteenth regiment, at Torrens station. Remained there three or four hours. There was considerable of a crowd there. I talked to Mr. Hice--he is on trial here now--he appeared to be a leader of the party there. Colonel Guthrie talked with him. He told him that he would get on the trains as they were coming into the city and inform the conductors and engineers and trainmen that there was a strike, and have them abandon their trains when they came in. I talked with him a good while, expostulating with him. He said they did not intend to perform any overt act, that they felt persuaded they could accomplish their purposes by abandoning their trains. It required experts and people of experience to take them out again. They knew such people were not about. I told them I thought it would soon get out of his hands. The sheriff and General Pearson had been out there just before. I came on the ground while he was there--probably came out on the cars. The military were called into position two or three times. The crowd was uneasy. There were no trains going eastward. I think there were some trains passed while I was there on Friday, and a good many people came out on an engine during the afternoon. I came in on Friday night. I was about at the office. Around town there was no particular excitement. We had been subject to these things for years--strikes of employés in the mills and in the mines--and they generally exhausted themselves without any violence. We did not anticipate any trouble, but on Saturday the knowledge came that the Philadelphia troops were coming, and we had our Sixth division out--the regiments and two batteries--and had a kind of a circus. Great crowds of people gathered. Crowds of women and children gathered on the hill side. I was not at the depot nor at Twenty-eighth street at the time the firing occurred, but was somewhat conversant with the condition of things.
Q. Did you know on Friday, when you went to Twenty-eighth street, that the militia had been called out? At that time did you know it?
A. There was a printed proclamation, purporting to be coming from the Governor. On Friday morning, at nine o'clock, it had been posted on the streets, calling for the local troops here. General Pearson's orders were printed in all the papers, as well as the orders of Thursday night. All the telegraphic dispatches were in the papers on Friday morning--from the sheriff, from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Attorney General, the Adjutant General, and Mr. Farr--some eight or nine dispatches were all printed on Friday morning, and our division called out. At that time, the whole public was informed as to the fact of the military there.
Q. On Saturday night, what knowledge had you of the movements of the military?
A. I learned, after the firing, that a great deal of excitement prevailed. I might as well state now, that the fact of the firing upon the mob did not make any difference, whether it was by orders or without orders. The crowd supposed it was by orders, because their vengeance seemed to be concentrated on General Pearson, who was in command. They thought he gave orders, but practically it made no difference whether it was by an order or without an order. It makes a difference, in fact, so far as parties killed were concerned, or the act itself; but they supposed that an order had been given to fire, and that they then had a grievance, which they had not before. Before that, it was confined to railroad employés. They assumed that they had not got wages enough. There were double-headers put on, but when people were killed, they said there was then a good cause for grievance, and they rushed to the gunshops--one right opposite my office--took all the weapons they could find in there, broke open the whole place, carried off the guns, and paraded the streets. The feeling then was intense--bitter, and revengeful feelings seemed to pervade all classes of labor. There had been a sympathy with them all the way through--they were part of the labor element. I think myself that if the military had not been there, and had not provoked a collision at that unfortunate time, that there would not have been a life lost, nor a dollar's worth of property destroyed. As everybody can tell after the battle is lost how it might have been won, we find that after we survey the whole thing over again, it is pretty hard to lay the blame on anybody. The action of the militia just at that time has been the common action of the militia all over the world. It requires the strictest and sternest discipline of the regular soldier, to obey the command after he has been struck or knocked, to refrain from resistance. The militiaman is not paid for it; he carries his humanity into the ranks, and when he is struck he resists. What our militia did here, they did in Baltimore, they did all over the country, and they would do again under similar circumstances. The question of their firing without orders, is a thing you never can provide against with militia.
Q. Sunday morning, what was done by the military or civil authorities, county or city?
A. Sunday morning, at nine o'clock, when I came to my office I found a number of gentlemen there, merchants, manufacturers, and business men, alarmed and dazed by the condition of things. About the first thing that was done, was to write a resolution--they wrote a resolution to get the citizens together, and provide a leader. They waited from Thursday until Sunday, the city, the county, and the State at her back, and we had not provided any other agency for self-protection or the preservation of the peace, but these. When we ascertained on Sunday morning, that twelve hundred soldiers, veterans, under the command of experienced officers, had not been able to quell this violence, we felt that no fifty or one hundred men could do it, and we were at a loss to dam the brook on Saturday night, and the flood was then over, and we had to wait until the water subsided before we could get foothold or make a landing. We went to work as fast as we could. I went to the Union depot until about half-past nine or ten o'clock. I saw quite a lot there, they appeared to be cool but utterly unable to provide for the difficulty, the military having gone away, contrary to their instructions or their orders. While I was in there, General Gallagher, I think it was, came in. He had been around the city, and they asked him how many troops it would take to hold the city at that time, and he said, it would require at least fifteen thousand. I stayed there that time, and a servant came up and said we were the last people in the hotel building, and we had better go off. Then we went to the Monongahela House.
Q. Who is Gallagher?
A. I think he is colonel in one of the neighboring counties.
Q. Belonging to the National Guard of Pennsylvania?
A. Yes, he is a colonel--at least he was in undress.
Q. Was he not a colonel in the Pennsylvania Reserves, during the war?
A. Yes; in Westmoreland, I think. The whole town was out, you know. I think there has a very great delusion taken possession of the public mind, in regard to the Sunday's burning. There were not many people on the tracks at any time during Sunday, because they were crowded with cars--cars burning slowly, and the work of destruction commenced at night. The motive was, they wanted to burn these troops out of the round-houses, and communicating fire from car to car, was rather slow, and many people imagined, that because there were but few people on the tracks during the day, therefore a few people could have controlled them. The reflection seems to be made upon the officers of the city and county, and the military, that a few policemen, or a few military, could have driven those people off the tracks, and that would have been the end of it. But anybody that stood there during that day, and was among these people, found thousands of people on the streets and on the side-walks, the side streets, at Liberty street, that prevented any water being thrown on the cars, and prevented any interference. It was not necessary for many people to be there to fire the cars. They were strangers. I suppose the railroad men who had the first grievances, did not go there, because they might have been recognized, but they all stood on the streets, and not a drop of water dared to be thrown on these tracks. It is the sheerest nonsense to talk about ten men, or twenty-five men, or two thousand men, to have stopped this. They had broken open barrels of whisky, and they knew the military were gone, and they were perfectly satisfied there was no police force to stop the people, and unarmed citizens called by the sheriff to put down the mob, was simply ridiculous. The sheriff did what any sheriff would do--he called a posse, a lot of clerks, or--lawyers, to put down a mob. The mob understood as well as anybody else, that that could not be done, it was not his fault, and it was not the fault of the mayor that there was not any police. The State prevented the city of Pittsburgh from borrowing any money. The bankers in this city offered to furnish the amount of appropriation that was short for police, but they could not get the money back again, because the city could not borrow any money. The bankers offered to provide us with our usual number of police, but the State law stated that we could not borrow any money for that purpose.
Q. Constitution, ain't it?
A. Yes; it is in the Constitution, too. The State stepped in, and would not let us do it. Eighty-five men to cover twenty-five miles square. The patrolmen were up all Thursday night, and on Friday we hadn't any police. We held a meeting at half past twelve, and in the meantime a committee five was appointed, of which I was one, who went into the crowd, and asked them to stop. There was one man, he was in a blouse, he seemed to be dressed as a railroader--he attached a burning car to a locomotive, and jumped the track four or five squares east of the depot. When our committee came in, and when Bishop Tuigg was speaking, he rang his bell, and started off with his steam whistling, not allowing people to hear what was said, and there were words lost on the crowd that was in front. They were not railroad men. If it hadn't been for the fireman the city would have been in ashes. If it hadn't been for the citizens preserving the peace, there is no telling what would have happened. The matter was of such dimensions, and extended over so many cities, and miles of railway, that if this whole city had have burned down, and if every man, woman, and child had been arrested, that was not the end of the thing. It was only a small element--a portion of it. I think it extended over nine cities, and twenty thousand miles of railway. It had proclamations from six or seven Governors, and proclamations from the President of the United States. It was a matter not of contagion, but of organization. I have here the proclamation of the Governor, and meeting of trainmen.
Q. What facts have you to say that it was a matter or organization?
A. Not being a member of any of their organizations, although I am of some other societies, I only get it by publications which I have in my bound files, and can furnish you the meetings of trainmen, and the fact that on the 16th of July, on Monday, that these same railroad men, on account of wages in West Virginia, Martinsburg, resisted the authority. They called on the Governor, and the Governor appealed to the President of the United States. That on Wednesday, the 18th, the proclamation of the President of the United States was issued, which was twenty-four hours in advance of the first interruption here, and that it extended over nine of the most populous States in the Union. It is a matter of current public positive history, which of itself would be sufficient to show that all the railroad employés were in consultation, and had, of course, an organization. I suppose that railroads had to reduce wages in consequence of reduced receipts, and that these people, with their oath bound organization, had agreed that the only way they could cure that, would be by stopping work. I think that was their only object.
Q. Have you any facts, aside from the actual existence of the strike, to show that they had secret organizations and a pre-arranged plan to strike throughout the nine States?
A. Not being a member of any secret organization myself, I was only governed, as a public journalist, by the facts that came to me.
Q. You arrive at that conclusion, then, from the existence of the strikes themselves, and their spreading over so large a territory?
A. Yes; and at the same time, it could not be simply contagion from one line to the other. There was not time enough to communicate from man to man along all the line of railroads, and that they having possession of the telegraphic wires at the same time, they had all the works of the entire railroad itself, and it was communicated to the whole of them, and they had their resolutions and perfected their organization.
Q. Do you know how many railroads in this country reduced their wages ten per cent. on the 1st of June?
A. I do not, except from the current reports at the time that the four great trunk lines did--branches of the roads east agreed with it. About forty thousand miles of railroad in the United States agreed with it. About all, although the strike was not developed all over. I think some of the New York roads, perhaps, arranged it with their employés, but still there was trouble. The main trouble here, was the reduction of wages. I don't know that it would be of benefit to this committee, but I would be perfectly willing to give my bound files which give the current history of that during the two weeks. It might be useful to look over to show the existence of this thing. There are many things that are official--the Governor's proclamation is official.
Q. You have no copies of the papers that you could furnish us to retain?
A. I will furnish them to you or send them to you at Harrisburg by express. You can keep them as long as you want. I can get them very well. I have extracts taken out of them, all of which I would be very glad to furnish. There is one thing I might state----
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Have you got your files bound for the month of July?
A. The daily and weekly are bound together. I have them bound, and I will furnish them gladly to you.
Q. Could you not furnish us with a bound copy, with references to the pages?
A. You can have from July 28, to August 24, that is two weeks. We felt here the crisis approaching, and the importance of this whole matter, and I telegraphed to Mr. Scott, president of the Pennsylvania railroad, these words:
PITTSBURGH, Saturday noon, 1877.
To T. A. SCOTT, Philadelphia:
Don't you think you could best serve your company, rescue imperiled interests, and perhaps save valuable lives by your presence here, and make in person some proposition to convince our people your company has rights and grievances. The current sets against you with every shade of labor, and it is important that you should be on hand to decide whatever may be presented to you. I can assure you the situation is critical.
J. P. BARR.
That was on Saturday, about eleven o'clock, before any firing--before I knew that the Philadelphia people were here at all. I was so utterly convinced of the critical situation of affairs here, that I thought if Mr. Scott was here in person, that he might be able to say to these people that they were then an unlawful assembly, and that an appeal from him would settle this thing. If the committee desire, I will read his answer:
PHILADELPHIA, July 21--4, P.M.
JAMES P. BARR, Pittsburgh:
I have just received your message, and fully appreciate the grave importance of the matters transpiring in your community. You will speedily discover that the strike of a few of our railway employés is simply being used by the mob violence, which some of your people are permitting or encouraging, to effect other purposes, which, if successful, will destroy many of your leading local interests. The strike on our road at Pittsburgh was inaugurated without any notice to or conference with the officers of our company as to the existence of a grievance. The reductions in the compensation to the people in the service of this company are to-day less than in any other branch of business in the country, and were made only because of the great depression in trade interests, to enable us to aid the various communities in carrying on business at all. When violent possession was taken of our property, and the business obstructed, there was no recourse left us but to call upon the authorities of the city, county, and State to take charge of the matter, and vindicate the laws by the restoration of order in such form as to them should seem best. If I could be of any possible service in Pittsburgh, I would go out, but at present I think it would be most unwise to interfere in any manner with the State authorities in their enforcement of law and order.
Thomas A. Scott.
On Sunday he telegraphs:
PHILADELPHIA, July 25--12.30, P.M.
To JAMES P. BARR, Pittsburgh:
What is the situation of affairs in Pittsburgh to-day? Are the loyal people in shape to protect life and property? The statements of my message of last Saturday to you have been terribly realized. I think there is not and cannot be any safety for life or property unless the State and United States authorities will adopt the measures necessary to restore absolute law and order, and make it permanent. Would be glad to have your views of the situation this morning.
THOMAS A. SCOTT.
I telegraphed him back:
PITTSBURGH, Wednesday, July 25--2, P.M.
To T. A. SCOTT, Philadelphia:
The local military and organized citizens, animated by a determination to quell mobs, are quite sufficient to preserve the peace and property of this city. Everything is quiet. Our impending danger is the suspension of general labor and thronging our streets with idle men. Local traffic for coal and provisions is first demanded.
Neither you nor labor will surrender, because it involves humiliation, but you can suggest or agree to a board of arbitration to present a compromise, which will relieve you and labor without disturbing the rights or grievances of either. Compromise governs the daily business of the world. You have it in your power to restore peace and preserve society. The discontent of many years against the extravagance of railway management has culminated, and forms the subject of complaint, as well as the reduction of wages.
I implore you not to assume the ground that military can settle anything but defiance of law. Have this compromise effected at once, and the country will owe you a debt of gratitude.
J. P. BARR.
And he says:
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday--4, P.M.
To JAMES P. BARR:
I like your suggestion as to the restoration of the local business of the country, and the giving of employment to mines and factories. This it has always been a pleasure to me to do, and we will do it to-morrow, if your people will protect the employés of the company who are willing and anxious to work and preserve the interest of the country, as highways like our own are able to do.
My own judgement is that the restoration of law and order can only be effected by a return to common sense by the people, and by them refraining from encouraging or connecting themselves with mobs or violence of any kind, and that the channels of trade and business will immediately fill up, and give employment to every man that the depressed condition of the business of the country will permit. I am sure we shall be glad to aid them, but to do it in any other way would be but simply temporizing with the worst evil the world has ever seen; but to effect permanent peace and order, and protection to life and property, the matter must be settled by the governmental authorities of the country as they exist, and independently of the transportation companies of the country, which have been doing and are anxious to do their full duty.
I believe if our men are protected by you and by other good citizens, there won't be an hour's delay in opening our roads for the convenience of traffic. I am sure that nearly the entire force connected with our road is thoroughly loyal, and that no trouble will come from them, but that they will do their duty.
THOMAS A. SCOTT.
It is well enough in Scott to say--I think he stated in an independent communication, that ninety per cent. of the Pennsylvania railroad employés were loyal. If there were ten per cent. of them loyal I think it would be nearer the truth, for if on Sunday twenty-five men could have put down that riot--they have three hundred clerks, and three or four hundred more in their machine shops, that could have been sworn in by the mayor--they had a better right to protect them. I suppose it is well enough for Scott to say, that they were not invited by the citizens of Pittsburgh. It was a rebellion on the part of the employés, because of grievances they had, or supposed they had, and when mad riot was inaugurated after that, other people came in to do it. It was not the people of Pittsburgh, the taxpayers or representatives of the people of Pittsburgh, any more than it was in Philadelphia in 1844, while a riot held possession of that city for over a week, notwithstanding the military. It was an unfortunate thing that the military were ever called. They did the very best they could. They supposed they were coming to restore order, by the quickest method. I have no complaints to make in that regard, because if our foresight was as good as our hindsight, I don't think there would have been any trouble in this case.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did you have any consultation with the sheriff about his calling for militia?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. When you learned he had made the call, did you take any steps to see him?
A. I did not.
Q. Didn't you know that he was going to make the call?
A. No; I never heard of any call. I did hear, to some extent, I may say. I knew that the railroad authorities were more perfectly aware of the extent of this trouble than the community generally, and when the strike was made, on Thursday, July 19--when the day for putting the order for double-headers into effect. That when an officer of the railroad was assaulted, and the police were asked to arrest that man, which was done, and immediately communication was made with the State authorities to provide for a military force.
Q. How do you know that?
A. I don't want you to ask me how I know it exactly.
Q. If you can give us any knowledge----
A. As a member of a grand jury, I cannot tell who swore to these facts, although I did make certain facts public. I can state here the facts that came before me--that the general of the Sixth division here was called several hours before the civil authorities were called upon. That he was at the railroad depot, and in communication with the State authorities. That he was called there by the State authorities to consult with them. Under the law, I take it, that the civil authorities must come in as a sort of figure head. It was not intended that the sheriff could get any posse of our citizens to put down the riot, but he had to follow up the requirements of the law. That was after the railroad had called upon the State to do this work, being perfectly aware that we had no police force sufficient. The sheriff did his full duty. It was not the fault of the mayor that there was no police. So I do not think the railroad, if they intended to meet this thing, had anything else to do but to call on the State. I think it is a most dangerous power, and one that will stab the liberties of this country, that by the click of the telegraph they can call for a thousand armed men, instead of exhausting the civil authority, if it takes two weeks to do it. It is a dangerous power to give them.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You claim that they have the power to compel the Governor to furnish troops?
A. Who?
Q. The sheriff or the railroad company?
A. I say it is a power entrusted to him, that Mr. Scott can call on the Governor of the State and furnish transportation, after the sheriff only says so, because the sheriff must conform with the law.
Q. Is that dangerous that he has that right?
A. It is dangerous that any man has a right to ... with a thousand armed troops.
Q. It is dangerous for anyone to have that power?
A. The Governor or any other man. The bill reads: It says that the military shall be subordinate to the civil authorities. It means that the civil power are paramount, and the military should never be called in except to kill--they are not to be degraded into police.
Q. I want to know whether you wish to convey the idea that the railroad company or the sheriff has the power to call out the military, or that he can only make a request, and the Governor has the power?
A. Under the old militia law of the State the sheriff could call them out, or General Pearson, or the major general in command of this division, and he could oblige them to serve as a posse. As it is to-day, he cannot do it.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. I understand, from what you have already said, that it was not necessary, in your opinion, to call out the militia in this instance, at the time they were called?
A. I don't exactly mean that, but I do mean to say, it seemed to be the only power at hand, as we have not enough provided in the city or county. It was ill advised and bad judgment when they were called to put them inside of the mob, and not to keep them in reserve. The purpose of a soldier is simply to kill, and it was particularly ill advised on Saturday, in the teeth of protests made by representative citizens. It could effect nothing but what it did effect, and that was violence in every form.
Q. You had not sufficient police force here to cope with a mob of its extent and power?
A. No, sir.
Q. The sheriff had not sufficient force to cope with it?
A. No.
Q. And I understand it would be folly for the sheriff to attempt to raise a posse of citizens to cope with it--then there was nothing left but to call out the military?
A. I do not see anything else--if they intended to do what they supposed they could do. I do not think it was necessary to call out anybody.
Q. You think it was ill advised, to undertake to move trains at the time?
A. They could not have moved a train, because they had not the men to move it, but they could have done there what they did elsewhere. They could have let it exhaust itself. The very presence of the soldiers begat excitement, and if they intended to intimidate the great crowd, I suppose the calling of the soldiers would do that, if they had cool leaders, men who understood what was to be done in an exigency of that sort. They ought not to be thrown into a crowd to be assaulted by stones.
Q. Would the mob have exhausted itself before there would have been great destruction of property?
A. There would not have been any destruction of property whatever.
Q. Would not there not have been a loss of perishable property that was in transit, too?
A. They seemed to be willing to make provision even for that. It seems to me the whole labor movement has failed signally in strikes in coal mines, in mills, and in large places, because it was only local, and the whole community failed to sympathize with them. They failed to get their rights by strikes, because it did not affect the general interests. They discovered, for the first time, where forty millions of people could be stricken as with a blow, by all the people on these roads refusing to work. They found out, for the first time, where the weak point was, as well as the strong point, in this country. They can do it again. When the employés--brakemen, trainmen, conductors, and engineers will agree not to run a railroad in this country, that is the end of traffic, and they can starve out whole communities. They discovered that fact, and then it was on Saturday evening, that labor sympathizing with those people, they partook of the strike, and helped to burn cars and carry on the work of destruction. That is a danger we are subject to, and the Governor, in this city, when he came back from the West, the very first proclamation he issued, was this:
PITTSBURGH, July 25--1.30, A.M.
To the people of the State of Pennsylvania:
WHEREAS, There exists a condition of turbulence and disorder within the State, extending to many interest, and threatening all communities, under the impulse of which there has grown up a spirit of lawlessness, requiring that all law observing citizens shall organize themselves into armed bodies for the purpose of self-protection and preserving the peace; therefore,
I, John F. Hartranft, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, recommend that all citizens shall organize themselves into associations, with such arms as they can procure, for the purpose of maintaining order and suppressing violence, and all good citizens are warned against appearing in company with any mob or riotous assembly, and thus giving encouragement to violators of the law.
(Signed)
J. F. HARTRANFT, Governor.
He did not confine it to Pittsburgh, but called for the whole power of the United States to put it down.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. It was not on railroads?
A. It got into coal and everything. It struck labor. They found when you hit the mills it was only local; but when you struck the railroads it struck everybody. I will furnish you files of the papers. Also the official report of the coroner, and the testimony taken before him, and the number of people killed on Saturday.
Q. You have the official report of the coroner in the files?
A. Yes. The first fire there were ten people killed outright, and there were some sixty or seventy wounded--I have the names of all of them. The first fire the people were killed that had no right to be killed--the fire of Saturday night. Anybody that was killed after Saturday night had a right to be killed; but it is a very dangerous doctrine--judges have to charge that--that everybody is constructively a mob that is then around, but that won't do in the United States, to charge that everybody is a mob.
Colonel Gray, re-called:
The witness: When I dismissed my command at the Union depot, at eleven o'clock on Saturday night, just in advance of that I want to say, because I took all the responsibility, General Brown left Twenty-eighth street on that afternoon about one or two o'clock, and came to the Union depot and left me in command, and it is in your testimony that I sent an officer to Colonel Howard, with the purpose in view--that purpose I want to say--I had felt all day that whatever orders they had were not carried out, and I thought it was impossible, so far as I was concerned, that something should be done, and I sent an officer to Colonel Howard, to ask his coöperation, and I would take a different course. I intended to vacate that railroad and prevent any one from coming on it; and I want to say in connection with that, there was some great difficulty--the local trains running in from Walls and East Liberty were coming constantly, and the strikers at all points on the railroad were arriving to and fro. They were getting off these trains and getting on them, so that the military were at a great disadvantage. Hundreds came in on every train, and got off right on the track; and another point I want to say, that after my men assembled--the companies coming at the original call--the men that wanted to come in on the railroad were put off; they couldn't get into the city; they wanted to report to the companies here on duty. They were put off the trains. I was telegraphed to for two or three days, men along the railroads were put off. I re-organized my regiment Monday morning--all the companies--two companies at the request of Mr. King, who was here from the Allegheny Valley railroad. At his request, I left one company in charge of the sheds, and my command was re-assembled, very promptly, to my great astonishment, Monday morning. There was no difficulty in getting the men to the armory and re-assembling, and I had two hundred and forty or two hundred and fifty men, and had two companies outside of the city. My command was in service until the 6th day of December, and did faithful service. My officers are men that don't run away.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You account for the small turn out of your command, when you first assembled them, from the fact that they were prevented from coming on the trains, some of them?
A. Yes, sir.
At this point the committee adjourned until to-morrow morning, at eight and a half o'clock.
PITTSBURGH, Tuesday, February 26, 1878.
The committee met, at half past ten o'clock. Mr. Reyburn in the chair. All members present except Messrs. Larrabee and Lindsey.
* * * * *
Captain J. D. McFarland, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. John D. McFarland.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. 78 Logan street, Seventh ward.
Q. You were a member of the militia?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. In what capacity?
A. Captain of the Washington infantry.
Q. Were you called out during the late disturbance?
A. Yes, sir; called out--got my orders on Friday morning.
Q. Will you be kind enough to make a statement of what you know in relation to the late riots?
A. On Friday, I believe the 21st of July, I received orders from the adjutant of the regiment to which we are attached, to assemble my command as soon as possible, at the armory. I sent a notice to the sergeants of the company, and about two o'clock in the afternoon, I reported to Colonel Howard, commanding the regiment, at Union depot. We stayed there some time--a short time--I suppose an hour, perhaps an hour and a half. The regiment was ordered out on the street, with two pieces of Breck's battery, to proceed to Twenty-eighth street. We were halted, after marching three or four hundred yards. We had no ammunition, and there was a box opened on the stone wall near the depot, and to the best of my recollection, we there received one hundred and twenty rounds for the company--that was issued to us--to the whole of the command, and we remained on the street some time, I suppose, maybe three quarters of an hour, and then we were ordered back on to the platform of the depot, inside of the railroad company's lines. We remained there all that night, the night of Friday, and until Saturday morning, until about four o'clock. At four o'clock we were ordered to move out along the line of the tracks. Two pieces of Breck's battery was placed on a gondola car, and the regiment I understood had been sent around in the rear on the hill. We were the first company on the track at Twenty-eighth street, and arriving there, we found from twenty-five to thirty men, citizens. There were not over thirty, I think; and to the best of my knowledge, the colonel ordered me to clear the tracks, and put them off the company's property, which we did. We moved up and down the track, and that was repeated, I suppose, a couple of hours. When we would move down the track to clear it, the parties would gather in on our rear and flank, there had been no pickets out, and they would gather in on our rear on the track. We remained there with the command, clearing the tracks, I suppose, until about two o'clock in the afternoon.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. On Saturday?
A. Yes; on Saturday, perhaps later than that. I am not certain about the time. At that time I came in, had permission to come in and attend to some private business, and I was not there during the firing. As soon as I heard there was such a thing, I hastened out, and found that the Philadelphia troops had been put in the round-house, and it was reported that the Fourteenth and Nineteenth regiments, which constitute our division, that the Eighteenth had been sent to the Union depot. I learned this at the hospital. There was then a great mob making such a noise, as a mob usually does. I hastened to the Union depot, and met the sergeant, who informed me that our regiment was out at the transfer office. I went out there, and found General Brown and Colonel Howard with a portion of the command in a shed surrounded by cars. I asked Colonel Howard--he was the first officer I saw--asked him what he was doing there. He said he was there by orders, and asked me the state of affairs in the city. I told him the condition in the neighborhood of the Union depot. There was a large mob upon the street--from the Union depot to Twenty-eighth street was crowded with a mob, and they were hooting, yelling, and threatening what they would do. I heard them shouting, they would break into the armories and gun stores--that was the common threat that was used by the mob on the street. That afternoon, Colonel Howard said to me, that he would see General Brown, who was up stairs in the transfer office. General Brown came down. He asked me the condition. I made to him the same statement I had made to Colonel Howard, and I advised him to take another position than that--he had first asked me what my advice would have been. I told him that I thought he might get a better place for the men than that. I then came down to the city, to the armory, and found the mob there who had broken in and taken all the arms that had been left in the armory, with the exception of those that had been concealed. They got the arms and left.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where is your armory?
A. It is on Market street. It is in the city property, over one of the market-houses. All of the regiments are quartered there in the city property. I suppose I had been there fifteen or twenty minutes when the balance of the officers, and the men of the regiment, came down into the armory. There was nothing more done that night. I was on the streets, I suppose, until twelve o'clock, until an alarm from the box at Twenty-eighth street sounded for fire, and, in company with several other persons, we started on the hill above the hospital, or near the hospital, not quite so far out, and there saw what I took to be the first car that was burned that had been set on fire. It was running down near the round-house. I remained on the hill a good portion of that evening--it was then morning.
Q. Sunday morning?
A. Sunday morning; yes, sir. Sunday morning I came home and laid down awhile, and got breakfast, and started to the city to see if anything had been done to gather the battalion together. I saw none of the officers on the street at all, I believe, with the exception of the assistant adjutant general, Colonel Moore, of our division, and one officer of General Pearson's staff. There was nothing done that day until afternoon. A citizen came up to the house--I had gone home. He said to me, says he, "The citizens are going to put this thing down. They would like to get your arms." I said, "No; if the citizens will back us up, we will find a gun for every man. We have got all ours. All we want is ammunition and backing." I sent out and I had as many men of my company who lived near me come to a room in my own house, and I there ordered those men to go out, and order the balance of the company to take their accoutrements, which they had so thrown off, and come to the mayor's office. I did not want to go to my own armory. In fact, I was afraid to go there, from the fact that it was a place that could not have been defended at all. It could easily be set fire to. Went to the mayor, and asked him if I could have one of the rooms in which to assemble men. He said, "Certainly." He was glad I had come. I sent one of my officers out--my first lieutenant, Mr. Brown--out to our colonel's house. I sent my lieutenant out to notify Colonel Howard what I had done--I had ordered the company to assemble at the mayor's office--and asking if he would procure us more ammunition than what I had. He came in--General Brown came in--and General Brown gave me an order on Major Buffington, and Mayor McCarthy furnished us with a wagon in which to go out and get ammunition. Major Buffington returned word that they had scarcely sufficient ammunition to give to their own guard. I stated the case to Mayor McCarthy, and Mayor McCarthy, about eleven o'clock, started out, and, in the course of a half or three quarters of an hour, he came back and handed me two hundred and forty rounds which he had got. He asked me if I would remain with him during the night, and put down any disturbance. I said I would, subject to the orders of my superior officers. On Monday morning, about half past eight or nine o'clock, I had left the men go to get something to eat, and the mayor said to me, "I don't want you to let the men go away from here unless under orders, and I will see that they receive provisions; that I should take my men around to a saloon near there; they would be attended to there." Shortly after breakfast he notified me there was a boat load of miners coming down on the packet from Elizabeth. He had received information that they had come down, and expected a pretty rough time, and asked me to go with them. I assembled the men, and General Brown went down with us. There was a squad of police. As I recollect the line of march, there was a squad of police in front. There was my company, and then there was a company of citizens, armed with shot-guns, rifles, and carbines, under the command of General Negley. General Negley and Mayor McCarthy and General Joe Brown were with us. We went down to Smithfield street, and we learned that the men, in place of coming down on the packet as far as its regular landing, had got off about half a mile above the landing, and come down that way; I suppose, so as to get in the city without any trouble. I threw my company across Grant street, and blocked up the passage. Ordered the men to load, and I saw then, while standing in front of the command, General Negley and Mayor McCarthy and others, making addresses to this band of miners--they were all reputed to be miners--I do not know whether they were or not. The crowd was dispersed. We marched down to Water street. There were no shots fired--no disturbance of any kind. They seemed to be pacified by the remarks made by the officers. We then went back to city hall, to the mayor's office, and were quartered there until the afternoon, when I received orders to report to my colonel. I reported to him on First avenue, and after supper we were sent to our armory again. During the night, between ten and eleven o'clock, I was ordered out again to support another detachment of the police. It seems that a party of roughs from Cumberland had taken a train, and taken possession of it, and the mayor was notified, and he sent down a detail of police, and we were sent down to support the police. The police had men under arrest before we got there, and the next day we escorted these men and the police over to Allegheny, to take the cars for Claremont. That was about all the trouble--all the duty we really did, with the exception of some ordinary patrolling--marching around. There was nothing of any importance.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You came from the transfer station to your armory in the city--this was on Saturday night?
A. This was on Saturday night.
Q. What time in the night?
A. I should judge it would be about eleven o'clock.
Q. Bring your command down to the armory?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you leave your command there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And never went back to the regiment after that, that night?
A. That night. No, sir. The regiment was disbanded, as I understood it.
Q. You understood that next day?
A. Yes, sir; well, I knew of the fact within half an hour afterwards as I stated. The balance of the officers came there while I was still in the armory.
Q. What was your object in going to the armory?
A. My object in going there was to save any property that could possibly be saved. We had considerable property there of ours independent of the State's.
Q. Were you in uniform when you came down to the armory?
A. No, sir.
Q. Citizen's dress?
A. Plain clothes.
Q. Were you in citizen's dress during the time you were in command?
A. No, sir.
Q. You changed your uniform?
A. It would be impossible, in my own opinion, for any man to have gone through that mob in uniform.
Q. You rallied your men on Sunday and went to the mayor's office--did you remain there during all of Sunday?
A. All of Sunday evening and Sunday night and up until Monday, until we went with the mayor to stop the progress of these miners.
Q. Where was the balance of your regiment?
A. I do not know, sir. I know they were assembled on Monday--I do this from hearsay, which, of course, is not evidence--I know that there were two of the companies in Allegheny who were doing duty of one kind or other over there.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. There was no organization of the regiment--you received no orders from the colonel?
A. No, sir.
Q. You were acting independently?
A. Yes; I was acting independently in support of the mayor.
* * * * *
Thomas Graham, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Give your full name and address?
A. Thomas C. Graham.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. I reside in the Fifteenth ward of Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I am janitor of the city hall.
Q. Have you any information concerning the riots of July, the subject which we are investigating?
A. I was present at Twenty-eighth street, at the side of the hill, at the time the firing was done.
Q. Be good enough to state, then, what you know about it?
A. I was on my way home about a quarter past four o'clock, I think, to the best of my knowledge, and General Brown was in the car with me; the car was pretty well crowded; we were standing up. When we arrived at Twenty-eighth street he said to me, Come along up and see the military; come up along. I said I didn't care about going up, and I didn't think that any one outside of the railroad employés had any business there; but he said he was not going to stop, and rather insisted, and I got off the car, and went up there. We crossed over the track, and away from the crowd altogether, on the south side of the track, beside of the hill, and we walked up that way, leading along the public road--it is used as a public thoroughfare, to a certain extent--and there halted. I thought by going up there we could have a good view of everything that was going on, and get out of danger. I found out my mistake afterwards, though. When the military came up I was standing right about seventy-five or one hundred feet from the tracks, on the side of the hill. Was elevated a considerable distance, and had a good view over all that was going on. I kept moving my head, or rather my eyes rolling, from one point to the other, taking all in that was going on, and when the troops came up and cleared the track on both sides, the battery came up and across, through Twenty-eighth street; they could not get through, but part of them came to support the battery; came up, and when they got up to the crowd--there is a watch-box stationed on the side of the hill, by the side of the hospital gate, and there was a crowd of half grown boys congregated around that box. I seen, as soon as they came up by the boys, they stooped down and picked up stones, there was like to be trouble, but I concluded I would be safe where I was, and remained there. As soon as the troops came up to Twenty-eighth street crossing, the boys commenced to throw at the troops, and some missiles were thrown from the corner of the hospital grounds. Then the firing began, and continued for quite a length of time. I stayed where I was, until I saw two men fall, one of them as close as to that window, the other one further down, towards the track. There was a ravine in the rear of where I was standing, and I made the remark to a gentleman standing by me that it appeared to be getting very warm here, we had better get out of this, and I leaped right into the ravine, and there remained until the firing was over, and then came down and went home. I didn't come out of my house down the street, as I live eight squares further from there out. I didn't come in till that night. That was about what I saw of the occurrence.
Q. How many people were engaged in this throwing?
A. Well, as I said, the starting point of the throwing came from the side of the watch-box--the watch-box of the man who tends switch. There was about a dozen of them around there, and that was where the throwing commenced.
Q. Did you see any of the troops struck with stones?
A. No; I didn't see anyone struck particularly, but I would consider it would be impossible most to throw into that crowd without striking some one. I didn't see any missiles.
Q. Were you close enough to hear any command given by the officers?
A. I was about seventy-five or one hundred feet when the throwing begun; I heard the word "fire" very distinctly.
Q. Where did it come from?
A. It appeared to come from the head of the column.
Q. Was it in the crowd?
A. I should say, that it came from the head of the military column--there was not more than a space of, I suppose, thirty feet, and it might have been a little more, it could not have been much more than that from the head of the column to Twenty-eighth street, where the crowd was.
Q. From the head of the column?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Which column do you mean?
A. I am not a military man.
Q. You mean the company marched up?
A. No, sir; the company that marched up was then as close as I am to the other side of the table, with their arms at a charge.
Q. Close to what?
A. To the crowd at Twenty-eighth street.
Q. Trying to press the crowd back?
A. Trying to press the crowd or make their way through them--was not thrusting or anything of that kind.
Q. You don't know who gave this command, or was it an exclamation you heard in the crowd?
A. I am under the impression that it was a command or a military order, but I would not swear who it was that gave it. I could not do that.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did it appear to be in front of the command--the head of the column where the command came from to fire?
A. I was standing immediately opposite the head of the column, and the sound of that command appeared to come directly opposite to me, down at the head of the column.
Q. Did you see any officers in advance of that command?
A. When the military marched up?
Q. At that time, when you heard this command, were any officers in advance of the column?
A. I seen several officers. The most of the officers were strangers. I don't know who they were. I could see they were officers, by their uniform.
Q. Were they in front of the men?
A. They were in front of them at the head of the column. The troops were formed in a hollow square. They marched up, and then got the command front. They marched to the side of the hill, to clear the track of any that might be there, and those who were standing on the track got up on the side of the hill. There were very few on that side. The rear rank got the command, To the rear, open order, march.
Q. You heard these commands?
A. Yes; very distinctly. They got the command to about, and then they marched to the north side, which left an interval of two or three tracks clear--formed a hollow square.
Q. This company marched down between these two lines?
A. This company appeared to be at the head of the column, and they marched through up the lines. There was a portion of them came away to let them in, and they marched up.
Q. Was there a company marched up between those two lines, after the open order?
A. The company appeared to come from the head of the column.
Q. Wheeled out from the head of the column?
A. I don't think--I am not positive, but I am under the impression it was separated from the column. I would not swear positively. They were dressed in blue.
Q. How did they march up--company front--in line of battle?
A. They marched up, I think, in sections of about four--I am not positive about that.
Q. Until they reached----
A. Nearly to Twenty-eighth street, then they halted.
Q. And saw them open order, and one rank faced about, and they took positions on two sides of the track, which left a place between?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Then was there a company marched up between these two?
A. I am not positive, but I think this company was taken from the head, or a portion of it--it was not a full company, it was what you might term a squad--there was not, I suppose, over twenty-five.
Q. It was taken from the head of the column?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was there a company marched up between those two ranks?
A. I think a battery. I think this company, as I said, was taken from the head of the column, and marched up to support the battery, in order to get through the crowd at Twenty-eighth street.
Q. Did this company turn around and face the crowd--how did they face? This crowd, you said, they marched up and tried to press the crowd back, and they wheeled out from the column and marched up against the crowd, or did they go down between the two lines, and march up against the crowd?
A. I stated that they appeared to be reserved for the purpose of supporting that battery, as they were not brought from the rear in front rank at all.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did you see the sheriff and his posse?
A. I did.
Q. Where were they?
A. They were at the head, coming up--the head of the column.
Q. All of them?
A. All of them. I recognized Sheriff Fife, Mr. Pitcairn, superintendent of the Pennsylvania railroad, and General Pearson at the head. When they came up, the sheriff attempted to say something to the crowd, and there was such jeering and hallooing, it was impossible to be heard from where I was standing.
Q. You are positive about hearing this command to fire--was not this jeering----
A. That jeering and hooting was not at that particular time. There appeared to be a little confusion when that portion of the company came up, the jeering only began during the speaking of the sheriff. I don't know whether he was reading the riot act or not. I don't know what he was doing; of course I could not hear it.
* * * * *
E. F. A. Hastings, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. E. F. A., not quite the whole alphabet.
Q. Where do you reside, Mr. Hastings?
A. I live between Twenty-second and Twenty-third now.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Machinist.
Q. Were you present during the disturbance last July?
A. Yes, I was.
Q. State what came under your observation?
A. I was there on Twenty-eighth street, on the side of the hill, when the troops were coming up, and I waited there until they came pretty well up the track, then I came down the hill, and I looked for my boy.
Q. What time was this?
A. On Saturday afternoon, when I seen the troops come up--and they came in regular--I think it was four deep. They came up and stopped and halted. They turned around in open order, formed in a hollow square, and I turned around and came away with the young man, and I took him off the track, and started him down towards Penn street. I turned around and looked for my boy, and I could not see him. Walked in towards the cars, and stood by the side of the sand-house--the cars extended up a little ways beyond the sand-house--and I got right in to the end of the car. Then came orders to charge bayonets. I turned to get back, and the crowd was behind, and I could not get back. I got a bayonet right in behind here. [Indicating.] Just at that time Pearson stood in about that direction.
Q. Who do you mean by Pearson?
A. General Pearson, or Pierson, or whatever you call him. He was looking in the direction towards the watch-box. There was some stones being thrown over there--it would fly all to pieces, it appeared to be like clay. There was only one stone I could distinguish, about that large, [indicating,] the shape of an oyster shell. It came from there. Then there was a couple of old shoes--I didn't see anybody struck with them. Pearson turned around, when he was standing there he was looking about this--he turned around towards the men, and his officer standing here--I don't know whether they belonged to Pittsburgh, or where they belonged, and I don't know whether they were officers. Monkey jackets it was, I think. He says, "Order your men to fire." He repeated the word fire louder than he did the others, and turned around, and walked right down the track after that. I did not see them commence firing, and I dropped right down. They fired on that corner, on the side of the hill first--these men in front with the black plumes in their hat. I don't know one from the other. They wheeled round, and fired down Twenty-eighth street. They walked over the top of me. I laid there. I don't know where Pearson or any of the rest went after that. I got up, and helped this man in front of me, that was killed--I helped him back.
Q. What man do you mean?
A. Some say it was Dearmot, I don't know his name.
Q. Killed by the cars?
A. No; killed by the firing. A gun was right up against his breast when he was shot.
Q. Where did this fire come from--those men standing by the cars?
A. The military all around that hollow-square, except the lower end. I laid there; I was right underneath them; could see the whole thing that was going on. Some of the men fired right up in the air. I don't know whether they belonged to Philadelphia or not.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. From what part of the line of this hollow-square did the firing commence?
A. I will show you in just about a minute.
[Witness illustrates on paper, the situation of the troops during the firing.]
Q. Just say where the first fire commenced in that hollow square, so that the reporter can take it down.
A. It was near the corner, on the side of the track next to the hill.
Q. Near the corner of the square of troops, next to the hill?
A. There was no square there. It was round.
Q. It came from the right, next towards the hill?
A. Next towards the hill.
Q. How many shots were fired at first?
A. They shot like a little fellow would throw a lot of shooting crackers out.
Q. How long after you heard the command to fire did this shooting commence?
A. It was right by those other fellows standing over on this side--right by them. I guess there was four or five of them repeated it. I took them to be officers.
Q. Dressed differently?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were they in front of their men when they gave the order?
A. They were in this hollow square.
Q. Did they turn round to fire?
A. They were facing the crowd to fire. Pearson turned and gave these men the command.
Q. It was General Pearson that gave the command?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You are positive it was General Pearson?
A. I am positive. I was standing close enough to hear him.
Q. Did he give the command to fire, or was he cautioning the men?
A. He gave the command to fire, and repeated the word fire louder than he did all the others.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were there any other officers in that hollow square, that you knew, besides General Pearson?
A. None to my knowledge, that I knew. There were some men that I knew, coming up ahead of them. Mr. Pitcairn and Mr. Watt came up ahead of them. I know some of them, beside, but don't know their names.
Q. Do you know Colonel Brown or Moore?
A. I don't know him by name.
Q. Did General Pearson give this command to an officer standing close by him?
A. Yes; called them officers.
Q. You saw him when he gave the command?
A. The men that had swords, I think.
Q. You saw General Pearson when he gave this order?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How close was he to the men he gave the order to?
A. He was standing looking towards the switch box, where these were coming from. Right in front there were some men had a bayonet in another, and he wanted to get it away. He wheeled round this way and gave the orders for these men to fire, and then walked right down the track, but wherever he went to I could not say.
Q. Was he standing close to where the men commenced firing when he gave the order to those men? You say he wheeled around; those he gave the command to must have been behind him?
A. Here is where he stood. [Illustrating.] He wheeled around to the officers to the rear, and they passed the command to the officers in front. They repeated the order to fire.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did the officers who repeated that command repeat it in a distinct, loud tone of voice?
A. Yes; they repeated it distinctly.
Q. How many of them?
A. There were some three or four, I could not say exactly. I am positive there was three or four, if not more--positive of three.
Q. And then the firing was done--it was not a volley of musketry--it was just done at random, was it?
A. The first squad that fired there, I don't believe there was more than about half a second between them, and the squads, as soon as this squad fired on this side first, then these other fellows here fired, [indicating,] and the crowd broke away and run down. I laid there. They wheeled right down over me, and fired down Twenty-eighth street.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did the crowd scatter when they fired?
A. The crowd scattered.
By Mr. Means:
Q. How many of the soldiers fired at that time--at the first command?
A. The first fire?
Q. When General Pearson gave the command to fire, then his officers under him repeated the command. Now how many soldiers fired when these officers repeated that command?
A. It looked about like a platoon--about twenty-five, I suppose, if not more.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were the crowd resisting these men? What were they doing when the soldiers came up?
A. They were on Twenty-eighth street crossing--the railroad crosses Twenty-eighth street--they were on there. They were talking and hollering. Some man called Pearson--that was the man I took away--called Pearson a son of a bitch, and these men took Pearson's part. Says he: "Don't call Al a son of a bitch; he is a friend of mine!" I thought there was going to be a fight between them, too, and a man called me over and told me to get him away. I took him away with me across the track towards the round-house, and he started on down. There was nobody in front of me at all, and I had hardly got in there until the crowd was right at my heels.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You say there was about twenty-five men fired? How many men fired after that?
A. They appeared to be firing in squads all over the line.
Q. How long did this firing last?
A. I don't suppose it lasted more than about two and a half or three minutes--could not have lasted any longer, I think.
Q. What were the officers doing?
A. Some of them went down the track flying--running over the other side.
Q. They were hunting their quarters?
A. They were hunting their quarters.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. Did you hear the order to load?
A. No, sir; they were all loaded before they got there. They could not have loaded in that time. After the first volley was fired, then I seen them loading--those men in front.
Q. Don't you know who gave the order to load?
A. I didn't hear anybody give the order to load.
Q. They loaded without orders?
A. I suppose so, after the first fire.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did you see them load afterwards?
A. Yes; breech loaders.
Q. Did you see the operation?
A. I saw them pull the cock back--that part that turns back--and put in a cartridge. I was lying right underneath them when they were doing it. The parties in front fired the last shot down Twenty-eighth street. I don't know who they were. They were men with black plumes in their hats.
Q. You say the parties next to Twenty-eighth street were the last to fire?
A. They wheeled right round----
Q. That was the party that fired first?
A. No; the party that fired first was over here. [Illustrating.]
Q. The party facing down Liberty street?
A. Yes; they fired. There was some that was against a car that could not do anything.
Q. Did they fire before the front line fired?
A. They fired about the same time. There was a car stood in here when they fired, so that you could do nothing. Some of them fired up like.
Q. Fired in the air, did they?
A. They appeared to fire in the air.
Q. How did these men of this side? You say they turned and fired the other way?
A. No, sir; those men in front wheeled round this way, and fired down Twenty-eighth. Fired up first and then----
Q. Where did they deliver their first fire--the men on that north side of the track?
A. They fired some of them right up square--down below the car. I could not see on account of the cars.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You are positive that the firing did not come from that side of the line next towards Liberty street first?
A. I am positive it did not, for the first firing commenced along the side of the hill--that part I saw.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. How far was General Pearson out from the military when this command to fire was given?
A. He was in the hollow square.
Q. How far from the men?
A. It would appear to be in the center, about Twenty-eighth street. You know this line went round on Twenty-eighth, and covered over part of Twenty-eighth street towards the hill.
Q. Did you see the fire during the night?
A. I was down on Penn street when the fire started. I do not know anything about that. I went up there to see it, and stood on Liberty street, watching the fire.
Q. Did you see the troops come out of the round-house?
A. No, sir; I did not. I was not there at that time.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You said General Pearson--he repeated the word fire louder than the balance of his order. Are you right positive what the balance of the order was?
A. Order your men to fire.
Q. That was the exact language?
A. That is the very words.
Q. You are positive you heard the words, "order your men?"
A. Right in that way: "Order your men to fire."
Q. Were any of the soldiers struck?
A. I did not see anybody struck. There was a man carried away. They say he got sun struck. I seen him carried away. I didn't see anybody hit.
Q. Did you hear any pistol shots, or any shots fired from the crowd, or in the crowd, before the firing of the soldiery?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you hear any?
A. One appeared to be like a cap--it was right in that corner. [Indicating.]
Q. In the crowd?
A. That was the first shot I heard fired. That soldier fired it. He didn't fire straight out. His gun went off up in that way.
Q. You heard a noise like a cap before the firing of the troops?
A. I couldn't tell exactly where that come from. It appeared to be round the watch-box.
Q. About the switch-box?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That is, the watch-box on the corner of the street, and the railroad toward the hill?
A. That was on the side of the hill. It was right here. [Indicating.]
Q. It appeared to come from that direction?
A. From that direction.
Q. Didn't it sound like a pistol shot?
A. No; like a cap.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Then you heard no firing from the crowd until after the military fired?
A. There was no firing done until the military.
Q. Was there any firing done from the crowd at all that you heard?
A. Yes; I seen the firing. Parties were firing from the side of the hill after that fire. A man on a car fired a revolver. He was laying right down at the end of the car. This man pulled out his revolver and fired at the crowd.
Q. There was no firing from the crowd or mob until after General Pearson had given the command to fire, and they had obeyed that command?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. There was a man fired from a car?
A. That was after the firing was done.
Q. Do you know that man?
A. I would know him if I would see him. Don't know him by name. I have met him a dozen times on the street since. I didn't want to go and ask his name, for fear they would ask me what my name was.
Q. Do you know where he lives?
A. No, sir. I know he lives in the city somewhere.
Q. Do you know General Pearson well?
A. I know him just by seeing him, and that is about all. Never spoke to the man at all. I don't know whether he spoke to me that time in the car or not. I won't say positively.
Q. Why were you afraid to ask this man his name?
A. I will tell you just the reason why. I didn't want to be called up as a witness. I have had enough trouble running round with this thing. I don't want to go against a man.
Q. You prefer that he should go scot-free?
A. I don't think he done anything.
* * * * *
R. S. Jones, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. R. S. Jones.
Q. Where is your residence?
A. No. 337 Chestnut alley, south side.
Q. What is your occupation, Mr. Jones?
A. I am a boiler--puddler.
Q. Were you present at the fire that occurred by the troops on the Saturday, the 21st of July?
A. I was.
Q. Will you be kind enough to tell what you saw?
A. I went out there about quarter to four o'clock--near that time--got there just about half an hour before the troops came up--the Philadelphia troops. I was there when the command was given to fire. They marched up the track. I saw General Pearson there, and Sheriff Fife and his deputies, some of them I don't know.
Q. State the movements of the troops, and what you saw?
A. They marched up the track to the corner of Twenty-eighth street. They came to a front to the round-house--fronted to the round-house. The rear rank came to about face and charged bayonets. They marched across the track--the opposite side--and that left a space there of about thirty feet; and there was a company behind that, formed in two sections, and one section marched up the track--they charged bayonets--and the Gatling guns came right along after them. They came to the head of the column and stopped, and they about faced and formed a square. I heard the command given to fire. I was standing right alongside of one of the soldiers, talking to him at the time, from Philadelphia. I never thought they were going to fire, or I would not have been there.
Q. You heard the command given to fire?
A. Yes, sir; when they came by the officer that was at the head of the column, turned around and stepped right into the square, and the sheriff and his deputies stepped in.
Q. Did they fire in a volley?
A. They fired just about the same as a new recruited regiment--you can pick them out in the field--you give them orders to fire, and they wouldn't fire as one. I guess it was just about as near as they could fire under the circumstances. I suppose they were a little scared.
Q. Did the crowd resist these men?
A. I didn't see any disturbance whatever when I was there. I didn't stay there after the firing.
Q. Did you see anything thrown, or any disturbance in the crowd?
A. No, sir.
Q. The crowd just stood there?
A. They were all standing there before the firing. I guess there was not many there after the firing. I didn't stay there to see.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you see any stone thrown from the crowd at the soldiers before the firing?
A. I didn't, sir.
Q. Did you hear any firing from any one in the crowd?
A. I didn't.
Q. How long after you heard the command given to fire did the firing take place?
A. Instantly.
Q. Did you hear that command given by more than one officer?
A. I did not.
Q. Was it a simultaneous discharge of a good many pieces?
A. As I said before, it was just something like a new regiment.
Q. Have you had any experience in active service in the army?
A. I was in the army three years, sir.
Q. What is the difference between the firing in a new regiment and an old one?
A. They don't fire together--they will in time. Time makes everything perfect.
Q. The firing is somewhat like the firing in a battle, after the first volley is fired?
A. Yes; I suppose there was about a dozen guns went off, and then the rest followed, the same as a new regiment.
Q. What the boys used to call a rattling fire in the army?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Means:
Q. How near were you to where General Pearson stood when this command was given?
A. I guess they were about the center of the square, and I was standing three men from the end, at the head of the column--that is, the right of the square towards the round-house.
Q. What distance would you suppose?
A. About fifteen feet, I guess.
Q. From where General Pearson was standing to where you were?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You cannot tell whether General Pearson gave that command?
A. I don't know.
Q. Was the command given as though it was peremptory?
A. It was given in a clear, distinct voice.
Q. Give us the exact language of the command?
A. The first thing I heard was, "fire!" just about that loud.
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Did it come from the officers or the crowd?
A. It came from the inside of the square.
Q. You don't know who gave it?
A. I don't know. I was looking right in at the soldiers, too, but I could not swear who gave the order.
Q. Wouldn't you have been apt to notice? How were they dressed?
A. Pearson had a blouse.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. A military blouse?
A. A military blouse. The rest of the officers had their swords on, the general, I don't think he had a sword on.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did he have on a hat?
A. He had a cap on.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Might not that command have come from one of the men in the ranks?
A. I don't think so--I never heard an order given from a soldier in the ranks?
Q. Might not that command have come from one in the line, and not from the officer in command?
A. From where I was standing, I thought it came from right in the center. They were not standing in the center, they were standing about five feet from the head of this square. It came from that direction.
Q. You don't know whether it came from an officer or who it came from?
A. I couldn't state--I judge it did.
Q. You supposed it would, but you really don't know that it did?
A. No; I didn't see his mouth open at the time.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were you present at the disturbance that night?
A. No, sir; I went home, and stayed there. I went out Sunday, and I guess half the cars were burned when I went out.
Q. You went over Saturday night, and stayed home the balance of the night?
A. Balance of the night; yes, sir.
Q. What was the feelings in the crowd?
A. I don't know. I didn't ask, and I felt just as if I had no business there, and the quicker I got out the better.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You say General Pearson wore a blouse and a cap?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did he have any braid or anything of that kind about the uniform?
A. No; I don't think there was. I don't think there was anything to distinguish that he was a general or an officer of any kind.
Q. That is, to distinguish his rank?
A. No, sir; at least I didn't see it.
Q. Did he have brass buttons on his blouse?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you take particular notice of it?
A. I was talking to him a few minutes before. The way I came to speak to him, we had gone up to the road above the track, and I had got through the guard. There was a guard across the track, and I had come through, and the party that had come with me--there was three of us, the guard wouldn't let them through, and the general was standing there and I asked him to let them through, and he said certainly, and they let the party through--that is the way I came to speak to him.
Q. Was that soon after or before the firing?
A. That was just before.
Q. Did you see General Pearson after the firing?
A. I didn't stay there after the firing. I got out of that as quick as I could.
Q. How long before the fire began did you see General Pearson?
A. I saw him before, and I saw him just when the order was given.
Q. Have you any knowledge of the causes leading to this strike first?
A. I have not, indeed. I don't know anything about it. I knew there was a strike.
Q. Did you see them leaving the round-house?
A. No, sir; I was not there.
* * * * *
William J. Shaner, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. I board at 1145 Penn street.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Roll turner. Work for my brother-in-law.
Q. Were you present on the day of the firing on the troops, on Saturday, the 21st of July?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Describe where you were and what occurred, as near as you can recollect?
A. When the troops were coming up the track, I was up on the side of the hill, with a comrade of mine, Charles Bier. He and I went down a few steps, and waited until after they had got up and halted and formed two ranks. Before they formed a hollow square, I says to him, I am going down to see them, and to hear, if I can hear them read anything or say anything. He said, No, no, he says, you might get hurt. Says I, No, there is danger; so I left him standing, and went down and made my way in. There was a good many standing around at that time, and the watch-box which stood there--I put my foot up on the window, and held on to a bracket, a little above the rest of the crowd, and I stood there for a few moments, and I heard the command given to fire, and when it was given I tried to get down, but I couldn't on account of the crowd there, and when they had cleared away, I got down and ran up to the ravine there, and laid down the best I could. That was my position when the firing took place. When the firing ceased, I went and looked to see if I could see my comrade, and I couldn't find him. I went down the street, and found that he was shot. I didn't find him until I found him in the hospital. I got everything he had on his person, and carried them home to his folks.
Q. You heard the command given to fire?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What occurred--did the crowd stand still, or were they making a noise--and did they interfere with the soldiers?
A. There was no interference with the soldiers at all.
Q. Did you see anything thrown?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. What was thrown?
A. I saw one stone, to my knowledge, and that was all thrown--about as large as your hand--for it come from the corner of where the gate goes up to the hospital--the right hand corner as you face Twenty-eight street.
Q. Did you hear any firing by the crowd before the soldiers were ordered to fire?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you hear any firing from the watch-box there?
A. Yes, sir; the soldiers--not from the crowd.
Q. Not from the crowd?
A. Not at all.
Q. There was no firing at all from that part of the crowd?
A. No, sir.
Q. Could you have heard any firing?
A. Yes, I could have.
Q. It was quiet there?
A. So far as firing was concerned it was.
Q. I mean before this firing took place?
A. There was noise, talking, and hooting, and just when the military fired for a moment it ceased like.
Q. You could hear who gave the command?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who was it--an officer?
A. Yes, it was an officer.
Q. Do you know him?
A. Yes, I do.
Q. Who was it?
A. General Pearson, or Albert Pearson.
Q. Do you know General Pearson?
A. Yes, I do.
Q. How long have you known him?
A. That is, I know him by sight, but never spoke to the man in my life.
Q. How was he dressed that day?
A. He was dressed in a white vest and blouse, with brass buttons on it, and the blouse was buttoned up middling close to the neck, and he had something similar to that. [Indicating.]
Q. A soft hat?
A. Yes; as near as I could see.
Q. Did you know General Pearson before that?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. In all this confusion, you could see General Pearson give the command to fire?
A. Right at the moment the command to fire was given, it was kind of stopped--the confusion was--and I heard distinctly the command "fire" given by General Pearson.
Q. Where was he standing?
A. He was standing a little over half way through the square, towards the rear rank.
Q. Did the men fire as soon as he gave the command?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. They fired at his command?
A. They fired at his command.
Q. You are sure of that?
A. I am certain of it.
Q. Did you see any of the soldiers struck by any stones? You say you only saw one stone thrown?
A. I only saw one stone thrown, to my knowledge, that I could distinguish perfectly, and I didn't see any soldier struck at all.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. After General Pearson gave the command to fire, was it repeated by any other officers?
A. Not to my knowledge. I didn't pay any attention to it. I tried to get out of the ... and I couldn't. I was looking out for my head, then.
Q. How did you know the order was given by Pearson?
A. I saw it. I saw General Pearson, and saw his lips move.
Q. In what direction was he facing, then?
A. He was kind of facing toward the rear rank.
Q. Towards the hill-side?
A. No, sir.
Q. The other way down, towards Liberty street?
A. Kind of towards the sand-house.
Q. That is, on the left hand side, as you could see?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. He was facing in that direction?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did the fire commence from that direction?
A. No, sir; it commenced from the corner, right at the watch-box.
Q. Did he turn his back to give the command?
A. He kind of turned round to the officers that were there, and who they were I don't know.
Q. He had his back towards the watch-box when the command was given to fire?
A. Not altogether, he didn't. [Witness illustrates the situation of affairs on paper.] That is Twenty-eighth street; here is the watch-box; there is the rear rank; and here is the front rank; and here is General Pearson, right in here; and here is where the firing commenced; and General Pearson was standing, with his face towards Twenty-eighth street, before he gave the command to fire; and when he turned, he turned right around this way, and his face was directed about towards me; I could look right into his face there. There was a man standing between me and General Pearson, up like from him, and that was an officer, and who that officer was I don't know.
Q. You say you heard no command from any of the other officers?
A. No, sir.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What did he do after the firing? Did you notice what became of him?
A. I took notice he disappeared very quickly. I don't know whether he was inspecting car wheels or not.
Q. All that I want to know is what occurred after the command to fire was given?
A. The firing commenced immediately.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You didn't tell them that General Pearson was inspecting car wheels, did you?
A. It was hard to say what he was doing, I know he got away.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You say General Pearson had a blouse on?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. It was buttoned up close?
A. Buttoned up right across there. [Indicating.]
Q. That is, how far from his chin?
A. About there. [Indicating.]
Q. About six inches.
A. I suppose about that--six or seven inches, as near as I could see.
Q. How many rows of buttons had he on his coat?
A. That I don't know.
Q. What kind of a hat did he wear?
A. A soft hat, something similar to that.
Q. Had he any braid, or any thing else; a wreath, or anything on his hat?
A. Not as I took notice of.
Q. Had he any trimmings on his coat to distinguish him from the other officers?
A. No, sir; not that I saw.
Q. Had he any braid on his breast?
A. No, sir; it was brass buttoned.
Q. Buttoned clear up?
A. It was buttoned at the top. Buttoned, but I do not know whether it was buttoned below; it was a kind of a sack----
Q. You say he wore a white vest?
A. No, sir.
Q. How could you know that he wore a white vest?
A. I could see his white vest here. [Indicating.] His vest came up middling close.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. Did you hear General Pearson, or anybody else, notify the mob to disperse?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you hear anybody give orders to load?
A. No, sir.
Q. You heard nothing but the word, fire?
A. There was a command before that, to charge bayonets, but I do not know who it was that gave that. I did not see him.
Q. You were standing upon the window?
A. With my foot on the window, and holding on to the bracket above.
Q. Were there any officers about, except General Pearson?
A. Yes; there were other officers there, but I do not know who they were.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did General Pearson have on a belt and sword?
A. No, sir; not as I saw.
Q. He had nothing then by which you could distinguish him as an officer--he had no shoulder straps?
A. No, sir.
Q. No trimmings on his coat?
A. No, sir; not as I saw.
Q. Nor any sword. He was just simply dressed as a civilian, with the exception of his blouse and brass buttons?
A. Yes, sir; a blouse. I did not take notice to his dress, only in that way.
Q. Had he shoulder straps on?
A. No, sir; not as I saw.
Q. You are sure of that?
A. So far as I know. I did not see it.
Q. You would have noticed it if he had?
A. I should think so.
Q. Did you see the sheriff?
A. I did not know Sheriff Fife, but a man was pointed out to me as Sheriff Fife, and I would know him again if I was to see him. The man that was pointed out to me had a straw hat on.
Q. You are sure General Pearson was not pointed out to you?
A. No, sir; I am sure of that. No man need point out General Pearson to me.
Q. You are sure somebody did not say in that crowd, "There is General Pearson along with the sheriff's posse."
A. Not to my recollection. There was no one told me that. When they came up, General Pearson, Sheriff Fife, and some other man--and who this man was I did not know--was kind of together. They were at the head of the column, and came up the railroad just as they halted, and before they formed an open square.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You said you did not know Sheriff Fife. How do you know it was Sheriff Fife?
A. I said a man that was pointed out to me as Sheriff Fife. I did not know the man personally, only he was pointed out to me that day by a party that that was Sheriff Fife. I never saw the man before, to my recollection, or afterwards.
Q. Did you see any party of citizens in front of the military, as they came up?
A. As they came up the track?
Q. Yes?
A. No, sir; only those at Twenty-eighth street.
Q. Only the crowd that was at Twenty-eighth street?
A. That is all.
Q. You did not see any civilians in front of the military as they marched up?
A. Not to my recollection.
Q. You say you went down to hear the sheriff's proclamation?
A. I went down to hear if he would read any riot act, or anything like that.
Q. You did not see the sheriff at all?
A. Only when he was pointed out to me as the sheriff, as I stated before.
Q. Did not see the party with the man who was pointed out as the sheriff?
A. I said I saw General Pearson and some other gentleman with the sheriff.
Q. There were only three of them?
A. Those were together. There were a great many others alongside of them.
Q. When the military marched up the track, what led you to go down to hear the proclamation?
A. Nothing; only curiosity.
Q. Did you understand that the sheriff was coming there with a posse? That he was going to read the riot act, or something of that kind?
A. No, sir; I did not know that the sheriff was coming at all. I did not know who was coming until after they got up there.
Q. What did you go down--you said you went down to hear what the sheriff would say?
A. I went down there to hear whether there would be anything read, or what would be said, and that was after the sheriff was pointed out to me.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You went down there after the sheriff was pointed out to you?
A. I went down to the watch-box after the sheriff was pointed out to me.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. There were only three of them together, Sheriff Fife, General Pearson, and another man?
A. That other man, I do not know who it was.
Q. I mean in front of the soldiers.
A. There were other ones around them. There were other officers near them. Those three were pretty close together.
Q. When did you go there in the crowd?
A. I went up on the side of the hill among the boys before the Philadelphia troops came in at all; before I knew they were coming in--before the train came in, I went up among the boys. I know a great many of them among the military. Spoke to them and shook hands with them.
Q. Talked with them?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you witness any of the occurrences during the night after the firing?
A. The only thing I saw after the firing was a car that was fired, and I could see that plainly from the steps I was sitting on, with two other boarders that were sitting around the steps. The steps are very large, and one of the boarders drew attention to it. He says, "What is that lighting up there." I asked him, what. He says, "Don't you see it?" I said, "It is nothing more than a railroad man's lamp."
Q. You were not down in the crowd?
A. I was four or five squares away.
Q. I understood you to say you went to look for your friend?
A. That was after the firing commenced. It was before dark I had found him, but I had left him in the hospital just before dusk, and went to his home. I came back to the boarding-house and got my supper, and stayed there.
Q. Have you any knowledge of the causes?
A. No, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What style of hat did General Pearson wear? You said he had a slouch hat. Of what color was it?
A. It appeared to me as soft. It was black.
Q. Broad brimmed hat?
A. I do not know. The rim was not broader than that [indicating]--it might have been.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. It was a straw hat?
A. No, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you see any policemen there at the time of the fire?
A. When the Philadelphia soldiers fired?
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Yes.
A. Not to my knowledge, I did not.
Q. What do you mean by your knowledge. Do you mean you did not see it at all--you did not see any police officers?
A. That I did not see them to the best of my knowledge. They might have been there. I did not see them.
Q. Did you see the soldiers come out of the round-house, Sunday?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. Did you see them after they came out?
A. Yes; I did.
Q. As they marched along?
A. Yes; in order.
Q. Did you see any firing on them.
A. Yes; I did.
Q. Do you know who did that firing?
A. No, sir; I do not. The only one I saw firing was one man, and he was running the whole crowd of them out, as near as I could tell.
Q. One man was following them up?
A. That was the only man I saw have a shooting iron with him, and he had his coat off; but who he was I do not know, and I would not know him if I was to see him, for I was standing in the doorway of the boarding house when he went past, and he loaded his gun right ferninst the door. He had one of the guns the same as the military uses.
Q. Had a breech-loading musket?
A. Yes.
Q. And cartridges for it?
A. He had cartridges for it and a belt on--a cartridge-box.
Q. Did you see any firing from houses along the street?
A. No, sir; I did not go out for to see until after they had passed by. Then I went out along the street. After that, saw several of them that was shot--some killed dead--and helped pick them up and carry them in. One of the Philadelphia soldiers I helped up at Thirty-third street. A ball must have went in there [indicating] and come out through his wrist. At least the hole was through his wrist--through here and back here. [Indicating.]
Q. One man did all the shooting, you say?
A. That is the only man I saw--that is, right there where I live.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Where do you live?
A. 1145 Penn street--board there.
Q. Will you please describe that man that did that firing?
A. I cannot do it, sir. It is impossible. Only he was a tall man; but how he was dressed I could not tell, with the exception that he had a white shirt on, and whether it was an undershirt or a fine shirt I do not know, because I did not pay that much attention to it. He had his coat off.
Q. How close were you to him?
A. He passed along the pavement and I was standing out on the steps--the steps is five high, I think. I was standing in the doorway, and he was below me, and passed along the pavement.
Q. Was he an old or a young man?
A. Middle aged man, as far as I could judge.
Q. Did he wear whiskers?
A. That I could not say.
Q. Did he follow the troops up?
A. He followed them as far as the corner above. Then I did not take notice where he went to, because I come to the conclusion I was not going to interest myself in it.
Q. How many shots did you see him fire?
A. I only saw him fire one shot, and that he fired from the corner of Thirty-first street, and by the time he fired the shot I saw the troops he fired into stop and point down, and there was two balls came right past the door right over my head. I thought it was time to pass into the house.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did this man say anything?
A. He said something about spilling the blood of some of his friends, and he was going to have revenge, when he passed the door. That is all I know.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What kind of a breech-loading gun did he have?
A. The same as the military have.
Q. It was a military gun, you mean?
A. It was a military gun; yes, sir.
Q. Did you ever attend any meeting, during that excitement, of citizens or people, for the purpose of organizing to resist the soldiers?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you know of any meeting being held out Penn street or Butler street?
A. No, sir.
Q. Would you know this man that fired at the soldiers if you were to see him?
A. No, sir; I am certain of that.
Q. You say he had a cartridge-box--this man that fired?
A. Yes; and a white belt.
Q. Had it buckled around his body?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What kind of a looking cartridge-box was it?
A. The same as the military used--a black one.
Q. A square box?
A. Yes; kind of square.
* * * * *
P. M. Stack, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. I reside in Spring alley, near Twenty-eighth street.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Constable, Twelfth ward.
Q. Were you present at Twenty-eighth street on Saturday, 21st July?
A. At the time of the shooting?
Q. Yes?
A. I was.
Q. Will you be kind enough to state what you observed?
A. I was in town that afternoon. I think it was about half past two o'clock, and I went up, and I saw a large crowd up there--went as far as Twenty-eighth street crossing--saw a lot of men right across the railroad, and went up there, and seen some men that I know--seen some Philadelphia soldiers come up. Seen General Pearson there. I stayed up two or three minutes, and they opened ranks, and Pearson came right up the middle, and stayed there for a few minutes, and Sheriff Fife was on the right hand side next to the hill. The crowd was hollering "Hold the fort," or something to that effect. I think it was "Hold the fort" they were hollering, and General Pearson was there and he said, "Charge bayonets," and they commenced to charge. As soon as they commenced to charge the crowd behind shoved up. I was one of the front and could not get back. The first thing I knew they commenced to fire. I thought they were firing blank cartridges, until I saw a man by the name of John Long fall, and saw they was not firing blank cartridges, and I turned around and ran away as fast as I could. That is all I knew about it.
Q. Where was Pearson?
A. Pearson was about in the middle. They came up about sixteen abreast, or something like that. I could not exactly tell. He was in the middle, anyhow. They opened order and came right up.
Q. About sixteen of them?
A. About sixteen abreast, right across the track.
Q. The sheriff, you mean?
A. What they call the Philadelphia soldiers. I do not know whether they were Philadelphia soldiers or not.
Q. Was not anybody in front of the soldiers when they marched up the railroad track?
A. There was a crowd in front of them. Sheriff Fife--there is a board walk where you get off the train, a platform where you get on the train--he was marching right up at the right hand side as you come up the railroad track, as far as Twenty-eighth street.
Q. Anybody with him?
A. That I could not say; he was right with the soldiers, and you could not see right over their heads.
Q. Was not he in front of the soldiers?
A. He was right on abreast with them.
Q. Could not you see Fife and who was with him?
A. I could not see who was behind me. I could see the front. I could not discern the men who was behind the front men.
Q. You heard Pearson give the command to fire?
A. Charge bayonets first. I was one of the fellows that was sticking around.
Q. What were you doing, trying to keep it off?
A. I went up there--I was a sworn officer of the railroad--and I thought I would try to do what I could.
Q. Had you tried to quell it?
A. Yes, I had, so far as I knew how. I assisted Mayor McCarthy's police when I went up there.
Q. Were the police there?
A. They were; eight or ten police there during the day and at night.
Q. What did they do?
A. The boys were around there playing with the cars--wherever there is excitement the boys are always there--they were trying to put the boys away, and the men were not doing any harm, it was the boys.
Q. You could not put the boys away then?
A. No; they were little boys.
Q. When the soldiers marched up, what did the crowd do? Did they fall back?
A. At the time they charged bayonets, the rear crowd shoved the front up--they were shoving them up. That is all I seen about it.
Q. Did you see any stones thrown?
A. I did; there was some little boys threw a couple of stones, and I says, "Quit that, boy, there will be trouble here."
Q. A couple of stones?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you hear any firing? Did you hear anybody shoot before the soldiers shot?
A. No, sir.
Q. You didn't see but a couple of stones thrown at all?
A. It was thrown from a couple of boys from the sand-house. They were in the sand-house, and there was some stones in the sand, and they threw them over our heads. I seen the boys that threw them--little boys about eight or ten years of age. There is a sand-house where they dry sand for the engines, and they were in the sand-house at the time.
Q. You did not see any stones come from the side of the hill?
A. No, sir; I was on this side of the railroad, nearer to Penn street than I was to the hillside.
Q. They would not have reached you?
A. No; I do not think they could, unless they could throw them that far.
Q. Where was Pearson standing when he gave this command?
A. He was standing in the middle of the ranks--right up the middle.
Q. Did he give the command himself to fire, or did he give it to somebody else?
A. He did; he said "fire."
Q. That is all he said?
A. That is all, sir; he gave command to charge bayonets first.
Q. Charge bayonets and then fire?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did the men that he ordered to charge bayonets, fire?
A. I could not see where the shots came from, they came from the gun some place, that I know. We were standing right in front. When these men fired, Johnny Long fell down. I helped to carry him in when the doctor was examining him there. I took him into the round-house.
Q. Do you know Pearson?
A. I do, sir.
Q. Did you know him by sight?
A. I had known Pearson for ten years.
Q. How was he dressed?
A. That is more than I can tell you.
Q. You did not notice?
A. I was just looking at his face, same as I am looking at you. I did not pay particular attention to his dress.
Q. You say you heard him give this command?
A. I did, sir.
Q. You are right certain of this?
A. I am positive.
Q. You are sure it was not "not to fire," and you only heard "fire."
A. He said fire, as loud as I am talking now. I was not sixteen feet away from him.
Q. Did you see the troops when they came out of the round-house?
A. When they came out, on Sunday morning, I saw them go up Penn avenue. I did not see them leave the round-house.
Q. How were they marching, in order?
A. Yes; in order.
Q. Was anybody firing on them?
A. I did see one man, just as I was coming down the hill. I went up there to see the burning from the top of the hill, near what they call the pest-house, and saw the soldiers between the round-house and the square shop.
Q. That was not where they marched out Penn street before the fire?
A. The fire was pretty close to the round-house when the cars were fired.
Q. That was after the troops had fired?
A. This was at five o'clock Sunday morning.
Q. When they came out?
A. The soldiers that were in there, they were firing away all night, and when I came out they were getting down off the hill on Twenty-eighth street, and the troops were getting out then, and I was coming down. The tail end of them were passing, and a man came down Twenty-eighth street in his shirt sleeves--a pretty good sized man, not too big--and he had a musket, and he was rolling up his shirt sleeves, and when he came to the drug store, corner of Twenty-eighth and Penn, I seen him raising his musket. I thought they would return back the fire up that street and I got down the alley and run into the house.
Q. Did you make any attempt to arrest this man?
A. No.
Q. Did you not think it was your duty, as constable, to stop that man from shooting?
A. If the whole police force could not stop him, I could not stop him.
Q. You did not try?
A. I was afraid of the gun.
Q. Did you see anybody else shoot?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you know this man?
A. No, sir; never saw him, to my knowledge. Could not describe him to you.
Q. What did he say when he was shooting?
A. I was not that close to him. I did not get that close.
Q. Were you over there on Thursday, when the strike first took place?
A. I was up there; yes, sir.
Q. Did you hear any of the men say why they struck?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know any of the causes that led them to strike?
A. It was putting on double-headers. I believe that was the cause I heard for it.
Q. Was there any disturbance there Thursday?
A. No, sir; there was very few there on Thursday.
Q. Were there on Friday?
A. Friday they commenced to gather a little; on Saturday, there was upwards of a thousand.
Q. Were you called upon at any time to exert your authority to keep the peace?
A. No, sir; the city did not pay me for that as a constable.
Q. Is not that part of your duties as a constable?
A. It is a part of my duty as constable to try to suppress or arrest anybody I would see acting disorderly on the street, but a constable among two or three hundred men is of very little use. We ain't paid by the city government as constable, to do anything----
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Could you not have arrested this man who was firing on the troops?
A. I do not know.
Q. Were you not armed?
A. I was not.
Q. Had no pistol?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you try to get somebody else to assist you in arresting this man?
A. It was too early in the morning. There was nobody out of bed, hardly.
Q. You did not follow after the troops. You say you went home?
A. I went home. Yes, sir.
Q. Stayed there?
A. Stayed there.
Q. Did you see any police about the fire during Sunday--see them making any effort to put out the fire or prevent it?
A. I did not. I went to my mother-in-law's on Sunday.
Q. You were not about then on Sunday?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do not know anything about what occurred then, of your own observation?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you see Mayor McCarthy about on Sunday?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. Saturday night?
A. No, sir; he might have been there. I did not see him.
* * * * *
C. G. Barnett, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. C. G. Barnett. They call me Neall for short.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. I live 296 Centre avenue.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I am solicitor for the Consolidated Gas Company.
Q. Were you present on Saturday, the 21st of July?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. At Twenty-eighth street?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Be kind enough to describe what came under your observation?
A. I will tell you how I got there. I live on Centre avenue, and I came over the hill to our works. I went over there about dinner time, and stayed at the works until about three o'clock. I had nothing more to do that day, and I thought I would come up and see what the railroad men were doing. I stopped there, I suppose, until about half past three, and the train came in with the Philadelphia soldiers on, so I got talking, like the rest of the men around there, and I stayed there, and they finally commenced to holler, and they said, "There comes the Philadelphia soldiers." I knew a young fellow in the Philadelphia troops, by the name of Deal, and I thought I would get to see him. I looked along the line, and finally found him; he was at the lower part. As they came up they divided off.
Q. What is his name?
A. Willie Deal; he lives in Philadelphia. When the soldiers came up, the first I saw was Sheriff Fife, General Pearson, Captain Moore, and then the soldiers came up. I was talking with Deal awhile, and he says, "You had better get out of here," and I finally walked up towards the switch-house, at the corner of Twenty-eighth and the railroad track, and I got up, standing beside the switch-house, and I took notice of a few boys commencing to lift up some small stones that did not amount to much; of course it would hurt a person to be hit with them. I told the boys, "You had better quit that, you will get into trouble." They said they were having some fun. I said it was wrong kind of fun to have. Then there was a squad of about twenty-five soldiers came up in the center, and they commenced to shove the crowd back, and the first thing I saw I heard the command to fire given. I thought it was about time to get down, and I got around to the side. I could still see the soldiers, and the first thing I heard was General Pearson giving the command to fire.
Q. You heard General Pearson?
A. I heard him just as distinctly as you are speaking to me.
Q. Do you know General Pearson?
A. I do, sir; that is, I am acquainted with him to see him. I have lived in this town all my life, and I know him as well as my own brother to see him.
Q. How was he dressed that day?
A. He had a blouse on. I should judge it buttoned up to about there. [Indicating.] A plain blouse; I do not think there was any trimmings on it, except the buttons. It was buttoned up.
Q. Did he have a sword?
A. That I would not positively say. I did not pay that much attention to him.
Q. Did any of the officers have swords, or did you notice the other officers?
A. I noticed an officer that was pointed out to me as General Brinton.
Q. Did he have a sword?
A. He had a sword.
Q. The captains of the companies had swords?
A. The officers had, yes, sir.
Q. All had swords?
A. Yes; but I would not say positively that General Pearson had a sword on, because I did not take that particular notice of him. I did not think it was necessary. I did not know they would ever have any trouble.
Q. You are sure you heard Pearson give the command?
A. I did, sir.
Q. Where was he standing?
A. He was standing--there was a car between the sand-house and the round-house, and General Pearson was standing at the far end of the car, towards the Union depot, in the neighborhood of the sand-house.
Q. That is on the round-house side?
A. Yes; that is on the round-house side--that old sand-house.
Q. Where did the first fire come from?
A. The first fire was on the side that the round-house was on, about midway of the soldiers. Some of them fired up in the air, and after the first volley--there is a road runs up the hill, the way I came down--after the first volley I thought it was getting warm, and I would get out of that and get home. I run about half way, and there was a little boy that was shot right there, and I grabbed the boy as I was running. I just grabbed him and took him with me, and there was a little hollow there where the water runs, and I thought that was a safe place for myself and the boy both. After the firing there was a boy standing there, and I said, "You had better go and get Doctor McCandless." After the firing stopped, I carried the boy to a little shanty house, and laid him down there. This other boy went for the doctor.
Q. When Pearson gave the command, what became of him?
A. I did not notice.
Q. You are right sure he gave the command "fire?" He did not say not to fire?
A. No; he gave the order to fire. I heard it distinctly.
Q. You are sure it was Pearson--you could distinguish Pearson among the crowd of officers?
A. As a military man, I have heard him give orders. Have heard him time and time and time again, and I know a man's voice when I hear it very often.
Q. What did he have on--a hat?
A. I think he had a soft hat--black soft hat, with a rim about that wide [indicating]--it may have been wider, but I did not pay particular attention to it--did not pay enough attention to him to know that he had a sword, because I did not think it was necessary.
Q. Did you see the troops come out of the round-house the next day?
A. After the firing was over, about five o'clock, I went home, and a gentleman by the name of Root, that boards in the house with me--after supper I says, "Suppose we go over and see what is going on over the hill." We went over and stayed there awhile--did not go down. The next Sunday morning, about one o'clock, I heard an alarm, and I got out of my room and went through the hall and rapped at the door. Says I, "There is an alarm of fire. I bet that's the railroad property." Says he, "Oh, no." I went back to bed, and stayed there until the next morning about seven o'clock. I got up and went over the hill, and about eight o'clock--I think it was eight o'clock, I would not say for certain--the Philadelphia soldiers went out of the round-house. I was away up on the hill.
Q. Did you see them come out?
A. I saw a crowd. I could not distinguish. I was five or six hundred yards away from them.
Q. You were up on the hill?
A. You can't see very well, because of the smoke and one thing or other--I would not say for certain it was them.
Q. You do not know anything that occurred. Did you see any police in this crowd when you went there Saturday--when you went to see this friend of yours?
A. I think I saw one or two police--I think I saw two police.
Q. Were they making an effort to keep the crowd back, and keep them orderly?
A. One of these police talked to a man on the corner of Liberty and Twenty-eighth street, right at the end of the Pennsylvania shops. I judged, from the way he was talking to him, that he wanted him to go home. I was not near enough to him to tell.
Q. There was no force there sufficient to make any impression on the crowd?
A. There was nothing necessary for force. The men were quiet. Of course they were standing on the railroad track, but there was no noise. They were quiet, peaceable men. There was nothing until the Philadelphia soldiers came. That was the commencement of it.
Q. When the sheriff came up, what did the crowd--did they say anything or do anything?
A. Not until the squad of about twenty-five soldiers came up in the center. Then they commenced to shove, and they had not room to get out. I suppose if they had given them five minutes, they could have got away.
Q. Did the sheriff make any call upon the crowd to disperse?
A. Not that I saw.
Q. You were talking with this friend of yours?
A. He told me to get out, and I walked toward the switch-house. Says he, "Neall, go away; if there is anything happens here you will get hurt," and I took his advice.
Q. What led him to say that?
A. I do not know. That is exactly what he told me.
Q. Were there not stones being thrown, that led this man to think there would be trouble?
A. No; he was at the lower end, towards the Union depot.
Q. Could he not see?
A. Not where he was standing.
Q. Was there not a crowd making an attack upon the soldiers, and that there was likely to be trouble?
A. Not at that time. They were not throwing any stones until I got to the switch-house, and then I saw the boys throwing stones.
Q. Was the crowd resisting the soldiers?
A. Not at that time. This middle division had not gone up. Just as they started, he told me to get out of there.
Q. When they got up, didn't the crowd resist them?
A. I think if they had given them five minutes there would have been no trouble. There was a great many men tried to get away, and the crowd held them back.
Q. Was it men there like yourself, or was it men there to resist the soldiers?
A. There was a great many men I knew had nothing to do with the Pennsylvania. They were there just standing looking on.
Q. If you went through a crowd like that, you could judge whether there were men there to resist the soldiers, or whether they were there out of curiosity?
A. I should judge that the most of them were there out of curiosity, and I did not know the feeling of the men. I never go up that direction, unless I am on business.
Q. Did you see any efforts made by the police during Sunday to stop the burning?
A. I was not near the railroad track on Sunday. I stood away up on the hill--not until Sunday evening, until half past seven, and then came down by the car way, and came down to the Union depot. There I saw a lot of police stopping the men from carrying away ale. I should judge--from the looks of the barrels--what they call Milwaukee ale or beer.
Q. Milwaukee ale or beer?
A. Beer, I suppose. It is not our style of keg that is made in Pittsburgh here. I do not drink enough for to know that. I know it was beer or ale.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Had you any trouble getting through the crowd when you wanted to get away on Saturday?
A. No, sir. I ran alongside of the hill, while there was very few people.
Q. You were right down the railroad among the soldiers?
A. I did see a lot of guns there, said to be Knapp's battery, lying at the watch-house--that was all the trouble. Just as I got away from the mob, I had no trouble at all--I could run away along the hill.
Q. Would it have been any trouble for the crowd to get away when the soldiers came up to ask them to fall back?
A. I think some of them could get away--not all the crowd, because there was cars on the other side of Twenty-eighth street, lying in there, and they got in round the cars, and could not get out.
Q. You said three fourths of the men there were spectators?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What did the other fourth come there for?
A. I have not the least idea, I never go there unless going to the works.
Q. I suppose three fourths went there from mere curiosity, and that the other fourth went for some purpose?
A. Most likely they did, but I could not see that.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. Did you hear General Pearson say anything else but "fire!"?
A. No, sir; and it was not a minute or a minute and a half after he gave the order to fire, until they did fire.
Q. How far were you from him?
A. I was standing about fifteen or twenty feet up off the railroad track right out to the switch-house.
Q. Would not a man have to have said something before he could have given the word "fire!"--you heard nothing before the word "fire!"?
A. They did not get away fast enough than was given to fire, and just about a minute afterward the firing took place.
* * * * *
William Black, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. William Black.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Out at Millvale borough.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Boiler-puddler.
Q. Were you present at Twenty-eighth street on the 21st of July, Saturday, at the time of the firing?
A. I was a little while, about the time I seen the Philadelphia troops marching up the railroad four abreast, and they came to a halt just before they got to Twenty-eighth street. Came to a front and open order--rear open order, then the front rank came to about face, and they faced the rear rank. Then a company marched up through the center, right up front to Twenty-eighth street. I was standing outside then and heard the order given to fire.
Q. You were standing where?
A. Just across from Twenty-eighth street, outside the crowd.
Q. You were out behind the crowd?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You say you heard the command to fire?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you know who gave the command?
A. No, sir; I do not know who it was gave it.
Q. You just heard the word?
A. The minute the word was given to fire I left.
Q. Did you see anything of the firing? You left then--saw nothing of it?
A. No, sir; I left the place then after they started to fire.
Q. Then you know nothing about the firing, any more than you heard the command given--did it come from an officer?
A. I could not say that.
Q. Or was it from the crowd--did you hear the crowd talk about firing?
A. Not while I was there.
Q. Did you see anything thrown?
A. No, sir.
Q. Was there any disturbance there, any noise or resisting of the soldiers?
A. There was some noise there.
Q. What do you mean by some noise?
A. Some of them hollering "Hold the fort."
Q. What did they mean by holding the fort--holding Twenty-eighth street?
A. I suppose so.
Q. They meant to stay there in spite of the soldiers, was that the idea that you had--to stay there in spite of the soldiers?
A. I suppose that was their idea.
Q. Had you been there any time previous to the firing?
A. No, sir.
Q. You know nothing whatever of the events occurring before that?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you see the soldiers afterwards?
A. No, sir; never saw them any more after that. I never crossed the river again until Monday, I came down to the city again.
Q. Do you know anything about any organization formed to resist the soldiers?
A. No, sir.
Q. Who went with you to the scene of the riot?
A. Saturday?
Q. Yes.
A. There was a friend of mine lives right over here.
Q. Was not there a large crowd of you went over there together?
A. No, sir; there was no crowd.
Q. What mill are you working at?
A. Graff & Bennett's.
Q. Was not there a large number of men from your mill went over there on Saturday just before the firing?
A. If they went over there I didn't know anything about it.
Q. Were the men working at that time--that afternoon?
A. Saturday they generally shut down about two o'clock or three o'clock.
Q. You were not working that day on Saturday?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What time did you leave the mill?
A. We shut down work about one o'clock at the upper end of the mill.
Q. About one o'clock?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Didn't most of the men who were at work in the forenoon come over to Twenty-eighth street?
A. I couldn't say anything about that at all.
Q. Didn't see a great many of them?
A. No, sir; there might have been a good many there, but I didn't see them, the crowd was so big.
Q. Was there any talk about there in the crowd when you were standing there. Did you hear any talk about resisting the soldiers, and not allow them to clear the track?
A. No, sir; I didn't hear anything of the kind.
Q. Was it people there just out of curiosity?
A. I couldn't say what they were there for.
Q. You were there out of curiosity, were you?
A. Yes; just come over to see the soldiers.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you hear any abusive or threatening language on the part of the crowd towards the soldiers?
A. No, sir; not at the time I remained there.
By Mr. Means:
Q. In the forenoon of Saturday, while at work, did you hear any of the men say that they were going over there in the afternoon after they quit work?
A. No, sir; I didn't hear the men say anything.
Q. Didn't have any talk about going over to the scene of this riot?
A. No, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were you there on Sunday?
A. No, sir. Didn't come over this side of the river on Sunday.
Q. Do you know of quite a number of citizens carrying away goods and bringing them over to near your works, in that vicinity?
A. No, sir.
Q. On Sunday?
A. Not that I know of.
Q. Did you see anybody carrying any plunder from the cars?
A. They didn't fetch it across there in the day time. I thought they were watching pretty sharp around there over the other side.
* * * * *
Charles P. Wall, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your first name?
A. Charles P.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Fourteenth ward.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Plumber.
Q. Were you at Twenty-eighth street on Saturday, the 21st July, the time of the firing?
A. Yes, sir; I was.
Q. Will you be kind enough to state what you saw?
A. I went there out of curiosity, to see what was going on, on Saturday afternoon, and shortly after I was there the Philadelphia soldiers came up with their posse, the sheriff at the head. I was standing on the track and toward the round-house, and General Pearson came round and said he was ordered to clear the track, so I got around and walked up Twenty-eighth and come around on the hill which looks down on the track, and the soldiers formed a hollow square--the soldiers facing the hill as well as facing the round-house--and then the soldiers marched towards Twenty-eighth street, and the command was given to charge bayonets. They charged, I think, but the men there could not or would not move away from Twenty-eighth street. The soldiers came up to them with their bayonets, and they grabbed the guns, and pushed them away from them. Then the order was given to fire. The men, after the order was given them, started to run down Twenty-eighth street. The men that were charging--that were facing Twenty-eighth street--could not fire because they were so close. The moment they started to run they brought their guns to bear on them, and fired on the crowd as they were running. The men facing the hill fired into the party standing on the hill, and I seen them commence to fire, and stayed there for some moments, and thought they were firing blank cartridges, until a party along side of me was shot in the head and dropped down, and I thought it was time to get, and I started.
Q. Where were you standing?
A. Standing right on the hill, looking down on the soldiers.
Q. How far from them?
A. I suppose between twenty and thirty feet.
Q. There is a road that runs up there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How far were you from that watch-house?
A. I was about thirty feet from the watch-house, I guess.
Q. Did you see anything thrown at the soldiers?
A. Yes; I saw some stones thrown.
Q. Anything fired at them--see any shots or hear any?
A. No, sir; didn't see or hear any shots.
Q. Were you close enough to tell who gave the order, or whether it was an order to fire?
A. Yes; I was close enough.
Q. Was it given by an officer?
A. Yes; it was.
Q. Do you know who the officer was?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. State his name?
A. General Pearson?
Q. Do you know General Pearson?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Personally?
A. Yes, sir; that is, I don't know the General personally to speak to him.
Q. I mean by sight--if you see General Pearson walking along?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where was he when he gave the command?
A. He was in the square, a little toward Twenty-eighth--nearer Twenty-eighth street than any other part of the square.
Q. Anybody near him?
A. Yes; Mr. Pitcairn and some of the other officers was handy.
Q. Any of the sheriff's posse?
A. I didn't notice.
Q. They were in front, were not they, when the troops came up?
A. The sheriff marched front; yes, sir.
Q. Did he stop and address the crowd?
A. I suppose he was addressing the crowd when I was going round, but as soon as he gave the command to clear the track, I was walking round to get on the hill.
Q. You are sure you heard General Pearson give the command?
A. Yes; positively.
Q. It was not somebody told you that that was Pearson?
A. No, sir; I know the man.
Q. Did you notice how he was dressed that day?
A. Yes, sir--not particularly. I noticed he had a blouse on, with brass buttons on, buttoned up. I suppose I was as close to him as I am to you when he gave the command to clear the track. He said he had orders to clear the track. As soon as I seen they were going to clear the track, I got off the track and walked around.
Q. Did he have a sword on?
A. Not that I could see.
Q. Did you notice whether any of the other officers had swords on?
A. No, sir; I did not notice particularly.
Q. How would you distinguish an officer?
A. Well, I would distinguish him by his clothes, of course.
Q. If there were a number of men there, how did you distinguish it was General Pearson gave the command?
A. I could not help to distinguish him, because I knew him personally--knew him to be what they call a general. He had a blouse on.
Q. Did he order them to load, or anything preliminary--he just said fire?
A. Just gave the command to fire?
Q. Did he give that directly to the men themselves?
A. I could not say whether it was direct to the men, because immediately after he gave the command to fire, they commenced to fire--whether it was passed down the line or not, I could not say.
Q. Did you see any of the soldiers struck with stones?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. How many stones were there thrown?
A. Oh, a good many.
Q. Quite a volley?
A. Quite a volley of stones thrown. They seemed to all come from one place, though. On the hillside, where I was standing, there was not a stone thrown.
Q. Any stones thrown from below where you were standing?
A. From towards the hospital, there was. That seemed to be the only place there was any stones coming from.
Q. What became of General Pearson after he gave this order?
A. I didn't wait to see what became of him. I seen him start towards the round-house. Then I started myself, and ran up the hill some three hundred or four hundred yards, and then I stopped.
Q. From what point did the stones appear to come?
A. From the direction of the hospital.
Q. In front of you?
A. No, sir; from the rear.
Q. Could you see who threw the stones?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. Did General Pearson have anything about him, or his uniform, that would indicate his rank?
A. He had a blouse on with brass buttons I think he had epaulets on his shoulders, I could not say positively. I knew the man, knew him to be a general.
Q. What kind of a hat did he wear?
A. He wore a slouch hat--a soft hat.
Q. Did you see any other officers there that wore hats?
A. No, I couldn't say that I did. I didn't take notice of the officers particularly. In fact I did not take notice of any of them.
Q. Did you see the troops after they came out of the round-house on Sunday?
A. No, sir; I didn't.
Q. Were you there during Saturday night?
A. No, sir; I left there as soon as they went into the round-house; then I left and went home; didn't go there until the next morning. I went over on the hill and stayed a while, then I went home again.
Q. Did you hear them talk in the crowd about resisting the soldiers?
A. No, sir; heard nothing said. The crowd seemed to be very orderly up to the time the Philadelphia soldiers came. I was among the crowd until past one o'clock or two o'clock, and the Fourteenth regiment had charge of the track, and the shifting engine was going backwards and forwards. Of course, there was a big crowd there; but they didn't interfere in any way that I saw.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did you hear the crowd say what they would do when the Philadelphia soldiers came in?
A. No, sir; I didn't hear them say anything.
Q. They were looking for them, were they not?
A. Not that I know of; didn't hear them say so.
Q. Was it possible for you to be mistaken in the man that gave the command "fire?" Might it not have been somebody else?
A. I don't think so. I knew the general, and was close enough to hear distinctly.
Q. You knew the command really came from him?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was General Pearson facing towards Liberty street, or up the hill?
A. He was facing kind of towards Twenty-eighth street. Twenty-eighth crosses Liberty. That is where the most excitement was. The soldiers were trying to force them off the track. The crowd had gathered up the track, and they were trying to force them down. I suppose the men in front would have got out of that if they could, because I don't think any man would stand up to a bayonet.
Q. Facing towards Twenty-eighth and Liberty streets?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did the firing commence from that direction?
A. No; not just exactly. They fired into the car where they threw the stones first. When they started, the men that were standing on Twenty-eighth started to run.
Q. The crowd?
A. Then the soldiers brought their guns up and fired on them as they ran down Twenty-eighth street. Then the soldiers that was fronting the hill fired into the parties on the hill.
Q. Then the firing commenced on the line that were on Twenty-eighth street--lying parallel with Twenty-eighth street--facing up the track?
A. Yes; facing up the track.
Q. How long after that fire did the troops commence firing that were standing to their right, facing up the hill?
A. I suppose it was not more than ten or twelve seconds.
Q. Did those that were facing down towards Liberty street fire at that time?
A. No, sir; they did not.
Q. Did they fire at any time?
A. Not that I seen.
* * * * *
William J. McKay, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Give your full name.
A. William J. McKay.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Thirtieth and Penn street.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Work in the Western air brake shop, on Twenty-fifth street.
Q. Were you present during Saturday, the 21st July, at Twenty-eighth street?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Be kind enough to state what came under your observation.
A. I was up there when the Philadelphia soldiers came. One of them got sun struck, and they had to carry him down to the office, Twenty-sixth street. That is all I have got to say.
Q. That is all you know about what occurred?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you in the telegraph office there?
A. I was in the superintendent's office.
Q. You know nothing of what occurred at the time the soldiers fired?
A. No, sir; didn't hear them fire at all.
Q. Did any of the officers come to the telegraph office while you were there?
A. One soldier, and some other men came down, I don't know who they were.
Q. Was he an officer?
A. I took him to be an officer.
Q. Did you know the man?
A. No, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What do you do at the Western air brake?
A. Chip brass castings.
Q. Where did you carry this man that was sick?
A. Carried him into the office--the left second door.
Q. What office?
A. The office under the superintendent's office; I don't know whose office it was.
Q. Was it a telegraph office?
A. I didn't take notice.
Q. Were you in the telegraph office at any time after you carried this man down?
A. No, sir; I was never in the office before in my life.
Q. It was not a telegraph office you carried this man to?
A. I didn't notice what office it was.
Q. It was the superintendent's office, you say?
A. No, sir; the superintendent's office is up stairs.
Q. Whom did you see there in this office, where you carried this soldier?
A. There was no person there.
Q. No one there at all?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you know where the telegraph was of the railroad company?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where is it?
A. Twenty-sixth street--it was, before it was burned down, I don't know where it is now.
Q. Isn't there a telegraph office at the superintendent's office?
A. I don't know anything about that. I passed the office often, but I was never in it.
Q. What was this office used for that you carried the man to?
A. I don't know what it was for.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were there any officers of the militia there when you went there with this man, except the one that helped?
A. No, sir; there was no other person in the room at all.
Q. Did you stay there with those men, or put him down?
A. We laid him down on two chairs, and there was a man came in and told us there was shooting up there, and I went up and left him there. The other two stayed there.
Q. Said they were shooting up there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is that all he said about it?
A. That is all.
Q. Did he say anything about an order having been given to fire on the crowd?
A. No, sir; he just wheeled round and started back out again.
Q. Did you know this man?
A. No, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You say there was no one in this office at all, when you carried this soldier there?
A. No, sir; there was no person in when we went in.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did you see General Pearson about there?
A. I don't know the man. Never saw him.
Q. Did you see whether there was any other offices right there, close by this--that is, where you carried this soldier?
A. How do you mean?
Q. In the same building?
A. I didn't see any.
Q. The rooms close by these are used as offices?
A. Yes; there several rooms in this office. There may have been a thousand in there, but I didn't see them.
Q. On which side of the track, going down towards the Union depot?
A. It is on the right, coming down this way.
Q. Was it between the two tracks, between the Allegheny Valley and the Pennsylvania Central track?
A. Yes; it is right along side of the Allegheny track.
Q. Did you carry this man down the Allegheny track, or the Pennsylvania track?
A. Down the Pennsylvania.
Q. And then turned to the right?
A. Yes; where the engines come out of the round-house--carried him down across there, and went into the office.
Q. Is that the only building standing between these two tracks--the Allegheny Valley track and the Pennsylvania Central, in that vicinity?
A. No, sir; there is two or three dozen buildings.
Q. What were they?
A. There is a square shop, and the round-houses, and this shop, and then there is small buildings. I don't know what they are used for.
Q. There are offices in some of those buildings, are there not--machine shops for instance?
A. There is an office between the two round-houses--Shafer's office. That is the only one I know there.
Q. You are positive it was not the superintendent's office?
A. Yes, sir; the superintendent's office is up stairs.
Q. How many rooms were there down stairs?
A. I don't know how many; I was never in only this one.
Q. Were you there on Thursday or Friday previous to this?
A. Yes; I was up there.
Q. Do you know anything about the causes leading to this riot?
A. No, sir; only the double-headers. That is all I know.
Q. Did you hear any talk of resisting the troops if they attempted to clear the track?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you see any stones or anything thrown at the soldiers?
A. No, sir; I was not there when they came up. This man fainted, and I helped to carry him down.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you notice whether there were any doors leading out of this office to any other rooms, or from the hall you went into to other rooms?
A. Yes, sir; as you go into the door there is a door leads to the left, past the stairs. There is one under the stairs.
Q. Did you go in the first door?
A. No, sir; the second.
Q. To the left?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was the first door open on the left as you went in the hall?
A. I didn't notice; I know there is a door there, because I took notice to it as we went in--we went on to a second door. The other fellow helping to carry him seemed to know where to take him to, and I went along.
Q. Did you see anybody in the room--the first room--the front room--to which this door led to, through the windows or door?
A. No, sir; I could see no person.
* * * * *
D. L. Reynolds, sworn:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. D. Leach Reynolds.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. At the time of this trouble I resided in the Twelfth ward, on Thirtieth street.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I was conductor on the road at that time.
Q. Do you know anything of the causes leading to this strike?
A. Yes, sir; the more important cause of it was the abuse of the men by the petted officials, such as despatchers, and so forth, and the double-headers.
Q. What do you mean by the petted parties?
A. It is just this way: They have a set of men that are posted, not only in Pittsburgh, but at the principal stations, whose duty it is to give the conductors orders, what they shall do with the cars, what cars they shall set off and take on, and they can either give a man a nice train or a train where there is no work to do, or they can give all the work to one man--one man they give all the work to do, and one man they let go behind with nothing to do. It caused a great deal of dissatisfaction, and a great deal of growling. As sure as a man did any growling, that man would be discharged the next trip.
Q. Are you employed by the railroad now?
A. No, sir; I left the road on the 16th August.
Q. Were you present on Saturday, the time the troops came in collision with the crowd?
A. I was.
Q. State what you saw?
A. I went up there about half-past one or two o'clock in the afternoon, and saw the crowd that was standing on Twenty-eighth street, and didn't like the looks of it. There was some rather rough characters there. I do not know who they were, and where they belonged. I then took up a position in the hospital grounds, about one hundred yards from the track, one side of a tree that stands by the fence, so that I could fully see and observe all that was going on. The report was that they were going to send a train out, with lots of militia, and General Pearson on the cow-catcher. I was waiting to see if the train succeeded in getting through the crowd. The Philadelphia troops, as I was going up Twenty-eighth street, came in. I believe the second section was coming in at the time I was going up. I remained up there, I presume, all of two hours before the Philadelphia troops came up the track. I was looking in so many different directions that I could not tell you whether General Pearson and Pitcairn, and the sheriff, was in front of the soldiers or not. I saw the entire body of them as they came up. I do not remember of any persons or citizens of the Commonwealth in front of the militia when they came up and formed their hollow square. Then I saw Mr. Pitcairn plainly, and, also, General Pearson. Sheriff Fife I did not see. At the time they formed their hollow square, they threw out a platoon, as has been described, but across the front end of the square. That platoon undertook to chase the crowd back off the railroad tracks, off Twenty-eighth street. They refused to go back, and, of course, that is where the riots began. The soldiers tried to drive them back by shoving them back with their breasts. They refused to be pushed back. Then they undertook to charge them back with their bayonets. After that they fell back a step or two, and I heard the order to fire, and they did fire with good effect. About that time I took up over the hill, and came down the other way, a few minutes after the fire. I presume I was about fifty feet from the front end of the soldiers. They were then moving around somewhat, and I asked one of the railroad boys if he had seen any of our boys fall. He said there was three or four. I asked him if any of the soldiers were killed. About that time there was a gun went off--I think it went off in the air--and just then I seen one of the conductors coming down with his arm resting on his coat. He had taken his coat off, and I went over to and asked him how bad he was hurt. He said his arm was weak, so that he could not hold it up. I assisted him down to Penn street, and put him in a grocer's wagon, and took him to Doctor Clark's, and went to my own house and told my wife I was not hurt. I didn't find her there, I found her on Penn street. I put her in a baker shop, and then went off to look for some more friends. About this time they threw the platoon of soldiers across Twenty-eighth street, and I supposed they were going to fire, and I got into a hotel where I heard there was some wounded, to hear who they were. There had been some there, but they had been removed. I afterwards saw them bringing down an old gentleman, Mr. Stockel. I went home that evening, got my supper and remained at home until, I presume, it was three o'clock. Then I took my wife and started down to see. At Twenty-eighth street the crowd had got so dense that I went into a drug store, and while I was in there, a whole party went by, with a drum beating in front of them. They were whooping and hollering. I don't remember that there was any firearms in the party, but I know they had a big drum, and were pounding on that. As soon as they got by, I says, I will take my wife home. I took her home, and after I got there, the neighbors and her together persuaded me to remain there, and the consequence was I didn't go away from my own door stoop that evening. I went to bed, I presume it was about half past nine o'clock, and on Sunday morning, I presume about two or three o'clock, she tried to awaken me to tell me the Pennsylvania railroad property was on fire, but she could not get me awake, and later in the morning, when the Philadelphia soldiers were going up Penn street, they formed a platoon in front of my house. I started out to hear where they had gone to, and found out that they were gone up the street.
Q. Did you see anybody fire on them?
A. No, sir; I didn't.
Q. Was there any talk of resisting these soldiers in clearing the track, and preventing them from running trains?
A. You might hear men talking of a great many things, but nobody could imagine what they were going to do. Nobody had any firearms to resist anything with. They were asking the question, that there were one thousand five hundred Philadelphia soldiers coming, and what are you going to do with them?
Q. The crowd resisted the soldiers, did they, when they attempted to clear the track?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. The soldiers did not use any more force than was necessary, at first?
A. No, sir; they did not use any force at all, but simply pushed ahead with their breasts.
Q. Tried to push the crowd back quietly?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you see any stones thrown?
A. I saw one that I took to be a clod of earth, about the size of my hand, thrown from the west side of the watch-box from the side of the hill, down into the soldiers. That was the only stone I saw thrown that day.
Q. You were not near enough to tell who ordered the firing?
A. I could hear a great many words. I could not hear sentences, but I heard the word, "fire," distinctly. I could not hear any conversation unless it was in a loud tone of voice, but I heard, "fire," as distinctly as you speak.
Q. Did the soldiers fire in a volley?
A. No; more like one soldier got scared and he fires off his gun, and the balance follow suit.
Q. What was the objection to running double-headers?
A. It puts two men's work on one man for one man's pay. We had been reduced so often that we thought they had got about as low as we could live.
Q. How much did you average?
A. If I averaged full time, it was $70 20 per month before the reduction. After that I got $2 45 a day, and never got a full month. If you want to know all about their wages, I can tell you from the first reduction. When I went on the road they were paying conductors $2 60 a day.
Q. When was that?
A. The 21st February, 1872, I think. They were paying conductors then $2 60 a day, and there was an order came out--or rather the men wanted more wages, and the committee went to Philadelphia, and it was arranged that conductors, who had been running trains prior to March 1, would get $2 85. New conductors were only to get $2 45. When I went on the road first I acted in the capacity of brakeman for about eight weeks, and on the 24th day of April I took out my first train, and I received $2 45 for that. I ran from the 21st day of April till the 16th of June as extra conductor, part of the time running trains and part of the time not. After the 16th day of June I got a regular train, and I ran that for a whole year for $2 45, and from the 16th day of June till the 1st day of next January I received $2 70, which I was led to suppose was a raise of ten per cent. On the 1st day of January an order came out that we should be reduced, and that cut me down to $2 40. I could not understand how a reduction of ten per cent. would take off more than an increase of ten per cent., and I had an interview with Mr. Pitcairn and the only satisfaction I got, that the company was losing money. The 16th day of June my wages went up to $2 70, and that was the wages I received up until the day of the last reduction, when they cut me down to $2 45.
Q. You had been getting $2 70, and they cut you down to $2 40, then you went to talk to Mr. Pitcairn, and he told you that the business was bad, and they had to make this reduction?
A. I did not make any complaint. They reduced by tens instead of by fives.
Q. What reason did he give?
A. He could not give me any reason, he said it was done on higher authority.
Q. I understood you to say, he said something about business was poor?
A. He said that the company was losing money. He took into consideration the different conductors, and they had different pay, and the conclusion was that they were losing money.
Q. Then they reduced you?
A. They reduced me to $2 40 at that time. They ran the first year for $2 20, and the second year for $2 45, and the third year for $2 70--so the order was in the start out. I never happened to come in under the $2 20 list, they raised me to $2 70, then they cut me down to $2 40, and I had to work from June to January, at $2 40, and then went up again to $2 70, on account of the year having expired.
Q. What was the pay of the brakesman?
A. Brakesmen originally received $2 00 a day, then afterwards they were cut down to $1 80, and the last reduction brought them down to $1 65.
Q. Did you know what wages they were making on an average?
A. They, as a general thing, made pretty near only about $26 per month. Some months a man can make almost double time, other months he could not make so much.
Q. Did that depend upon his being attentive?
A. No, sir; it depended entirely on his business. A new man was treated the same as an old man, so far as going out was concerned, unless he was an extra brakeman. If he was regular, on a regular run, he went on that train every time.
Q. Of course, if he was not there to go out, some one took his place?
A. If he was not there to go out, they always supplied a man in his place--the crew was slim, I think, as it was.
Q. The man that was there always got his work?
A. I never lost a day on the Pennsylvania railroad by being absent, unless it was voluntarily or freight was scarce. Sometimes freight was scarce for a month, and they would have to cut one train off one day, and once they sent me home in July, for a week. It was on account of trade being very dull.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You are not in the employ of the road now?
A. No, sir.
Q. When did you leave it?
A. On the 16th day of August.
Q. Was there more of the hands left at that time?
A. The road was principally operated after the strike was over, by the same that had been on the line before the strike, and I was among the number, and about the time I stopped off, things began to assume the old fashioned shape--one day they would want me and the next day they would not, and I went to Mr. Pitcairn and asked him for an order for my money, and he said it was not necessary to give an order to get me the money.
Q. Quit of your own accord?
A. I suppose I would have been discharged if I had stuck to it.
* * * * *
William M. McKay, was recalled and explained to the committee the situation of the room where the soldier who was sun struck was taken into.
* * * * *
Colonel Smith, re-called:
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You heard the last witness describe the building, and the manner in which he entered that building, and the way that he entered--where he says he left the soldier was at the telegraph office?
A. It was not a telegraph office. [Witness explains the situation of the rooms in the building on a plot.] This is the telegraph office, and this is the train master. I presume by the description that was where the soldier was taken. This is the passage connecting the main entrance of the building with the telegraph office. This is the first floor--the first floor above the basement--there is a basement under the telegraph office, and the superintendent's private office is immediately over this, on the second floor. The outer office of the superintendent is there on the second floor, and the clerks here. Three on the first and three on the second, and this is the trainmen's room, this is a sort of counter here with windows where trainmen come up to get their orders.
Q. Was there a telegraph office adjourning this room where Mr. McKay carried the soldier?
A. The room is connected. There is a door just here.
Adjourned until this afternoon, at three o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
PITTSBURGH, Tuesday, February 26, 1878.
The committee met, pursuant to adjournment.
All members present except Messrs. Lindsey and Larrabee.
* * * * *
P. J. Young, sworn:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Where is your residence?
A. No. 61 Fountain street.
Q. What is your occupation, sir?
A. Police officer.
Q. Were you on the force at the time of the riots, in July?
A. I was one of the men that was dropped at the time of the reduction--suspended.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday and Thursday night, at the railroad?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Be kind enough to state what occurred there?
A. Well, on Thursday, about noon, I think, Mayor McCarthy called--came to my place where I lived, and told me to hurry down to the mayor's office, I was wanted. I went down, and met Chief Dimick, and he told me I was wanted on the Pennsylvania railroad, there was a strike. I asked him if I was to act as a police officer, and he says, Yes, I was only suspended. I went out and met Mr. Butler at the Union depot. I believe he is the depot master there, and I told him I was sent out there by the mayor's orders. He sent out a car with me and two more officers to Twenty-eighth street, where we joined more police out there. When I arrived there, there was a large crowd of people congregated upon Twenty-eighth street, along the railroad, and remained there until two or three o'clock. I don't know exactly what time.
Q. In the afternoon?
A. Yes. Then me and four officers were detailed to go on board of a double-header. There was a train going out. I went on the first engine, with another officer, as I understood for a protection for the engineer, as far as East Liberty. The train started, and moved on a little piece up the track, and a crowd of, I couldn't say how many, came in front and motioned their hands at the engineer. I said to the engineer, go ahead. He made some remark, and he jumped off the engine. I remained there on the engine, and finally the fireman jumped off. I stood there for some time, thinking they might come back again. They didn't, and I got off, and was asked by, I think, Mr. Fox--he is police officer of the company--if I wouldn't go on the engine again. I said yes. I went on the engine and remained there. No engineer came aboard, and finally I left. At the same time, the other police that were out there--I don't know how many--were strung all along the track, keeping the crowd off. I suppose in the neighborhood of six o'clock I came into supper here, together with more of the officers, to the Continental, on Fifth avenue, at Mr. Newell's; we had supper there. After supper we all went out. A good many went out along with me to the Union depot, and we expected to get a train to go out as far as Twenty-eighth street. We stayed along there, and no engine came down to the depot that night. Me and two or three more officers walked out Liberty street to Twenty-eighth street. There was a large crowd of people along there when we got out. I moved around through them. We patrolled Liberty and along Penn and Twenty-eighth street, and everything was very quiet. I left, I suppose, in the neighborhood of four o'clock in the morning. About that time. That is all I know.
Q. Did the crowd make any demonstrations? Was that all they did, waving their hands to the engineer?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. They didn't make any attempt to commit any violence?
A. No, sir; that night they were a very orderly crowd.
Q. What was this crowd composed of, railroad men?
A. I suppose there was some railroad men there through them.
Q. How many was there, do you suppose, altogether?
A. I couldn't exactly say. There was a large crowd of people. They were scattered up and down the railroad. It was dark.
Q. When you got this train, could you not have run that train out? Did you have a sufficient police force to guard a train--I mean on Thursday afternoon?
A. I wouldn't be afraid, if I was an engineer, to run away. I don't know what might have happened.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did you have a police uniform on?
A. I had a summer uniform--police blouse?
Q. A regular police blouse?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. So that you would be known as a police officer?
A. I had no buttons on it. I had my shield on the inside of my coat. I wore citizen's clothes all the time I was detailed as a reserve man.
Q. A stranger would not have known you were a police officer?
A. There were a great many that did know me.
Q. A stranger would not have recognized you as being a police officer?
A. No; I didn't wear a shield.
Q. Did you know that engineer that jumped off the train?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you know the fireman?
A. No, sir.
Q. How many police officers were there at any one time?
A. I couldn't, in fact, say how many. There was a squad went out in the morning--some more men that was suspended at that time. I don't know how many went out.
Q. Ten or fifteen or twenty?
A. I expect there was over fifteen men.
Q. Was there twenty?
A. I couldn't say, sir.
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Did you keep the track clear?
A. The track was clear at that time. Afterwards, of course, we were not keeping it clear. There was a large crowd that stood away back.
Q. On Friday, what did you do?
A. I didn't go out there on Friday.
Q. Why?
A. I think I came down to the mayor's office Friday, and I got some sleep that forenoon, Friday, and I heard that the sheriff and his posse had gone out and our services were not required.
Q. Who told you that?
A. I couldn't say. I don't know whether it came from the chief's clerk or not--Mr. Davis.
Q. You heard it at the office?
A. I heard it, I think, at the office. I won't swear to it, but I think I heard it at the office. However, I didn't go out.
* * * * *
M. Mulvaney, sworn:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Michael Mulvaney.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. In Eighth ward, Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Policeman.
Q. Were you on the police force in July, at the time of the disturbance?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What days were you on?
A. On Thursday, the mayor's clerk told me to go to the Union depot there, and report to Mr. Butler. Mr. Butler told me to go to work at the round-house, and two or three more of us went down and we remained there. We went to the round-house, and we met some more of the police and stayed there for a long time. There was a big crowd around there. A lot of the police jumped on the train to help take it out--a double-header. Eight or nine of the police jumped on the train, and I saw the engineer and fireman jump off. The fireman and engineer jumped off. That is all I saw at that time. Everything was quiet.
Q. Were you there during that time?
A. No, sir; I was not. I left at four or five o'clock.
Q. Clearing the tracks and keeping the crowd off?
A. The crowd stood one side.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were you one of the discharged men?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who sent for you to appear at the mayor's office?
A. I think it was the mayor's clerk or the chief clerk. I could not say which of the two.
Q. How many of you went out together?
A. Me and two more fellows went together at that time.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You went up there to help to take out the train--a double-header?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How many of you?
A. I could not say. There was a good many police there. I could not say how many.
Q. Were you on the engine?
A. No, sir; I was not on the engine. I saw a lot of them jump on the engine.
Q. Policemen?
A. Policemen.
Q. Were there any threats made against the engineer or fireman?
A. I did not hear any.
* * * * *
Conrad Shaffer, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Conrad Shaffer.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. 318 Fifth avenue.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Police officer eight years and nine months.
Q. Were you on the police force last July, at the time of the riots?
A. I was not, sir.
Q. Were you sent for to appear at the mayor's office?
A. On Thursday morning, when this occurred, we were standing down there on Smithfield street. We just had been paid off, and I was standing there with George Kauffman, another police officer, and Detective O'Mara came to us and said we were wanted at the mayor's office. We went over, and they said to us there was a strike some place. They did not tell us where. There was ten of us gathered around there in the mayor's office, and we were marched by Smithfield street to the Union depot. Mr. Fox, the railroad officer, was along. We walked up Smithfield to the Union depot and got into a car with the shifter in front, and took us out to Twenty-eighth street. They stopped there and we got out, and when we got there this man McCall, who struck Watt--I seen the man running backwards and forwards--then somebody got him by the back of the neck, and I then ran up and put the nippers on him and arrested him and took him to the Twelfth ward station-house, and we went back to the railroad track. I stayed there all the forenoon, until about two o'clock in the afternoon. There was a train came along, and Mr. Fox came to us and said he wanted men on the engine. Fox told me and Cochran to stay in the rear, and we went back to the rear, and while we were going back the train moved on, and men got in front and done this like, [holding up his hands,] and the engineer got off. The second engineer got off, and the men that was firing they got off, and we stopped there then all the afternoon, and we went to the central station. We had our supper in the Continental, and after we had supper we were marched back again out to the depot. Walked up then to what they call the dispatch office, at the outer depot. There is a little house that they call the dispatch office, and a telegraph dispatch came in that they did not want any more officers--thought they could do without the police out there--so then we stood there for a long time, and did not know what to do, and Clerk Davis told us we might go home if they did not want us. Directly a dispatch came in that we could go out. We were put on a car and taken out again, and we remained all that night, until half past three o'clock in the morning. Then there was no disturbance going on, and we went home. I then stayed at home. We were not wanted any more--the city did not want us, and the railroad company did not want us.
Q. Did they tell you they did not want you?
A. We were our bosses.
Q. You say the railroad company did not want you?
A. I did not see any official of the Pennsylvania railroad there at all. On Monday evening after the proclamation was issued for all the old officers to come back again, I went to the Central station and offered my services, and on Monday morning the mayor, and General Negley, and a squad of his men, and a company of Mr. McFarland's were marched down Smithfield street to this place, where the boat was coming in from Elizabeth--right down here on second avenue--and stopped them, and the mayor and General Negley then made speeches to the men, told them they had better not raise any violence in the city of Pittsburgh, and keep quiet. We were taken away again, and placed on the city of Pittsburgh force on our regular beat.
Q. After you tried to start this train, and the men waved their hands, and the train stopped, did you get off?
A. I was not on the train. I was in the rear of it.
Q. Were the officers in possession of the track?
A. There was officers all along the track.
Q. They could have run this train. It was possible for the train to go out; that is, the crowd could not have interfered.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You went back to the depot after supper?
A. After we had supper, we marched to the Union depot. Went into the telegraph office, outside the Union depot--there was a two story frame they called a dispatch office. A dispatch came in that they did not want any officers, and I asked Clerk Davis, says I, "Don't they want any more police out there" and he said, "It seems not."
Q. Who is Clerk Davis?
A. He was the chief's clerk.
Q. The mayor's clerk?
A. No, sir; the chief's clerk.
Q. He was not a railroad official?
A. No, sir; the chief's clerk.
Q. Dispatch came that they did not want any more officers?
A. They dispatched that a man was here, and if they wanted him, they could have him. There were two young men in there that were playing checkers. I could see them standing at the window and looking in. They were playing checkers at the time, and I walked right up to Mr. Davis, and the young fellow held his ear right down to the instrument when it came. They telegraphed, "You can send him, if the man is willing to go out." So he went.
Q. You did not go back, you said.
A. I went home.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did you know those engineers that jumped off the train?
A. No, sir; they were perfect strangers to me.
Q. Did you know the man that waved, to stop the train?
A. No, sir; he was a tall young man, light moustache, to the best of my recollection.
Q. Did you know any of the railroad employés?
A. No, sir. It was on a different part of the city. My way was out here on Fifth avenue, that was over on the other side.
By Mr. Yutzy:
Q. Did they start the train?
A. They ran about the length of this room.
Q. How many men were on the track in front, and waved and signaled to stop?
A. I could not say how many there were in front of the train. There was not any more on the track than there is in this room.
Q. Did they make any threats?
A. No, sir.
Q. Said nothing to the engineers?
A. No, sir. All the man done was this. [Waving his hands.]
Q. Did you take that to be a signal to stop?
A. I supposed so. I was in the rear, and Mr. Fox told me. He says, "Shaffer, you go in the rear, and get on the train." Says I, "All right, Mr. Fox." Just as I got ready to jump on, the train stopped.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. This man that made these signals, was he on the track in front of the engine?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How far were you from the engine?
A. I went to jump on. I went to get on, and I seen the young man doing this. Some of them hooted and cheered, and then she stopped.
Q. You were not at the rear of the train?
A. Not quite; it was a long train. I do not know how many cars were on it.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were you up there on Sunday?
A. No, sir.
* * * * *
George Cochrane, sworn:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. George Cochrane.
Q. Your residence?
A. Eighth ward.
Q. Occupation?
A. Been on the police force until they dropped these men.
Q. Are you on the force now?
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday and Thursday night of July 19th?
A. I was one of the ten men that was called in on Thursday.
Q. Be kind enough to relate what occurred?
A. We mustered up ten men, started out to the Union depot, got on a car there and went as far as Twenty-eighth street. Seen a big crowd out there. Stopped around there a little while, and this McCall, he jumped on a switch there and made use of some threatening language, and I believe, struck superintendent Watt, and we arrested him and put him in the Twelfth ward station-house. We fetched him to central station at Diamond alley. We came in, got supper and went out again, then went to the Union depot and stopped out there awhile, and didn't know whether they wanted any more men or not. We stopped there awhile, and finally went out as far as Twenty-eighth street again, and stopped there all night. In the morning, I guess, six or seven o'clock, I came in again--Friday morning I came in to the Union depot, and seen Mr. Fox there, and he detailed me for the depot then--detailed five of us. Stayed in around about the Union depot. I stayed there until nine o'clock Friday night, and Fox told me I had better go home and get some sleep. I went home and came back Saturday morning, stayed around there all day Saturday and Saturday night, and I went up home to change my clothes. Sunday morning I came back again, stayed around until the Union depot had catched fire, and word was sent from the mayor's office that the mayor wanted all the policemen he could get hold of to report at the mayor's. We went down to the mayor's office, and was detailed there, doing duty around the city. We went out Second avenue here and stopped a party there from coming in. The mayor made a speech to them. Went to the Connellsville depot and arrested some thirty or forty there that had taken a train and would not pay any fare.
Q. Taken a train to go out?
A. No; they took charge of a train and would not pay fare.
Q. That was the parties that came from Cumberland, Maryland.
A. Yes; that was the same party.
Q. This double-header, on Thursday, I believe, was thirty-six cars and two locomotives?
A. We started to go out with some four or five policemen on each locomotive. Sheaffer and I was on the rear part of the train, and we made several attempts to go out, and the engineer on the first locomotive he jumped off, and the crowd cheered him. Then he got back on to his locomotive, and got his coat out of the box and put it on, and they both left their engine. There was nobody to hinder them going out, that I could see.
Q. Do you suppose they could run out, and did you have sufficient force to protect them?
A. There was sufficient force to protect them.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were any of those ten men you speak of, that left the mayor's office, dressed in police uniform?
A. No; they had blouses on them.
Q. Could any of them be distinguished from any other citizens?
A. No; a stranger would not have known them, I suppose. There was hundreds of them out there knew me. I don't suppose a stranger would.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What made the engineers leave their engines?
A. They told them to get off.
Q. They told them to get off?
A. They beckoned for them, I believe, and they got off.
Q. Did you know the engineer?
A. Never had any acquaintance with him. Since that time I have.
Q. You did not know them at that time?
A. No, sir.
Q. Didn't tell you why they got off?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was any threats made by any one?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You speak of these men making some threats. They struck Mr. Watt?
A. Yes, sir; McCall, he used threatening language at the time he struck him.
Q. What did he say?
A. He jumped out there and says, "We will die here."
Q. Die--make a fight before these trains would go out?
A. Yes; we had no trouble out there after we made that arrest?
* * * * *
Patrick J. Carrigan sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. No. 109 Second avenue.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Police officer.
Q. Were you on the police force on July 19?
A. Special police officer--yes, sir.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday and Thursday evening?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Will you be kind enough to state what occurred?
A. I went on duty Thursday afternoon. There was a pretty good sized crowd at Twenty-eighth street. And they were getting ready to take a train out, and they put a good many officers on each car and the locomotive, and some stayed along the line and watched them. One man got out in front and done this way. [Waving his hand.] The train and the engineer got off.
Q. How long did you stay there?
A. I stayed until five o'clock, and then came in town, and they were taking this McCall in; and I got supper, and then went out again in the evening, and stayed there all night.
Q. Were you on duty Friday?
A. No, sir.
Q. Friday night?
A. No, sir.
Q. Saturday?
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you on duty at any time afterwards there?
A. Yes; went on duty again on Tuesday after the riot, and when going out on the train, one of the Pennsylvania officials got on the train, and told us when we got to Twenty-eighth street to get off, and not let these men see us. They did not want these men to know that they were.... About twelve of us went up the hill, and lay there behind some trees all night.
Q. This was Thursday?
A. Thursday. A few of us would go down to where the railroad fellows were, and stand around there. There was not over twenty-five or thirty.
Q. Were they on the tracks?
A. No, sir; on Twenty-eighth street. There was nothing on the tracks but railroad men, walking up and down.
Q. Could you have taken that train out that day?
A. Yes, sir; if they had engineers that train could have gone out.
Q. You had possession of the track--and the officers did?
A. There was only this one that was on the track.
Q. Was there any attempt made to assist him?
A. Not that I saw. He went over in the crowd. I was down back where the crowd was, in case of any of them interfering. We were in citizens' clothes, and we scattered amongst them.
Q. There was no attempt made to arrest?
A. They made arrests before I got up.
Q. They got McCall?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Policemen hid behind trees?
A. We were told to go there by the railroad officials--to get off and not show ourselves; there was some trees in the road, and we laid down there.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were you ordered by the railroad officials in charge of you to go behind trees?
A. To go up on this road. He didn't tell us to go behind trees.
Q. And conceal yourselves?
A. And conceal ourselves.
* * * * *
John Davis re-called:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were you out at Torrens, Mr. Davis, during Thursday?
A. I was.
Q. Will you be kind enough to state what occurred there, and what efforts were made by the police to disperse the crowd?
A. When I got there there was nothing special going on, for everything was quiet. I didn't remain there but a short time--came back to Twenty-eighth street, and when I was there everything was perfectly quiet.
Q. Officers had possession of the track?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You have testified to what knowledge you had of the occurrences at Twenty-eighth street?
A. With the exception of Thursday night--a little matter I forgot. After I had got the men their suppers, I went to the depot, and reported at the telegraph office I had men to go out. And the reply came back that everything was quiet, and they needed no more men, and they could not send an engine for us. I told the men what transpired, and directly a second despatch came, that we could go out if we wished to. Some of the men walked out, some remained around the depot, and went out afterwards. As I have stated in my other testimony, on Friday morning I sent officers up to the depot, and they returned and stated that they were not wanted; they had all the men they wished.
Q. I believe you testified to that?
A. Yes; I testified to that.
Q. Anything else?
A. Nothing further than I was a witness of the transaction of the firing.
Q. Have you testified as to that?
A. No, sir. You stopped me right at the firing. I was present when the troops came up, and witnessed the whole transaction.
Q. Go ahead?
A. After the troops came up there were civilians in front of the troops. They halted probably five or six feet from Twenty-eighth street. The column left faced, and marched towards the sand-house. The first two columns about faced and marched towards the hill side--formed an open square--and a detachment of soldiers came between the two columns, with the Gatling guns in the rear of them. A detachment of soldiers came up between the two columns--came towards where the crowd was gathered--at a carry arms, and it appears they could not get further, and they fell back five or six paces, and came to a charge bayonets. At that time, when they came to a charge bayonets, there was in the neighborhood of a dozen or two missiles thrown from the house. I only saw one stone among the lot. At that moment they commenced to fire. I was on the hill side.
Q. Was the crowd resisting the soldiers?
A. There was such an immense gathering there they could not get away--they had no chance to get away.
Q. Did the soldiers attempt to press them back at first?
A. They first came to carry arms--carrying their guns at the side of them--then they stepped back and came to a charge. Just at that point these missiles came from the little house, thrown by the boys.
Q. Did you hear any pistol shots?
A. Previous to that? No, sir; I did not.
Q. Did you hear any command to fire?
A. I didn't, sir. I was probably sixty yards above the railroad track. I could witness the movement of the troops, but could not hear any orders given. After the firing I immediately came down the hill the way I went up--took the same course. Came down past the soldiers, and went into the railroad buildings. I saw this soldier, who was carried off the ground before they had formed a square, and helped to bring him to.
Q. Who was there?
A. There was two men there--a reporter of one of the city papers.
Q. Do you know these men?
A. Only one of them.
Q. What was his name?
A. Mr. Rattigan. Him and I went in together. He is a reporter--used to be on the Pittsburgh Chronicle.
Q. What office was he carried to?
A. Telegraph office. The first floor in that building, Twenty-sixth street.
Q. Was there anybody in the room at the time besides these two men?
A. There were two other men attending him. One of them had a bandage around his head, and said he had got hit with a stone. He said he was not hurt very much. There was a small bandage around his forehead.
Q. You didn't know who gave the orders to fire?
A. No, sir. After the firing there was quite a .... raised. Some parties were excited over it--some of their friends being killed. It was quiet Thursday, Friday, and Saturday along the railroad. Had no trouble.
Q. How soon after the firing did you go down to this telegraph office?
A. The minute they commenced firing I saw dust flying pretty lively round me, and I started up the hill. I suppose I was three to five minutes going up and coming down. After the firing was done I came right down the hillside again--I came down the same course I went up.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You say a sick soldier was in the telegraph office?
A. In the room in the left of the building as you go in.
Q. Is that the telegraph office?
A. They call it a telegraph office, but it is not in that room.
Q. Train master's office?
A. I don't know whose office it is. They call it a telegraph office.
Q. The instruments are in the adjoining office?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Could you see into the telegraph room?
A. I opened the door to look in.
Q. Anybody in?
A. No; the operator was working with this young man on the floor. He was having a spasm, stiffened up. They worked with him for probably ten minutes before he came to.
Q. He had a fit, didn't he?
A. A fit of some kind.
Q. That was fifteen minutes before the firing took place?
A. I came down the hill immediately after the firing took place, and went there to see these parties in the room.
Q. Did you see General Pearson on the ground just before the firing or during the time of the firing?
A. Didn't see him out after the troops went into the round-house; then I saw him in the yard, probably six o'clock in the evening--between five and six--I saw him in the yard.
Q. Did you see the officers in the hollow square?
A. I saw some, but could not recognize any of them.
Q. Do you know General Pearson?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Didn't see him?
A. No; didn't see him until the firing was all over.
Q. If General Pearson had been in the hollow square, wouldn't you have seen him?
A. My attention was not directly called to the officers. I was watching the movements of the men, and the minute these stones were thrown, my attention was called to that. In fact, I was not looking at the officers, I was watching the movements of the men. I suppose if I was looking for General Pearson, I could have picked him out from others. I have known him for a good many years.
* * * * *
Richard Hughes, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Richard Hughes.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. 2512 Carson street, south side, Twenty-fifth ward.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I was on the police force.
Q. Were you on the police force on the 19th day of last July?
A. I was one of those suspended.
Q. Did you offer your services to the railroad officers on the 19th of July?
A. Yes; I went up to the Union depot, two or three parties along with me, ex-policemen, Thursday morning. Stayed there until about eleven o'clock. The first thing, I seen about ten or fifteen, or twenty policemen, with two or three detectives, walking through the Union depot. That drew my attention, and I followed them. George Crosby, and two or three other parties went back, and met Mr. Davis on Smithfield street, and he told us they wanted to see us at the office--wanted us to go out to the Union depot. We went down to the Union depot, and seven of us, with detective White, and taking a train between one and two o'clock from Union depot to the stock-yards, we went out--seven of us. Sam Leary, at East Liberty, he came in, too. Mr. Watt was along with us. There was two or three hundred people around there, and they told us to clear the track, they were going to start a train then. We went to move them off the track, so they did, and when the track was clear, they couldn't get engineers, firemen, or brakemen to take out the train. Stayed there until seven or eight o'clock that evening, and everything was quiet. The regular force came out about half-past six that evening, in full uniform, around the stock-yards. There was nothing going on there. We came on on Monday morning following. I came to town; went up to the Union depot. I saw two or three policemen, and asked who hired them, and they said Fox. I asked him if they wanted any more policemen, and he said he had plenty. I asked for Mr. Watt, the superintendent, and he told me he was at the round-house. He told me they wanted no more policemen. I asked him to pay me what he owed me, I want to leave town in the afternoon. He said he couldn't pay me, to go to the office. He told me he didn't want any more police. I went to Mr. Watt myself.
Q. Did you tell him the mayor had sent you?
A. I told him the mayor had ordered us out there. The day before that we wanted to know who was going to pay us. They told us the pay was all right. Clerk Davis asked me, why ain't you on duty, and I told him they didn't want me.
Q. Did you see anything of the fire that night?
A. No, sir; I left two o'clock Friday afternoon.
* * * * *
George W. Crosby, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. George W. Crosby.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. No. 1117 Carson street, south side.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Formerly a policeman and laborer.
Q. Were you on the police force on the 19th of July last?
A. No, sir. I was taken off on the reduction. The 11th or 12th of July the suspension took place.
Q. Did you offer your services to the railroad officials on Friday, the 20th?
A. Yes. I went to the Union depot on Friday, the 20th, between nine and ten o'clock. I met Mr. Fox, a police officer of the Pennsylvania railroad, offered my services to him, and he told me he didn't want any more. He had all the men he wanted, and mentioned the number of men he had.
Q. How many did he say he had?
A. I couldn't say positively. Three or four, or four or five. I couldn't swear to the exact number, but I know he mentioned it to me. He had all the men he wanted.
Q. You were not on duty on Thursday?
A. Yes; I was.
Q. Did you see anybody besides Mr. Fox?
A. At the Union depot?
Q. No, sir; that day--on Friday?
A. No, sir. I only offered my services to him.
Q. Did you see Mr. Watt, the superintendent, at any time?
A. I was in company with Mr. Hughes at the time he saw Mr. Watt, and I had nothing to say to Mr. Watt at all.
* * * * *
William J. White, sworn.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. City of Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. On the detective force.
Q. Were you out at Torrens on Thursday, the 19th of July?
A. I was, sir.
Q. Will you be kind enough to state what occurred, and what efforts were made by the police force to disperse the crowd?
A. I will state that about the neighborhood of twelve o'clock on Thursday, the 19th of July, I met the chief's clerk, Mr. Davis, and he told me he wanted all the available police he could get, to go out on the railroad, there was a strike. I hunted around and got one or two, and going up Fifth avenue I met the mayor, and the mayor told me to go out and get all I could, and go to Twenty-eighth street. I went up to the depot, and got about six or seven men, besides myself, and took up some on my way--about seven men, I guess--and went to Twenty-eighth street, getting off the cars there; and Mr. Watt was with us, and he told us we had better go on to Torrens station. We got on the cars and went to Torrens station, and got off there. There was quite a crowd--I suppose seventy-five or one hundred strikers. Mr. Watt asked me to clear the tracks. I done so. Told the men to get off the tracks, and they all went off the tracks, and had no trouble or difficulty whatever. Stayed around there for a considerable time, and I think Mr. Gumbert, a gentleman connected with the dispatcher, came to me and said, "We are going to send a train out." Says I, "All right." Says he, "What I want you to do, is to get the men up the track, and see that nobody mounts the train." I told the men to scatter along, in different positions, on the track; that this train was going out, and see that nobody got on the train, and that the train went out. No person interfered whatever.
Q. What day was this?
A. Thursday, the 19th.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. Was that a double-header?
A. I could not say. I suppose there was over twenty cars on it.
Q. Do you know whether there were two engines on it?
A. No, sir; there was only one engine.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. How long did you remain there?
A. I remained until seven o'clock in the evening.
Q. Any further effort made to run trains after that?
A. No, sir.
Q. Any threats made by any of the men when the train started? Was the engineer threatened by the crowd?
A. No; I talked to some and they said they did not wish to intimidate any person. They were talking to the engineer and fireman. There was no threats or violence while I was there.
Q. Were you at Twenty-eighth street during the firing on the troops?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know anything connected with the riots?
A. I was not up at Twenty-eighth street, from the fact that the rules at the mayor's office require that a man has a week in the office, and it was my week in the office, and Friday and Saturday I was in the office all day. Sunday, after dinner, I started out. Then I started to help the fire department, and do what I could in that way.
Q. You were at the office after the Thursday of that week?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. While there, did you hear any demand made on the mayor for a force of police?
A. I cannot say that I did. The mayor was a good deal confused about it. We had not the force, in fact. I think it was Friday or Saturday morning. I seen a party come down to the mayor, and go into the office, and ask for that--some warrants that should have been served--that they hand them over. I believe they were handed over to a young man that came there--some warrants issued, I think, for some of the head rioters.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Do you know anything about those warrants?
A. No, sir; I do not.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you see any one ask the mayor to go along up to the railroad, and see Mr. Cassatt or Pitcairn or anybody else?
A. I did not.
Q. Did you hear any conversation in the office by some men, in regard to the burning of all the railroad property, on Sunday?
A. I did not; no, sir. I was in the office until dinner time. There was a good deal of excitement around there. Citizens running in--and the mayor was doing all he could, under the circumstances.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Who was the man that demanded the warrants?
A. He was a young man. I could not tell.
* * * * *
James Scott, sworn.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your name?
A. James Scott.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Ninth ward, Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I am a detective officer.
Q. Were you on the force at the time of the disturbance, in July?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you hear the mayor offer the services of the police force to the firemen to protect them, at any time during the fire on Saturday night or Sunday?
A. I will just state, as brief as I can. On Sunday morning I was sent by the chief to the Twelfth ward station to take charge of the telegraph office, and I met the mayor coming down. He asked me if I was going down. He told me to remain at the station there until I was relieved. In an hour and a half the mayor came back again in a buggy and asked if any squad of police had come up. He left his buggy there, and went to Twenty-eighth street. The station-house is at Twenty-sixth street. We went up street and came back again, and about the time we came back the squad of police was there. They brought in some prisoners. They had their arms full of goods. The mayor gave them orders to string along on Liberty street and protect the firemen, and arrest anybody that would interfere with them, and they started. I stood there all day, until seven o'clock in the evening.
Q. Do I understand you went with those men to Liberty street?
A. No, sir.
Q. You stayed at the station-house?
A. I stayed until I was relieved by the night captain. There were one hundred and fifteen men taken out. I think there are seven different station-houses that have a police wire in, and you have to have a man to attend to it; but in daylight they have none.
Q. There is no man left in the station-house at that time?
A. Nobody to do that. When we had the one hundred and sixteen men on, the lieutenant was always on duty more or less, and it was understood he could operate, and if there was anything wrong in the district, he could telegraph to head-quarters. We have one in East Liberty, one at Lawrenceville, one in the Twelfth ward, one at Centre avenue, one at the Fourteenth ward, and three on the south side. I came down in the evening at seven o'clock. Some parties threatened they would be around in the evening to burn the water-works, and the citizens of those two blocks surrounding that and edging on the Fort Wayne sheds considered if any of those places got started it would be liable to burn them out. I went down to the mayor's office and reported this danger, and I thought we ought to have a squad of police, fifteen or twenty. I reported to the chief and also to the mayor, and said I would start back and get together what citizens I could; and it was not an hour until there was twenty-five police there. We surrounded these water-works and stayed there until daylight.
Q. The morning of----
A. That was Sunday night at the time of the fire. During the night, about eleven o'clock, we smelled smoke at the far end of the Fort Wayne, and a couple of citizens, by the names of Moran and Reed, went down there and put it out. If it had got started there would have been quite a fire there.
Q. You are a detective, I understand?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday?
A. On duty on Thursday; yes, sir, on duty right along.
Q. Did you witness any of the occurrences?
A. No, sir; was not out there at any time. No orders to go out.
Q. You received no instructions about arresting these men. There was a warrant for some men who were supposed to be leaders?
A. There was a party detailed for that purpose.
Q. You were not in that party?
A. No, sir.
Q. Would it have been possible that night for these men to get hold of these parties--those officers that had the warrants? Were you out that night on duty?
A. Not that night--never off duty, you might say--we are always on duty.
Q. What I want to know is, whether these officers could have arrested these men they had warrants for?
A. I think it would have been almost an impossibility to have got them, unless they were got at their homes. To take them out of that crowd would take twice the force to get one or two men.
Q. You believe that with the force of the mayor, it would have been impossible to have taken these men?
A. To take these men right in the crowd, it would have been dangerous. I felt that way. I have had occasion to be where there was something like a riot at the bolt works, this same summer, and we had about twenty police there, and I suppose there was some fifteen hundred or two thousand men. We gave them to understand they could not pass into the gates, and they did not pass in, and it all passed quiet, and nobody hurt; but if we had fired one shot, I do not think we would have been of much use.
Q. As an experienced officer, you would not have made the arrest that night in that crowd?
A. Not in that crowd.
Q. Do you know whether there was any effort made to shadow these men--following them to their homes?
A. No, sir.
* * * * *
Charles L. Schriver, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Reside in Harrisburg.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Locomotive fireman.
Q. Were you employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company?
A. I was.
Q. At the time of the strike on the 19th of July?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you there on Thursday?
A. I was there on Thursday morning.
Q. Be kind enough to state what occurred?
A. I got to the round-house, I guess, about eight o'clock; stayed in there awhile. I was reading a dispatch containing an account of the riot in Martinsburg to three or four other fireman and engineers. There was a man came into the round-house and said the brakemen were on a strike. So a couple of us went down to the yard, and the brakemen said down there that they were not going out on any double-headers. There was a fellow tried to make a coupling, and a man hit him with a link, and a little while after that they took out the same train with a yard engine. They couldn't get any long road engines out--nobody would go. I went home to dinner and came back. They tried to take out this double-header. They coupled engine 775 and 473, and it was an understood thing between the engineers and conductors, that any person could go out ahead and make a signal to stop, they would stop and get off. As soon as 775 went down the yard and got the train of thirty-six cars, and came up into the yard, and 473 coupled ahead and pulled her out, there was four or five policemen got on each engine, and John Major, he was on 473, and the engineer of 473, pulled her out. She made about two exhausts, and a fellow got ahead on the track and threw up his hands. That stopped her. He reversed, and got off. Then the road foreman and civil engineer took the train back into the yard and ran the engines up to the round-house. I went home to supper that evening, and was going to Allegheny, and parties said, "You better stay around here at Twenty-eighth street." It was all very quiet. There was no disturbance or anything. About twelve o'clock, somebody says, there was a kind of collision in the crowd. Right at Twenty-eighth street, about three feet on to Twenty-eighth street, there was a car that they used in loading cinders, and directly a man stepped up--it was Sheriff Fife--and commenced talking, and said we had better go home, and leave the company do as they please. It was only making the thing worse. The company would come out ahead anyhow, and it was no use kicking about it. General Pearson and Davy Watt was along, and, I guess, they talked in the neighborhood of ten minutes, perhaps, and some person went to General Pearson, and asked him about the case of McCall, who had been arrested. Pearson said if they would be down at the lockup with all their witnesses, he would defend them, and would not want any money for it. They thought that was a magnificent offer of General Pearson, and they would accept it, and I do not know whether they went down or not. I went home--the sheriff was there--and went to bed and got up about six o'clock, went down street; bought a paper to read an account of the strike, and went down town; and going down, there was one hundred cars of stock that had come to Twenty-fifth street, and asked for them to have two engines, and some parties volunteered in the crowd that they could have a dozen if they wanted. I went down to the depot about nine o'clock, and the engineer requested me to fire one of these trains to East Liberty. I fired up twice for him. The first trip they had put up this proclamation purporting to be the Governor's. I read it myself. There was three of them, I believe, posted up round there somewhere. This was about eleven o'clock. There was nothing further occurred of any importance there that night. I heard of the First division being called out. Knew of the other troops being called out--I heard of it about eleven o'clock. The First division was called out, and was coming here at about two o'clock. I heard about the shooting in Baltimore, and was told that they came to do the same thing here. I stayed there until General Pearson came. I was acquainted with General Brown. Talked to Major McDonald, he said his men could not fire, that his men had no ammunition.
Q. Who told you that?
A. Major McDonald, of the Fourteenth regiment. I talked to General Pearson a while, and he got up and said there was no damn use of the boys going around there, he was going out with a double-header, and was going to ride on the pilot. Some of the boys allowed that he was not. I stayed there until ten o'clock, and I knew the Philadelphia troops ought to be there pretty soon. I left and went home; went to bed. I slept then until evening, and didn't know anything about the shooting, until I was awaked up about six o'clock. I went up to Twenty-eighth street. Didn't see any dead men. Seen some blood around. Stayed around Twenty-eighth street and Penn, and saw parties marching out with guns, flags, drums, &c. Went home and slept until half-past three o'clock that morning. I got awake by seeing the fire out of my bed. Waited until daylight. As I got to the Twelfth ward lockup the black maria came. They took down a whole gang for stealing up there that night. Just as I crossed Twenty-sixth street, an engineer of the road says, "The Philadelphia troops fired at us." I got up to Twenty-eighth street again, and was told they were going to leave the round-house. I stayed there at the corner of Twenty-eighth and Liberty, and I saw them marching down Twenty-fifth street. Then I stayed at Twenty eighth street until they passed. I saw they had all their arms cocked, and ready to fire.
Q. Did you see anybody fire?
A. No, sir. I went up to the hospital grounds with a lady friend of mine, stayed around Twenty-eighth street. She thought it would be the least danger. As soon as they got to Thirty-third street, I heard a volley. I guess it must have been a hundred pieces went off.
Q. You said it was understood that if any man came in front of the engines, any engineers and firemen were all to get off?
A. It was an understood thing between the crew of this train. The conductor, by the name of Franze--he formerly run from Pittsburgh to Connemaugh, and then from Derry to Altoona. He came from Johnstown that morning. He didn't want to go out, and he came to where there was a crowd standing, and he said if any person would tell me not to turn the switch, I wouldn't do it. He only wanted an excuse not to go out. He wanted to keep himself solid with the company, and keep his job. He went down to the transfer, and coupled up thirty-six cars, and Woodward, the engineer of 473, he said the same. All he wanted was some one to go and signal to stop, and then they would have an excuse that they couldn't go out. They would be solid with the company and men also. When they coupled these engines, 473 and 775, a man by the name of David Davis, he was the first man to swing, and they understood what he wanted, and he reversed, and stopped. That is what I say, it was an understood thing between the crowd and that train crew.
Q. Was there any understanding among the men generally?
A. No; there was no understanding among the men generally. I think every person said they wouldn't go out on double-headers.
Q. They had all agreed on that?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What were the causes leading to the strike?
A. When the reduction become known it was decided on a strike. Then there was to be a strike, and they sent a committee of engineers to see Mr. Scott; but they couldn't get any satisfaction. I understood then that the 27th, I believe, was set for another strike, and that fell through; but this strike, it was not a pre-arranged thing, until it was known, until the first eight-forty train that morning. When I came to the round-house--everything was double-headers. On Monday there had been an order posted on the telegraph that all trains were double-headers, and a new line would ran to Altoona. That would have taken a great deal of work from some men. There would be a good many discharged. They suspended two or three of their oldest engineers. Every man refused to give up. They all talked of it, and went on with the strike, all the other roads striking. On Friday a telegram came from the Erie that all of them were on a strike.
Q. Telegraph came from the Erie?
A. Came from Hornersville, New York.
Q. To the Trainmen's Union.
A. It come to the master of the Firemen's Brotherhood of this division?
Q. It was an understood thing they were going to strike on Friday?
A. No, sir; you misunderstood me. It was an understood thing that a strike was to occur on the 19th of July, but after the Baltimore and Ohio went out first, and then, when the men on the Pennsylvania struck, then the rest of them followed suit. The Fort Wayne, Pan Handle, and all over the country, all followed after the B. and 0. and Pennsylvania.
Q. That was not double-headers?
A. The rest of them followed--that was going against their ten per cent.
Q. What was the cause?
A. The ten per cent. and abuse and double-headers was the main cause of the strike. If a man didn't make himself solid with these petty officials, they were abused.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was it understood that there was to be a strike all over the country when the Pennsylvania Central men struck?
A. No; as far as I know I don't think it was. After the Pennsylvania went out, the other men had their cause to strike, too, and they followed suit, right after the Pennsylvania, because they had the two big trunk lines striking, and these other little roads, that they would follow suit.
Q. You were speaking of the Firemen's Brotherhood. Is that the same thing as the Trainmen's Union?
A. It is just the same as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Q. That is separate from the Trainmen's Union?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Are you a member of the Firemen's Brotherhood?
A. No, sir; I don't belong.
Q. A member of the Trainmen's Union.
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you a member of any organization?
A. No, sir; I attended one meeting the firemen had. Engineers had their meeting, and firemen had their meeting, and trainmen had their meeting.
Q. Do you know whether there was a man selected to start this strike in any way?
A. To tell the truth, there was not one man in Pittsburgh knew this strike was to occur on the 19th of July.
Q. You believe the first man that left the train----
A. Was the cause of the rest following. This Rye, one of the men you had before you, his crew was to go out that morning at eight-forty. That would have been the second double-header on the road. Of course, there was a good many double-headers run over it, but it was to be general. There was to be no single trains. When his crew said they were not going out, we might as well quit this, as to be discharged after a while, then the rest of the men coming in, they would not go out, then, because the first fellows refused to go out on double-headers. If a man would have wanted to go out, he could have. There was nothing to prevent him, if he had a little courage.
Q. There would have been no bodily injury?
A. No, sir; if I had wanted to go out, I could have gone out or anything else. The strike was conducted by intimidation.
Q. I understand you one fellow got struck with a link?
A. That was done by a party who was not really responsible for what he was doing. He was a little the worse for his beer, or he would not have done it.
Q. We had testimony that links and pins were thrown at engineers on their engines--did you see anything of that kind?
A. There was one link thrown at this man that went to couple the caboose to the engines on the Thursday morning, and he had no business to couple a caboose, or they wouldn't have thrown any link. He belonged down to the transfer, and was not a long road man.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Every fellow has his work, and if he undertakes to do anything else, they don't allow him?
A. Just as affairs stood then, they didn't allow it. There was no threat made. Another fireman and me sat down on a track and talked to some of them--asked what they were going to do. They said nothing; only we are not going out on double-headers.
Q. How did they come and take possession of the switches, and stop trains from running?
A. They didn't stop any; they didn't have any men to go out with them. A good many men deny that they had anything to do with the strike, but they had at that time. They wanted their ten per cent. as much as anybody.
Q. Had the order cut their wages down below what they could have lived on, or could the men make fair wages enough to live on?
A. If the strike had not taken place that morning, there would have been twelve engineers to go off, about ten firemen, and forty trainmen, conductors, brakemen, and flagmen--that would have been fifty or sixty men. It would have been only a week or so until they would have run everything to Altoona, and that would have thrown out the east end of the division, and then there would be nothing left for the strikers at all, only when freight was a little heavy they would not have made anything. A man never made much money unless freights were very good, and he is running all the time, and is half dead--then he can make money. That is in regard to firemen or brakemen; of course engineers, with their big wages, they can make money.
Q. Was it your object, as strikers, to compel the railroad company to employ more men than they really needed?
A. The object of the strike was to do away with double-headers and get their ten per cent. back, if they could. If Mr. Watt would have come up there that morning and said, all right, let them run single trains, the thing would have been over in half a minute. No; they wouldn't do that. They didn't think about their ten per cent. that morning. All it was about was double-headers. After the strike was prolonged, then the ten per cent. was more thought of.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You informed the masters of those lodges that there was a strike here in Pennsylvania, on the Pennsylvania, and he telegraphed back that there would be strikes on all the roads?
A. No, sir.
Q. What was it?
A. There was a telegram came from Hornersville, on the Erie road, from a man by the name of Donahue, to the master of this division of the Firemen's Brotherhood, stating that they were all out, and wished the Pennsylvania railroad men success. I believe that was it.
Q. Was there any understanding among the men that they were safe here, in Pittsburgh, to strike, and not to be molested, and they wouldn't be if they were Philadelphia men?
A. No, sir.
Q. In other words, that if the Philadelphia men came here they had no sympathy with the strikers, and they would be apt to attempt to run trains out, and take possession of the tracks?
A. No, sir; I have never heard anything of that.
Q. You don't know that this point was selected, then?
A. No, sir; it was only accidental the strike came about, and it was through the double-headers. If the strike would have been to occur that day, every body would have known it.
Q. Are you working now?
A. No, sir.
Q. Discharged?
A. No; I never was discharged. I asked for my time twice, and it was refused me, and I never went to work one day. I went down to Pitcairn's office to get a letter of recommendation--I wanted to go on some other road--and all the letter he would give me was a note saying he discharged me on account of reduction of force.
* * * * *
Officer White, re-called:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. State what action the police officers took on Sunday to put down the riot, and burn, and break into the stores?
A. I would state that on Saturday night, about the breaking in of stores, I was at the office, and word came there that they were going into Johnson's gun store. I was ordered up there, and went up there, and the mob was then there, and I believe Mr. Johnson had handed out two or three guns there, to keep the mob away until the police came there. As soon as we got there, we closed the doors, stood and guarded the gun-shop for a considerable time, until the mob went away, and stopped them from going in there.
Q. Did you have any encounter with the mob?
A. No; not a good deal to keep them away?
Q. You made a show of force, and they dispersed?
A. Yes. Then we had word they were up on Liberty, at a place kept by a man by the name of Shute. I found they had opened and cleaned it out. I came to the office again, and was ordered down to O'Mara and Bown's, and we found they had been in there.
Q. What did they take out--pretty much anything they could lay their hands on?
A. I do not think it was for arms, for the purpose of going out to kill the Philadelphians. I think it was plunder more than any thing else--a general cleaning out--anything they could get their hands on--scissors or anything else. There was a man came into the office with a couple of pair of scissors he had taken from some one. I did not think he wanted the scissors to kill any one with. They cleaned Bown's out completely--knives, pistols, scissors, anything that was in the store.
Q. Do you know where that crowd was from that broke into Bown's store?
A. I could not tell. I did not know whether it was the party that had stopped at Johnson's or not. There was a couple of hundred at Johnson's trying to get in, and we kept them from getting in there.
Q. Do you know where they were from?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know of an alderman that was with them, from the south side?
A. After I had left Bown's store, a company happened on Fifth street. I saw a gang of two or three hundred, and I saw an alderman with them.
Q. Anybody else you know?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who?
A. A councilman.
Q. Did they appear to be leading this crowd?
A. The councilman did. The alderman did not seem to take much part in it. The councilman seemed to be at the head of it.
Q. What day was this?
A. Saturday night.
Q. Whereabouts does he live?
A. Fifth avenue. After the breaking in at Bown's----
Q. Do you know whether they were part of the crowd that broke into the stores or not?
A. I do not think they were.
Q. Do you know whether the property was destroyed at the Union depot?
A. I could not tell you. I would also state about the police, on Sunday afternoon, during the time the Pan-Handle depot was in their charge. The police drove the mob out of the Pan-Handle depot at the time they were setting fire there. I know that they were police stretched the ropes on the street and kept the mob out, so as not to interfere with the firemen when working there.
Q. Did they hold it for any length of time?
A. They did hold it and kept the fire from going any further--kept the mob outside of the ropes.
Q. Was it not burned?
A. It was burned; yes, sir.
By Mr. Means:
Q. As an officer, do you believe that had there not been any interference with the railroad employés that you could have kept the peace with the force of police you had?
A. I do not think it was the railroad employés that gave us the trouble. I think it was the outside rabble entirely.
Q. I asked a question. The question is this: Do you believe, as an officer, had you nothing to contend but the railroad employés, could you have kept the peace?
A. Yes, sir; I think the mayor could have kept the peace. I do not think there would have been any trouble at all if the military had not been called out at all. My experience on Thursday, with these men at Torrens station, was, I had not any trouble with them. These men were orderly, and when they were ordered off the track they went off the track, and I had no trouble at all, and I apprehended no trouble. The men said they only wanted their rights, and did not wish to interfere with us at all, while we thought they were.
* * * * *
Colonel J. B. Moore, re-called.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. I believe you testified to being at the firing, and so forth. Did you see General Pearson that afternoon?
A. I saw General Pearson continuously, sir, from Friday at eleven o'clock until eleven o'clock Saturday, except----
Q. How was General Pearson dressed that afternoon?
A. Full major general's undress uniform.
Q. What was that?
A. Fatigue cap, with velvet band and wreath, and the letters "U.S." in front of it; shoulder straps, with two stars; dark blue blouse and pants, and blouse braided, as worn by officers usually.
Q. Gold braid?
A. No, sir; it is black braid. Major general's belt on, very rare workmanship.
Q. Was it something that would attract attention--conspicuous?
A. Yes; it was one of those gotten up for a present, very elaborately embroidered.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What color was it?
A. Red, marked with gold braid.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. General Pearson, then, had a fatigue cap?
A. Yes; such as prescribed for major generals to wear.
Q. What was it made of--the blue cap?
A. Dark blue cloth, with a velvet band.
Q. Gold wreath, with the letters U.S. in front?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did he wear this cap up there, just prior to the firing of the military on the mob?
A. No, sir; not just prior. On Friday, when I reported to him, he had on a straw hat, a white vest, and a blouse, before he and I came down from the Union depot, and we put on our uniforms in the evening. I suppose between eight and nine o'clock. It was not dark.
Q. On Saturday he wore this uniform?
A. Yes; he wore a uniform continuously from that up.
Q. Insignia of rank on shoulders?
A. Yes; and his sword. He had a sword with a gold scabbard. All the officers of his staff that were there were in full uniform, except Colonel Hays.
Q. Was he there with the military or with the Philadelphia troops when the firing took place?
A. No, sir; there was no officer near the Philadelphia troops except myself, that is, at the point when the firing took place at Twenty-eighth street. Mr. George Steen, Major Stouts, and Major Fife were at the cars taken out, one hundred and fifty feet below the street. They were down at that flank of the troops.
Q. Were you inside of this hollow-square?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you wear a cap?
A. I wore a cap.
Q. Wear a belt?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Sword?
A. Sword and blouse, precisely like the one General Pearson had on, except the shoulder straps.
Q. Did you know where General Pearson was, about the time the firing took place?
A. I knew where he started off. He gave me orders to remain with General Brinton, while he would go to the telegraph office.
Q. How long before the firing?
A. I should judge five or seven minutes.
Q. And started, did he?
A. Yes, started; I judge that from the fact that General Brinton went down the Weccacoe Legion and the Gatling guns, and go through the two lines that had been formed on each side of the track. Just as he had sent down that order, General Pearson started, and I should judge it would take time to get the guns up. I have no distinct knowledge of the time at all. It was quite a little time before they were able to get the guns up over the ties.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Then General Pearson left before these troops marched down? That is the Weccacoe Legion, with the Gatling guns--he left before that?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And it was before the firing took place?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That was the detachment that attempted to put the crowd back off Twenty-eighth street?
A. I cannot say whether it was the Weccacoe Legion or Washington Grays. I understood they were both there, but I could not distinguish them, they were all, as a matter of course, strangers to me. I saw "W.L." on their knapsacks, of either the front or rear rank. I could not see which it was.
Q. General Pearson could not have been there at the time of the firing?
A. No, sir; it was impossible for him to be there without my knowing, for he gave me orders to remain with General Brinton, while he went to the telegraph office, and I know there was no officer there except myself. When a man is alone, he generally knows it.
Q. No officer of your division there--that is, General Brinton and his command were there?
A. General Brinton was about as close to me as you are.
* * * * *
Captain E. Y. Breck, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where is your residence?
A. Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I am a stenographer of court of common pleas, No. 1.
Q. What position did you occupy in the militia at the time of the disturbance in July?
A. I was captain in the National Guard, commanding Hutchinson's battery at that time, now known as Breck's battery.
Q. Were you present at the time of the firing of the troops, at Twenty-eighth street?
A. I was, sir.
Q. Be kind enough to state what occurred?
A. Do you wish a statement, as to the firing?
Q. As to the fire, and who were present--what officers?
A. Well, I was stationed just above the flag-house--I suppose you know where that is--and I had received an order a short time before the First division arrived on the ground to be prepared to load my guns on gondola cars, and I saw a plank brought out from the round-house on a truck, and dumped there on the track to load the guns. I was quite anxious, of course. There was a large crowd around there, and I did not feel altogether secure. There was only one company of infantry there, behind me, supporting the guns, and there were a great many rumors floating around there. There was a rumor of trouble in Philadelphia, and I was to be sent there, and for various causes I was anxious to see commanding officer--General Pearson--and as soon as I saw the column advancing up the track, I stood up on one of my limbers, where I could look over the heads of the crowd, and see what was going on. As they came up, I noticed, I think, first it was the sheriff, I remember of seeing him, I think some of his deputies, and I saw General Pearson and two officers, whom I afterwards knew as General Brinton and General Matthews. Although I did not know them at the time, I got acquainted with them that night. This, I suppose, was about half-past four in the afternoon. They moved up until the right of the column rested at Twenty-eighth street. They halted once down about opposite Twenty-sixth street gate, and then, I suppose, was the time that General Loud's brigade was put in possession of those cars down there. Then the first division started on up. The First brigade, they came up until the right was about at Twenty-eighth street, the First regiment was leading. The regiment was in columns of four. They wheeled in line to the left, forced the crowd back off the track, and up to within probably within twenty feet of the walls of the round-house. There were, I think, four gondola cars there, standing on side tracks, that prevented them clearing the track clear to the walls of the round-house. These cars were covered with people. As soon as they halted, both ranks were faced about, and what had been the rear rank was marched toward the hill. Then there was a company brought up from the rear, marched up through the open ranks, and about that time General Pearson disappeared from view. I was watching out very carefully for him, because I was expecting orders every moment, and I was very anxious that he would know where I was. In fact, he did see me. As they were marching up I stood on the limber, and did something to attract his attention, and I attracted his attention, and he nodded, as much as to say he knew where I was. The reason I did that was, my position had been changed since morning, the guns had been moved from the position in which he had ordered them placed, and I wanted him to know exactly where they were. About that time I lost sight of him, and I did not see him again until I suppose about quarter of six, I saw him in the telegraph office.
Q. How was General Pearson dressed that day--could you see?
A. Yes; I was with General Pearson the evening before, when he put on his uniform. We were down at Union Depot hotel, and he asked me if I would like to take a walk around to head-quarters. I told him I would, and he and Colonel Moore and myself started off for head-quarters. We came up Grant, and I remember some house over here, where the general was acquainted with two or three ladies there. That two or three ladies sat on the steps, and they stopped the general and made some remark about they hoped he was not going to shoot the people, and he stood and talked some little time. We went on down to head-quarters, and got a fatigue blouse out of some of the cases there--the fatigue blouse of the old pattern is alike for all officers of different rank--the designation is by the shoulder-straps. He got this blouse out and found his straps, and I pinned the straps on for him--major general's straps--and he put on his cap and belt, and I think he carried his sword in his arm, if I am not mistaken. We stayed there a few minutes, I do not know but we might have been there ten minutes. Then we went down to the corner of Fifth and Smithfield, and took a car for the Union depot, and went right back. He had the same uniform when he came up the track and the same uniform when I saw him in the superintendent's office, at a quarter to six.
Q. Immediately after the firing?
A. Yes, sir; the first time I saw him after the firing. The cap--it is an ordinary fatigue cap, with a velvet band for general officers. He had that cap and a wreath in front, and I think two stars in the wreath--either U.S. or two stars. I believe it is regulation to wear two stars, and the blouse had what they call herring-bone trimming--black braid, and runs from the buttons out into loops and slashed at the sides, and the belt was usually worn under the blouse, but it was over the blouse--a red morocco belt, groundwork of morocco, with gold embroidery. Quite profusely embroidered.
Q. Did the crowd resist these soldiers when they marched to Twenty-eighth?
A. Up the tracks?
Q. Yes, sir.
A. As they came up the crowd opened out for them--the column was narrow. They were in columns of four. There was a great deal of hooting and jeering. I think some few of the people were trying to cheer. It certainly was a sight that any man who had love for the military would cheer at. I never saw a handsomer sight for so small a body of men. They were in regular order, well uniformed, thoroughly equipped, and their guns looked splendidly in the sun; and the crowd gave way and there was no actual resistance--nothing to stop the troops until they tried to clear the Twenty-eighth street crossing. The column marched up without halting. I do not think they impeded their step any. When they marched toward the round-house they wheeled into line, to the left, and went towards the round-house. The crowd got back. They could not clear the tracks clear to the round-house on account of those cars. When the rear rank marched toward the hill the crowd gave way, but the troops only came to the edge of the track--the right hand track going out. That, of course, left plenty of room for the crowd on the road. The road was black with people. There were a great many on the side of the hill and the base of the hill.
Q. This crowd at Twenty-eighth street, did they resist when this detachment marched through the center and marched up against them?
A. Yes; there was one company that it looked to me, from where I stood, as if they were unable to do anything with the crowd--unable to move it--and there was a stronger company, or more men--it was another company--I think it was the Weccacoe Legion and the Washington Greys--brought up from the rear. They came up at a carry, but they did not drive the crowd far. They could not do it without using their bayonets, and I do not know whether there was an order to charge bayonets given or not, but at any rate, the men commenced to bring their guns down as if they were going to charge, and from where I stood, I could see the guns held by the mob--held them in their hands--and I could see the men take hold, up near the muzzle, and draw their guns back, in order to get them down to a charge. Just as they did that there were one or two pistol shots fired, and then I saw about a wagon load of stones and lumps of coal--in an instant the air was black with stones and lumps of coal. Then a gun went off on the right of the company, followed by three or four more, and then very nearly a volley; and I did not want to be killed and jumped off the lumber.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you hear any command to fire?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. How near were you to this body of men--the Philadelphia troops?
A. I was within sixty feet of the middle of the Twenty-eighth street crossing, I suppose.
Q. Could you see the officers inside this hollow square?
A. The officers were mostly--except the regimental officers--the general officers were up on the crossing with this company--General Brinton and General Matthews. I ran down on the track to help the first regiment officers stop the firing. The men had fired, I suppose, two or three rounds apiece. I helped the officers to steady the men up, and give a little confidence to the men, and as soon as they did that, and I think loaded again by command. Then I went up to the crossing, and I saw General Brinton and General Matthews, and he had already thrown two companies further up the track, and had the two Gatling guns in position, one pointing up the track--both, in fact. And while I stood there, they, turned and went down Twenty-eighth street.
Q. Just before the firing of the troops, did you see any officers in this square, or between these two lines facing away from the tracks--one facing the hill, and another facing down the other way?
A. They were both facing the hill at that time. As soon as the battalion wheeled into line, there was some little fuss there--a man or two fainted. They faced both ranks about.
Q. There was a space there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. The regimental officers were there?
A. Yes; I spoke to Colonel Miller. He reminded me of it the other day in Philadelphia.
Q. Did you see any of the officers of the Sixth division there between these two lines?
A. No, sir; I think not, they were further up, right on the crossing. The two lines reached--suppose this is the lower line of Twenty-eighth street. [Illustrating.] They brought these lines right up to within ten feet, perhaps, of the lower line of the street, and then those two companies were right here. [Indicating.]
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Do I understand you to say, that the company that was marched toward Twenty-eighth street did connect with those two wings of the flanks?
A. The company was practically covered on the flanks. There was a flag-house in here. [Indicating.]
Q. Some space between that company and the flanks of the regiment?
A. Yes. There was a little space, because I remember when I went down I went around the left flank.
Q. Did you see any of the officers of the Sixth division in the rear of this first company, marching towards Twenty-eighth street. Did you see Colonel Moore?
A. I do not remember of seeing him. I might have seen him.
Q. Where did you see Pearson? You said you saw Pearson, and nodded to him?
A. That was when he was marching up, and I followed him with my eye until I saw him on the crossing where the crowd was, but this was before they attempted to drive the crowd back, and there was one company--it was a small company--and they did not make much of an effort with them. They sent back for more men. I do not think the Gatlings were brought up at first. My recollection is they came up with those other companies that were brought up from the rear.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You did not see him after those other companies came up?
A. No, sir; I did not see him then.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Where did the firing commence?
A. Commenced on the right of this company.
Q. The company advancing towards the crossing?
A. Yes. They were facing up the railroad track right as you go out. The firing into the troops commenced over here. [Indicating.] There were two or three car loads of coal standing there.
Q. On the left going east?
A. On the left going east, and there was a man on that car fired the first shot.
Q. A pistol shot?
A. As nearly as I could state. Then there was a house on the road going up to the hospital grounds--there was a man behind that that was firing down this way--I saw that they both fired about the same time. There must have been a dozen pistol shots almost simultaneously with the lumps of coal and stones.
Q. Did that house stand near the gate that leads up to the hospital?
A. Yes. I think this end of the house was on a line with the gate. The watch-box would be down here [indicating] across the street, and up a little from the railroad. I was out there a month or so ago, and it has been removed.
Q. Where was your battery?
A. Right in there. [Indicating.]
Q. A little above the watch-house?
A. A little above the watch-house.
* * * * *
Major J. B. Steen, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. James B.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. I reside in Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. The coal business.
Q. Were you a member of the National Guard of Pennsylvania in July last?
A. Yes; I was quartermaster on General Pearson's staff.
Q. Were you present at the time the troops were called out to quell the disturbance or strike?
A. I was present at the time the Philadelphia troops arrived.
Q. State as briefly as you can when you came upon the scene, and what occurred?
A. These Philadelphia troops arrived at Union depot some time after dinner, and they furnished them with meals there, and along in the afternoon the column started out towards Twenty-eighth street, headed by Sheriff Fife, General Pearson, and General Brinton, and Major Stroud, and Givens, and Moore, and myself were on the staff; and when we arrived at Twenty-eighth street, we formed a hollow square. There was a pile of plank about the center of the square, and I sat down on the plank with Pitcairn. We marched the Washington Grays through the center, to force the crowd back off Twenty-eighth street. There was pistol shots, and stones thrown, and they commenced firing on the right, and then there was a general volley along the line.
Q. Was this firing by orders?
A. I did not hear any orders. General Pearson had passed me while I was sitting on this pile of plank, and he asked Pitcairn where the nearest telegraph office was, and, I think, he told him in his office, and he started down that way. It was five or ten minutes before the firing took place.
Q. That was before this company was marched out to clear the crossing?
A. No, sir; it was after the company was marched out. I am not positive whether it was after or before, but my recollection is that it was after.
Q. General Pearson passed you, then, going down to go to Pitcairn's office?
A. Yes; to the telegraph office.
Q. How was he dressed?
A. He had a fatigue uniform, blue cap, blouse, sword, belt, and blue pantaloons.
Q. Had this blouse buttons up close to the throat?
A. Buttons all the way up to the throat.
Q. Did you notice whether it was buttoned that way?
A. I could not say whether it was buttoned or not. I should judge it was though.
Q. Did you say he had a cap on?
A. Cap; yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Shoulder straps?
A. Two stars on the shoulder--straps and stars.
Q. Were they conspicuous enough to be noticed?
A. They would be noticed, I should judge--regular size.
Q. Regulation size?
A. Regulation size.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. General Pearson passed you before the firing commenced?
A. Before the firing commenced.
Q. Five or ten minutes?
A. Five or ten minutes. I was sitting on a pile of plank there, and Pitcairn was sitting beside me and Major Stroud.
Q. How far is it from there to Pitcairn's office?
A. I should judge it was about a square--a little over that--two squares.
Q. Did he come back again at all, before the firing?
A. No, sir; the next place I saw him, was in Pitcairn's office. I went down to hunt him up to report, and I saw him in Pitcairn's office.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did he know that there had been firing?
A. He knew it; yes, sir.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Was anybody there when you got there?
A. Yes; there were several gentlemen there, but I do not recollect who they were.
Q. Was he in the telegraph office or in Pitcairn's--that is above the telegraph office?
A. In Pitcairn's office.
Q. Has he a telegraph instrument there?
A. There is a waiter that goes down, and they send the messages down to the office.
Q. Was he dressed the same as when he passed you?
A. Yes; in his fatigue uniform.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. How close were you to the military when the firing took place?
A. I was sitting right in the center of the hollow square.
Q. Were you in uniform?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you hear any command to fire by any officer?
A. I did not. I do not think there was any command given to fire.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did the officers attempt to stop the men when the firing took place?
A. As soon as the firing took place, they attempted to stop them. One company, I think on the left, did not fire.
Q. What did they say--order them to cease firing?
A. Run to them and knocked their guns up.
Q. Did you hear the command to cease firing?
A. I heard that very plain.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. Who gave that command?
A. The different officers of the regiments.
Q. Did you hear any shots fired from the crowd before the firing by the military?
A. Some pistol shots and some stones thrown.
Q. How many shots?
A. I should think there were several. I suppose about ten or twelve.
Q. Before the firing by the military?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were any of the military struck or injured before the firing on the mob?
A. There was one of them hit with a stone.
* * * * *
H. Vierheller, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Henry.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Keeping saloon.
Q. Are you a resident of Pittsburgh?
A. Yes.
Q. Were you a member of the National Guard?
A. Yes.
Q. At the time of the July riots?
A. Yes.
Q. What position did you hold?
A. Private in company A, Eighteenth regiment.
Q. Were you out at Twenty-eighth street on the afternoon of the Twenty-first--Saturday?
A. No, sir; not on the Twenty-first. I was at the Union depot on Saturday.
Q. Did you see the troops start from the Union depot, out?
A. I was there before the Philadelphia troops arrived there on Saturday. I went there with Major Stroud, of General Pearson's staff. He came to General Pearson's head-quarters and wished to report to the general. Their head-quarters were right over my place, on Fifth avenue, and he asked me to go out with him to report to the general, and I did so.
Q. Did you see General Pearson there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What time was that?
A. It must have been between twelve and one o'clock.
Q. Had the Philadelphia troops arrived then?
A. No, sir.
Q. How was General Pearson dressed?
A. He had a fatigue uniform blouse--officer's blouse on and a fatigue cap.
Q. You were not present when the firing took place?
A. No, sir.
Q. Know nothing of that?
A. No.
Q. If you have anything that has not been testified, that is of any importance to our committee, make a brief statement of it?
A. In relation to Saturday, and that is all I know of it. I remained around there for an hour or so, intending to wait until the Philadelphia troops arrived, but they were late getting in, and I left there.
Q. You were not there when the firing took place?
A. No, sir.
* * * * *
Major General Albert L. Pearson re-called.
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. You did testify as to the movements of the troops, &c, out at Twenty-eighth street, I think, Saturday afternoon?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. I want simply to ask you how you were dressed on that occasion?
A. Up until Friday night I was dressed in citizens' clothes; light gray pantaloons, blue cutaway, coat, and straw hat, but at about nine o'clock, Captain Breck, Colonel Moore, and myself came down to my head-quarters, and Colonel Moore and I then procured our uniform. I wore my uniform from nine o'clock Friday night up until long after the difficulty; in fact, the only clothing I had on up until Monday, was a complete major general's uniform. The coat is single breasted, five buttons down front, and from each button was a broad braid which is known in military language as herring bone--goes from each button across the breast--and a large loop. The coat is slashed up the side, and that has got a herring bone along the trimmings on the side, and the same up the arm. The shoulder straps were regular shoulder straps--major general's--two stars. The cap, blue--a fatigue cap as usually worn by officers, with a dark blue velvet band clear around the cap, with a wreath embroidered with gold, and, at that time, the letters U.S. inside of the wreath. The belt was red Turkish morocco, very elaborately embroidered in gold. There was a wreath embroidered entirely around the belt with gold embroidery, up above and below the wreath----
Q. It was morocco?
A. Yes; the scabbard was gilt plate, and a handle of silver--it was a uniform, I presume, the only one like it on the ground. General Brinton's blouse was a perfectly plain blouse without the herring bone trimmings on it--it was not slashed. I don't think any of the other general officers had a blouse like it; in fact, I know they had not.
Q. You have testified in regard to leaving before the firing?
A. When I left, there was no indications of any firing or anything of that kind at all. There had been no stones thrown or pistol shots fired--nothing to indicate that there would be.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Why did you leave?
A. I left, as I testified before, from the fact that I had been informed by some of the officers of my own division, that there was a feeling existing among the portion of the troops of my own division that were at Twenty-eighth street, that probably they couldn't be depended upon. I thought it was better to have the other divisions that had been placed under arms sent for at once, and walked down the tracks and telegraphed to General Latta for that purpose.
Q. What office did you go to?
A. Pitcairn's office was over the telegraph office, at the corner of Twenty-sixth and Liberty. It is two squares away from where the difficulty occurred.
Q. Were you in the telegraph office or above?
A. In Pitcairn's office. There were waiters running from Pitcairn's office down to the telegraph office, so that messages could be received or sent in that manner. I was accompanied by Major Evans, who went with me.
Q. Major Evans you say went back with you?
A. Major Evans accompanied me from Twenty-eighth street to Pitcairn's office and was there when we first received the information that the affair had taken place, and was with me all the time that the difficulty was going on.
Q. Does he occupy any position in the division?
A. He is major and paymaster of the division, but was acting as a personal aid that day.
Q. Where is he?
A. He is out at his mill, at Soho.
Q. Iron mill?
A. Yes; the firm of Evans, Dalzell & Co. I think the first man that gave me any information of any firing was Mr. Cassatt--that is a positive assurance that the firing had taken place. He had been up in the cupola of one of the buildings and had observed all the proceedings that had taken place at Twenty-eighth street. I think he was the first that gave me any positive assurance that the troops had fired. I know I had heard no firing, had not heard the explosion of the pieces at all. I am very free to confess that I am very sorry that I was not at Twenty-eighth street at the time of the difficulty, because General Brinton, when no other officer would have had any reason to have waited for an order very long, for most undoubtedly and most assuredly had I been there, and the pistol shots had been fired as has been testified, and stones thrown, as Captain Breck has stated, and the troops treated in the manner in which they undoubtedly were treated, I would have directed Brinton at once to fire upon the rioters, and would have kept it up just long enough that they wouldn't have come back to that locality again, at least a good many of them. I didn't believe an order was given, at least, from what Brinton has informed, but I thought it should have been given.
* * * * *
Colonel Gray, re-called:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You have given your testimony, I believe, before, as to the occurrences. All we want to ask is, did you see General Pearson on the afternoon of the 21st of July?
A. I saw him at a distance. I was on the hill side, and saw him come up with the troops. I was up in the morning, in the forepart of the day, probably twice I saw him there, but I was not close to him. I was not down to the railroad that day.
Q. How was he dressed in the morning that you saw him?
A. I saw him at the Union depot at night--Friday night--and then in the morning, before he went out there. He was dressed in his fatigue uniform, and it has been very accurately described by himself, and I think everybody in the Sixth division knows it, and everybody who has seen him, the peculiar coat--different from any other fatigue uniform that is in existence now. I think he was dressed in that uniform and fatigue cap. I saw him come up with the Philadelphia troops, at a distance. I was on the hill side, and recognized him very distinctly. I was anxious that he should be there, and was satisfied that he was there.
At this point the committee adjourned to meet at Harrisburg, at the call of the chairman.
HARRISBURG, March 8, 1878.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, in Senate committee room, No. 6, all members present except Mr. Larrabee.
* * * * *
Governor John F. Hartranft, being duly sworn, testified as follows:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Governor, just state in your own way where you were in July last, when the railroad strikes first broke out, and when you received the first information, and what was done by yourself thereafter?
A. I contemplated making a trip to the west with my family, and, in thinking the matter over before I started, I had a conversation with the Adjutant General, in which I stated to him that I thought everything was as calm in the State it ever was since our administration, yet, if there was any trouble, he should exercise the authority vested in the commander-in-chief, in accordance with the same rules and principles that we had established when there was trouble prior to my leaving the State--that is, when there was trouble in a section of the State, we frequently had calls from the sheriffs of the county, and after we became satisfied that the sheriff had exhausted his authority, or was unwilling to exercise his full authority, we generally sent troops. With these general instructions, not anticipating for a moment that it meant anything, I left the State on Monday, the 16th of July. On Wednesday morning, I saw by the papers, at Chicago, where I was, that there was trouble on the Baltimore and Ohio road. On the next day, Thursday, receiving the papers on the train, I saw that the trouble was spreading. I telegraphed to the State for information as to whether this had spread upon the Baltimore and Ohio road into the State. The first dispatch that I received was received at Antelope, on the Union Pacific railroad, on Friday forenoon sometime. The dispatch was as follows:
"Mob stopped all freight trains at Pittsburgh. Sheriff called for troops. Ordered Pearson to take charge, and put one regiment on duty. Says he may need more."
Q. Who was that dispatch received from?
A. It was from General Latta.
Q. That was on Friday, the 20th of July?
A. That was on the 20th, in the forenoon. As soon as I reached
"Order promptly all troops necessary to support the sheriffs in protecting moving trains on Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Go to Pittsburgh and keep supervision of all troops ordered out. Will be due at Ogden to-morrow at six o'clock. In the meantime, en route, let me know the situation."
I again sent a dispatch from Laramie City, same day, five-twenty, P.M.:
"Spare nothing to protect all persons in their rights under the Constitution and laws of the State, in accordance with the policy heretofore adopted. Am on the train to Ogden."
I received a dispatch from General Latta--I do not remember whether before sending this last or after--to this effect:
"PITTSBURGH, PA., July 20,1877.
"No difficulty on Baltimore and Ohio railroad in Pennsylvania. Strike extended to Pennsylvania railroad. Trains stopped at Pittsburgh by rioters, numbering two or three thousand.
"General Pearson has six hundred men under arms guarding property. General Brinton will be here to-day, with twelve or fifteen hundred men. Movement will be made immediately on his arrival to open road, and we expect to do so without bloodshed.
"I will be at Union hotel, Pittsburgh, until order is restored. Keep me advised of your movements. If your presence is needed, I will promptly wire you."
I received numerous dispatches after that from General Latta, Mr. Scott, and others, and at Ogden I sent the following dispatch to General Latta, Saturday evening, the 21st of July:
"Dispatch received. Unless I hear from you to change my mind, I will take the first train to Pittsburgh. There must be no illegal interference with any person willing to work, and to this end act promptly, that it may be done without bloodshed."
I then went to Salt Lake City with my family, the next train east not being due at Ogden until ten o'clock Sunday morning. When I arrived at Salt Lake City, I had another dispatch from Mr. Quay. This I received at nine o'clock Saturday evening:
"A collision has occurred here between the strikers and the troops. Number of persons have been killed and wounded. Intense excitement prevails in city, and there are indications of further bloodshed, and that the trouble will be wide-spread and protracted. I suggest that you return, allowing your party to go forward."
I then secured a special train, leaving there at twelve o'clock, and got to Pittsburgh on Tuesday afternoon.
Q. Before you go any further, I would like to ask a question or two: In your instructions to General Latta, before leaving the State, was it your intention to delegate to General Latta your power as commander-in-chief to call out the militia in case of an emergency?
A. Not my power, but simply discretion, under the general order, to act in accordance with our custom in case there was any trouble in my absence, and to issue orders by my authority, just the same as if I were in the State.
Q. Signing your name?
A. No; his own, by order of the commander-in-chief, or what is the same thing, as Adjutant General. I may say that I talked with the Attorney General before I left the State, and he thought there was no reason why I should not go.
Q. He was to follow strictly the regulations that had been adopted heretofore?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Under the act of 1864, what have been the regulations--I do not quite understand you on that point--about calling out troops?
A. We have not fallen back upon the act of 1864, because the sheriffs have always called. In fact, the sheriffs are generally very prompt to call for troops. They often wanted our assistance when we thought it was not necessary, and in every instance when troops have been ordered out during my administration, they have been ordered, as they were in this case, upon the call of the civil authorities to aid them. We have always kept the troops, so far as we could, subordinate to the civil authorities. In this instance, and some other instances, perhaps the civil authorities were not quite as active as they ought to have been, and they, to a certain extent, disappeared, and then, of course, we came under the act of 1864. But in the first instance we have never exercised our authority under that act.
Q. You would consider that under that act you have authority to call out the militia upon notice, or your own knowledge, that there is any serious riot or outbreak in the State?
A. Yes. If there is a riot in any section of the State, and the civil authorities are unable or unwilling to suppress it, I think it would be my duty, as Executive, to order out the National Guard, and to take charge of the situation to protect life and property. I would not hesitate to do it, whenever I became satisfied of that fact.
Q. In your judgment, would that be in conflict--would such an action be in conflict, in any way--with the Constitution, which says that the military shall always be in subordination to the civil authorities?
A. Well, I do not pretend to give any legal opinion upon that point; but, so far as the past has been concerned, we would have been glad and willing to let the civil authorities take entire control, and it is only when they were willing and anxious that we took part, and there never has been a conflict.
Q. That has always been the rule adopted by you, as commander-in-chief?
A. Yes, sir. I am not quite sure that that question may not arise. I can see very easily how it might arise in the near future, in any locality where the civil authorities might be in sympathy with the lawless elements, but we hope that it may not.
Q. And is that a reason why you have adhered to the rules that you have just mentioned?
Q. I do not know that it was because of any supposed conflict, but I adhered to that because I thought it was the common-sense way of doing it. That is about all.
Q. Then the first telegram, I understood you to say, received from General Latta was in the forenoon of Friday, the 20th?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you know on that day that General Latta had already ordered out the militia?
A. Not except through him.
Q. Does that telegram state that?
A. Yes. He says, "Ordered Pearson to take charge, and put one regiment on duty."
Q. Do you know what time General Latta gave that order to General Pearson to take charge?
A. No; I do not.
Q. I would like you now to state when the news first reached you of any disturbance at Scranton, and through what channel, and your action in relation to the outbreak at Scranton.
A. I do not know that I knew anything definitely about the trouble there until the 25th. As I was passing through Harrisburg to Philadelphia, on the 25th, I received a dispatch from the Brotherhood of Firemen and Brakemen, and there was also one, I think, from the officers of the road, which I do not see here just now. The question that arose there was that the railroad company were unable to run their trains, because the firemen and brakemen had struck, and mob would not let them, and then the Brotherhood of Firemen and Brakeman agreed that they might run the mails through, and the company did not want to do that unless they could take a passenger train. I telegraphed back to the superintendent of the railroad, "Would advise you to let mails run through." My object in that was not to precipitate any further disturbance until I had everything in hand. There was, I think, no running of trains for a week or ten days after that. They were making an effort to run trains about the 31st of July, but on the 1st of August there was a disturbance in Scranton, and the mayor called upon me for troops. The miners came out on a strike about the 25th. In consequence of this general confusion in Luzerne county, no trains moved. I had anticipated a movement to Luzerne county for the purpose of starting trains, and had made my arrangements, but this riot at Scranton precipitated the movement, and I got there on August 2d. The riot occurred on the 1st, and I got the first news about two o'clock, and my advance troops got to Scranton early next morning.
Q. What day did you say you received the call from the mayor for troops?
A. On the 1st of August. The dispatch was:
"Mob have partly taken possession of the town. I was assaulted, and sent to my committee for assistance. Mob attempted to follow me up, when three or more were killed. Come to my assistance.
"R. H. MCKUNE, Mayor."
Very soon afterward, I received another dispatch: "How soon can I expect troops?" Then I received half a dozen dispatches from private parties. I sent a dispatch to McKune: "Keep quiet. Will be with you in the morning."
Q. Had you any communication with the mayor prior to the 1st day of August?
A. Yes; there were several dispatches in which he was confident that he could manage the situation. For instance, here is one on the 29th of July: "Pumps will start to-morrow. Send no troops until you hear further from me. Am in hopes of a peaceful settlement." Here is a dispatch from the mayor on the 25th of July, which I overlooked before: "Strikers have taken the coaches off of the mail train, and will not allow them to proceed. I am unable to assist the company in getting the train started." That is on the 25th of July. There is another dispatch here which influenced me to some extent, dated July 25:
"There is not flour or provisions enough in this (Wyoming) district to last one week. We are informed that at Scranton the situation is no better. Unless some means are adopted to open up western communication by rail, there will be serious trouble here. The situation is very grave, and demands urgent attention.
"Very respectfully,
"CONYNGHAMS & PAINE."
That is dated Wilkes-Barre, July 25, 1877.
Q. Then, I understand, prior to August 1, the mayor of Scranton did not desire troops to be sent?
A. No; the first dispatch did not call for troops, but he was evidently looking to me for assistance. But in a few days after that, on the 29th, he thinks he is able to control it.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Up to that time he was confident that the civil authorities could control it?
A. Yes. There was no conflict, because the railroad companies could not move their trains, and did not attempt it. They could not move them, and the civil authorities were unable to assist the railroad companies, and therefore did not attempt it, and everything was quiet. Eventually they were looking to me to help them, but I did not propose to go there until I got through with Pittsburgh. Besides, I thought if we got everything started at Pittsburgh, the moral effect of that might settle the question in the whole State, and there would be no necessity to go anywhere else.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did you have any other dispatches from him except the one you have read, dated the 29th, in which he expressed himself as being able to control it.
A. No; I think not. I find none in the appendix to the message, and I have none in this package, I know. While I was at Pittsburgh, Mr. Farr, my private secretary, was here in charge, and he kept me in constant communication with the region--with the Luzerne region--and there is one dispatch from him here; it is rather lengthy, but it gives the situation on the 31st of July, the day before the riot occurred.
The dispatch was read as follows:
"With exception of Luzerne county, matters in eastern Pennsylvania have returned to normal condition. Philadelphia is orderly. In Reading all danger is over, and civil authorities are rapidly arresting rioters. About fifty are now in jail. The citizens support General Reeder's action, and believe the firing of his troops prevented great destruction of property. Two of leaders of rioters were killed. The P. & R.R. is running trains, and the bridge will be ready for trains in two weeks. At Harrisburg all signs of disorders have disappeared. Forty arrests have been made, and the authorities are rapidly ferreting others. There is no doubt of their conviction of majority of prisoners, both in Reading and Harrisburg. Captain Linden assures me there are no fears of an outbreak in Schuylkill, unless irruptions of striking miners from Luzerne force the men in Schuylkill to quit work. General Sigfried's advices from Pottsville are to same effect. In Luzerne affairs are threatening. The Lehigh Valley R.R. has not resumed, and trains are stopped on other roads by miners. Engineers driven from pumps, and mines are flooding. In Wilkes-Barre there is said to be a scarcity of provisions, owing to interrupted transportation, and fears are felt of disturbance on that account. A concentration of troops in Luzerne, to give control of property, open traffic, and protect workmen, would remove the last vestige of lawlessness in eastern Pennsylvania. There are two hundred regulars in Reading. Available troops can be taken from Harrisburg or Reading without danger. If to-night's advices indicate the necessity, I will go to Scranton and Wilkesbarre to-morrow, if I can get there."
Witness: There is another one here, 11.30, P.M., that I suppose was the same date.
The dispatch was read, as follows:
"In answer to my dispatch of yesterday, Sheriff Kirkendall, of Luzerne, telegraphs as follows: 'All travel and communication by railroad stopped. Rumors that Lehigh Valley road resumes to-day. There has been no riots so far, nor destruction of property, except incident to stopping mines. Work in all mines stopped; men on strike.' I report no immediate apprehension of danger. There are some five hundred troops--National Guard--encamped here--Wilkes-Barre.... telegraphs from Kingston, July 31, that Kingston, Plymouth, and Nanticoke have been entirely in the hands of mob since last night. If anything is being done to master it, I don't know it. Last night, 30th, they mobbed a passenger train at Plymouth. Have been ready all day to do so again, if one moved. This afternoon, 31st, at Nanticoke, the mob stopped all the pumps at the mines. The citizens are powerless to act; those in authority don't.
"C. N. FARR, jr., Private Sec'y."
Q. Had you any communication with the sheriff of Luzerne county direct?
A. His dispatch is incorporated in these: "In answer to my dispatch of yesterday, Sheriff Kirkendall, of Luzerne, telegraphs as follows: 'All travel and communication by railroad stopped. Rumors that Lehigh Valley road resumes to-day. There has been no riot so far, nor destruction of property, except incident to stopping mines. Work in mines all stopped; men on strike.'" And there may have been other dispatches received from him which I have not got--which I did not print.
Q. Had you any dispatches from the sheriff of Luzerne county, in which he expressed himself as being able to control the situation of affairs without troops?
A. No; I think there were no such dispatches.
Q. Did he make any call for troops?
A. He made no call. The mayor of Scranton made a call, and so did the mayor of Wilkes-Barre. I cannot find the dispatch from the mayor of Wilkes-Barre, but I am satisfied there was one.
Q. Do you know what time the call was made by the mayor of Wilkes-Barre?
A. It came on the same afternoon that Mayor McKune called for troops. I do not know just what time the miners came out of the mines. I do not think they came out until after railroad communication was stopped. I think the strike was inaugurated after that.
Q. Did you publish the proclamation in your message?
A. Yes; there are two proclamations there.
Q. I wish you would state when the first proclamation was issued?
A. The first proclamation was issued on the 20th of July. The proclamation was gotten up at the office, and I was notified that it was issued as soon as it was done.
Q. By the Secretary of the Commonwealth?
A. By the Adjutant General. It was signed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The proclamation was prepared on a blank, which was left signed for general purposes. Then, when I returned to Pittsburgh I issued another proclamation, which was dated the 25th of July.
The proclamation was as follows:
Pennsylvania, ss:
JOHN F. HARTRANFT.
In the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
{Place of } {great seal} {of State. }
JOHN F. HARTRANFT, Governor of the said Commonwealth.
A PROCLAMATION.
To the people of the State of Pennsylvania:
WHEREAS, There exists a condition of turbulence and disorder within the State, extending to many interests and threatening all communities, under the impulse of which there has grown up a spirit of lawlessness requiring that all law-observing citizens shall organize themselves into armed bodies for the purpose of self protection and preserving the peace.
Therefore, I, John F. Hartranft, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, do hereby recommend that all citizens shall organize themselves into associations, with such arms as they can procure, for the purpose of maintaining order and suppressing violence; and all good citizens are warned against appearing in company with any mob or riotous assembly, and thus giving encouragement to violators of the law.
Given under my hand, and the great seal of the State, at Harrisburg, this twenty-fifth day of July, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, and of the Commonwealth, the one hundred and second.
By the Governor:
M. S. QUAY, Secretary of the Commonwealth.
The witness: That was issued that night. It got into the morning papers, I think of the 25th, in which I called upon the people to organize, and aid the civil authorities.
Q. Have you a telegram notifying you of the issue of the first proclamation?
A. Yes, sir.
HARRISBURG, PA., July 20, 2.20, P.M., 1877.
GOVERNOR J. F. HARTRANFT, on No. 3, Sherman, Wyoming:
Trouble on the P.R.R., at Pittsburgh. Railroad officials over-anxious, fearing trouble would extend to Philadelphia, where train hands were in session last night.
Scott suggested your return, but there is no necessity. Proclamation issued. Go on. Where can we telegraph next? We go to Pittsburgh this afternoon.
(Signed)
JAS. W. LATTA, C. N. FARR.
Q. When you arrived at Pittsburgh, state whether you were met by any committee of citizens or not?
A. When I came to Allegheny there was a large number of citizens--a committee in fact. They had telegraphed to me before I arrived. The names in the dispatch were John Kirkpatrick, John Harper, chairman of committee, G. Johnston, Joseph McCune, John B. Guthrie, George A. Berry, John H. Bickelsen, John D. Scully, and there were some twenty or twenty-five citizens, most of whom I was personally acquainted with, asked me to remain. My intention was to go right to Philadelphia, to consult with General Hancock, who had charge of the regular troops that had been sent into the State, and with General Schofield, who represented the President of the United States. I did not see what I could do in Pittsburgh without troops, but, to satisfy them, I remained, went to the hotel, and had the wires brought into the room, and probably lost no time by doing it. I did a great deal of work that night. I became satisfied, by my inquiries, that the roads leading into Pittsburgh would have to be opened as soon as possible. The committee claimed that their supply of coal for the manufacturing establishments, for their water-works, and gas-works would not be sufficient to hold out more than about a week, at least, not two weeks, and if that supply should give out, together with the supplies of food, there would be a terrible state of affairs, and that made me more earnest and determined, perhaps, to organize a force and get back as soon as possible. I then went to Philadelphia and consulted with these gentlemen--the officers I named--and we all agreed that there was but one thing to do, and that was to organize a sufficient force and go to Pittsburgh and open the roads, which was done.
Q. Was there any resistance in the city of Allegheny to your passage through the city?
A. No, sir.
Q. By the rioters or strikers?
A. No, sir; they received me very kindly. They cheered me. I would not say they were rioters, but they were the strikers connected with the road.
Q. They were blockading freight, or holding freight trains, at that time in Allegheny city?
A. Yes; but there was no destruction of property. Mr. R. A. Ammon sent the following dispatch to me as I was coming into Pittsburgh. I received it about fifty or one hundred miles out of Pittsburgh: "We bid you welcome home, and assure you a safe passage over Fort Wayne road." He was very prominent at the depot when I arrived, and I did not see any other person that assumed to have any authority over the road when I arrived.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Will you please state who this R. A. Ammon is?
A. I saw him that day, and have never seen him since.
Q. Was he a railroad official, or was he one of the strikers?
A. I think he was one of the strikers. I think he had possession of the telegraph--I am not sure about that. He told me--I do not know whether it is proper to state this--that the principal railroad official, I forget his name, sent him word to protect the property, which he said he did.
Q. Mr. McCollough, was it?
A. I do not remember now. Very likely it was--Layng, I think, was the name.
Q. State when you left the State, whether there was anything at all to induce you to believe that there was any liability of a disturbance of the peace?
A. Not the slightest in the world. I said at the time I had the conversation with General Latta, that I thought things never looked better than they did now--at that time.
Q. Since that time, in your intercourse with the railroad officials of the State in any way, have you got information as to the causes of the outbreak?
A. Not sufficient for me to express any opinion. I have never investigated that.
Q. Far enough to express any opinion on the subject?
A. No, sir; I guess you know more about that than I do, by this time.
Q. Have you had any conversation or communications with any of the railroad employés who were engaged in the strike, other than Mr. Ammon?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did Mr. Ammon give any reasons for his taking charge of the railroad and telegraph at Allegheny City?
A. No; the only reason he gave, so far as protecting the property was concerned--I think it was Mr. Layng that sent him word to protect the property that night--the night of the 21st--and he claimed that he had. He claimed a good deal of credit for what was done--I do not know, of my own knowledge, whether he had anything to do with it. I might say that there was a committee of engineers came to see me at Pittsburgh, when I was there with the troops on Sunday. They pretended that they were informed that I had authority to settle this question between them and the railroad company. Of course, I told them I had nothing more to do with it than any other citizen, so far as their differences were concerned. Another committee also came to see me, when I was at Kingston with troops--that was in Luzerne county--but there was nothing of any importance passed, because there was nothing that we could do--nothing that I could do. I went simply to preserve order.
Q. Had you been at home at the time of receiving the call from the sheriff of Allegheny county for troops, would you have asked him what measures he had taken to suppress the disturbance, before you would have ordered out the troops?
A. It is very likely I would; but I would have been influenced by the magnitude of the threatened disturbance to a very great extent. Of course, we always resist the sending of troops to the last moment; but, in this instance, I think it was perfectly proper to send troops.
Q. You would be influenced by the magnitude of the disturbance, then, rather than by the efforts put forth by the sheriff to suppress it?
A. If I knew the exact character of the sheriff I would be very much influenced by his call; but they are nearly always strangers, and I do not know to what extent they can be relied upon. I always avail myself of all the information I can get, and is very difficult to say what would control the Executive in making up his mind just at the last moment. Some sheriffs are very timid, and they throw the responsibility off as soon as possible. They think the moment they get troops that they are relieved. Others have a good deal more pride, and they try to control matters themselves. I think a great deal more could be done by sheriffs than is generally done.
Q. After ordering out the military force of the State, are the civil authorities relieved or superceded by the military force?
A. No; not as long as they appear active and on the ground. If they retire, of course the responsibility falls upon the Executive and his troops.
Q. To preserve the peace?
A. Yes, sir. Then we come under the act of 1864, which, I suppose, was the case in this instance.
Q. If the civil authorities in the locality should retire and do nothing towards the suppression of the riot, then you deem it the duty of the military to preserve the peace?
A. Yes; I would not hesitate a moment.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Would you not regard it the duty of both military and civil authorities to coöperate?
A. I would have the military support the civil authorities, and I think the latter ought to appear somewhere all the time, even if not in any great force, or with much power, because the rioters must be arrested and tried by civil authorities.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. And the military is to support?
A. Is to support.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. And the civil authorities are not relieved from any responsibility after that just because the military are present?
A. I do not think so. I do not think that the laws relieved them. They relieved themselves.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. I understood you to say you have never found it necessary to fall back upon that act of 1864--the particular section that authorizes the commander-in-chief to call out troops--I think it is the ninety-second section?
A. At Susquehanna Depot the sheriff was active all the time, and there was no conflict. In fact, we never had a conflict before. We ordered the troops to Luzerne county again the next year--they were sent there upon the call of the sheriff. He was not very active. I finally told him to come to my office, and we consulted as to the necessity of withdrawing the troops, and we both decided that it was not the time to withdraw the troops. He would not take the entire responsibility, but I divided it with him. That was the nearest to taking the supreme control before. I considered the July riots of such a magnitude and so wide spread over the State--railroad communication stopped--the highways of the State obstructed--that it was necessary to exercise the authority given by the act of 1864. Although the troops went to Pittsburgh on the call of the sheriff, and to Luzerne on the call of the mayor of Scranton and the mayor of Wilkes-Barre, after they got on the spot, it was necessary, I think, to assume general control.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Under the act of 1864, you have the authority or the power to call out the military whenever you get information from any source that there is a disturbance of the peace that cannot be quelled by the civil authorities without being called on, or request made by the sheriff or mayor or other civil authority?
A. That is my construction of it. I am quite sure that that was the intention of the act, when it was passed.
Q. We are required to examine, and inquire into the conduct of the military during the riot--will you please give us a statement of their conduct--of the militia.
A. I think that would be simply expressing an opinion which the committee is called upon to do after investigating the facts. I have investigated the facts, and give my opinion in my message. You can take that as my evidence.
Q. What you know of your own professional knowledge of the conduct of the military?
A. That is a very comprehensive question. A great deal might be said, pro and con.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. I suppose you can tell what the conduct of the militia was after you came home and took charge?
A. I had every faith in them. The troops that I went to Pittsburgh with, and the troops I went to Luzerne county with, I think they would have done anything I could have expected with that many men.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you consider their conduct, as troops, commendable during the time that you had charge of them after your return to the State?
A. Oh, yes; we had no conflict afterwards at all.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. I suppose what Mr. Yutzy would like to know is, whether there was any individual instance of misconduct on the part of any officer or soldier, after you took charge, that came within your own knowledge--came under your observation?
A. No, sir; I had no occasion to have anybody court-martialed for any misconduct.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. If they had misconducted themselves you would have had them court-martialed?
A. I would have taken notice of it in that way. A militia officer occupies a very singular position. He ought to have more judgment and more courage than an officer of like grade in the field if he is confronted with any great emergency. The men that he commands are part of the people--part of the very people he is called on to oppose--and in a disturbance like this, suddenly thrown up, a large proportion of the community may be against the troops and in favor of the disturber of the peace. It is a very difficult position to hold, and it requires a great deal of judgment. In fact, a great deal more than it would require in the field.
By Mr. Means:
Q. It is not like meeting an enemy on the field to meet these people?
A. No. Of course this is only at first blush. After everybody cools off and they begin to realize that there must be law and order, then the reaction comes, but in the first instance it is a very difficult thing to determine just what to do. I would not like to loosely condemn people. I cannot tell what I would have done if I had been there. No man can tell. It is probably much easier to tell what ought to have been done after it is all over, and I am very confident now what I would do in the future. I have learned a great deal from these riots that I never knew before, and the experience has been quite valuable to the officers of the National Guard, and everybody. I do not think the like would occur again, unless there is a general revolution.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. I would like to ask you this question: Whether you have noticed any tendency of the civil authorities of the State to rely upon the National Guard and shirk their own responsibility since the organization of the guard?
A. There has always been a National Guard in the State. As to the main question, there is a tendency to rely too much on the guard.
Q. Is that tendency growing, so far as your observation is concerned?
A. About two years ago we had a good many calls. They seemed to want troops for every little disturbance. I think there were four calls for troops from the western part of the State--two in one day, I believe. The troops were not sent. There has been no call since this late riot, and there had not been before that for a long time.
Q. Has the National Guard been increased under your administration?
A. No, sir; we have diminished it. Companies that would not come up to the standard at the annual inspections were mustered out. Last year we mustered out twenty companies.
Q. I suppose the Adjutant General's book shows the number of the National Guard?
A. Yes; the most they can have is two hundred companies--two hundred is the limit.
Q. Those companies are not full, I believe, now?
A. Oh, yes; they are full. Our minimum is forty. They must all be above that. Some of them have fifty or sixty, and a few companies have more than that, even. The number of the companies is simply an arbitrary number fixed by statute.
Q. Any further statement you desire to make you can do so?
A. I have none. We have a large quantity of telegrams and papers.
Q. In addition to these that are published in the message--in the appendix?
A. Oh, yes; but they are not of very great importance. I picked out those that were the most important.
* * * * *
Chester N. Farr, affirmed:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You are the private secretary of the Governor?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. State where your residence is, Mr. Farr?
A. I reside in Reading, Berks county.
Q. State where you were last July--on the 19th?
A. I was in Reading, at home.
Q. Just go on and state from that point what intelligence you received of any disturbance in any portion of the State, and how it came to you, and your knowledge of what transpired after that?
A. On the evening of the 19th, about nine o'clock, I received a telegram from the Executive Department, embodying the telegram of the sheriff of Allegheny county to the Governor, and I left in the ten-thirty train to come on here with the expectation of meeting General Latta; and after I arrived here, I found that General Latta had left on the train from Philadelphia, and he was on the way, and during that time, sometime in the morning, about two o'clock, I think, of the 20th, I got a dispatch from the sheriff--at least a dispatch came--it was to the Governor, and I answered him that General Latta was on his way, and that there would be a consultation and action taken if necessary. On the morning of the 20th, I went down to the depot and found out when General Latta was expected to arrive, and went down to meet him at the train, and found he had ordered General Pearson's troops on duty in Pittsburgh; then prepared the proclamation, which is given in the appendix to the message, and went up to the hotel and took an hour or two's sleep, and in the morning the general telegraphed to the Governor that the proclamation was issued or would be issued. I don't remember the form.
Q. That was on Friday morning?
A. That was Friday morning.
Q. Friday morning, the 20th?
A. The 20th. During the day there was a number of dispatches by the general to the department, and at three-forty-five the general and myself and his clerk and the Assistant Adjutant General took the train for Pittsburgh, and on the way we received advices frequently in regard to the character of the situation--the threatening character of it--and having ordered General Pearson out, the general was waiting to find what had been the result. It was calculated that the Pittsburgh division--General Pearson's division--would furnish about a thousand men; but sometime in the afternoon we got advices from General Pearson that he had only succeeded in getting two hundred and thirty men. Then the general--if I recollect rightly--General Pearson in the same dispatch advised that the situation was so serious that he thought, in order to save bloodshed, there ought to be some other troops. General Latta then ordered General Brinton or requested General Brinton to have his troops notified, and afterward, when another dispatch came from General Pearson, very much of the same character stating that he had only a very small force out, and the men were not responding promptly, and that the situation was very threatening and would require a great many troops, he ordered General Brinton's division to report to General Pearson at Pittsburgh.
Q. What time was that order given to General Brinton?
A. Sometime late in the afternoon--I don't know the exact time.
Q. Do you remember the point from which the order was sent?
A. No, sir; I don't remember the point.
Q. It was while you were en route to Pittsburgh?
A. It was while we were en route; yes. We arrived at Pittsburgh, at the Union depot, between twelve and one o'clock, on Saturday morning. We had been joined on the way by Colonel Norris and Mr. Linn. We were met at the depot by General Pearson; informed us that in the course of the few hours that had intervened, he had succeeded in getting together about six hundred men. I think he stated he had at the depot about three hundred and fifty men; the other two hundred and fifty, composing the Eighteenth regiment, were at Torrens station. The matter was talked over, and it was decided, as I understood, that no movement was to be made until the Philadelphia troops came. I believe General Pearson had intended that afternoon to attempt to run the trains, but had given it up for some reason. I suppose because he thought that if he had more troops, he could do it without a collision. In the morning, it was intended to wait until there was a large force there, for the purpose of having as large a force as possible, so as to avoid any collision if possible. During the morning--I suppose between three and four, or four and five o'clock--the hill at the side near Twenty-eighth street--I never went down to the ground, and don't know anything about it, except from the conversation that took place at the time--the hill at the side of the track at Twenty-eighth street, was occupied by the Fourteenth regiment, and Breck's battery. I believe the intention of that movement was to keep the crowd off the hill. About two o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, the first detachment of the First division arrived, and after the troops had been fed, they marched down the track, and shortly afterwards--I suppose it was five o'clock--between four and five o'clock--we were told a collision had taken place between the troops and the rioters. We saw one or two of the Pittsburgh soldiers coming up the streets carrying their guns. The crowd would collect around them, and something would pass between them, and there would be cheers or something of that kind. About six o'clock, or perhaps later, we were told that the troops had gone into the round-house, and about nine o'clock--the time is merely in my mind as a sequence of events--I did not look at the time--I suppose it was about nine o'clock--General Pearson himself came into the room, but left shortly afterwards. All telegraphic communications stopped about that time, and we had no communications with the troops in the round-house, or where they were, until some time after that, when Sergeant Wilson, of the cavalry, came in dressed as a laborer, and brought some dispatches from General Brinton. During the night there were several dispatches brought, and answers returned in the same manner, and in the morning, about nine o'clock--half-past eight or nine o'clock--we were told the troops had left the round house.
Q. At this point, Mr. Farr--because there are some questions I want to ask prior to that--what time was it after you received the dispatch at Reading bearing the sheriff's dispatch?
A. It was after supper some time. I don't remember the exact time, but about supper time.
Q. On the 19th?
A. On the 19th; yes, sir.
Q. Thursday evening, then, after supper?
A. It was Thursday evening, either about supper or after that time.
Q. Have you that dispatch, or can you get it?
A. I think I have it home. I don't think I have it with me.
Q. Who was that signed by?
A. It was repeated by Mr. Keely.
Q. From the Executive Department?
A. From the Executive Department. It might be I am wrong about the dispatch. It may have contained simply Gardner's dispatch. My recollection is, it was the same as the sheriff's, but the sheriff's may have come the next morning. I think I have all those dispatches collected together. I don't know whether that dispatch contained any man's name, or whether I simply assumed it was from the sheriff, from the fact that it may have said, "The following dispatch was received at this office." I think I have the dispatch, and I can get it when I go home and look over the dispatches.
Q. What time did you arrive at Harrisburg?
A. I got here--that train gets here about midnight; leaves Reading at ten-thirty, and gets here some time between twelve and one.
Q. Did you have any communication with the Secretary of State, on your arrival, Mr. Quay?
A. The Secretary of State was not here.
Q. He was not here?
A. No, sir.
Q. What time did you meet General Latta?
A. Some time between two and three o'clock, I think. The time may have been later. I think it was two-fifty; I am not positive.
Q. And you then prepared the first proclamation?
A. Yes, sir; drew the draft of it, and, after the general had ordered the troops out, the proclamation was issued.
Q. The general didn't make the order until after he arrived here and ordered the troops out?
A. I understood him to say he had ordered the troops from Lancaster.
Q. Did that proclamation appear in the morning papers?
A. That I don't know. I think it did. I am not positive of that. My recollection is it was telegraphed to Pittsburgh. I am not positive.
Q. Do you know what time you telegraphed it to Pittsburgh from here?
A. No, sir; it was sometime in the morning. It must have been some time about four o'clock.
Q. Had you any other intelligence from Pittsburgh than that contained in the telegram of Sheriff Fife?
A. That, and simply what I learned from General Latta.
Q. You had no other telegrams or communications to you or to the Executive Department?
A. Not to me.
Q. At the time of issuing the proclamation?
A. This other telegram may have been there. I had received one other dispatch from Sheriff Fife, just before I saw General Latta, which, as I stated, I had answered by saying that General Latta would be here. I think you will find that dispatch in the Governor's message.
Q. Was that directed to the Governor?
A. Yes; it was directed to the Governor, and I think it embodied this dispatch.
Q. If you can get both of those dispatches we would like to have them?
A. That I answered by stating that General Latta would be there.
Q. Where did you meet the Secretary of State first?
A. At Pittsburgh.
Q. On your arrival at Pittsburgh?
A. No, sir; he came in Saturday morning, I think, just after daylight--just about daylight, probably. He was at the Monongahela. We had telegraphed him to meet us at the Monongahela house, and after we got to the Union depot we found General Pearson and the troops were stopping there and were detained. Colonel Quay came in in the morning.
Q. After your arrival there and consultation with General Pearson, it was determined not to attempt to move any train until the Philadelphia troops arrived, as I understand you?
A. I understood that to be the determination. Of course in these military consultations, although I listened, I did not take any part. That was my understanding of the result of the conversation.
Q. Did you understand General Pearson to be giving directions to the military force there?
A. I understood General Pearson to be in command.
Q. And that the Adjutant General was there exercising his powers and duties as Adjutant General proper?
A. So I understood. I understood that the Adjutant General had authority from the Governor, and was exercising his authority so far as getting the troops there.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. As commander-in-chief?
A. That is, he had directions from the commander-in-chief to issue the orders necessary to assist the authorities.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. In calling out the troops?
A. Yes; but after the troops were gathered together, they were in command of the officer of the division--that is, so far as any military operations were concerned.
Q. And that General Latta was not giving directions to the troops after they came there--not taking command of the troops, or superseding General Pearson at all?
A. That was my understanding.
Q. After the collision occurred, what time was it when General Pearson arrived at the Union Depot hotel?
A. I cannot tell the time exactly, but it was nine or ten o'clock, as near as I can say. I don't think I looked at my watch the whole twenty-four hours. I merely remember the time by the sequence.
Q. What was his purpose in coming there, or did he express any purpose?
A. My recollection is, he said he had come to see whether he could get provisions and ammunition, and I think that is the same reason that he gives in his report.
Q. What efforts did he make to get provisions and ammunition to the troops that night?
A. None at all, that I know of.
Q. You saw no efforts made?
A. I understood from the conversation that took place, that it was admitted that General Pearson could not get back to the round-house, and that he alone, without any force--there was no force there--could not get any provisions to the troops, and that as he seemed to be particularly obnoxious to the mob, it would be safer--or at least keep the mob from going to extremes--if he was out of the way. For these reasons he accepted General Latta's suggestion that he should leave.
Q. How long did he remain at the hotel?
A. I suppose--perhaps half an hour, perhaps longer.
Q. Do you know where he went?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know where he started to go?
A. No, sir; I don't. He came there with, I think, four members of his staff.
Q. Did they go with him, or did they remain?
A. I think one of them remained. I am not positive about that. I did not know the gentleman at that time. I cannot always rank them--there were a good many of them there.
Q. Who was to take command of the troops after he left?
A. That was understood to devolve upon General Brinton. In fact, that was something that I heard the Adjutant General ask--whether he, General Pearson, had left General Brinton in command, and whether General Brinton expected him back. And he said that he had told General Brinton if he did not come back he was to take command, and I always understood after General Pearson left, General Brinton to be in command of the troops.
Q. Of all the troops there then, including those of the Sixth division?
A. I don't know that I have any reason for being so explicit as that. I simply supposed that General Brinton was in command of the troops who were in the round-house, whether they were Pittsburgh or Philadelphia troops, who were there at that time. The detachment there was regarded as under his command.
Q. What time was the telegraphic communication between the Union Depot hotel and General Brinton cut off?
A. Just about the time General Pearson came. I think it was almost simultaneously about the time General Pearson came in, they announced that the communications were closed. The telegraph operator said he could not communicate.
Q. Was anything said or done there about moving General Brinton or getting any word to General Brinton--any communication in any other way?
A. Oh, yes; there was some talk--very considerable. I think it was believed that General Brinton was perfectly safe with his troops until after the firing began. Then there was considerable anxiety.
Q. That is after the burning?
A. I mean the burning--after they set fire to the cars. There was very considerable anxiety in regard to him, but the railroad officials stated that the buildings the troops were in were perfectly fire proof, and it was supposed that he was perfectly able to take care of himself.
Q. Did you see or hear anything from General Brown or his command that night?
A. After we first got there--during Saturday--General Brown was in and out several times in citizen's dress, telling about his conversations with the rioters, and the manner in which they talked to him, and various other things. I did not see him that night after the fire.
Q. Did you know anything about his dismissing his command--ordering Colonel Gray or Colonel Howard to dismiss their regiments?
A. No, sir. If the Fourteenth regiment came to the Union depot on Saturday night, I did not see it. There was one company of the Fourteenth regiment--I think it was the Fourteenth regiment--that was left, or came in afterwards in some way, that was there that night at the depot, and there were eighteen--eighteen or twenty men of the Black Hussars. There was about thirty thousand rounds of ammunition there.
Q. Eighteen of the Black Hussars, do I understand you to say?
A. I think there were eighteen or twenty--something like that. They were unarmed, except with the sabers, so far as I could see.
Q. Nothing but sabers?
A. That is all.
Q. Was there any talk by the Adjutant General, or any effort made, to get a communication, or to communicate with General Brinton in any way during the night of Saturday night?
A. Oh, yes. After the firing took place--I did not see it, I only knew this, of course, from hearsay--there was a wagon sent out with provisions for the troops. It was loaded up and sent down, but the mob prevented it getting to the troops. That was, I think, just before night-fall, and during the night there were several efforts made.
Q. There were none of those Black Hussars, or of Colonel Howard's, or of Colonel Gray's brigade sent, were there?
A. There were no troops there. The Black Hussars--it would have been madness to have sent out eighteen or twenty men with sabers into that crowd.
Q. Neither was the other company that you spoke of?
A. The other company--I don't remember just when that company came in. I noticed it sometime during the night. I didn't see it when it first came. I don't think it was left there when the troops went down. It was considered better to attempt no military movements during the night time, because of the crowd in the streets.
Q. When the burning commenced, was there any efforts made by the military in any way to stop the burning so far as you know?
A. None that I know of.
Q. Was it a subject of conversation at the Union hotel, between Latta and yourself, or any others that were in consultation there?
A. I don't understand the question.
Q. Was that subject talked of?
A. Do you mean, whether we were to prevent it, or whether as to the possibility or the feasibility of General Brinton's preventing it?
Q. What was the feasibility of General Brinton himself preventing it?
A. I cannot remember that there was anything said particularly about it. Although at that time it was supposed, before we received any communication from him--it was supposed he was able to take care of himself. He had five hundred men and two Gatling guns, and he had taken, I think, twenty rounds of ammunition per man and a couple of thousand for his gun, and until we got that first dispatch from him, it was generally supposed that he would be able to take care of himself.
Q. Which was the highest in rank, General Brinton or General Brown?
A. General Brinton was the highest. General Brinton was a major general, and General Brown, brigadier. He is brigadier of the Sixth division. While we were in the depot, after the firing took place, there were a number of wounded men brought in--soldiers. I heard the surgeon state, that he had ten or fifteen--I have forgotten which--anyway it was quite a number--it was nearly a dozen at least, and they were sent away on the next train. Most of them were wounded with pistol shots, so he stated.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where did those soldiers come from?
A. From the front, where the collision had taken place.
Q. Do you recollect how many soldiers were brought in wounded?
A. There were from ten to fifteen.
Q. All of General Brinton's command?
A. I don't know. They were all with that detachment, but there were some troops down there who were not of the First division. General Brown had the Fourteenth, of the Sixth division, and Breck's battery, at Pittsburgh, and the Jefferson cavalry. But I think most of those wounded were Philadelphia troops. I judge so simply from the fact that they were sent down in the train--with the last train that was permitted to go through.
Q. What time did you leave the Union depot--just go on from that point?
A. After the troops had left the depot, this scout came in and informed us that General Brinton had left the round-house. I believe, however, General Latta had known it just before he came in. The first I knew of it was when he came in and informed us that the troops had left. Then General Brown came in shortly afterwards, and stated that the troops were in bad condition. The report was that they were being massacred by the citizens, and General Brown expressed great indignation then. He said he didn't care what happened to the mob after their exhibition of brutality, and made other expressions of that kind. Afterwards we found out that these were entirely exaggerated reports; that the troops had marched out in reasonably good order. We stayed at the Union depot until nearly noon, or about eleven o'clock, I should judge. That was about nine o'clock. The proprietor got very anxious about the matter, because he thought our presence there would induce the mob to set fire to the building. General Latta would not leave until he made arrangements to save the ammunition, and arrangements were made. The building was then deserted. Nearly everybody was out of it, so far as the occupants of it. There were a number of muskets that had been left by the troops. They were taken up stairs, and put in the room. Between eleven and twelve o'clock, or thereabouts, we left and went down stairs, attempted to get a carriage, and could not find a driver. Then we went across the street and took cars, and went to the Monongahela house; and while there we received information from Colonel Norris, who, with Colonel Stewart, had started in the morning after General Brinton. And we received the same information in various ways--I don't know the exact channels--that the troops were beyond Sharpsburg, across the bridge, and wanted provisions, and efforts were made to get them.
Q. The Monongahela house was then the head-quarters of General Latta--General Latta made his head-quarters there?
A. Yes; he stopped there, and notified every one with whom we had telegraphic communications where he was.
Q. How long did he remain there?
A. Until nine o'clock in the evening.
Q. That Sunday evening?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Yourself and the Secretary of State with him?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Any other?
A. The Assistant Adjutant General, the Deputy Secretary of State, and Colonel Norris, and Mr. Russell, the clerk. When we went into the Monongahela house, we registered our names, and when I looked at the register afterwards, I found they had scratched them all out and put in fictitious names. While we were there, we heard that the mob had set fire to the Union depot. Of course, we could see the light, and I supposed the proprietors were afraid they might serve the Monongahela house the same way during the night that they had the Union depot. It was within my own personal knowledge that the Adjutant General was endeavoring to get the other detachment of the First division, and the Eighteenth regiment--Colonel Guthrie's regiment--that was at Torrens station, in such a condition that they could join General Brinton in the morning. It was supposed that General Brinton would have no difficulty in staying where he was until that juncture was effected, but the trains were all stopped, and it was difficult to get engineers to run them, even where they could be run, and the junction was not effected, and General Brinton was directed, or instructed whatever it may be, to make that junction himself when he left the round-house.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. He didn't make that?
A. No, sir. As I understand it, the intention was to get the troops concentrated together after the collision, so as to get as large a force as possible, but they were in detachments, and the railroads were stopped, and many of the troops were without ammunition. Wherever it was possible ammunition was sent to them. It was wagoned down to the detachment of General Brinton's--his second detachment--and it was sent down the Ohio river to the Erie division and wherever it was possible.
Q. Were any of the officers of the railroad company at the Monongahela house?
A. Yes; both at the Union depot and Monongahela house. They came in.
Q. Were there any efforts--did you know on Sunday that Colonel Gray and Colonel Howard's regiment had been dismissed on Saturday night?
A. I knew nothing of it?
Q. You had no knowledge of it?
A. I had no knowledge of it. It was generally understood that the Pittsburgh division had gone to pieces, except the Eighteenth regiment.
Q. Did the civil authorities, the mayor of the city of Pittsburgh or the sheriff of the county, have any consultation with General Latta at the Monongahela house during that day?
A. Not at the Monongahela house?
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did they at any time after your arrival?
A. I don't remember of seeing the sheriff. I don't think he was there in the room at all, although I understood he went with the detachment to Twenty-eighth street. The mayor came, as I understood, when he was sent for by General Latta, and stayed, I suppose, twenty minutes.
Q. When was that?
A. That was during Saturday night. It may have been early Sunday morning, but it was before daylight.
Q. While you were yet at the Union Depot hotel?
A. At the Union depot. He came when he was sent for, and I did not take any part in the conversation, or hear it, but he talked with General Latta, afterwards with Secretary Quay, and then left, and that was the last I ever saw of him.
Q. Were you in consultation with citizens on Sunday?
A. Citizens were very scarce. I never saw many Pittsburgh people. Whenever a Pittsburgh man left, he very seldom came back.
Q. Did you know where the head-quarters of the citizens' committee was during the day, Sunday?
A. No, sir.
Q. And you were not called upon by them?
A. Not that I know of, sir.
Q. Was it known through the city where General Latta was?
A. It was in every paper that I saw in the morning.
Q. And you registered when you went to the Monongahela house?
A. Our arrival there the night before was in every morning paper that I saw of the city, and we were registered at the hotel, and we registered at the Monongahela house when we went there, and this very party who had been sent out in the interim we had gone to the Monongahela, they had no difficulty in finding us.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did you understand the railroad company--the officials, I mean--to believe that they could run trains? Did they seem to have that impression after you arrived in Pittsburgh?
A. It was understood that they had the crews ready just as soon as the track was clear, and if protection was given them, they could run trains?
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. How did you get that information? From what railroad officer?
A. I don't remember. I think it was stated generally--it was so understood.
Q. Mr. Cassatt was there, I believe. Was he not?
A. Mr. Cassatt was there.
Q. And Pitcairn, the superintendent?
A. Mr. Pitcairn was there. I think Mr. Pitcairn was the man I heard make the statement that he had the crews?
Q. Ready to start?
A. Yes, sir; I am not positive as to that.
Q. Do you know what efforts General Latta made during the day--Sunday, I mean--to stop the burning, or to collect a force--collect troops for that purpose?
A. I understood he was engaged all day in endeavoring to get those troops in the condition that they could be used.
Q. Colonel Guthrie's regiment at Torrens station, and General Brinton's command--he was trying to get them to form a junction, so that they could be used?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were there any other troops within the reach of the city?
A. I think there was. The second detachment of the First division was on its way, and it must have been near the city, some place.
Q. Who was commanding that regiment?
A. Colonel Rodgers, I think.
Q. Do you know where they were that night?
A. No; I do not know of my own knowledge, at that time. I know, since, they were within a few miles. They were, I suppose, twelve or fourteen miles, perhaps less; but they were without ammunition.
Q. What time did you leave the Monongahela house, and where did you go from there?
A. We left the Monongahela house and took a boat and went to Beaver.
Q. What time did you arrive at Beaver?
A. About midnight, I guess.
Q. Sunday night?
A. Yes sir.
Q. And from Beaver where?
A. From Beaver the intention was to go to Erie. Upon inquiry at Pittsburgh, the railroad officials informed us that they could not get their trains through to Harrisburg, and so the intention was to go from Beaver to Erie, as we understood the Erie railroad was running, and go to Harrisburg; but when we got to Beaver we found that the road running to Erie was stopped also, then General Latta and the Assistant Adjutant General and myself took a carriage and drove over to Allegheny City, and found that the train was running on the West Penn and took that train, and got to Harrisburg.
Q. The purpose in coming to Harrisburg was to collect more troops?
A. The communications were uncertain, and there was no way to get ammunition or orders to these troops.
At this point the committee adjourned until Monday afternoon, at two o'clock.
HARRISBURG, Monday, March, 11, 1878.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment, in Senate committee room, No. 6, at four o'clock in the afternoon.
All members present, except Messrs. Means, Torbert, Dewees, and Larrabee.
* * * * *
Chester N. Farr, recalled:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Is this the first dispatch you received? [Indicating.]
A. That is the first dispatch I received. I received that after supper, Thursday night, the 19th.
Q. After supper, about what hour?
A. About nine o'clock. It was shortly after, and little before the train left.
Q. Dated received 9.16.
A. It was about that time. The dispatch was as follows:
HARRISBURG, PA., July 19, 1877.
Received at 10 No. Sixth street, Reading, 9.16, P.M.
C. N. FARR, jr., 516 Elm street, Reading, Pa.:
Superintendent of Pennsylvania railroad wires, that a number of train men at Pittsburgh have refused to work, and have, by the aid of a promiscuous mob gathered from the streets, and by the most severe threats and violence against our men, who are ready to work, succeeded in intimidating them, and forcing them to get off their trains, and we are unable, by the aid of police furnished by authorities at Pittsburgh, to move our traffic which is suffering, especially live stock. I would respectfully urge, that such protection will be furnished as will enable us to have possession of our road. Did Governor leave any orders with you?
WARREN B. KEELY.
Then after I got up here, about one or two o'clock, I received one from Sheriff Fife. That I have not been able to find; but that I answered.
Q. You have not been able to find the dispatch you received from the sheriff?
A. No, sir, I think not. But I can get a copy of it here at the office, if you would like it.
Q. Can you give pretty nearly the contents of it?
A. No, sir; it was a short dispatch, simply asking me if anything was being done.
Q. Is it published in the Adjutant General's report?
A. No, sir; I think not. I have not got it here. I am sorry, I looked over all that I had, but I couldn't find it.
Q. I wish you would state now your knowledge of the disturbance at Reading--any facts that are within your own knowledge, and that you have obtained through an official capacity?
A. I know nothing about the disturbance of my own personal knowledge, except from hearsay after I got there. I got there on Tuesday afternoon--Tuesday evening, I think.
Q. What date?
A. It was the 24th. When we came down from Harrisburg on Tuesday afternoon, we got here just in time for me to take the two-fifty-seven train, and go to Reading. I had heard there was a disturbance over there, and I went over, and when I got there I found the bridge was burned down. We stopped just this side of the bridge, and had to drive in over the other bridge, and found considerable excitement in town, and a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty about the situation of affairs. General Reeder and his command had left about that time, and they expected the Federal troops in, and they came in shortly afterwards while I was there, and there was no further disturbance in town while I was there. There was a meeting of the citizens called for that night. It was attended by I should suppose fifteen or twenty, and some efforts were made to get up a citizens' organization; but it didn't work. There was not a large amount of cheerful alacrity to go into the organization.
Q. By whose authority was the citizens' meeting called?
A. They were called together by the mayor. He was there at that time. He was at the meeting. The sheriff I didn't see.
Q. The sheriff resided in Reading--the sheriff of the county?
A. I think not; but he was in Reading at that time. So I understood, although I didn't see him.
Q. What is the sheriff's name?
A. His name is Yorgy. Captain Linden and his police were there at that time. I saw them. They had stayed to guard the railroad property. About seventeen or eighteen men he had at that time.
Q. Of the city?
A. No, sir; coal and iron police. The police were some twenty or twenty-two. A number of those were hurt in the fire--about seven of them were shot.
Q. Shot in this conflict that took place between the rioters and the troops?
A. Yes. As I understood that matter, Seventh street runs this way, [indicating,] and at the corner--at Penn street--it was where the principle crowd was. The cut opens there, and the police were drawn across Penn street, parallel with Seventh street. When the troops came out of the cut this volley went through the line.
Q. Of the police?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Any of them killed?
A. No, sir; I think one of them lost his foot. Seven of them, altogether, were struck.
Q. How many were killed in the conflict that took place that evening?
A. Said to be eleven, those that were killed, and fifty odd were wounded. When I was there they had torn up the track. I saw that. They had torn up a rail or two out of the track, and overturned the watchman's box there, and had stone piled up. There was certainly no attempt to make a barricade--there was not much of a barricade.
Q. How large a force was assembled there of the rioters when you got there?
A. There were only a few men standing round.
Q. Were they railroad men that were standing about--railroad employés?
A. That I don't know. Of course there were a great many people on the streets, and there were crowds walking around.
Q. What night was it that the conflict took place between Reeder's troops and the rioters?
A. Monday night. The bridge was burned on Sunday, I think--Sunday night.
Q. Did they gather in any considerable force after your arrival in the city?
A. No, sir; I saw no mob.
Q. There was no further disturbance nor breach of the peace?
A. None at all. They commenced to arrest people who were engaged in it immediately.
Q. State what efforts were made by the civil authorities to punish those that were engaged in rioting, so far as you know of your own knowledge?
A. They had arrested--they arrested about sixty or seventy. I think then the next week they were all held for appearance at court. Two of them pleaded guilty--the two that were engaged in burning the bridge. Those two were in court, and the others were tried, and so far as I know of my own personal knowledge, there were about a dozen that I know of were tried and acquitted, and the others were held for the next term of court. I don't know whether they have been tried or not. I suppose they were, but I do not know.
Q. Were those arrests made by the mayor?
A. They were made by the chief of police, assisted by the coal and iron police, and the police of the city.
Q. This coal and iron police you speak of, is that a police kept up by the company--a private company?
A. I understand that to be under some act of Assembly, by which the Governor has power to appoint special policemen. I never looked up the act of Assembly. I know there are policemen appointed that way--special policemen.
Q. For the city?
A. No, sir; for the protection of corporate property. I don't know whether it specially applies to corporate property or not.
Q. Is that a general act?
A. Indeed, sir, I never looked at the act. I don't know. I really don't know where the authority comes from, except I know these appointments are made.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Confined to the coal regions?
A. They call them coal and iron police. I don't know under what act of Assembly.
Q. How are they paid?
A. I suppose they are paid by the companies, I don't know though.
Q. How many of these were there in the city of Reading?
A. I don't know of my own knowledge. I heard there were seventeen or eighteen. There is one correction I want to make. I don't know whether I have stated that I know of my own personal knowledge that Mayor McCarthy came to the room, or whether I said I understood he was sent for. I don't remember him as coming to the room.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. That was at Pittsburgh?
A. At Pittsburgh. I learned afterwards he had been sent for, and did come. I was not introduced then, and had no conversation myself, and didn't enter into the conversation.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Do you know whether he was sent for?
A. That I do not know of my own personal knowledge.
* * * * *
James W. Latta, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State to the committee where you were on the 19th of July last, or when the news first reached you of the disturbance on the Pennsylvania railroad at Pittsburgh, and what action was taken by you with reference thereto?
A. On the evening of the 19th of July, 1877, I was sitting in the room of Post No. 2, Grand Army Republic, at one of its regular weekly sessions, at the corner of Spring Garden and Thirteenth streets, Philadelphia. About nine-thirty o'clock, there was a rap came at the door, and the messenger announced that I was wanted outside. I went outside and found a gentleman in a carriage, who announced himself as an official of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He told me there was some difficulty upon the railway, and that they would like to see me if I could go down to the West Philadelphia depot. I went back and left word it was doubtful whether I would be back again that night, and I went with him to the depot. I there met Mr. Lockhart, superintendent of the Philadelphia division, and went with two others, whom I do not now recollect by name. They told me all the circumstances that had occurred at Pittsburgh. They produced a number of dispatches, described the action that had been taken by the strikers during that day of Thursday, pulling off men from their trains, and pounding some of their officials when they attempted to run them, and the fact that the mayor had been called on, and had been found to have gone to Castle Shannon. This further fact I am not positive whether it appeared in the dispatches, or whether I simply recollect from having learned it subsequently. My impression is it appeared in the dispatches that the fact was that an effort had been made by the mayor, with some thirteen or fifteen policemen, to assist the railroad people in getting the train out, and it had failed. I have endeavored to get those dispatches, but have not been able to do so.
Q. Was this information communicated to you by the railroad officials at Philadelphia, or was it contained in the dispatches that you received from Pittsburgh?
A. It was communicated to me by them. They showed me the dispatches that contained the information to them, and I read them there in the office. Colonel Scott, it appears, had been sent for. He was somewheres out in the country, and they then said to me, we want troops. I told them they would have to take some other steps to secure the calling for troops before any troops could be ordered. I said, it appears the mayor has been doing something and you must look to the sheriff. They then showed me a dispatch that had been addressed by Mr. Cassatt to the Lieutenant Governor. I was satisfied the Lieutenant Governor had no power in the premises, but, fearing that there might be some question as to whether he had or not, I got the Constitution, and they had Smull's hand-book. I made up my mind conclusively, that he had not, and I telegraphed to the Attorney General. In the meantime, however, Mr. Scott came in, and they, I believe, started off some requests to other people about getting the sheriff on the ground, and I telegraphed to Pearson at the same time, to know something about it myself, and believing it was going to be a serious affair, I went immediately back to my home and took a carriage and drove to the eleven o'clock train, and found Mr. Gardner, who was on a special train. We jumped on his train and came to Harrisburg.
Q. Who is Mr. Gardner?
A. He is general superintendent of the railway. He was going to his home in Altoona.
Q. Pennsylvania railway?
A. Pennsylvania railway. My impression is that is all that occurred at the depot. I got on his train at Lancaster. We had a pretty slow run, we were stopped a good deal, and at Lancaster I got a dispatch from the sheriff which appears in my report and appears in all the official documents.
Q. Sheriff, Allegheny county?
A. Yes, sir; it was addressed to me. It was stating that he had addressed one to the Governor.
Q. That is the one dated July 20, 1877, at one-fourteen, P.M.?
A. That is the only one.
Q. Contained on page No. 1 of your report?
The dispatch referred to, is as follows:
PITTSBURGH, July 20, 1877--1.49, A.M.
General JAMES W. LATTA:
I have addressed to Governor Hartranft the following message, and learning that he is absent, I forward it to you for your information.
R. H. FIFE, Sheriff of Allegheny county.
PITTSBURGH, July 20, 1877--1.14, A.M.
Honorable JOHN F. HARTRANFT:
A tumultuous mob exists on the Pennsylvania railroad, at East Liberty, in the Twelfth ward of Pittsburgh. Large assemblages of people are upon the railroad, and the movement of freight trains, either east or west, is prevented by intimidation and violence, molesting, obstructing the engineers and other employés of the railroad company in the discharge of their duties. As the sheriff of the county, I have endeavored to suppress the riot, and have not adequate means at my command to do so. I therefore request you to interfere your authority in calling out the military to suppress the same.
R. H. FIFE, Sheriff of Allegheny county.
Witness: Meantime, I had seen some telegrams from the Lieutenant Governor, either before or after this, I forget which, that he had no power in the premises. Having received instructions from Governor Hartranft before he left the State of Pennsylvania, which was upon the Monday previous to this date, that in case of trouble, I should assume the responsibility, and the case being one of serious magnitude, knowing the fact that the regular army had been three or four days endeavoring to open the Baltimore and Ohio road, and had failed, I thought the time had come for prompt and immediate action, and I sent a dispatch which reads as follows--from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to General Pearson. This dispatch shows conclusively, that the military were acting subordinately to the civil authorities:
LANCASTER, 7, 20, 1877--2.35, A.M.
Major General A. L. PEARSON, Pittsburgh:
You will assume charge of the situation in the Twelfth ward of Pittsburgh, to aid the civil authorities in suppressing existing disorders. Place one regiment on duty, advise me which command you so place, and report generally.
JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General.
And I immediately advised the sheriff from Lancaster; the same telegram went to the sheriff:
LANCASTER, PA., July 20, 1877--2.35, A.M.
R. H. FIFE, Sheriff, Pittsburgh, Pa.:
Have directed General Pearson to place one regiment on duty to aid you in suppressing disorders.
JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General.
Q. What time did you send those despatches?
A. Two thirty-five, A.M., in the morning of the 20th July, on the way from Lancaster to Harrisburg. We were running very fast. It was a matter more of form than anything else, to prepare a proclamation. The proclamation I did not conceive to be of any moment, and I thought, as a matter of form, I would let one go out. I got it pretty well finished by the time we got to Harrisburg, and at Harrisburg we met Mr. Farr, and I told him to complete it, and let it go out. That is the proclamation that has been referred to in his testimony and the Governor's, and which appears in the Governor's message--in the appendix to the Governor's message.
Q. The first proclamation that was issued?
A. Yes, sir; the first proclamation.
Q. State what advice you gave them?
A. At Harrisburg--we moved on Friday quickly from Lancaster, and when I got to Harrisburg--an hour and a half afterward I sent the dispatch, which appears on page 2 of my report, as follows:
Governor J. F. HARTRANFT, (care S. H. H. Clark,) Omaha, Nebraska:
Mob stopped all freight trains at Pittsburgh. Sheriff called for troops. Ordered Pearson to take charge, and to put one regiment on duty. Says he may need more.
JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General.
Q. What time did you send them?
A. That was about four o'clock in the morning.
Q. When did you inform the Governor that you had issued a proclamation?
A. Not until eight or nine o'clock that morning in another dispatch that the Governor produced. The proclamation really had not gone out then.
Q. Did you inform him before or after the proclamation had gone out to the public?
A. I think the proclamation went over the wires about that time, but it had not really become a proclamation and about the time.... I did not recollect of anything of moment or importance occurring between that time of the sending of that dispatch, about the proclamation, which was read here on Saturday, until some time during the morning. I sent a ... General Pearson, to know how things were progressing, what things had been done, and at two o'clock I received a reply, which appears in my report, on page 2. It left Pittsburgh one-fifty-eight, P.M. Reads as follows, addressed to me:
PITTSBURGH, July 20, 1877--1.58, P.M.
General JAMES W. LATTA, Harrisburg:
I have ordered out all my infantry and two sections of Hutchinson's battery. The Eighteenth regiment, under command of Colonel Guthrie, are at Torrens station, where several hundred determined rioters are assembled, and defy the officers of the law. The Fourteenth and Nineteenth I will station between the Union depot and East Liberty. At the outer depot, fifteen hundred or two thousand men are congregated, and refuse to allow the passage of any freight trains. I will station the artillery at that point. It will require a strong hand to quell the disturbances, and disperse the mob. Thinking it better to overawe the mob by an appearance of strategy, and to save bloodshed, I have ordered out my command as above. A portion of the eighteenth regiment were on duty at eight o'clock, A.M.
A. L. PEARSON, Major General.
I then left Harrisburg with Mr. Farr and Colonel Hassinger and Mr. Russell on the fast line west. During the morning, I might say that Colonel Scott was telegraphing me quite considerably about whether or not there were enough troops, and earnestly suggesting me to put some more in the field, and to show the opinion in which the troops of Pittsburgh were held at that time, there is a dispatch here which has never been published, and which I will read now. I thought I could understand how to handle people I had been with for a good while, and there ain't any question about it, but this Sixth division, of the National Guard, stood the equal of any in the Commonwealth, on the morning of the 20th day of July, and I assured Colonel Scott, the troops were, in my judgment, so far as I understood the situation, satisfactory to me. I sent to Colonel Scott this telegram, dated Harrisburg, July 20, at noon.
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, HARRISBURG, July 20, 1877--12, M.
Colonel THOMAS A. SCOTT, Philadelphia:
Pearson is moving his whole force, and is doubtless on the ground by this time. He is an efficient, energetic, and judicious commander, with a body of troops under him that are as well disciplined and drilled as any National Guard forces in the country. They are officered by gentlemen of military experience and proved ability. I appreciate the situation, and no energies of mine shall be spared to bring matters to a successful issue. I go west on fast line. Will keep you advised. Have read Mr. Cassatt's dispatch to you.
(Signed)
JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General.
Shortly after this dispatch went, some two and a half hours, I got some intimation through the railroad people that the troops were not coming out right, and I told them I could say nothing to them until I heard from General Pearson, who had the whole charge of matters. This dispatch of Pearson's, which appeared in my report, page 3, confirms these suspicions which I had about what these railroad officials had said to me:
PITTSBURGH, July 20, 1877--5, P.M.
Major General JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General, (on Fast Line west:)
Matters are getting worse. The Fourteenth regiment, up to this time, four o'clock, have not reported a man. The Nineteenth has but fifty (50) men. The Eighteenth regiment has had one hundred and fifty (150) on duty since morning. Captain Breck has his battery horsed and ready for duty. Is now at Union depot. I fear the majority of the troops sympathize with the strikers. Mr. Cassatt is most anxious to have other troops, and as it will take a long time to get country troops together, the Philadelphia troops could be brought here in less time than any others, and would not be in sympathy with the strikers. Mr. Cassatt suggests that you have a good regiment under arms, and if I fail with what I have got, they can be ordered here by special train, and would arrive early in the morning. I will make the attempt to run the trains through in less than an hour, and will notify you of the result.
A. L. PEARSON, Major General.
To which I replied, as follows.
MIFFLIN, July 20, 1877--5.45, P.M.
General A. L. PEARSON, Pittsburgh:
Your dispatch received. You say Cassatt suggests that another regiment be held under arms. Do you ask that the order be issued?
JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General.
Then immediately after that I got one from Pearson which opened up the whole situation, and was acted on. That dispatch is on the same page, and reads as follows:
PITTSBURGH, July 20, 1877--6.35, P.M.
Major General JAMES W. LATTA, (Fast Line west:)
After every exertion on the part of myself and staff, since four o'clock this A.M., I have but two hundred and thirty men on hand. There are not less than four or five thousand strikers, and increasing in large numbers hourly. The sympathy of the various companies is with them, and I have no hesitation in saying, that to avert bloodshed, we should have not less than two thousand troops. While I can scatter the crowd, it will be only for the time being, and at fearful loss of life. I suggest that two thousand men be sent to-night.
A. L. PEARSON, Major General.
Q. What hour is that dispatch dated?
A. That dispatch is dated six-thirty-five, P.M., Pittsburgh, July 20, 1877, and I got it at McVeytown tower, east of Huntingdon. I immediately ordered the divisions of Generals Brinton, Gallagher, Huidekoper, and White, and the Fifth regiment of General Beaver's division under arms, and advised General Pearson of this by telegram. In view of this fact of sympathetic tendencies on the part of the strikers with the rioters, after I got Pearson's dispatch, in another answer to Colonel Scott, I said I didn't deem it advisable to take any action with the troops just then, until we found out exactly how the troops felt. If the troops were going to be in this condition all over the State, we better study a little before making further movements, and I telegraphed Brinton a private and confidential dispatch, inquiring what the sentiment was there. He telegraphed back, assuring me his people were right, and I might use them on any emergency whatever. Immediately after that I put Brinton in the field, and ordered him to move the whole division to Pittsburgh. I directed Brinton to supply himself with ammunition, such as he had in Philadelphia. I had forty-five thousand rounds prepared for him, and handed to him as he passed through, with instructions to issue it to his troops, not less than ten rounds a man, before they went any further, and I also put in his charge two Gatling guns, which we had at the Harrisburg arsenal, leaving their heavy guns behind them. I pursued my individual movement to Pittsburgh, and, I think I got there some time about one or two o'clock in the morning of Saturday. I do not recollect exactly the time. I found excitement, and things conditioned during the night as I supposed I would find them, from what reports I had. Found these two regiments, the Fourteenth and the Nineteenth, partially gotten together in cars. Pearson was about to execute a movement to carry them out by some strategic plan, about daylight, to Twenty-eighth street, and there hold the crossing with these two regiments and a battery, the object being entirely to avoid bloodshed, that being the tenor of all the dispatches I received. From what I could learn, I thought the movement of that battery and the necessity for two thousand men was rather an unwise one, and I advised against it; but the battery was taken out, and the measure was successfully accomplished. I discovered, much to my surprise, that public sentiment and the press were in pretty strong sympathy and accord with the people who were defying the law. No sheriff, no mayor, that I saw at all. Matters went on until two o'clock, I think, without any change worthy of comment, when Brinton arrived with about six hundred and fifty men. I then asked Pearson distinctly whether he was satisfied, or had enough troops to master the situation, and he said he was satisfied with them, and the movement commenced. I remained at the Union Depot hotel, to say nothing of the transaction at Twenty-fifth street. The firing was first announced to me in a dispatch, which was given in my report. It might be stated, in this connection, that the whole forty-five rounds of ammunition were brought to Pittsburgh, and it was a pretty serious embarrassment in future operations. These facts are all set forth in my report, and the troops were supplied with twenty rounds per man, and the guns with two thousand rounds each--the Gatling.
Q. Before they started from the Union depot?
A. Before they started from the Union depot. We had a vast amount of it lying there. If we had only got it issued, it might have made some change in circumstances. The dispatch announcing the fire, I received at the Union depot, five-twenty P.M.
Q. What page is that on?
A. Page 5.
OUTER DEPOT, July 21, 1817--5.25, P.M.
Major General LATTA, Union Depot:
Send for Huidekoper's, Gallagher's, Beaver's, and White's, divisions. The location of the ground is such that it is almost impossible to handle troops. The troops have just fired into the crowd, and I am informed a number are killed. I am satisfied no trains can be sent out to-night. The appearance of affairs is desperate.
A. L. PEARSON, Major General
The object of the movement, was, of course, to open the road, and Mr. Pitcairn told me shortly before the movement commenced, in reply to an interrogatory, that he had fifteen crews ready to carry out trains.
Q. Ready to take out trains?
A. Yes, sir. I never knew the reason why the trains did not run until I read General Brinton's report, which was some ten months afterward. I inquired from a gentleman connected with the railroad company why the trains did not move that day when the tracks were open, ready for them to move, about an hour after the fire occurred, and he told me the reason was that General Pearson said it would not do; but upon referring to General Brinton's report, I found that an offer had been made by the troops to guard the trains, and the railroad people said, we have not got the men to move the trains, and the trains, consequently, could not move. The road was open. The soldiers had discharged their duty, and opened the road.
Q. How long was it kept open?
A. I do not know, but I presume some couple of hours, from all I learn from the official reports, before they withdrew from this position to the round-house.
Q. What time was it that Mr. Pitcairn stated to you that he had fifteen crews to move trains?
A. I should think it was about--just a little while before Brinton came in, with his troops, and he got there at two o'clock. I saw him in the hallway of the hotel, standing about ten or fifteen feet from the desk of the Union Depot hotel clerk's office. I think Pearson stood beside me. I am not so sure of that, though.
Q. Did you have any consultation with General Pearson or railroad men about the propriety of undertaking to start trains that evening--that afternoon?
A. I have no distinct recollection of any consultation with him.
Q. Do you remember of any citizens calling at the office of the Union Depot hotel, and advising against moving the trains that afternoon?
A. No citizens called on me with such advice.
Q. Did any of the civil authorities?
A. I never saw any civil authorities of the city of Pittsburgh, except the mayor, for about ten or twelve minutes, and then I sent for him to come, during all the time I was there.
Q. When did you send for him?
A. About midnight, on Saturday. He met Colonel Quay, and I think the first word he said--I think he said: "If Hartranft had been here the troops would not have been ordered out. Why didn't you do like you did before--telegraph him, and then there would not have been any trouble." I said to him: "I think that if you get out there you can stop this thing now." He said it was beyond his power, and he made some remark I did not like very well, and I turned on my heel, and left him in consultation with Colonel Quay.
Q. Can you remember that remark?
A. No, sir.
Q. The substance of it?
A. No; not well enough to testify to under oath. Colonel Quay and he kept up some considerable conversation.
Q. Was Colonel Quay present when that remark was made?
A. He was; yes, sir.
Q. Where was he?
A. Our room was at the head of the stairs, on the second floor--the first floor--I suppose the hotel would call it the first floor of the Union Depot hotel. This room faces right opposite the stairs. Quay and McCarthy were sitting on a kind of a bench there, and I was standing up. Matters went on. I don't recollect when I first learned that the troops were in the round-house. Oh, yes! here is the dispatch, on page 5, addressed from Pearson to me:
OUTER DEPOT, July 21, 1877.
Major General JAMES W. LATTA, Union Depot:
Brinton reports about fifteen killed and wounded, and child of ten years. The rioters numbered not less than ten thousand, and completely surrounded the troops, and fired the first shots. It is reported that the United States arsenal will be attacked, and arms and ammunition captured. Have notified the commandant of the fact. The rioters contemplate burning the railroad buildings, and I have ordered all my troops inside the walls of the buildings, and will protect at all hazards.
A. L. PEARSON, Major General.
Q. What time did you receive that dispatch?
A. That dispatch must have been received about dark, or shortly afterward. I see it is without hour. Then I placed myself in communication with him. There are two dispatches here. I started a messenger boy off to the arsenal. It appears that Pearson had been in communication with them to advise the officers of the fact of what trouble there was. I was getting replies and sending messages back from these troops. They were on their way ... of them without ammunition, and some of them had been unable to get out of there, and wanted to know whether they should use force, and they finally did get out and go to the lower end of Pittsburgh by the next morning.
Q. What time did Pearson reach you at the Union depot that evening?
A. I have reported it at ten o'clock, and I think that hour is about right.
Q. What was that report, then, as near as you state it?
A. He came in with four of his staff, and I was rather astonished at seeing him. The mob had got pretty thick, and I had learned through the entire afternoon that no soldier could appear upon the highway with any safety, unless he had troops with him. A rope, I learned, was put around the neck of General Brinton's staff officers, and he was threatened with assassination and all sorts of things; but there is no question about the fact, unless a soldier was willing to give up his gun, he had no business out among them. Pearson managed to get down unobserved. The cars were four lines deep--were all down to the round-house--and I suppose he got through them. He said he managed to get down there in that way. I told him I was very much surprised to see him there, and he said the object of his visit was ammunition and rations for the troops--they were almost entirely out, and I told him the situation--whether he understood it fully I do not know--it was impossible for him to get back. I thought his usefulness was about ended. He got there, and he could not return again. I told him to go somewhere else, and report to me at daylight. He went to the house of one of the staff officers, somewhere on the outskirts of the town--Richard Evans. Daylight came, and he could not go through, I suppose, if he had tried. I heard nothing further from him until about one o'clock. One of his staff officers brought a note from him at the Monongahela house. He offered to do any duty he could. He said if he came on the street he was satisfied his life would not be his own for a moment; and I did not see anything for anybody to do just then, and I told him I could see nothing to be answered by his coming out at that time, and he might as well remain where he was.
Q. General Pearson was in command of the troops, then, until ten o'clock?
A. O, yes. I must say something else. He was in command up to ten o'clock. Before I told Pearson to go away, I asked him four or five times very distinctly, and put the interrogatory as strong as I could, to know whether he had left General Brinton in absolute command, and he said that he had--that Brinton was the commanding officer, and I have since letters from General Brinton, in which he has assumed that he was in command of those troops.
Q. After General Pearson left, then General Brinton was the commanding officer?
A. He was the commanding officer.
Q. Had entire charge. Did you have any communication with General Brinton?
A. When Pearson left, no fire had broken out. Pearson rather charges disaster on me in his report. The burning did not occur until after he went home. After Pearson left, Mr. Farr and Colonel Norris, Mr. Linn, and Cassatt and Phillips were active and energetic in getting provisions out--trying at least. Having got an engine fired up, they backed it into the Union depot, and I think they got coffee and sandwiches--a tremendous amount of provisions carried out to where the engine was. An engineer had agreed to push it out, and everything was ready for the movement, when the engineer reported that the fire had gotten between the round-house and the Union depot, and he could not go. The cars were burned, and he could not run his engine past them, and the consequence was that the scheme was abandoned. About that time, a man disguised as a working man, at great personal risk and the exercise of a vast deal of tact, presented himself to my room at the hotel. He told me where he had come from, and brought a dispatch from General Brinton. At that time, I suppose, the fire had got pretty well ahead, and it was rather of a demoralizing character. I had had it in mind, if it was possible, to get a communication to Brinton, and propose some plan to get out of the round-house, and clean that mob out; but I desisted from that when I read that dispatch. I unfortunately have lost it, but I recollect I stood up and read it out in the room, and I recollect I said--that subject of ordering the troops out had been discussed--I said I will assume no responsibility of ordering the troops to fight, when a report like that comes from them, and it left me under the impression that the whole thing was gone up. I recollect, I walked up and down the room that night, and I thought every friend I had would be burned to death by morning. I had no idea they would ever get out, and I devoted my entire energies to their relief. I had been the associate of the First regiment since my early boyhood days, and that dispatch left me and everybody else with that idea. I sat down and answered, in the nature of one which appears upon page 7, of that report, and sent it back by this same man. At that time the mob had got to be so serious, that I did not deem it wisdom to order any troops into the city of Pittsburgh without ammunition. The troops of Colonel Rodgers, which was part of the First division, and which should have been supplied with ammunition, were then about somewhere at Walls station. At the time Pearson came in to me, communications stopped with the round-house--wires were cut. We had one Western Union wire running to different points, and that was the only one we could get hold of. None, however, to the round-house. I sent word to this detachment at Walls, and to the detachments on their way, not to come within ten miles of the city, until they got ammunition. Then I sent this dispatch back to General Brinton:
Major General R. M. BRINTON, round-house:
I know your situation fully. Regret that you are so placed, but knowing your high soldierly qualities, know that you will hold out to the last. It would be sad to sacrifice life, as you would have to, in case of a persistent attack, but if it comes, it consequently must follow. Every one has been untiring in efforts to get rations and ammunition to you, and, in every instance, it has failed. Cassatt and Philips, of the railroad, Baugh, of your staff, Norris, Farr, and Linn, volunteers, are now making every effort to again shortly reach you. No chance for friction primers.
Have again made every effort to reach you, but failed on account of the fire. The rest of Philadelphia troops are at Walls station, twelve miles east, and there remain awaiting ammunition. I am starting private conveyance to Torrens, with ammunition to Guthrie, in large enough quantities to supply himself and the troops now at Walls. When I hear of its safe arrival, I will order them forward to Guthrie, to report to him, directing him to move to your relief, with the whole command. His march will be about five miles, and, if all things prove successful, he ought to reach you by five or six o'clock. If compelled to escape at last, do so to the eastward; take Penn avenue, if possible, and make for Guthrie, at Torrens.
JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General.
These instructions were not followed; but a different and another route was taken. I had inquired from the people of Harrisburg where the best place was to feed troops at that time in that large body. I was told by those who seemed to know that one of those large hotels at East Liberty could accommodate five or six hundred men, and I had made this direction to go to East Liberty to get the men fed. Men dragged out from their homes, and kept up two nights, cannot exist like the old and heavier campaigner can, who have become inured to privations.
Q. In giving these orders in your communication to General Brinton, and in the orders you gave to Colonel Guthrie and Colonel Rodgers, were you assuming command of the troops, or in what capacity?
A. I was assuming command, so far as that was concerned. I could not assume, as Adjutant General, the command of any troops, unless I relieve the officer commanding, and that would be a very delicate thing to do in the situation we were in. For the purpose of concentration, and for the purpose of a movement, I was acting as commander-in-chief, and for the purpose of giving general directions.
Q. You had plenty of ammunition at the Union depot?
A. Plenty of ammunition.
Q. Could you not, have ordered Colonel Guthrie to have marched down Fifth street by a circuitous route, and brought him to the Union depot at night?
A. He said he hadn't forces enough.
Q. There was no force on Fifth street, was there--running out Fifth avenue?
A. I suppose I could have done all these things, but I didn't conceive, in view of the reports I had, that it was wise to undertake, and my views were fully confirmed by the dispatches that came from Guthrie himself, after I had ordered the movement, because he wired me as follows--after I got him an order for the concentration he wants to know--a Pittsburgher inquired of me what route he shall take.
Q. Did Colonel Guthrie have any ammunition?
A. O, yes; he had some seven to ten rounds, I believe--I know he had some ammunition.
Q. How many rounds did General Brinton have with him in the round-house?
A. I reported twenty--that is my belief.
Q. At the time you sent this communication, on page 7, with the message to General Brinton, could you not have ordered him out of the round-house, and could he not have marched, at that time, down to the Union depot?
A. I cannot answer whether he could have marched down. I could have ordered him to do so.
Q. What is your opinion about his having been able to march down to Union depot, and cut his way to Union depot at that time?
A. I do not think at that time it would have been a wise movement in the night.
Q. A fire had already broken out?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you know that Brinton had received that communication?
A. 0, yes; Brinton got that.
Q. Was that discussed, or did that occur to you at the time to order him down to the Union depot?
A. Yes; I have just stated I intended to order him out. I do not mean to say at that particular time, but I intended to suggest, when I got this dispatch, and then I would not assume the responsibility of ordering troops out that were described to be in that condition.
Q. Have you that dispatch?
A. That is lost.
Q. Can you state the nature of it--the contents of it?
A. I do not want to say one thing that is in it. The contents of it were, as I have stated, general demoralization.
Q. Of his troops?
A. I do not mean to say his troops. The impression made by the dispatch was one that created upon the mind of anybody who read it--and there was no use attempt to fight just then with the troops. That was an impression left upon my mind, and upon the minds of those who heard me read it.
Q. Is that dispatch lost?
A. That dispatch is lost.
Q. Who was present and heard that dispatch read?
A. Colonel Farr, Colonel Quay, Colonel Hassinger, and Mr. Russell.
Q. What time was that received?
A. About midnight.
Q. Did General Pearson consult you after the track had been cleared, and after the collision, at about five o'clock--did he consult you as to the disposition of the troops?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you know they were going to be placed in the round-house?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you know where the Fourteenth and the Nineteenth regiments were, commanded by Colonel Gray and Colonel Howard?
A. I knew where they had been sent to in the morning.
Q. Do you know where they were in the evening?
A. I made up my mind they had all disappeared. I must not use that phrase any more, because one of the military newspapers says it is a peculiar one to use--that troops disappear.
Q. Did you know they were ordered in the transfer depot?
A. No, sir; but somebody came in, and told me they were all gone.
Q. Do you know when they were disbanded by order of General Brown?
A. The first I knew of that was, I saw Brown two or three times during the night in citizens' clothes, and toward the early morning, but I had heard all along his troops had gone. The old gentleman was pretty well excited. He was going out and making promises, and coming back, and having interviews, and getting in among the fellows. The next day, Cap. Bigham, he was a pretty strong man, was in the room at the hotel, between nine and ten o'clock, and I said something pretty rough to Bigham, about the troops running away, and Bigham, like a good soldier, would ... that he had done what he was told; he said these troops left there by order of General Brown.
Q. That was the first you knew of General Brown's order?
A. That is the first I ever heard.
Q. After General Pearson left, then General Brinton was the commanding officer, as I understand, and you learned that fact by and through General Pearson?
A. By and through General Pearson.
Q. That he had left him in command?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did General Brinton know that the ammunition was at the Union depot?
A. O, yes.
Q. He knew it had been left there?
A. You know he kept sending for us to send it out to him. He left the ammunition under the guard of a detachment of cavalry. They had sabers way up at the lower end of the depot. My recollection is, when things got pretty hot, these men were no earthly account round with their sabers, and I believe a captain and some men of the Fourteenth were standing around there, too. They never reported to me for any special purpose. I sent those gentlemen out. I know I sent some of them out, for they succeeded in getting out, some from this exposed place, down to the cellar of the hotel.
Q. Was Cassatt and Pitcairn out at Twentieth street, at the time of the collision?
A. I am told they were.
Q. Did you have conversation with them after they returned?
A. I had a conversation with one of them.
Q. Did you ask them whether trains had been moved?
A. Yes; and they made answer just as I have stated. Said General Pearson told them not to move--they said General Pearson told them not to move.
Q. And did you have any conversation with General Pearson on the subject, when he came in?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you have any consultation before the troops started with the civil authorities?
A. I never saw them.
Q. You don't know what arrangements--as I understand it, the sheriff marched with a posse in front of the troops?
A. I have been told so. I never saw the sheriff but once in my life, and that was two or three weeks afterwards.
Q. Were your instructions to the commanders to keep themselves subordinate to the civil authorities?
A. I have just read my original dispatches--aiding the civil authorities.
Q. When General Pearson left, at ten o'clock, you did practically relieve him from command?
A. Yes. Of course, it was a virtual relief, as explained in that way.
Q. He first asked you whether he had left General Brinton in command?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now, did you consider you had power to order the movements of General Brinton, after General Pearson had left?
A. I did; for purposes such as that.
Q. And also of Colonel Guthrie?
A. I did; yes, sir.
Q. And Colonel Rodgers and the troops in that vicinity?
A. Yes, sir. You will observe I did not give Brinton any particular order.
Q. That power you had by virtue of the instructions that the commander-in-chief had given you before he left?
A. I took it I had that power generally in the comprehensive duties of Adjutant General. The conclusion of this dispatch to Brinton is not in the shape of an order. It tells him what to do. Brinton thought he could have done better, he could have gone somewhere else, and when a man don't follow such instructions as that he takes a great deal of risk, just as a man who refuses to obey the order of an adjutant, if the Adjutant General is sustained by his chief, he is going to get a pretty good dressing; if not, he is all right.
Q. General Brinton could have obeyed your instructions or disobeyed them?
A. I am simply applying that remark to the conclusion of this letter, which reads: "If compelled to escape, at least do so to the eastward. Take Penn avenue, if possible, and make for Guthrie, at Torrens." Brinton could have taken that direction, or taken some other one if he thought he could do better by taking some other. When he didn't take the direction I gave him, he assumed a responsibility.
Q. Afterwards, you ordered him to join Guthrie, at Torrens?
A. I did; yes. He had got too far then. After this order went out, they succeeded in getting ammunition to Guthrie. I had ordered a train from Walls by telegraph. The reply I got from Walls was, that the "engineers won't run the trains. I can't move them." Then I ordered the wagon.
Q. Did you see the sheriff after you arrived at Pittsburgh, or the Union depot, before the troops were sent to Twenty-eighth street?
A. I never saw the sheriff nor the mayor until I sent for him.
Q. Did you ask General Pearson whether he had a consultation with the sheriff or the mayor?
A. I did not ask him anything about the mayor, but I had dispatches from Pearson in which he said he had been with the sheriff.
Q. You saw no citizens on Saturday night, I understand you to say?
A. Saturday night--I don't recollect. I think Mr. Rook came in the room for a few moments on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Hampden was in the room.
Q. Who is the solicitor?
A. There was a good many railroad men around there, but outside of the railroad men I have no distinct recollection of any one but Rook.
Q. Did you see James Park, junior, Saturday evening?
A. I don't know such a name. I might know him if I would see him.
Q. He had no conversation with Mr. Cassatt in your presence, that you recollect of?
A. No, sir; nor nobody had any conversation with Mr. Cassatt in my presence during the evening. I didn't see Mr. Cassatt more than a few moments.
Q. On Saturday afternoon, did you see these gentlemen?
A. I don't know--I don't think I did. I might have seen him. If I saw this gentleman I could tell better. I don't know the name.
Q. Did any citizens speak to you or to Cassatt, in your presence, in regard to any meeting any time to move trains on Saturday?
A. No, sir; nobody. I heard it talked of, but nobody ever came to me. It was talked of in our room between us.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. It was talked of in the room?
A. Between ourselves.
Q. Was this before the effort was made to clear the tracks with troops?
A. I do not recollect.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did it occur to you that Saturday would be a bad day to undertake the movement of trains?
A. It has occurred to me. Whether it occurred to me then or not I am not able to answer.
Q. Were you aware that the rolling mills and manufacturing establishments in Pittsburgh closed at noon on Saturday?
A. I don't think I was at that time.
Q. And that a large number of men were idle on Saturday afternoon?
A. I don't think I was at that time, but it is just one of those sort of things I know now, and I cannot give a full recollection or impression. I know this much, there was no direct report to me of this fact with any suggestion that the movement be suspended on account of that fact, because then I would recollect distinctly.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Your own understanding when you got to Pittsburgh was the civil authorities had lost all control, and were powerless?
A. When I first got to Pittsburgh?
Q. Yes?
A. Yes; so far as any force they had.
Q. They were powerless to disperse the crowd?
A. Yes, sir; so far as any force which they could control as a civil posse.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. After the burning commenced Saturday--the burning of cars--did it occur to you that it was possible for General Brinton, with the men he had there, to stop that in any way?
A. I don't know. It occurred to me.
Q. Did you take it into consideration?
A. I don't know that I did particularly. I was not thinking particularly about that.
Q. Did you have any consultation with the railroad officials during the night there as to any means--or try to devise any means to stop the burning cars?
A. There was not any of them there.
Q. What became of the railroad officials?
A. I don't know, sir.
Q. When did you miss them?
A. I last saw Mr. Cassatt somewheres towards dark. They were down stairs. I think Mr. Cassatt was down, but I didn't see him. He came back again.
Q. Did you see Pitcairn during the night?
A. I don't think I ever saw Pitcairn after I had talked with him about the cars.
Q. Did you see Mr. Scott?
A. Scott was the first man to tell me about the collision. He came in the room and announced the collision, said it was very sad, and walked out. I saw Mr. Phillips, another railroad man, I recollect, when the fire was getting close to the hotel. He and Russell threw cartridges into the pitcher full of water, thinking it would destroy them.
Q. What time did you arrive at the Union depot?
A. I estimated it at about noon.
Q. Sunday?
A. Sunday, yes, sir.
Q. What means did you take Sunday to try to stop the burning?
A. I didn't take any. I had nothing to take any means with. There were six gentlemen in citizens' clothes--most of them civilians--all civilians I think. The next day when I first heard that, Captain Aull was the first party who came in. He announced that the troops had got out of the round-house. There were two parties from East Liberty who had come into the room to ask me to retain the Eighteenth regiment there, and I looked at them in astonishment when I had ordered them to come in to the relief of General Brinton. While I was talking to those citizens, Captain Aull came in, and he overheard the conversation. He stepped up and told me he had driven through Brinton's troops, and they were marching out. I was relieved from a great deal of anxiety, so I sat down and immediately told Aull--having no other, I think--sat down and dictated a dispatch, which appears here on page 11, addressed to Brinton, signed by me, dated July 22, 1877:
PITTSBURGH, July 22, 1877.
Major General R. M. BRINTON:
Remain in position at stock-yards, or thereabouts, securing yourself, and await further orders. Congratulate you on your manoeuver of this morning. Consult with Colonel Guthrie, and govern yourself accordingly. From information received here, it appears Eighteenth regiment is sufficient to protect stock-yards, and will not excite special prejudices of the mob. There is an old fort in the vicinity, which is suggested as a good place to hold. It can be shown to you by parties familiar with the neighborhood.
Keep your channels of subsistence well open, and await further orders. There may be some developments, which, of course, will require you to act on your own responsibility. If any troops arrive at East Liberty, assume command of them. Report their arrival here, if possible. Norris will be on the ground shortly, and explain the situation here. Act after consultation with him.
JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General.
At the same time, Norris being a staff officer--it is not customary to give a staff officer written instructions--I started him off to talk with Brinton. Brinton appears to have given this order sometime about the 31st of July, seven or eight days afterwards. Norris got hold of me, and told me the purport of the order, and told me what the directions were, and he moved about a mile beyond Sharpsburg bridge and stayed there. I started off to try to make a junction with the troops at Walls, which I did not know at that time had gone to Blairsville.
Q. Did you have any consultation with the officers on Sunday?
A. I saw no citizens of Pittsburgh on Sunday, except Mr. Bennett. Whether we called to see him or not, I don't know. I was in the room just as Norris had returned to the Monongahela house. Bennett and Cassatt were sitting upon one bed, and Norris and some other gentleman on the other, and Norris was giving a description of his ride to Brinton, and I was introduced to Mr. Bennett, and shook hands with him, and overheard part of their conversation, which was to the effect that Mr. Bennett was trying to persuade Cassatt to make some compromise with the men, which Cassatt refused to do.
Q. He was the only one?
A. I think so; the only one I saw. I was going to say, I remained there until nine o'clock at night, and then I had got dispatches from every part of the country, that showed everything was in a general uprising, and I made up my mind I must get to Harrisburg, and Phillips told me there was no way to get over the Pennsylvania, and we went to Beaver, believing the Erie route to be the most practicable. At Beaver I telegraphed to Scott to get a special train. Scott intimated their road was open, and I hired a carriage and drove back to Allegheny City, and came back here.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. Do you know what became of the ammunition in the Union depot?
A. Before I left the Union depot I spent about nearly an hour in arranging a plan to get it saved. I left it in charge of Captain Breck. The plan we had arranged was to--that was just about the time the milkmen were going back to their places in the country--to get empty milk cans and open the boxes and pour the ammunition into the cans and take the ammunition out. I am told that he got five or six cans loaded, and was on his way to hunt transportation, when the fire got hold of the thing, and the ammunition was destroyed.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did the mayor, in that interview, express any intention or desire to suppress this--making any attempt to control it?
A. No, sir; simply said the matter was beyond his control, and he could not do anything, and he was tolerably mad.
Q. Did he say he had in the first place?
A. No, sir; I didn't ask him anything about that.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Who explained the movements of the troops, as they advanced out to Twenty-eighth street?
A. General Pearson. He showed his plans to me before he started.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Do you know whether the command was given to fire that day, by any of the officers?
A. I do not know anything about it.
Q. Do you know whether General Pearson was there at the time the firing took place?
A. I do not know.
Q. Do you know how General Pearson was dressed on that day?
A. Yes, sir; he left me with a blouse on. Major general's shoulder-straps and fatigue cap, and my impression is he had one of these old fashioned blouses, with the braid in front, and a sword and belt. Whether the belt was outside of the blouse or inside, I cannot recollect. He had a fatigue uniform of the United States army, excepting that braid, if that was there. It is not now a part of the uniform.
Q. What time did he leave you with that uniform on?
A. He left me with that uniform on, about three o'clock, and returned again with it on at night.
Q. Did he have it on at night?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. You saw him before the firing, and after the firing with the same uniform on?
A. Yes, sir; with the same uniform.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. After you returned to Harrisburg, who directed the troops from that time until the arrival of the Governor in the State?
A. There was very little direction done. In the meantime he had been advised of my movements, and he had in the meantime been directing himself. After the Pittsburgh collision, he commenced to move the troops, and we got into the same channel. Pretty much all the orders were alike.
Q. Do you know anything about a collision that occurred at Reading, with General Reeder's troops?
A. Only as it is officially reported by General Reeder and Bolton. It was reported here immediately, I saw it the next day.
Q. What time did General Huidekoper get to Pittsburgh?
A. He got to Pittsburgh from Chicago, a little before daylight on Sunday morning.
Q. Did you have any consultation with him after his arrival?
A. We had a plan of battle arranged there. Huidekoper started on its accomplishment. We chartered a steamboat, and we managed to smuggle several boxes of ammunition from the hotel, and he went to Rochester, believing his troops were coming down. He ought to have been in Pittsburgh by noon, but the troops were stopped by the riot.
Q. They were stopped by reports at Greenfield?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who was the colonel commanding these troops that were on their way?
A. I think they were in charge of a major on the Allegheny Valley road. They were in charge of Lieutenant Colonel Magee.
Q. They were not in charge of Colonel Carpenter?
A. Possibly so. I don't know that. Magee--I had communications with him.
Q. Do you know why they stopped at Greenfield?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you ever try to ascertain the causes?
A. No, sir; that matter was altogether in the hands of General Huidekoper; he was division commander.
Q. Did Huidekoper report to you any reasons for it?
A. No, sir; not unless there is something in this report here. I think if he had I would have recollected it.
Q. Was it reported to you by anybody that there was no cause for the stopping of the troops there, excepting that the colonel commanding the troops was afraid to go on?
A. I never heard. I don't think I ever heard that before. There was plenty of ammunition; there was five thousand rounds of ammunition at Greenfield at the time.
Q. Plenty of ammunition in Greenfield?
A. I didn't know it then because it was in Huidekoper's division. I learned afterwards it was at Greenfield.
Q. They should have arrived, you say, at Rochester, at what time?
A. If the trains had been on time they ought to have been in Pittsburgh at twelve o'clock.
Q. Sunday?
A. Sunday, yes, sir.
Q. They never got any further than Greenfield?
A. Not within fifty or sixty miles. Huidekoper left Rochester and went out west to meet the Governor. He gave up all hopes of getting near about noon.
Q. Were any steps taken by the commander-in-chief to ascertain the cause of that delay?
A. No, sir; we assumed it was because they could not get the hands to run them. That was the report from every place, and it seemed to be generally confirmed. I was just going to say, in looking at this matter, it ought to be looked at in an exceptional light. It is a thoroughly new thing. The soldiers ought not to be reflected on as severely as the people have. There is as much courage in the National Guard as there is anywhere, and it ought not to be judged of in the light of a regular warfare nor by such rules.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You found after you had organized the troops, and had them out a few times that they were just as good as any soldiers?
A. Just as good as any soldiers you bring from any quarter of the globe.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. It was reported that some Philadelphia troops were captured across the Susquehanna here by a squad of rioters from Harrisburg, and tramps, and brought into the city. I wish you would state what you know about that, and who the troops were?
A. I only know if as you do. I didn't see it, and know nothing of it.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. But was the thing not officially reported?
A. Nothing official reported to me. I believe the officer in charge of those troops is now undergoing trial by court martial in Philadelphia.
Q. Do you know who it is?
A. I only know from hearsay.
Q. Do you know of any troops that were ordered to Pittsburgh returning without orders?
A. I heard so, yes, sir; that there were troops that did return.
Q. Do you know it officially?
A. No.
Q. Of your own knowledge?
A. I don't think any troops did return, as bodies, to Philadelphia. Scattered, straggling men did, but no body of troops returned to Philadelphia. I do not think that the straggling in the National Guard was equal to what it is sometimes.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Do you approve of General Brown's course, in disbanding his regiments at Pittsburgh?
A. If it be a fact that General Brown did give these troops directions to leave, it was a most outrageous breach of everything a good soldier ought to have done. I believe those troops there could have held that place until now.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. I understand you to say that it is your judgment that those troops might have held that place?
A. I think so.
Q. Do you know anything as to the reasons that induced General Brown to disband those two regiments?
A. Haven't the most distant idea. I don't even know that it is a fact, except as I have seen it alleged in the newspapers.
Q. Are you well acquainted with General Brown?
A. I have known him five or six years. He has a very fine record in the army. He used to be adjutant in our corps.
Q. Stood well, up to this time, in the National Guard?
A. Excellently well.
Q. Do you know that he was at that time laboring under any physical or mental disability?
A. No, I do not, except that he struck me as being most terribly fussy, and ... a whole lot of information that it was not worth while bothering with.
Q. Did he strike you at that time as laboring under any mental disability?
A. No; I would not at all have considered that.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did he show unusual excitement--nervousness?
A. Brown is a terribly talkative fellow, and he talked in his usual strain; I should not have set him down as anywise wrong.
* * * * *
C. N. Farr, recalled:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. I wish you would state whether you were present when General Latta received a dispatch from General Brinton, on Saturday evening?
A. Yes, sir; I was.
Q. Of the 21st. State as nearly as you can what the import of that dispatch was?
A. I cannot remember it sufficiently to give any of the language, except the general impression left upon my mind that General Pearson had left me, and that he had had no communications, and didn't understand the situation, and stated the condition of his troops, and how particularly he stated that I can't remember, except that the impression left upon my mind was that the troops were in danger of demoralization. There was a certain amount of unreliability, and that was intensified from the fact that we knew or understood, at that time, that the Pittsburgh division had gone to pieces, and up to that time we had considered that there would be no difficulty in General Brinton's holding his position until morning; that he had sufficient force, and was well armed and ammunitioned; but the dispatch created the impression that his troops were somewhat infected with that feeling of sympathy, or disinclined to take vigorous operations, and I understood that to be the reason why no more vigorous measure were taken.
* * * * *
General James W. Latta, recalled:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. In relation to General Brown--whose duty would it be to investigate the conduct of General Brown there at that time?
A. General Pearson's duty first; and if he did not investigate it himself, he ought to have reported the fact officially here. There was no official report that reached my department of General Brown's having, on that night, asked any troops to withdraw.
Q. Was General Pearson relieved of his command for any time after the troubles on the 21st there?
A. He remained temporarily withdrawn from his command until we started off to Scranton. When the Governor came into Pittsburgh that night, he found nobody but Brown, and placed Brown in temporary command of the troops that had been gotten together in the city.
Q. How long did Brown keep that position?
A. I should think from the 24th or 25th of July until the 1st day of August.
Q. No report has ever reached you officially that he did dismiss his troops?
A. No, sir; I never heard anything of it directly, except what Captain Bingham told me that morning, and I did not know but that Captain Bingham might have been misinformed--he might not have been in direct communication with his general. I did not pay much attention.
Q. Did any report reach you from Colonel Gray or Colonel Howard?
A. I saw Colonel Gray's report in the newspaper. Colonel Howard I don't think ever said anything to me about it.
Q. Does Colonel Gray or Colonel Howard mention the fact in their official report?
A. They don't come to me, sir.
Q. To whom do they report officially?
A. To General Pearson.
Q. Those don't come to you at all?
A. No, sir.
At this point, the committee adjourned until to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock.
HARRISBURG, March 12, 1878.
The committee met, pursuant to adjournment, at ten o'clock, A.M., in Senate committee room No. 6. All members present except Mr. Larrabee.
* * * * *
Honorable A. J. Herr sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. It is made the duty of this committee, under the resolution by which they were appointed, to examine into the conduct of the militia of the State. Will you please state what knowledge you have of misbehavior on the part of the officers?
A. My personal knowledge is not very extensive, but the information that I received from credible citizens of Harrisburg, is clear and pointed. Shall I give you what I saw first?
Q. Yes.
A. One day during the riots--what day I can't recollect--but one day during the riots, I happened to be on the pavement in front of the court-*house in the city of Harrisburg, and I saw a large crowd, men and half grown boys, coming up from the depot, going towards the bridge that spans the Susquehanna river. The impression prevailed amongst the citizens that this crowd was going over the bridge to make an attack upon some soldiers that were said to be there. After a time--maybe half an hour or thereabouts--the greater part of that same crowd came back from the bridge. Then I saw in the center as it were of some few men and some half grown boys, soldiers, and these half grown boys, or some of them, were carrying the guns of the soldiers, and they were fraternizing with the young boys round about the soldiers. The soldiers, themselves, all seemed to be in good humor, seemed to know each other, and passed along very nicely and quietly, and the point of the whole thing was, that these soldiers had in this way allowed these few half grown boys either to take the guns, or they had delivered the guns up, and so they passed on down the street, these soldiers, with these few boys surrounding them, and I lost sight of them. I was then afterwards told, that the soldiers had sent word over to some of the people in town that they wanted to come to Harrisburg, and that they wanted these people to come over and escort them into Harrisburg. And then I was told further, that these parties had provided accommodations for these soldiers--these last two things I do not know, only that the rumors were upon the street, and at that time prevailing. And the feeling in my own breast, as well as throughout the citizens, was one of humiliation, that these soldiers would either give up their arms to these half grown boys, or send word to them that they wanted them to come and take them over to Harrisburg, or that they allowed them to take their arms. That is what I saw, and all I saw.
Q. How many of the soldiers were there?
A. That I cannot tell, because you know how difficult it is in a moving crowd to tell just about how many. I should suppose, maybe, there were six or seven or eight, or thereabouts. I am not accurate in regard to that, but there was a goodly squad.
Q. Were there any officers among them?
A. That I can't tell. You know I couldn't see very well, in the first place.
Q. Did you notice whether they were uniformed or not?
A. Oh, yes.
Q. No officers then?
A. That I could not say. I did hear that there was either a lieutenant or captain, but I am not positive in regard to that, but those were the general facts that I witnessed.
Q. How large was the crowd of half grown boys around them?
A. I should suppose, maybe, there were ten or twelve, that is, of the immediate crowd, that also was looking on, were attached to the body of men that were bringing the soldiers over. You might say that, perhaps, there were ten or twelve; but the crowd outside of the immediate circle of young fellows that had the guns was larger, and for the most part I guess they were spectators.
Q. When they went over the bridge in going out, how large a crowd was there?
A. It was a pretty large crowd, perhaps it numbered--I really don't know, but should suppose that that crowd may have numbered two hundred or thereabouts, but they didn't all go across the bridge, because I was told that the bridge-keeper kept them back, and would not let them all go, but I suppose the van of the crowd got over before they closed the gates.
Q. What is the bridge-keepers name--give it in full if you can?
A. That I can't tell; but I will get it and hand it to you, or to one of the gentlemen. I might get it in the Senate chamber. I guess, maybe, Mr. Childs could tell it.
Q. Which bridge was it, the covered bridge?
A. Yes, sir; that was about all I saw then. Shortly after, or some time after that, a gentleman by the name of Major Mumma--Major David Mumma----
Q. Do you know what those boys did with that squad?
A. I said that I heard that they took them down to some hotel and provided meals for them, and furnished them, I was also told, with means to get away. That I only heard.
Q. Do you know what hotel it was?
A. My recollection is it was some hotel--Boyer's hotel, on the railroad. I may be mistaken in regard to that. Some of the hotels down in that neighborhood. I was going to say that Major David Mumma, of this city, told me, and I have no doubt it is true, but he can give it you first hand, that he had occasion to go out to his farm, and to reach that farm he had to pass a little town by the name of Progress, and there he found a number of soldiers, and, I understood him to say, the officers with their epaulets torn off, and their buttons cut off, and very much excited and alarmed; and that they told him they had come, I don't know where, over the mountains and through the valleys, and all that sort of thing, and there they were.
Q. These are the ones you alluded to?
A. Partly.
Q. Where were they found?
A. In a little tavern in the little town by the name of Progress, near here. I would rather you would get the full statement direct from the major in regard to that. I can repeat what he said, but you can get it first hand.
Q. This was the party that was captured by the boys?
A. No, no. I just told you what I saw. Now I am only referring to what Major Mumma and other citizens told me about a squad of soldiers, and they characterized them as officers, epaulets cut off and buttons cut off, in a little tavern in a little town called Progress, near this city, and he described their alarm, and what he did to get them safe to the arsenal.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did it appear to you that the boys had taken these soldiers prisoners? Did they treat them as prisoners, escort them in unarmed?
A. You could hardly use the word prisoners, because the prisoners seemed to be so willing. They were rather captives.
Q. A prisoner generally makes a show to go willingly?
A. It would only be an opinion as to whether the boys--my own opinion is, that the boys did not capture them in the sense of these men resisting, and finally conquered them, but rather think that I believe what I was told afterwards is true--that is, that the soldiers had, some way or other, sent word here, and those fellows had gone over there.
Q. They wanted the boys to capture them?
A. I rather think so from what I was told.
Q. Did the soldiers carry arms?
A. No; the boys were carrying the arms.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. This crowd, when they started out--you could tell something by the way in which they started, whether they were moving toward an objective point?
A. Oh, yes, sir.
Q. That they appeared to be moving towards----
A. Yes, sir; just for instance, as you would stand by, and see a large crowd passing, and you would wonder where they were going, and you would keep looking to see that they were all directing themselves to one point, and you would then say, well, they are going there. Then I think that there is a Captain McAllister, who is living in Rockville, a few miles over here on the Susquehanna, he can tell you some very amusing things, and I don't know but a little humiliating, too. I could not distinctly recollect all it was that he said, because it was rather a humorous description he gave of their fright, &c.
Q. Is he a member of the National Guard?
A. No.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. The old gentleman?
A. No; it is the old squire, Jim--that is it, Captain James McAllister.
Q. Rockville, did you say?
A. In that neighborhood.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Do you know anything about the movements of the troops about the arsenal or anywheres about this town?
A. No; I can't say. There was so much said. I think that Sheriff Jennings and Mayor Patterson could give you a good deal of information about the movement--the incipient movements of the troops here. Both of those gentlemen could give you a good deal of information.
Q. Was the mayor in the city during all the time of the riots?
A. I think the mayor was, but the sheriff was not. The sheriff happened to be away. I think, if my recollection serves me, he was either at Atlantic City or Philadelphia at the commencement of the matter. The mayor, though, I understand, was all the time here, but the sheriff came, I think, just as soon as he was telegraphed for--as soon as he could get here.
Q. Do you know what action the mayor or civil authorities took to suppress or disperse the mob or crowd that was about the depot?
A. I was given to understand, and I think it is the truth, that he and the sheriff, after the sheriff came here, in effect, said to a large crowd that were round about the Lochiel hotel, that all those citizens who were in favor of peace and order should follow; and so the mayor, I understand, and the sheriff--at least one, if not both--led off, and quite a number of the citizens followed them with the purpose of protecting any property that might be threatened at the depot, and suppress any riot that might be threatened. Then I was told further that the mayor and the sheriff--either both or one--addressed the crowd; but what was said exactly I don't know; but the purpose was to preserve the peace, and that I think was the beginning of what was called the law and order party here. Then, the law and order party was composed of citizens of the different wards that were organized into companies, with their captains and their lieutenants, and met at certain points regularly, and were drilled, and patrolled the city from early evening until late at night, and in that way order was preserved here. If there had been any attempt to break the peace in a violent way, outside of simple murmurings and mutterings on the part of the crowd, these citizens were fully determined to suppress it, and they had the means to--I mean as far as arms are concerned.
Q. What was the spirit of that mob?
A. I did not see it.
Q. When they stood before the court-house?
A. You mean when it passed there? As a matter of course, there was a good deal of talk, and now and then you would hear a shot and a yell, and so on; and I remember this, that I looked into the faces of some of the men as they passed, and unless it was the effect of imagination altogether in my mind, I would say that these men had a settled, cold, determined look in their faces, and I apprehended trouble.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were they railroad men, in their appearance?
A. No; I could not say that. My recollection is, that this man whose countenance I looked at particularly, as he was coming towards me, was a railroad man, but that was the only one I could see, that I believed to be a railroad man, although the probability is that there were more in it; but that fact I do not know.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. Were there any strangers?
A. No; I don't think there were any strangers, although I can't say that I recognized any of them. If they were brought before me now, I could not say you were there or you were not there, because the fact of the matter is, I felt a little indignation, and so expressed myself to some police officers, that were standing, who happened to be near me. A police officer made a remark that excited me, and I turned upon him and berated him for what I supposed was his neglect of duty, and in that way my attention, possibly, was a little distracted from what was just passing at the time before me. If I understand you, you would like to get the name of this gate-*keeper at the bridge.
Q. Can you get any other gentlemen that could relate the same fact that Major Mumma can?
A. I cannot just now.
Q. About that squad of officers?
A. The major can. There was some people with him. McAllister's statement refers to a different transaction from what Mumma's does. Mumma's will be confined, if I remember rightly, to what he saw at Progress.
* * * * *
John D. Patterson, being duly sworn, testified as follows:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You were mayor of the city of Harrisburg, I believe, in July last?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. At what day did the first disturbance appear here?
A. On Saturday evening, July 23, I think; I do not just remember the correct date.
Q. The 21st?
A. The 21st; you are right.
Q. You may state now the character of it and where it first broke out?
A. Do you wish me just to--my attention was first called to the disturbance on Saturday night, probably at ten o'clock. I was at the office, and had sent out the police force or their regular duty, and a report came to the office that there was a large gathering at the Pennsylvania railroad depot. There was a prospect of some trouble there. The mob interfered with the shipping of some ammunition. I immediately sent a special officer to Independence island, where there was a pic-nic and dance going on--and we had anticipated considerable trouble there--to call in the chief of police, and on his way down he should bring in the police officers before he returned. The lieutenant of police I had sent him to the depot. He, in company with special officer Roat, arrested a party for threatening to interfere with the engineer of a train, and had started to bring him to the mayor's office, and were stoned up Chestnut street and up Third to the office. They succeeded in getting the man into the office, and a large crowd gathered there, and I went out front and requested them to disperse. Quite a number of them left; probably three or four hundred remained there. Did not seem to be malicious or disposed to do much damage. Then I sent this man that had been arrested to the door to state that he had been arrested for drunk and disorderly. The crowd then dispersed. On Sunday was the first intimation we had of the strike among the employés of the Pennsylvania railroad. I was told there was a very large crowd at the Asylum crossing, and I took a carriage and went up there during Sunday, but found no person there. On Sunday afternoon I was informed that there was a large meeting out on the commons. I went out, and there was a man named Torbett making a speech to the crowd there. After he left the top of the car, there was an insane man got on the top of the car and talked about organizing to go and take this arsenal. About this time there was a passenger train passed down through the yard to the depot, and the crowd dispersed in the direction of the depot. I walked to the depot and found they had stopped the train--interfering with it. A great gathering there, nearly all of our own citizens--good, bad, and indifferent were there. Passed down the depot to the coupling between the engine and the first car--the baggage car--and found a great many there pulling the coupling. Among them were a great many boys, ranging from fourteen to twenty years of age. I seized two or three of the boys, took them off the platform, and ordered them away, and got up on the steps of the car and made some few remarks to the crowd, calling on the citizens, if they were ready to assist the police, to step forward and we would disperse this crowd. At that time the people did not seem disposed to take much part, as there was no violence done as yet. I motioned to the engineer to pull out--we then had succeeded in coupling up the train. He declined to pull out. Afterwards stated he was informed there were obstructions on the track below the city. I came away and the crowd dispersed during the evening. Probably two hours afterwards they sent the train out. On Monday the parties became threatening; great crowds gathering through the city, stopping trains. I then called on some of the citizens, told them the status, and whatever was to be done must be done for Monday night. We must get ready, for that night we would probably have violence. After consulting with many of the prominent citizens, I went to the office, sent out a police force and notified the better class of citizens that their services would likely be required on Monday night, at least they should hold themselves in readiness to respond and report at the mayor's office in case of two taps of the court-house bell, at any time, day or night.
Q. Was it verbal notice?
A. Yes; it was given verbally to the citizens by the police officers.
Q. In the form of a demand by you, or request?
A. It was a request. I had instructed the police force from the beginning to exercise great care and discretion so as not to precipitate or provoke an outbreak; that as long as the strikers or mob failed to do violence, that we should wait until the sentiment of the people would change. I would say that when the strike first came upon us, I presume that the great majority of the people were in sympathy with the strikers--looked upon it as a strike or dispute between the employés and officers of the road--and their sympathies were with the employés; but afterwards the sentiment changed when they found that violence and destruction was perpetrated at Pittsburgh. Then the sentiment changed, and they were ready to take part to put down the outbreak on Monday evening. I came from my house probably at six o'clock--I had been to tea--and coming downtown I was informed that there was a squad of Philadelphia soldiers had gone to Market street in custody of the mob. I then passed down Market street, and found that they had gone up the railroad. I followed up the railroad to Broad street, and there I found probably three thousand people gathered--men, women, and children. The squad of soldiers were there, in addition to the squad that had been brought in from Rockville. I found out who the soldiers were, and I requested--ordered them to send the guns to the mayor's office. Then they had forty-nine breech-loaders.
Q. The leaders of the rioters?
A. The mob, yes sir. After talking to the rioters they were entirely satisfied to send the guns to the office, but said a portion of the crowd would object, and requested me to make a few remarks to them. I then mounted a shed that was there and talked to them a few moments, and they very cheerfully then sent the guns to the mayor's office. The guns were afterwards turned over to the State, by order of Governor Hartranft. During that night an order came to the office--a report came to the office that they were breaking into a gun store on South Second street. I took a portion of the police force, hurried to South Second street, and we found the mob in possession of a store belonging to a man by the name of Altmeyer. We found that he had opened the door. They had gone there in force and demanded the opening of the door, and he had opened the door, and struck the gas for them, and they were all in possession of guns, and pistols, and knives. I formed the police force on the front and went in to them and talked to them, and after some little parley they all returned their guns--took nothing out with them. We came back to the office, and there Mr. Bergner, editor of the Telegraph, reported to me that they were forming on Market street, preparatory to destroying his building. I then struck the signal for the citizens to turn out.
Q. What time was that?
A. That was probably eleven o'clock.
Q. Monday night?
A. Yes, sir. The moment we struck the court-house bell the citizens came to our assistance. The sheriff, in the meantime, had returned home. He had got home about seven o'clock in the evening. I reported to him what we had done, and if it met his approval he should carry it out, with our assistance. He approved of our course, and he took charge of the citizens. They formed them into what he called a law and order posse, into companies and into a regiment. We then, after, formed at the corner of Third and Market. The sheriff and one officer and myself went down street to the mob, and attempted to speak to them from the steps of Mr. Muench, but they would not listen to us at all. They had broken into a store or two on Market street in the meantime. We then came back and came down Market street with the police force and the citizens, and the mob dispersed.
Q. How large a police force do you have?
A. We had seventeen. We had fifteen officers in line and two at the office.
Q. How many citizens?
A. I presume we had over--I can scarcely give an estimate, as they were formed in the rear of the regular police force--probably three hundred. From three hundred to five hundred.
Q. Were the citizens armed?
A. Most of them were armed.
Q. With what?
A. Revolvers and clubs.
Q. How large was the crowd at that time?
A. I presume there were--it being night we could scarcely tell--the street was crowded with them. There may have been from six hundred to one thousand men in the street in front of us. When we went down Market street the mob dispersed, with the exception of probably two hundred, with whom we had a little collision at the foot of Market street. Then they dispersed and we had no further trouble.
Q. Was there any firing?
A. No, sir; not a shot fired.
Q. The police were ahead?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And they dispersed that mob?
A. The police would have been unable to disperse the mob without the assistance of the citizens.
Q. Were there any of the mob arrested?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How many?
A. Probably eight or ten arrested during that night. Altogether, there were within the week, a few days following the riot, forty-five or forty-seven arrested.
Q. Were the police officers obliged to use their maces in order to disperse the mob that night at the foot of Market street?
A. No, sir.
Q. Those who were arrested, what class of men were they?
A. Most of them followed no occupation. Probably one third of them were employés of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and I would say that the employés of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company were only arrested for interfering with the business of the railroad--they were not arrested for breaking into the stores.
Q. Those that were arrested among the mob at the foot of Market street that night, were there any railroad men among them?
A. Yes; one of the leaders of the mob was a railroad man.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did the leaders seem to be railroad men--that is, that you came in contact with?
A. The fact is, they did not seem to have any leaders, except on Monday night, a man by the name of Finfrock seemed to be the leader. They looked upon him as their leader, and they looked upon him as their leader on Monday night. That was the only time they seemed to have any designated leader.
Q. What was done with the parties arrested?
A. Some of them were tried and convicted and sentenced to from three to eight months, with fines ranging from $20 to $500, I think. Others were held over for several terms, then their cases were disposed of. Most of them had families, and the greatest trouble we had here, was with them that followed no occupation--thieves and professional men--crooked men of all classes.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Tramps?
A. A great many tramps. The only man that was wounded by a shot during the excitement, was a tramp. He was turning a switch, and one of the police officers approached him, and he started to run, and he ordered him to halt, and the fellow would not halt, and he shot him in the leg. He was about the only man that was shot, and he was a tramp. Quite a number of those that were arrested and convicted of breaking into the stores and taking the most active part were tramps. We know them as professional tramps.
Q. Did you ascertain what the purpose of the mob was on Monday night, in case you had not succeeded in dispersing them?
A. I think there was a very small portion of the mob that were disposed to interfere with the loading of ammunition to be sent to Pittsburgh. In order to draw the crowd away from the depot, it appears that the officers had arranged that this man should make a little forward movement, and they would arrest him. That drew the crowd up, and while they were drawn away, they loaded the ammunition and sent it off.
Q. To Pittsburgh?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How long did you continue up this organization of citizens?
A. I think we continued the organization until the early part of August. It was not fully disbanded until the 10th of August.
Q. Did you have any trouble in raising it or getting the citizens to aid you?
A. No, sir; not at all. I presume we had from a thousand to twelve hundred men enrolled as members of the law and order posse.
Q. At the depot on Sunday night, when you called for the citizens to assist the police in protecting that train, did they respond?
A. No, sir.
Q. Was it from lack of--was it because they feared the result?
A. I think it was simply owing to the fact that they did not realize the situation at all. They were backward--I merely put the invitation to them, did not urge them at all, and I am satisfied, that if I had made a strong appeal to them, they would have responded.
Q. How large a police force have you?
A. Seventeen.
Q. In all?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were they kept on duty both day and night?
A. Yes; they were on duty for eight days, day and night.
Q. Usually, how many were kept on duty?
A. At night?
Q. Night?
A. Twelve.
Q. How many during the day?
A. Five.
Q. This squad of soldiers that was taken down Market street--did you find where the crowd left them?
A. The soldiers were with the mob at Broad street and Pennsylvania avenue. When I got there they were feeding them, and giving them their supper.
Q. Where did they get the food?
A. At the houses right there--one of the hotels.
Q. Private houses?
A. Yes; some of the private houses.
Q. Fed by their captors?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What finally became of them?
A. They were put on the train here and sent to Philadelphia.
Q. How many were there?
A. in this squad that was brought from the bridge, I think there were about fifteen. Probably sixteen or eighteen.
Q. Any officers among them?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What rank?
A. Lieutenant.
Q. And the other squad that was brought from Rockville, how many were there of them?
A. I can scarcely tell you. We received forty-nine guns altogether, that had been captured.
Q. Do you know whose command they belonged to or what regiment?
A. The knapsacks were mostly marked State Fencibles, and some few Weccacoe Legion. I would just say. Mr. Chairman, that on Sunday we had requested the editors to publish no extras, it would only inflame the public mind still further, and with one exception they had complied with the request. On Sunday morning I had directed all the gun-stores and hardware stores, that were dealing in arms and ammunition, to put away their arms and ammunition during the day or early in the evening, quietly, so it would not be noticed, and we would have had no trouble and the mob got no guns at all except that a party on Market street failed to comply with that request--or on south Second street--they had removed their guns and brought them back on Monday evening to their store. On Sunday evening we had issued a proclamation calling upon citizens to remain at their homes, not to gather in crowds or about the street corners, and these proclamations were put in the hands of the public on Sunday evening. It was late, probably six o'clock or after, when it was printed. The citizens very generally complied with the proclamation. There was no trouble. Our citizens here showed a very willing disposition to do anything that was required of them, and offered their services after they fully realized the situation.
Q. On Sunday, were the saloons open?
A. No, sir; we closed the saloons in the proclamation of Sunday evening.
Q. How long were they kept closed?
A. We kept them closed until Thursday, I think--Wednesday or Thursday following--when we allowed them to open during the day and close at six o'clock in the evening.
Q. You controlled that yourself, as mayor of the city?
A. Yes. The great trouble with us here was as to the question of the authority of the mayor. Whether the mayor under the charter of 1874--while it provides for the mayor to have the same powers as the sheriff in case of an outbreak or riot, it was a question with some of our attorneys here, whether it was an outbreak in the sense of the act until there was some violence committed, and the sheriff unfortunately was absent until Monday. When he returned Monday evening there was no further trouble. We, however, had made arrangements to take the responsibility notwithstanding the doubt about it.
Q. If I understand you, there was no act of violence really committed by the railroad employés?
A. No, sir.
Q. It was done by outsiders and strangers?
A. The parties pulling the coupling of the passenger train on Sunday evening, I do not think there was a railroad employé amongst them at all. Not so far as my knowledge goes.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. They were half-grown boys?
A. Yes; the great trouble was, they were boys fourteen to twenty-one years of age--boot-blacks and all classes. On Sunday night, when they talked about taking the arsenal, this man that had made these remarks was formerly an engineer of the Pennsylvania railroad, but, through religious zeal, he lost his reason, and was an inmate of an asylum. Of course, the remarks had very little weight. Did not carry the crowd with him at all. On Saturday night, Captain Maloney, after consulting with some of us, had taken his company to the arsenal with his guns. I called there on Sunday night about eleven o'clock, and he assured me he was fully able to hold the arsenal against the mob. After requesting him to telegraph us in case there was any appearance of an attack, I then came in, and requested Mr. Jenkins to unload Gobin's regiment below what was called the cut, as there was a great number of what was called the mob out between here and the track. We were afraid they would place obstructions on the track. Really they had placed obstructions on the track. I requested Gobin's regiment to be disembarked above the stock-yards, then they would have almost a direct route to the arsenal.
At this point the committee adjourned, until four o'clock this afternoon.
HARRISBURG, March 12, 1878.
Committee met, pursuant to adjournment, at four o'clock, P.M., in Senate committee room No. 6. Mr. Lindsey in the chair. All members present.
* * * * *
W. W. Jennings:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You were sheriff of Dauphin county in July last?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Still sheriff?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you at home at the time of the first disturbance that broke out in Harrisburg.
A. I arrived home--I was at Atlantic City--I arrived home Monday evening, July 23, about half-past six or seven o'clock.
Q. Just state how you found the city as to order and quietness when you arrived home?
A. I found the city under a great deal of excitement. The trains, I was informed, had been stopped from running, and I immediately went to my counsel, Mr. Wise, for instructions in regard to my powers and duties, and met a number of the prominent citizens, and went to work at once under advice of my counsel to prepare a proclamation, and I was informed by the mayor and other citizens, that the citizens had been notified to assemble at two strokes of the court-house bell. I went around town and endeavored to get parties together, until about ten or eleven o'clock, as near as I can recollect, and spent sometime preparing a proclamation and advising with the prominent citizens, and one came to me at the Lochiel Hotel and said that the rioters were breaking into the stores on Market street. I called upon the good citizens for the preservation of law and order to go with me and suppress the riot. I suppose about one hundred or one hundred and fifty went with me, and went down Market street, and we dispersed the mob. We arrested a couple of the rioters there. Afterwards came back, and I sent squads out. I then organized the party into companies, and I sent squads out to arrest and take these men out of bed who had been prominent and active as rioters, who I was informed had been prominent and active as rioters, and we put those in jail. The next morning I had my proclamation out, and also orders organizing companies. The citizens responded promptly. We organized some ten or eleven companies, and we ran the town on military principles for about one week. We had an officer of the day detailed to patrol the town at night, and we had the fire department under command, and everything in readiness if there would be any further trouble.
Q. What was the nature of your proclamation, was it calling for citizens to join?
A. The substance of my proclamation was, commanding the rioters to disperse, warning them of the penalties of the law, and summoning all good and law-abiding citizens to assist me in putting down the riot.
Q. As a posse?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you have any difficulty in raising a posse of citizens?
A. No, sir; I cannot say that I had any great difficulty.
Q. They joined cheerfully.
A. They responded to my call. I arrived here at seven o'clock on Monday evening, and on Tuesday evening I paraded in the streets about nine or ten hundred men, organized as a regiment. My proclamation in the morning--that was issued on Tuesday morning. I had it printed during the night, and I had it posted all around town by daylight almost, and one of my proclamations called for them to assemble at the court-house, at two o'clock in the afternoon, and I supposed there were six or eight hundred men at two o'clock that afternoon there organized into companies.
Q. In the evening, at the Lochiel hotel, what was the nature of that call? Was it commanding the citizens to join you as a posse, or was it a request?
A. It was more of the nature of a request. Of course, the feeling in town was a matter I suppose would have to be handled very delicately, and I got up on the railing at the Lochiel hotel and said, "Gentlemen, I am informed the rioters are breaking into the stores down on Market street. For the preservation of law and order, how many of you will go with me to suppress it?" and there were a number of voices responded, "We will all go with you."
Q. And then you led off and they followed?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. When you reached the crowd, how large a crowd did you find assembled?
A. Well, I could not estimate the numbers. The line was drawn at the foot of Market street by the railroad. There was a line of men across the railroad there--standing there. I remember one man who was in front had a gun in his hand. I went up to him and took the gun from him, and he gave me some impudence and I took him by the neck and tossed him into the crowd.
Q. Was his gun loaded?
A. Yes; it was loaded.