Q. Were there any policemen there at the time?
A. No, sir; I did not see any.
Q. Did any come there?
A. Not that I saw.
Q. Did you send for any?
A. Not at that time, sir.
Q. Afterwards did you?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you see who set the elevator on fire?
A. I did not.
Q. And how it caught?
A. No, sir; but after the elevator was on fire. The person who gave you
that information has not given you the correct information. After the
elevator was on fire some little time, I was standing on Eleventh
street, probably halfway between Penn and Liberty. While standing
there, a man came up alongside of me and stood there. I did not say
anything, and directly there was another man joined him. The first one
was a short thick-set man, with a light colored moustache and imperial
and light hair; a man I should say weighing about one hundred and
sixty-five pounds, probably about five feet eight inches in height. The
person who joined him was somewhat taller, nearly six feet in height,
and they got into a conversation. They were evidently well acquainted
with each other; and then the short thick man made a remark. Says he,
"The elevator makes a very handsome fire." I spoke up and said I
thought it was a very great shame and outrage that property should be
destroyed, and this man turned around and said, "What is it your
business?" I told him it was my business to a certain extent, as I was
solicitor for the elevator company. I said to him that I thought the
firemen ought to turn their hose on it. I then went to see Mr. Evans,
and asked him if he could turn the hose on, and he informed me that it
was impossible to do so. He had been deterred by the mob, and they had
cut his hose, or threatened to cut his hose, and some man had put a
revolver to his head; that he had two streams on, but had to take them
off. I walked down pretty close to Penn avenue and these two men were
still standing there. I stopped opposite them and they were still in
conversation. The short thick-set man turned around to the other one
and in a whisper made this remark to him, "Has the Pan Handle bridge
been set fire to yet?" The other one says, "No, I think not." He said,
"Somebody ought to send a party to do that;" and I then, left and went
down towards Wayne street, went down to the river, went down the river,
came up towards Fifth avenue, and on Thursday or Friday subsequent to
the destruction of the elevator, on my way out home, in the evening,
about half past four o'clock, passing the ruins of the Union Depot
hotel, I saw this man standing there--this short thick-set man. There
was a policeman standing on the corner. I went up to the policeman and
pointed this man out and said, "That man, I think, was a ring leader in
the riot. If you will arrest him, I will make information against him."
The policeman did not reply, but walked up towards the avenue.
Q. Do you know the policeman?
A. No, sir; I did not take notice of his number.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you see the grain elevator set on fire?
A. No, sir; I was standing out in front, and from where I stood the
burning apparently began at the back side, towards the Pan Handle side
of the road, towards the Washington street bridge.
Q. How many policemen did you see around the vicinity at that time?
A. Did not see any.
Q. The only one you saw was on this bridge?
A. I did not see any at all that day--that evening.
Q. When was it you saw this policeman?
A. Thursday or Friday, subsequent to the destruction.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did you make any report of the policeman who refused?
A. No, sir; only to the officers of the elevator company.
Q. Did they make any effort to find out who the policeman was,
afterwards?
A. I do not know, sir--that is, I made no official report to the
company. I just reported it to one or two of the officers, and their
instructions were, if I recognized the party, to report it, and if I
recognized the party I saw on Monday evening to report it.
Q. You made no report of that policeman to the mayor of his refusal to
act?
A. No, sir; if I had known his number I certainly should; but I did not
know his number.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You did not hear enough of the conversation between those men, to
find out whether there was an organization?
A. None, whatever. I did not hear sufficient of that. I believe that is
all the conversation I heard in regard to the matter. There was a
remark made that rather implied I had better get out of the way, and I
stood over by the engine.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. These men were both strangers to you, the short man and the large
one?
A. They were men who were working. I evidently took them to be mill men
about the city here. I do not think they were strangers in the city at
all, sir.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were they railroad men?
A. I do not think so. I could not judge from their appearance. Just
from their appearance, I took them to be men working about some of the
mills or about some heavy employment in the city. I judged that more
from their general appearance and from their hands. I noticed one man
put up his fist. He had a very large heavy fist, and it looked like a
work-man's fist.
Q. That was Thursday or Friday subsequent to the burning, that you met
this other man?
A. Yes; Thursday or Friday?
Q. What time of day was it you met him?
A. I think it was about half past four in the afternoon. I left my
office to go home, and it took me, I suppose, eight or nine minutes to
walk up to where the Union Depot hotel stood at that time. Probably I
stood around there ten minutes looking at the ruins, and it was just as
I was moving off--probably it was about five o'clock.
* * * * *
Doctor James B. Murdock, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Please state where you reside?
A. I reside on Centre avenue, No. 99. Up over the hill from the
railroad--over that side of the hill--back from it.
Q. A practicing physician in the city of Pittsburgh?
A. Practicing physician and surgeon.
Q. State what knowledge you have of the late riots?
A. When I heard I was to be subpoenaed here, I wrote down what I know
about it, and perhaps that would be the quickest way of telling. My
first knowledge of the riot was on the evening of the day of the riot,
the 21st of July, about half past five o'clock in the afternoon, when I
was returning to my office from my calls, and one of my neighbors came
running to me in a hurried manner, and stated that a little boy had
been shot and needed my services. I accompanied the messenger to a drug
store in the vicinity of my house, and on my way there this messenger
informed me how it happened, and told me the boy had been sitting on
the hill side above the Twenty-eighth street crossing, and that he also
was there, and that there was a volley of musketry fired from the
soldiers, who were down on the railroad track, and that the little boy
had screamed out----
Q. I hardly think this comes within the scope of our investigation,
unless you can give us the number of persons killed and wounded. That
might be within the scope of our investigation; but testimony as to the
persons that were wounded is hardly within the scope of our
investigation?
A. I do not know what I was subpoenaed here for. I was one of the
surgeons in charge of the wounded at the West Pennsylvania hospital.
Q. State the number that were brought there wounded?
A. There were seven wounded men brought there that evening.
Q. How many soldiers?
A. Two soldiers. One of them wounded with a stone and the other
sun-struck.
Q. Who were the other parties?
A. I do not know who they were. They were citizens--I do not know
whether they were citizens or not. They were strangers to me.
Q. Do you know the number that were killed in that fire?
A. No, sir; I do not.
Q. You know nothing, I suppose, as to the wounded, except those that
were brought to the West Penn Hospital?
A. Only just this little boy. I saw from there the attack on the
round-house during the night.
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Did you see the firing of the cars when it commenced?
A. I saw the whole of that attack.
Q. You might give us a description of that?
A. The grade is down from Thirty-third to Twenty-eighth, and the cars
ran from their own gravity. When they were let go they would run. The
first car came down between ten and eleven, and it was run down the
grade, and when it got opposite the round-house it seemed to run off
the track. You could observe it from the hospital grounds. Soon after
that a whole train of cars, loaded with coke, came down the track, and
struck this first one. We could hear the collision. It stopped near the
round-house. They continued the passing down of fired cars from the
vicinity of Lawrenceville, until I left the hospital, about two o'clock
in the morning, and the cars were burning there, and the sand-house was
then on fire, when I left.
Q. From your position you could not see who done the firing?
A. No, sir; but I could see in front of the hospital grounds when a car
would stop, as it sometimes would in its descent, there would be people
take hold of it, and push it on down towards the round-house. I observe
that those who did that pushing were nearly all boys, fourteen to
sixteen or seventeen years of age.
Q. Twenty-five engaged in it?
A. I do not think I saw over twenty-five at this place. I could not see
where the cars were started from, I could see them just as they were
passing the hospital grounds.
Q. How large a crowd was gathered there?
A. On my way to the hospital there was an immense crowd. I had to go
through Liberty street, but just at the Twenty-eighth street crossing
and down on the track, as you may say, Twenty-eighth to Twenty-ninth
street, there was not a hundred people visible. There were a great many
on the side hill looking down.
Q. Were you present on Sunday?
A. Yes, sir. I saw the burning of the Union depot and the elevator.
There is one circumstance that I, perhaps, might state to the committee
if it is of interest. I do not know that it is, though. On my way
around through the city, I saw a great deal of the plunder being
carried off, and on Gazzam's hill Sunday morning, at eleven o'clock, I
saw a boy some twelve years of age who seemed to be gazing over in the
direction of the railroad. I asked him what he was looking at. He said
that the round-house had been burned last night and that the depot and
the elevator was going to be burned to-night. I asked him how he knew
that. He said his father had told him he had been out all last night
was going out to-night.
Q. Did you ascertain who he was?
A. No, sir; I did not. I did not think anything of it at the time. I
did not think anything of it. When it occurred I remembered then of
that statement.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you notice any firing by the mob, musketry or pistols, at the
troops in the round-house?
A. No, sir; I did not see any.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You do not know whether this boy's father was an employé of the
Pennsylvania railroad or not, that told you that the elevator and the
other buildings were to be burned?
A. No, sir; the boy was in a part of the city where it would not be
likely that an employé of the company would live.
Q. You do not know who the boy was?
A. No, sir; did not pay enough attention to it at that time.
* * * * *
J. R. McCune, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. In the Fourteenth ward, this city.
Q. What is your business?
A. I am president of the Union National Bank.
Q. Were you at the scene of the riots at any time during their
progress?
A. I saw the burning--partly saw it on Sunday for the first. I was not
at the scene of the riots prior to Sunday, and know very little or most
nothing of my own knowledge--prior to Sunday.
Q. You may state what efforts you made in connection with others to
suppress the riot on Sunday, and stop the pillaging and plundering?
A. I came down town on Sunday morning in conference with some other
citizens, and thought it desirable to call a meeting of citizens. I
then learned for the first time that the troops had left the city, and
there were placards posted on the bulletin boards calling a meeting of
citizens, I think, at twelve o'clock. I participated in that meeting,
and was appointed on a committee to take such action as was deemed
advisable. The committee was a large one, and adjourned to the council
chamber, and it was there determined to appoint a sub-committee to
visit the scene of destruction, and take whatever action seemed
judicious. I think our duties were not restricted. I went with that
committee, but cannot say that we effected much of anything. I believe
that has been detailed to you before how the committee went up there,
and got on a platform of a car, and Bishop Tuigg undertook to address
the audience.
Q. Doctor Scovill's testimony in regard to that was correct?
A. So far as I saw. The doctor was immediately along side of me on the
platform of the car. After leaving, there the committee was divided,
and went to different points, one of which being to ascertain, if
possible, if the railroad strikers were actively engaged in this
burning, and we endeavored to hunt up the railroad men. We went up as
far as Twentieth street, and interviewed railroad men wherever we could
find them. They, I believe, universally disclaimed all participation in
the riot. That is in the burning.
Q. In the destruction of property?
A. In the destruction of property. That was a point we inquired into
particularly.
Q. Did they state who was engaged in the destruction of property?
A. My recollection is that they generally professed not to know. They
promised to coöperate with us in efforts to stop the burning.
Q. Did they do that--did they coöperate?
A. I don't know how much they did in that direction. There was some of
them came down to attend the meeting, and this committee reported to an
adjourned meeting that was to be held, I think, at four o'clock in the
afternoon. The committee returned, and stated briefly what had been
done and the condition of affairs, and I think we suggested that there
would be a large increase of the police force. The mayor was present,
and the committee authorized him to employ as many policemen as they
could get--five hundred if he could obtain them--and a number of
gentlemen present pledged themselves for the payment of this police
force.
Q. At four o'clock Sunday afternoon?
A. Yes; four o'clock Sunday afternoon, and there was also a sort of
militia force organized, of which Mayor McCarthy told you this morning.
Q. This suggestion of employing five hundred police was made to the
mayor, was it?
A. I don't remember from where the suggestion emanated. It seemed to be
the unanimous wish of those present.
Q. Did you so inform the mayor of that week?
A. Yes; and the question was raised as to how they were to be paid, and
quite a number of citizens there pledged themselves for the payment,
and the mayor was asked if that would be satisfactory, and he said it
was entirely so.
Q. Did the mayor issue any call, or any command, or summon any posse of
citizens as a police force?
A. Immediately a call was made for citizens to unite with the mayor,
and I think there was quite a force congregated together, and started
to procure such arms as were available.
Q. That was the request made, was it?
A. I am not able to recall whether the request was made by the mayor.
It was suggested from some source, and matters were done under a good
deal of excitement. There was not much formality about that.
Q. Doctor Donnelly's command was organized at that time?
A. Donnelly had charge of it. An hour afterwards or so there were some
others that repaired to the Duquesne depot. There are others can tell
you more about that than I. The next morning I was at the mayor's
office, when a sort of militia force was organized.
Q. How large a force was organized?
A. It is difficult to tell; I could only guess at it. There were,
perhaps, two hundred.
Q. Composed of citizens?
A. Of citizens; yes, sir.
Q. Under whose command.
A. I think General Negley was made commander of them, temporarily.
There was a telegram there from the burgess of Elizabeth, stating that
a party of roughs or rioters were en route to the city by steamer, and
this force went down there to meet them when they would arrive. Also
during that morning there was a meeting of citizens convened, for the
purpose of organizing a committee of safety. This meeting, held on
Sunday, did not organize any permanent committee. On Monday there was a
permanent committee organized, of which I was a member.
Q. How large a crowd was there during the day Monday, or was there any?
A. On Monday?
Q. Yes?
A. The streets were full of people. I think, possibly, I never have
seen so many people in the streets, unless it was during the time of an
immense convention.
Q. What class of people?
A. I could not undertake to say, sir. Seemed to me that everybody was
there. There were comparatively few of them that I was acquainted with.
Q. This body of rioters, were they in force on Monday?
A. Thought there were a great many very rough looking characters on the
street--that I had never seen so many.
Q. Were there any attacks made upon any property or persons, on Monday?
A. No, sir; not that I remember. I cannot re-call any.
Q. Were the business places open on Monday, throughout the city?
A. I think a good many were opened--some were closed. There was a great
deal of fear expressed.
Q. Among the citizens?
A. Yes; the committee of public safety began immediately to organize a
military force. They organized a force of infantry, and they organized
a company of horsemen, and got them under way as rapidly as possible.
Q. To patrol the streets?
A. Yes; to go outside of the city limits, and endeavor to guard against
any turbulence anywhere, or any organizations that might show
themselves.
Q. Were you up about the railroad works any, during Monday?
A. I think I was not. No, sir; I was not at the scene of the burning on
Monday.
Q. This crowd in the streets on Monday, did it seem to be just a
promiscuous crowd everywhere on the streets, or was there an
organization of men--roughs about?
A. There was nothing to enable me to determine that there was an
organization.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Was the crowd attracted by curiosity to see what was going on?
A. It was largely so, I think--attracted by curiosity, although it
seemed to me there were an immense number of strange faces amongst
them.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You had no trouble in preserving the peace after Monday morning?
A. The peace was preserved on Monday without trouble, because I think
these organizations had a very wholesome effect. The committee of
public safety then formally instructed the mayor to increase his police
force. He had instructions to employ twenty additional men, and under
that authority he did employ, I think, one hundred and thirty men, whom
the committee on public safety paid.
Q. For how long a time did he keep these men employed?
A. A portion of them were discharged about ten days thereafter--perhaps
in all the half of them--and the remainder were continued for forty or
fifty days. I would state that the committee of public safety and other
citizens united in a paper, whereby they pledged themselves to pay all
expenses that might be incurred by this committee, without any limit
whatever, and that we subsequently obtained specific subscriptions to
the amount of about fifty thousand dollars.
Q. How much of that was expended in the operation?
A. I can't say positively, but a small portion of it, probably fifteen
thousand dollars.
Q. And after the organization of that committee of public safety, the
peace was preserved from that time forward?
A. Yes, sir; how much the committee had to do with it is a question I
could not determine.
Q. Did the people unite heartily in carrying out the suggestions made
by that committee?
A. Yes; I think the committee had no cause of complaint. They had the
sympathy and coöperation of the community generally.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You know nothing of the causes leading to the riot?
A. Nothing; no, sir; nothing but what is patent to everybody. I had no
special facilities for learning anything. Everybody had their own
opinion. I was not on the ground prior to Sunday.
Q. Do you know whether this mounted citizens' police force went out of
the city, and patrolled the streets leading to the city?
A. That is my impression. I was not with them, but I think they did.
Q. Along the lines of the Pan Handle railroad.
A. Yes; we were a good deal concerned about the Pan Handle road. There
were rumors come to the committee that there was very imminent danger
of them burning the cars in the tunnel and other points out the Pan
Handle road. I think, however, you can glean the facts pertaining to
the committee better from Mr. Johnson, who is chairman of that
committee. He has examined the minutes, I think, and has charged his
memory with the details.
Q. Do you know whether any men were arrested or not that attempted to
come in on that road by this citizens' police force?
A. No, sir; my opinion is very vague on that point.
Q. Was not there some disturbance on Monday on some of your streets
here in the city?
A. There was a good deal of turbulence all over the city. I remember
one instance now. The committee was sent after some guns, and while
they were being brought down Market street there was a halt made. They
stopped the gun carriages, and somebody went up and boldly spiked the
guns, which created a good deal of excitement for the moment.
Q. The crowd spiked the guns?
A. Spiked the guns.
Q. How many guns?
A. There were three of them, I think.
Q. What battery did they belong to?
A. I can't answer. I am not up on military affairs.
Q. Was not there some disturbance on Fifth avenue there that day?
A. There were disturbances, more or less, in many parts of the city.
The city was disordered that day--decidedly disorderly.
Q. There was an effort made by the citizens generally, to suppress
everything of that kind on Monday?
A. Yes; there was a decided effort made by the citizens.
Q. An organized effort?
A. Yes; the committee of public safety, organized for this special
purpose. They acted promptly and vigorously.
Q. Do you know of any disturbance at Limerick, south side, on that day?
A. I cannot recollect it.
Q. Do you know of any disturbance on Second Avenue park?
A. No, sir; I cannot of my own personal knowledge--I cannot recollect.
* * * * *
Robert Atchison, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. 873 Penn avenue.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Engineer.
Q. On what railroad?