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: