Q. They were all facing in the one direction when that command was
given?
A. The men that were back, I could not say which way they were facing.
The front were facing towards Washington avenue.
Q. And in one line?
A. Yes; all but Mr. Bolser. He was behind the crowd. I do not know
whether he got as far as the crowd when the shots were fired. He stood
somewhere about two or three yards back of the crowd.
Q. Was the volley fired by the whole command?
A. There were three or four shots fired, then there was a couple of
seconds between, and then there was, "crack, crack, crack," right
along.
Q. Was there any firing after that?
A. No, sir; not that I know of.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You said, awhile ago, that you were a member of that committee that
waited upon Mr. Scranton?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you chairman of the committee?
A. No, sir; I was secretary of that committee.
Q. How did Mr. Scranton treat you. Gentlemanly?
A. Yes; he did.
Q. Treated you gentlemanly and kindly?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Just merely stated that he could not advance that twenty-five per
cent.
A. Said he could not afford to advance a cent the way they were getting
paid for what they sold.
* * * * *
F. L. Hitchcock, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State your residence and business?
A. Residence Scranton; practicing law.
Q. Please give us a statement of the difficulty as it occurred in the
city--as it came under your observation--in July last and the 1st day
of August?
A. You want the transaction of the 1st of August?
Q. We would like to have the origin of it--as much as you can give
us--the origin and causes that produced it?
A. You have had that all in detail in regard to the causes. I have
nothing in addition to that. The only thing I can give you additional
would be what I know of the organization of this posse and its work.
While this strike was in progress and trouble became apprehended, the
mayor called together an advisory committee, of which I was a member.
This committee were devising ways and means for protection, and it was
deemed best to organize this posse. I suggested, among other
things--and we immediately proceeded to organize--this force comprising
a good many of the old soldiers of the town, and got together a force
of some one hundred and twenty or one hundred and thirty men, I think.
We gathered together what arms we could find, and we commenced to
drill. In the meantime we were sworn in as special policemen by the
mayor, and we held ourselves in readiness constantly to protect the
city and preserve the peace. Our head-quarters were established at the
iron company's store, and for several evenings prior to the 1st of
August we had been there--most of us--during the evening until twelve
o'clock, and a large force all night, apprehending trouble. On the
evening before the 1st of August we had resolved not to stay up there
any longer, considering it unnecessary. I was sitting in my office,
about ten o'clock, when the superintendent came down and told me he
apprehended further trouble that night, and he wished us to get our
posse together and go there that night. I immediately went up to Doud's
store, where Captain Ripple said he would be, to communicate with him.
Q. Where is Doud's store?
A. Just above the corner of Washington avenue.
Q. State where the iron-works store is.
A. Still further up--at the corner--clear up. The iron company's store
is at the corner of Jefferson avenue and Lackawanna. On my way up
there, crossing Washington avenue, I noticed a number of persons
looking down the avenue, and I stopped to see what they were looking
at, and then for the first time saw this crowd approaching. I knew
nothing of the meeting at the silk-works, and I was very apprehensive
at the appearance of things. I went to the mayor's office and asked him
if he could explain the meaning of that vast crowd coming towards the
city. He said he did not know. He thought a moment, and said it was the
meeting at the silk-works breaking up, and I said it does not look like
breaking up; it is coming to town. "Very well," he says, "you get the
posse together at the head-quarters, and await my orders." I
immediately gathered together as many of the men as I could, and there
we remained until we saw them driving the men out of the shops,
clubbing and stoning people. They drove the men out of the furnaces,
and they came out on to the track, frightened like a flock of sheep,
fleeing for their lives. Mr. Scranton came up and said "What will we
do?" I suggested we go down and protect them; we had a right to protect
people in their work. "Very well," he said, "I would do that;" and he
immediately communicated to Superintendent McKinney, and he said, the
men had gone home, and were afraid to work; there was no use. I said
our duty was to wait until we were called upon by the mayor. Very soon
afterwards we received a summons that there was trouble below. We
immediately formed in line and marched down the avenue two and two. We
had, I suppose--we counted off before we started--thirty-eight men; but
our force received some additions, so we must have had in the
neighborhood of fifty.
Q. When you got to Washington avenue?
A. When we got to Lackawanna avenue, coming down. I was unable to find
any one of the officers of the posse, when I notified the men, and
acting First Sergeant Bartholomew was in command. He came to me and
said I must act as second lieutenant. I was acting then as second
lieutenant near the rear of the column. As we approached Washington
avenue, we noticed there was a large crowd there, whooping and yelling.
There was some stones thrown as we approached, and quite a number of
those missiles came in behind us very thick. The crowd parted and let
us through. We came down on the street car track. As we passed the
avenue--the rear of the line passed the avenue--these missiles became
thicker, and some pistol shots were fired, and a number of our guns, I
noticed, were leveled. I turned around, and two or three of the men had
their guns down to shoot. I yelled to them not to shoot, and they
raised their guns again. This attack became much more furious, and we
appeared to be in danger of being swallowed up, destroyed, and the
whole line fired. I supposed three or four shots fired first, and then
the whole line fired. A number of the guns--two of the guns, I
think--were seized by the rioters and attempted to be wrested from the
men before any firing took place--tried to be taken from the men.
Several of the men were hit--several pistol shots were fired. This was
all done before our men fired a gun. Then, I suppose, there were about
fifty or sixty shots fired. Immediately the whole field was clear, and
everything was stopped. We marched back to head-quarters, and after we
marched back there, our force was gathered in until we had about two
hundred men on duty--two hundred men altogether. We formed a line
across the avenue, picketed the streets at the head-quarters, and
remained in that position all day and all night. Three men were killed
by the volleys. Two of the men fell near that corner on the right side,
and one on the left.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. In the first place, where did the stones appear to come from and the
pistol shots, before your men fired?
A. Came from the crowd. Came from both sides.
Q. From Washington street?
A. Yes, sir; and some from the other side also.
Q. Both sides of Lackawanna?
A. They were at the junction of Washington avenue and Lackawanna. These
men came up Washington avenue, and they divided and let us through, so
that there was a large force back of us on Washington avenue. As we
came down we went right through them, and they attacked us on both
sides.
Q. What position were the men in when the firing took place?
A. They were faced this way, in column of twos--facing this way, and
they simply faced about and fired both ways in the crowd.
Q. Faced outwards, both ranks?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What position did you take next?
A. After the fire?
Q. Yes?
A. After the firing--after a few moments--we marched back to
head-quarters, and formed a line right across Lackawanna avenue, at the
company's store.
Q. Had you, at any time, formed across Lackawanna avenue during the
time you were at Washington avenue?
A. No; we just remained along the line of the street car track.
Q. Parallel with Lackawanna?
A. Yes, sir. We were on our way down to the mayor's office, and the
attack stopped us, and compelled us to fire.
Q. About how many pistol shots did you hear before your men fired?
A. There was a great deal of noise and disturbance, and I could not
tell how--exactly how many. There was one or two reports heard. How
many I could not tell. There was a great deal of stones thrown, and a
very excited time.
Q. Was the mob very demonstrative?
A. Yes; fearfully so--most terrible sight I ever saw. They seemed to be
perfectly infuriated. I never saw men more like devils in my life.
Q. Hear any expressions from any of them?
A. Oh, yes; all kinds of expressions. "Kill the sons of bitches," "Take
their guns," and all that kind of thing.
Q. Did you see the mayor in the vicinity of the firing?
A. No, sir; I did not see the mayor until after the firing was over.
Just as the firing ceased the mayor came to us on the pavement.
Q. The man that was killed on the south side of Lackawanna avenue, was
he near the corner?
A. I think there was one right near the corner.
Q. Did you see him shot?
A. I recollect seeing the two men fall--yes, I saw them as they fell,
drop on to the ground.
Q. Was he making any demonstration towards the posse?
A. I do not know as to any individual, nor I could not pick out any
individual. A large man there swung a club and was very demonstrative.
Whether he was shot or not, I do not know. The man I did not know at
all personally.
Q. On what day was this posse organized?
A. That I am not able to give you--the exact date from memory. We have
got a record.
Q. Was it before or after the Pittsburgh riots?
A. I am unable to say. I judge it was--perhaps it was a little after
that--what was the date of that?
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. It commenced the 19th, but the destruction of property was on the
22d?
A. This was after that, I think. I think it was one of the reasons why
we were supposed to take care of ourselves if we could. I think that
was one of the reasons that actuated the advisory board. The idea was
that we were isolated from all, and that we either had to take care of
ourselves or take the chances of being stamped out.
Q. And this vigilance committee was organized for the purpose of
protecting property?
A. Nothing else, sir. Preserving peace and protecting property, and for
no special property. Protecting the public peace. I might say the
reason why we had our head-quarters at the company's store, was simply
because we were unable to get any other place. We were unable to get
the Second National Bank and other halls--the board of directors
refused us admission. Said that would bring the fury of the mob down
upon them. Mr. Scranton came forward and said we could occupy their
store. We offered to pay for these other places. We were some three
days trying to get a place.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Could you see the men being driven out of the shops or any of the
works from this store?
A. Yes. We could see them. I saw them before I got to the store. I saw
them driving them out of the railroad shop and the furnaces before I
went into the store.
Q. The mob following the men?
A. I saw men following them. Stones thrown at them. Following them with
clubs, and the men fleeing for their lives. I saw them at all these
places.
Q. The mob following these men. What was it composed of--boys?
A. I suppose boys sixteen to eighteen years old. Some of them were men.
I noticed quite a number of those were young fellows--eighteen, twenty,
to twenty-five years old.
Q. Was information made against you, as one of the posse, for murder?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. For manslaughter?
A. I think the indictment was murder.
Q. Were you arrested?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. By whom?
A. We went down and gave ourselves up. I was not one of those arrested
by the constable.
Q. Not formally?
A. I went down before the court, and entered bail before the court--the
whole of our posse--some fifty altogether.
Q. How many of your posse were tried?
A. The whole number, I think. Of those, there were some three or four
that were proven not to have been present; that were arraigned as part
of our posse.
Q. At the preliminary hearing were dismissed?
A. Yes, sir. Dismissed by the court.
Q. Had you a preliminary hearing before the court?
A. We gave bail, and on the trial a number of those persons were proven
not to have been present. They were all tried. The judge directed a
verdict of acquittal before it went to the jury.
Q. Then you had no preliminary hearing at all?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. How many were indicted for murder?
A. Some fifty.
Q. Some for murder, and some for manslaughter?
A. I think they were all on the same indictment of murder--all in one
indictment, sir.
Q. And all tried?
A. Yes; all tried. There were three cases, but we were all on them.
There were three different indictments. One case was made a test case
for them all, and the other two the verdict was taken without any
evidence at all, following the first one.
Q. One case was made a test case?
A. There were indictments in each of the three cases of Mr. Langon,
Lane, and Dunledin. I think the case that was tried was for the murder
of Langon. That was the one that was actually contested.
Q. The case that was contested--was that submitted to a jury?
A. Oh, yes; with the exception of those parties who were proved not
present.
* * * * *
Carlos W. McKinney, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State where you reside?
A. The corner of Adams avenue and Spruce street, Ninth ward.
Q. What is your business?
A. Superintendent blast furnace, Lackawanna Iron Company.
Q. On the 1st day of August, state where you were?
A. The morning of the first day of August, I went to the furnaces as
usual. The furnaces had been idle for sometime before; that they had
banked them up, and I got the men to go out and commence operations
again. After working two or three days, on the 1st day of August there
was a party assembled at the silk-works, while my men were at work at
the furnaces. I was notified that there was a party down there, and
there would probably be trouble. I went up about nine o'clock in the
morning, at the top of the iron company's store, took a field glass and
saw a large crowd at the silk-works. I saw the party start up
Washington avenue from the silk-works, and I then went down near the
steel-works, on an embankment, so that I could have a good view. I
didn't know but that they were just going to make a parade through the
streets, but when they arrived up as far as the iron company's machine
shops--boiler shops--a large party of them left the main line, and
passed off into the machine shops and drove the machine shop hands out.
I saw them stoning them, and throwing clubs at them, from where I
stood. After that a large number of them came up towards the blast
furnaces. A small track led in down to the machine shops. I then went
down to the blast furnaces, and made arrangements to cast. I told the
men it looked like trouble, and I thought we better get out what iron
there was in the furnace, and in case the men came upon us we would
throw the blast out. I looked around, and saw the crowd coming up,
right at the foot of the furnace, probably a thousand of them; we were
just then about done casting. I saw the men could not stop long enough
to stop the furnace, and told them to run, and I threw the blast off
myself. I passed then, off to the engine-house, told the engineer to
stop the engine and take the blast off, which he did. By this time the
crowd had followed me, and I went up to the iron company's store, and
met the general manager there, Mr. Scranton, and told him what had
occurred at the furnace, and asked him what should be done. He said, we
would wait and see. At that time nearly all the superintendents and
foremen had come to the office, and reported that they had been
stopped, and their men had been driven off. Then we had collected
citizens and people working for the iron company, some forty-four men,
that were up in the store. Mr. Scranton, after waiting awhile, said we
had better fall in and go down and offer our services to the mayor, as
we had already been appointed special policemen for the protection of
iron property, and the property in general. And he headed the line--got
them in column of two, and made the remark that we might as well die as
any other time, and told them to follow. We marched out of the
company's store, came down Lackawanna avenue to the corner of
Washington here, and we met the crowd which had left the blast furnace,
and passed to the shops of the D., L. and W. Quite a number were
already on Lackawanna avenue, probably half a block up. We passed them,
and they said nothing particular until we got past Washington avenue. I
was on the rear end of the line with Bartry, and Mr. Scranton was at
the head. After passing Washington avenue, the main body of the mob
that came from below, came around rushing into Lackawanna avenue, and
there was one man, I don't know who he was--they said his name was
Langon--who came up to the line on the side where I was, and he had a
stick about that long, [indicating,] and as I came by he shook his
fist. I made no reply or anything. Then he turned to the crowd and
says, "Fall in, boys, fall in, boys." They were rushing up. Then
somebody hollered out, Take the guns away from them, they have blank
cartridges. They were probably twenty-five feet from us, and Bartry and
myself motioned them to stay back. At that time somebody fired a gun
down the line, and when the first gun was fired a general fire
commenced. After the crowd dispersed, we formed up in column of twos
again, faced the other way, and marched back to the store.
Q. How many persons were killed?
A. There were three killed.
Q. How many wounded?
A. I don't know, sir; we have never been able to find out.
Q. Were any of the posse wounded?
A. Yes; I was wounded. A pistol ball in my knee, shot by a man who was
on the corner, next to Jack Slagle.
Q. On the left hand side going up Lackawanna?
A. At the corner of Lackawanna and Washington. The first time these men
shot, he hit my gun, and knocked a piece of the wood off. I have the
gun yet. The next time he took me about four or five feet from the
corner. I felt the ball strike by my knee. I felt down, and saw I was
shot; felt the blood running down my leg, and right after that there
was firing. Just at that time there was a man, probably about a head
taller than the other man, who shot two men at the rear end of the
column. I heard those balls come by, and I saw both shots.
Q. Were those shots fired before there was any firing?
A. Yes; they were firing before any shots were fired.
Q. Were you struck before any firing?
A. No, sir; I was struck after the general engagement commenced.
Q. Any stones thrown at the posse by the crowd?
A. Yes; there were stones thrown. I dodged one stone that struck a man
by the name of John Stanton in the back.
Q. Was that before any firing?
A. That was before any firing.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. I understood you to say that the first pistol shot fired at you was
before your posse fired?
A. I was not shot until after.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. I understood you there was a shot that hit your gun?
A. My gun and myself was shot after the firing.
Q. You say that the two shots fired by the tall man was before any
firing done by the posse?
A. Before any firing in the line.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. You don't know who that was that fired, do you?
A. No, sir.
Q. Ever know what became of him?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were you one of the men that were indicted for murder?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you arrested?
A. I was arrested.
Q. By the constable?
A. No, sir. I went to Wilkes-Barre, and gave myself up with the posse.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you receive any information that this crowd were about to drive
your men out of these furnaces?
A. My men told me at the blast furnace that some men had told them they
had better get out. My foreman, as well as the men who were at work
there, told me. That is the reason I went up on to the store so as to
get a good view of the crowd, and be in readiness.
Q. Were you up in the store when you saw the crowd coming up?
A. I was on top of the store.
Q. Could you see any demonstrations they made in the furnace and
work-shops below?
A. After we commenced moving, I left that position, and passed down to
the steel-mill, which is on a high embankment, I did not see what the
crowd were going to do for certain. I supposed they were going to just
have a parade. When I saw them make this demonstration at the lower
shops, then I immediately went to the furnaces, and got out whatever
iron there was in the furnaces, because I supposed that would be the
next point of attack.
Q. You were close enough to those shops below the steel-works to see
distinctly that the men were being driven out?
A. Yes. Saw them throwing stones at them. Saw the men who fired the
boiler-house, and they threw stones at them at the same time. Saw two
or three men running up the embankment on the opposite side they were
stoning them.
Q. Did you see any of them hurt?
A. I could not tell whether the stones hit them or not.
Q. Do you know anything else that would be of interest to our
committee, any information that you have not already stated?
A. These are just about the facts, so far as the riot is concerned.
At this point the committee adjourned to meet at four o'clock, this
afternoon.