AFFAIRS IN PHILADELPHIA.
The Call for Troops—Gathering the Militia—Anxious Days—Governor
Hartranft and Mayor Stokely—A Street Riot—Dispersing
a Meeting—Colonel Thomas A. Scott and the Locomotive
Engineers—Philadelphia a Nicer Place than Pittsburgh.
The call for the militia to go to Pittsburgh created the first ripple of
excitement in the metropolis of Pennsylvania. There were a number of
largely attended meetings held, but these did not serve to create any
very serious apprehensions in the public mind. Meanwhile the strikes
taking place all over the country became the topic of conversation, and
within a few days the country was in a feverish state of mind.
Philadelphia shared in all this. The large number of railroad men in the
city, their evident sympathy with the strikers, the doubt as to what
direction the movement might take, conspired to arouse the citizens of
Philadelphia to a realizing sense of the magnitude of the dangers which
threatened their city no less than the entire Union. In Philadelphia, as
elsewhere, the Commune began to raise its Gorgon head to the terror of
all law-abiding citizens. There were tumultuous gatherings and one or
two lives lost and many persons wounded before the difficulty was ended
in Philadelphia.
During the evening of July 23d, over three thousand people assembled
around the Pennsylvania Railroad depot, where Colonel Thomas A. Scott,
Mayor Stokely, and a number of railroad officials were in consultation.
On the arrival of a train, or the occurrence of the slightest incident
which could furnish a pretence for excitement, the crowd would rush
across the open space in front of the depot, and throng the waiting room
almost to suffocation. The saloons in the vicinity did a thriving
business, and a number of drunken men were in the street.
At five o’clock the crowd in the depot had increased to such an extent
that the Mayor and Chief of Police were obliged to call out the reserve
police, and clear the place of all idlers. The Mayor also drove around
the neighborhood of the depot, dispersing the crowds that were gathering
on the street corners and in vacant lots.
The Mayor declared he would not put a musket into the hands of his
police until an actual necessity should arise for his so doing. At the
depot, Colonel Thomas A. Scott received a despatch concerning the
Governor of Pennsylvania, as follows:
“Governor Hartranft is _en-route_ for Pennsylvania, and has telegraphed
ahead, ordering out every militia regiment in the State. He has also
telegraphed to the President of the United States, calling for troops,
and suggesting the propriety of a call for volunteers.”
The Mayor issued the following proclamation:
MAYOR’S OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, July 22.
To all whom it may concern:
_Whereas_, Violence, tumult, and riot exist in various portions of this
commonwealth, to the great injury of domestic industry and trade, and to
the discredit of American institutions and form of government, the
perfection of which was last year celebrated in this city of the
Republic’s birth; and
_Whereas_, It is of the highest importance that the great name which
Philadelphia has made for herself among the nations of the earth during
the centennial year shall be spared the horrible scenes enacted in our
sister cities,
Now, therefore, I, William S. Stokely, in the name of the commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, and by virtue of the authority vested in me by law, do
appeal to all citizens of every occupation and calling to render it
unnecessary that in the performance of my duty I should be called upon
to suppress any outbreak and violence, which I assuredly will do if the
occasion requires it, and hand over the offenders to condign punishment;
and I make this appeal in the firm belief that the citizens of
Philadelphia appreciate, as I do, the importance of maintaining peace
and good will among all classes of society, and I hereby pledge myself
to give a patient hearing and impartial justice, as I best know how, to
all persons who desire it. Let all the people resume and continue their
lawful occupations, and avoid assembling and organizing together for
discussion or otherwise at the present time. This is the surest and best
means of preserving the honor and fair name of the City of Brotherly
Love.
(Signed) WM. S. STOKELY, Mayor.
At the Pennsylvania depot on Saturday, a colored regiment presented
itself for transportation to Baltimore. After occupying a number of cars
with the troops, the hour arrived for the departure of the train. The
engineer refused to move the train. Mr. Lockhart, who was in charge of
the train, tried to persuade him, but in vain. He said he would take any
number of white men, but the company was foolish to attempt to forward
negroes, who would certainly be killed on sight in Baltimore, and he did
not propose to be killed with them. Mr. Lockhart unloaded the colored
troops.
In the Pennsylvania Railroad yard at West Philadelphia, Monday evening,
while one of the shifting engines was preparing to move an oil car, the
engineer was compelled by a crowd of unknown men to detach his engine,
and allow the cars to remain. This was the first indication of any
interference with the Railroad Company at Philadelphia.
At a little after midnight, July 24th, 1877, about four hundred troops
of the regular army from Washington, arrived at the West Philadelphia
depot, half of whom were immediately posted on the railroad company’s
grounds, in the vicinity of the roundhouse, while the remainder were
taken to the City Armory at Broad and Race streets. The men were all
provided with blankets, haversacks, and canteens, and were prepared for
any service, however long or arduous. The detachment was what was known
as the Tenth Regiment of Artillery, Colonel Franks commanding.
When the troops arrived and marched out of the depot there was a general
gathering of officials and citizens, all of whom manifested a feeling of
relief and security. From an early hour in the morning until midnight
their arrival was eagerly looked for, and when they made their
appearance the universal sentiment was that no demonstration could
possibly be made by the strikers that would not be immediately put down.
Peace reigned supreme, and no disturbance occurred that night. Such a
strong force of policemen, marines, and soldiers were on duty that it
seemed hardly possible for the strikers to attempt the commission of any
outrage. The utmost vigilance was exercised by all the officials, both
day and night, and every night after the commencement of the troubles,
Colonel Thomas A. Scott slept at the depot. Mayor Stokely was present at
the depot, closely watching every movement, and issuing orders for any
emergency that might arise. A number of the regulars were conducted to
the old stock yards at Belmont and Lancaster avenues, where they
encamped.
At a meeting of the Philadelphia Commercial Exchange, on the 25th of
July, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:
_Whereas_, The true interests of the country and the welfare of its
citizens depend wholly upon their respect for and obedience to the laws;
and
_Whereas_, There are large mobs assembled in various places who have
been, and are now engaged, in disregard of the same, in destroying both
life and property, on the security of both of which all labor
necessarily depends; and
_Whereas_, These mobs have obtained such control of the avenues of
transportation as to suspend the operating of the same, therefore
restricting our commerce, and leaving our steamers laying idle at our
wharves, to the very serious prejudice, not only to ourselves as
merchants, and to our correspondents, but also to our respective
employes, by depriving them of the necessary labor by which they earn
their livelihood; therefore, be it
_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested to use
such force by the increase of the military forces of the nation, if
necessary, not only to suppress all unlawful violence, but also to
secure protection against any recurrence of the same.
_Resolved_, That the earnest thanks of this association be tendered to
the President of the United States for what he has done.
Similar resolutions were also adopted by the Maritime Exchange and Board
of Trade.
One of the saddest incidents of the strike was witnessed at Philadelphia
on the 25th, upon the arrival at the depot of four dead bodies of
soldiers, of the First Militia Regiment, killed in Pittsburgh. Among the
four was the body of Lieutenant J. Dorsey Ash, of the Keystone Battery.
When the train stopped, there stepped from one of the rear cars a lady,
with bowed head and grief-stricken face, supported by a gentleman, who
conducted her tenderly through the depot to a carriage standing at the
entrance. That lady was the widow of Lieutenant Ash.
The Philadelphia police, in breaking up a meeting at the corner of Berks
and South streets, on the night of the 26th, were stoned by a crowd of
about twenty-five hundred men, and had several shots fired at them. A
desperate fight ensued, and the police say that they fired in the air;
but when the affair was over, the body of a boy, about seventeen years
old, was found dead, with a bullet in his head. Several of the police
were injured by flying missiles.
Governor Hartranft, and his entire staff, started from the West
Philadelphia Station at two o’clock in the afternoon of the 26th, bound
West. Orders had been previously issued for the assembling of all the
militia remaining in Philadelphia, at the armory, at the corner of Broad
and Race streets, at one P. M., to proceed to West Philadelphia, and on
the same train with the Governor, detachments of the Keystone Battery,
State Fencibles, and the Second, First and Sixth Regiments, took passage
for the vicinity of Pittsburgh. The authorities were reticent about the
movements of the military, but every one knew they were destined for
Blairsville, where the main body of the State troops were stationed.
The Eleventh Regiment, made up of men from Chester, Westchester, Media
and other points in that vicinity, joined the detachments from
Philadelphia at Paoli. Batteries K and M of the Second Artillery, and
Battery I of the Fourth, with Companies of Engineers from Baltimore,
arrived at the Philadelphia station, and also proceeded up the road.
There was no excitement or stir about the station, and trains to New
York were running regularly.
A telegram was received on the 27th, by General Selfridge from Governor
Hartranft stating that the latter would accept a regiment of the Grand
Army of the Republic men at once. The different posts were organizing
companies, and the regimental organization was afterwards effected. The
command was fully one thousand men, all veterans.
Feeling that the city was sufficiently protected by regular troops,
General Brannan, by direction of General Hancock, forwarded orders to
the commander of a body of soldiers, expected at Philadelphia from
Niagara, to stop at New York, to be on hand in case of any uprising in
that city.
Before leaving Philadelphia, the evening of the 26th, Governor Hartranft
issued the following order to the National Guards of that State:
1. During the existing emergency, in all cases, troops are to be moved
in compact bodies, and under no circumstances is firing to be permitted
except by order of the officer in immediate command.
2. All other means of quelling riot and restoring order having first
been exhausted, the officer commanding troops shall notify rioters that
they will be fired upon unless they disperse. The order to fire will
then be deliberately given, and every soldier will be expected to fire
with effect. Firing will continue until the mob disappears.
3. Officers in command of troops will report to their headquarters the
names of all citizens who have attempted or may attempt to dissuade
members of the National Guard from the discharge of their duty. All such
persons should be arrested if possible.
4. Headquarters after two o’clock, P. M., to-day, will be in a special
car on the Pennsylvania Railroad. All communications will be addressed
accordingly.
5. General officers will publish these orders, not only to their troops,
but to the public generally.
[Signed], J. F. HARTRANFT,
Governor.
Commander-in-Chief National Guards of Penn.
Colonel Thomas A. Scott having been taunted for his failure to go to
Pittsburgh to stay the strike, thereby preventing bloodshed and
destruction, Mr. P. M. Arthur, of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, being his tormentor, he paused in his duty of watching
movements on the great highway which he controls, to answer the
innuendoes of the Locomotive Engineer, Arthur.
He wrote from Philadelphia as follows to the New York _Herald_
newspaper, on the 25th of July:
“I see an account of an interview had with P. M. Arthur, of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, in which he states that ‘if Thomas
A. Scott had gone himself to Pittsburgh, bloodshed and riot would have
been averted. Whenever the officers of a road have met the Brotherhood
and have evinced a disposition to treat with us, we have had no strike;
it is only whenever they have refused to arbitrate with us that we have
had a strike as the only means of redress.’
“In response to this permit me to say that this whole statement is most
unfair to me and to the Company. The first intimation of this strike was
given me after I had retired for the night at a point on the Delaware
river, twenty miles from Philadelphia, and the strike was inaugurated
without any attempt to have a conference with the officers of the
Company. So much was this the case that the Superintendent of the
Pittsburgh division had started East with his family, and was on his way
east of Altoona, when the strike took place, and the trains of the
Company were stopped. He immediately came to the office in West
Philadelphia about midnight, and there found that the Mayor of
Pittsburgh and the Sheriff of the county were endeavoring to restore law
and order. They had found themselves unable to do so, and were forced to
make an appeal to the Governor for military aid. At all times, and under
all circumstances, when the men in the service of our Company have come
to meet the officers of the road for conference they have been promptly
and courteously met.
“It is not more than a month since a large delegation of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers had a conference with me at the office in this
city, where everything pertaining to the question of reduction was fully
discussed, the result of which was that the men, representing, as they
stated to me, the engineers and firemen, addressed me a letter stating
that the reason given for the reduction, caused by the great depression
of the business of the country, was entirely satisfactory to them, and
that they would stand thoroughly and firmly by the Company. Neither this
Company nor its officers are in any way responsible for the combinations
that have been made against the leading business interests of the
country, which have resulted in strikes, riots and destruction to life
and property, and the entire suspension of all the material interests of
the country by taking possession of the trunk lines of railway and
preventing the movement of persons and property. It is certainly well
developed now that not five per cent. of the men engaged in these
strikes and combinations have ever had anything to do with the railway
service of this Company, including the members of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, who will continue to stand firmly by the Company
and by the best interests of the country, without regard to the
influences brought to bear upon them from any source.
“THOMAS A. SCOTT.”