JERSEY TRAINMEN.
Threatened Riot at Phillipsburg—The Trainmen’s Strike—Intense
Excitement at Trenton—Governor Bedle Takes Decisive
Action—Disagreeable Demonstrations at Jersey City—Militia at
Hoboken—Governor Bedle Goes to Newark and Jersey City—Guarding a
Bridge at Brunswick—Soldiers Sympathizing with Strikers—The Jersey
Central Railway—Relieved Soldiers Rejoicing.
On Wednesday, July 23d, 1877, the Mayor of Phillipsburg, New Jersey,
issued his proclamation calling upon persons “to desist from making
threats against or intimidating such persons as desired to follow their
usual avocations,” and warning all good citizens from gathering on
streets, and asking them to aid him in preserving the peace of the town,
and notifying all strangers bearing unmistakable evidence of idle
wanderers, that they would be arrested by officers on duty.
The firemen and brakemen of the Central Railroad of New Jersey joined in
a strike on the 23d of July, and would allow no train, except a
locomotive with a mail car attached, to pass over the road.
Deputy-Sheriff Shaffer and Dispatcher Harris endeavored to start a
passenger train for New York from Phillipsburg, New Jersey, but were
unsuccessful, as no engineer could be found who would risk his life to
run it, and in consequence no train started until evening. The railroad
men were considerably surprised when they saw the train, consisting of
two baggage and one passenger car, and censured the men at the other end
of the road for allowing it to start.
The Deputy-Sheriff had a conference with the leaders of the strike. He
told them that the laws of the State would be enforced at any hazard,
and advised them to go to their homes and remain quiet, assuring them
that their rights, as well as those of the Company, would be protected.
He proposed to start all trains on time, and, if the strikers did not
interfere all would be well; but if they molested the men who run the
trains they must expect the consequence. One of the leaders replied that
they were willing that a locomotive and mail car should run, but they
would not allow any other cars to be attached, and then the mail agent
must do the braking. The strikers seemed determined that no trouble
should arise from any fault of theirs, and requested the Chief of Police
to arrest all tramps found around the road.
The engineers drove away about twenty tramps from the Morris and Essex
roundhouse.
The firemen and brakemen of the Lehigh and Susquehanna road struck in
the morning of the same day, and no train was allowed to leave Easton.
The men on that road were very orderly.
R. H. Sayre, of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, issued orders that in case
there should be a strike on that road, all of the shops should be shut
down, and not started again until the difficulty was settled.
[Illustration: MILITIA GUARDING THE SWITCH-HOUSE.]
A mail car attached to a locomotive left Phillipsburg in the morning.
All trains arriving at New York over the Central Railroad of New Jersey,
consisted of a baggage car and locomotive; the passenger cars were
brought to Bloomsburg and left there. The mail train over the Morris and
Essex Railroad for New York run on time. When the train was about to
leave Phillipsburg, on its return, the fireman left the engine and
refused to fire up, when the chairman of the strikers ordered him to
resume his post and take the cars left at Bloomsburg to the Washington
side where they would be in no danger, as it was not the wish of the
strikers to have any damage done to the Company’s property.
The proprietors of the Warren Foundery, at Phillipsburg, were compelled
to shut down the 26th, as they could not ship their pipe, and had no
place to store it. This threw over three hundred men out. The Company
had a very large contract on hand, and the strike proved a great damage
to them.
A large number of boatmen and tramps were in Phillipsburg and it was
feared they would endeavor to incite a riot.
On the morning of July 24th, Jersey City presented an exciting scene, as
laboring men were on their way to work, little knots of men were
gathered on every corner of the principal streets exchanging
speculations as to the cause of the sudden advent of the military. They
had been summoned on Saturday to be at their armories in the evening,
but they did not appear in their uniform then, as on Sunday. Monday
morning they were in squads here and there, in search of absentees. One
squad stood at each ferry to detain such members as, through not being
notified of the latest order from headquarters, or from whatever reason,
sought to cross to New York. Inquiry at the regimental armory revealed
the fact that Governor Bedle, who had spent Sunday at Long Branch, had
issued an order, by telegraph, at midnight, to the commandants of all
the regiments to collect their men at the armories, and uniform, arm and
equip them. The regiments which had already been ordered to hold
themselves in readiness, were under arms all over the State by daylight
Monday morning.
Brigadier-General Plume, of Newark, arrived to assume command, and
Surgeon-General Varick, of Jersey City, and Inspector-General Fay, of
Elizabeth, were soon in attendance. Lieutenant-Colonel Marvin, Major
Howard, Brigade-Surgeon Hitchcock, and Captains Meeker and Wardwell, all
of Newark, and of General Plume’s staff, accompanied him. Of Governor
Bedle’s staff, Messrs. Charles S. Gregory, W. H. Vredenburg, A. Q.
Garretson, William Douglas and John Ramsey, were in attendance during
the entire day. Upon Governor Bedle’s arrival it was learned that his
order was based on a despatch that he had received from Philadelphia, to
the effect that the Pennsylvania Company’s buildings there were in the
hands of the mob, and another from Major-General Mott, in Trenton,
saying that trouble was anticipated there.
Governor Bedle established his headquarters in the apartments of the
Chief of Police, Jersey City, Tuesday morning, and assumed the duties of
Commander-in-Chief in fact. At Elizabeth and elsewhere, regiments had
not a round of ammunition, but it was ordered on from Trenton at once.
Lieutenant Ellis’ Battery, in Jersey City, was ordered to be in
readiness, but they had only one gun; the Hoboken Battery was in the
same condition. The Battery at Guttenburg had two, and one was ordered
from there to each of those cities.
The first detachment of several batteries of United States Regular
Artillery, ordered to Philadelphia to protect Government property,
crossed from Fort Hamilton to Jersey City, and marched up several
squares through Montgomery street, before they turned towards the depot,
where the cars lay, near Washington street. At this point an ugly crowd
had gathered. It was noticed throughout the day that there were a good
many strangers in Jersey City, mysterious men, who assembled in little
knots and talked together, or drew near to any collection of people seen
in conversation, as though feeling the pulse of the public. The soldiers
were jeered and threatened as they passed. About this time a conductor,
named Wright, sauntered along the track, when the following colloquy
occurred between him and one of the crowd: “Are you going to take the
train out with these sogers?” “I guess so.” “Well, then, by God! you
won’t go above Grove street.” And the speaker turned away and Wright
went on towards his train. Another man called after him: “Say, young
fellow, don’t make no mistake. If you have any regard for yourself you
won’t give nobody any chance to lay you out.” Jack Wildey, the engineer
of the same train, was standing at the Glayne street crossing a few
minutes later, when he was accosted by another man, and asked: “Are you
the engineer of this train, taking out the sogers?” He said “Yes.” “If
you attempt to take that train out we’ll kill you before you go six
blocks.” Superintendent Barker walked along just then, and found that
both conductor and engineer were so badly alarmed that they refused to
take the train out. Warren Hawk, conductor of another train, consented
to go if his engineer, McMichael, would go, although he felt sick. The
engineer said that he would not take out the train. Mr. Barker asked him
whether he would take it out, provided the militia dispersed the crowd.
He replied that he would.
Mr. Barker laid the facts before Governor Bedle, who thought that it
would needlessly excite the people to call out the militia, and that it
would be best to send a police force. A strong reserve had been called
out early in the morning, and fifty of them, under Captain Mullany, were
sent to the scene of disturbance. They took possession of the crossings
and kept back the crowd. The engineer then consented to start, and the
artillerymen, including another detachment of about equal numbers, armed
with muskets, about one hundred and fifty in all, got away about six
o’clock. Other detachments arrived from Fort Adams, Boston, and departed
later. Altogether, about eight hundred went by the Pennsylvania Railroad
for Philadelphia.
About two hundred and fifty men of the Ninth Regiment were encamped on
Elysian Fields, Hoboken, to hold themselves in readiness to protect the
Morris and Essex, or the Erie Railroads. Nearly one hundred extra
watchmen were guarding the property of the Eastern Division of the Erie
Railroad.
No indications of trouble on the New Jersey Southern Railroad were
reported during the strike. There had been no cutting down of wages
since last winter. The pay of some of the men had been increased.
George Doremus, conductor of the Midland Railroad, while going home with
his cash box was attacked by four men, one of whom struck him on the
head with a piece of lead pipe. His wounds were considered serious. His
assailants escaped without any plunder.
Hundreds of men lounged about the Newark depots all day the 23d. General
Plume received an order from Governor Bedle to hold the First and Fifth
Regiments in readiness to move. At noon six hundred men were assembled
at the armory, under command of Colonels Barnard and Allen, and rations
were dealt out. Several of the men declared that they would throw down
their guns rather than shoot at the strikers. The entire police force,
with the exception of the men on patrol, was held in reserve. The police
were ordered to take all of the guns in the gun shops to the police
stations. They were in full sympathy with the railroadmen, and openly
said they would not fire upon any strikers. The passenger trains ran on
time all day; but few freight trains passed. The brakemen and firemen
sneered at and guyed the soldiers when passing the armory. The employes
at the depot feared to say anything, but they were in sympathy with the
strikers on the other railroads. The miners at Dover were ready to help
the railroadmen.
The publication of a call for a mass meeting of citizens at Turn Hall,
Newark, Tuesday evening, excited a tumultuous feeling, and hundreds of
men gathered on street corners and talked over the situation. It was
signed by the United Workingmen’s Party and the Communist Committees.
Many of them were in the Paris Commune. The societies there number
nearly eighteen hundred men. The call had aroused the laborers and
mechanics, and alarmed the city officials. Sheriff Harrison summoned all
the constables in the county to meet at the court house, and swore in a
large number of deputy marshals. Mayor Yates issued a proclamation to
the people to abstain from public gatherings.
An attempt was made to destroy the new bridge at Bergen Tunnel, and
President Sloan, of the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad, caused
two constables and forty armed men to be posted there. The train from
Scranton brought ten or twelve men of a delegation from the United
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers to Newark.
The excitement at Trenton was greater than any time since the strikes
began. It was expected that the train hands on the New York and
Belvidere divisions would strike, and there was not a soldier in the
city that could be depended on. The members of Companies A, B and D,
Seventh Regiment, were kept in their armories all day. Companies B and D
were workingmen, and many of them refused to turn out. Guards were sent
out, and the men had to be brought under guard to the armories. One
hundred and twenty men of the Trenton companies were ordered to go to
the Clinton street depot, where they took the train to New Brunswick to
guard the railroad bridge there. A guard of old soldiers was at the
State Arsenal under General Truex, and the battery loaded with grape and
canister was in a position commanding the approaches thereto.
Seven companies of the State National Guards left Trenton to concentrate
at New Brunswick. They numbered nearly three hundred men. Of these a
part went to Jersey City and a part remained in New Brunswick to guard
the railroad bridge at that place. Ammunition had been forwarded to
Jersey City.
Four guns and a battery from Fort Hamilton, and a battery from New
London, acting as infantry, passed through Trenton, _en-route_ for
Philadelphia.
At night the excitement at Trenton was gradually rising. The State
authorities ordered the Seventh Regiment to be ready at a moments’
notice, and Company A took charge of the State Arsenal.
Governor Bedle issued the following proclamation:
_To the People of the State of New Jersey_:
In the present State of the public mind I warn all citizens to keep at
their homes and places of business, avoiding all gathering in the
streets, so as to give encouragement by their presence to evil disposed
persons. Let every good citizen now by word, act, and sentiment aid the
authorities in securing perfect peace. Sheriffs and officers of cities
are particularly requested to exert all their power in a calm,
judicious, but effectual way to protect life and property from all
lawlessness, and thereby save counties and cities from any liabilities
under the statute for destruction of property by mobs. The whole power
of the State will be used for the maintenance of the law. I caution
every person disposed to disturb the peace to desist at once, and
thereby prevent any necessity for the use of the State force.
Given under my hand at the city of Trenton, this 23d day of July, A. D.,
1877.
By the Governor. J. D. BEDLE.
(Signed.) JOHN A. HALL, Private Secretary.
At Elizabeth, General De Hart sent Colonel Morrell a second order to
have the Third Regiment ready for marching orders. Companies A, B and C
assembled at the Market Hall Armory, Elizabeth. Companies from Rahway,
New Brunswick, and Keyport were _en-route_ to that city. A large crowd
collected in the streets around the armory, but there was no
disturbance. The companies rested on their arms that night.
Mayor Townly and Sheriff Thompson received official notices from the
receiver of the Central Railroad and from the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Company, that they feared riots in that city and county from
strikers. The Third Regiment received orders to go to Hackensack Bridge
to protect it. Hundreds of people surrounded the Pennsylvania main depot
and Market Hall, and some threatened the militia.
Sheriff Billis, of Hunterdon County, arrested a number of strikers on
the 25th, who, it was thought, would cause some trouble if they had been
allowed to remain at large. He sent them to Hunterdon County jail. At
Phillipsburg there were thirty strikers arrested.
At Easton the trains running had guards on each engine. Eight hundred
Pennsylvania militia were ordered to Easton, though all was quiet there.
The New Jersey troops were in camp at Phillipsburg.
Several trains arrived at Hoboken from Scranton, Washington, and
Phillipsburg, with passengers. Among them were some United States
Marshals, who had in their custody the somewhat noted Jack Gallagher,
who, during the strike, had detained the United States mails. He had
also, it was charged, threatened to take the life of any man who would
run the mail train. Gallagher’s arrest was delayed for the reason that
it might have caused trouble had it been made while the excitement was
at its height. The prisoner was taken before United States Commissioner
Muirhead, at Jersey City, and committed for trial.
Detective Killcauly, of Jersey City, arrested Frank McCleary, Financial
Secretary of the Brotherhood of Brakemen, on a charge of conspiracy to
create a riot at Communipaw, (New Jersey Central Railway.) He was locked
up.
The Jersey City Police Board, in a private consultation on the 25th of
July, decided that as the three hundred and eighty special policemen on
duty were costing the city $3.75 per day each, and as there was no
further use for their services, it was necessary to discharge them,
which was accordingly done.
The Vice Chancellor of New Jersey had issued orders to all Sheriffs
along the line of the New Jersey Central, directing them to summarily
arrest for contempt of court all persons obstructing the running of the
road by the receiver.
Governor Bedle issued orders on the 26th, for the disbandment of the
Ninth Regiment, stationed at Elysian Fields, Hoboken. The soldiers
immediately deserted their camp, where they had been for ten days, and
marched to Odd Fellows’ Hall. Colonel Hart thanked them for their
obedience at the hour of need and general good behavior. He also read a
despatch from the Governor, complimenting the troops. Vociferous
applause followed, and amid the tumult a soldier shouted, “Three cheers
for Pills,” and there was loud laughter and hurrahs. The men, during
their encampment, had to doctor themselves pretty energetically.