AWAY FROM THE METROPOLIS.
Rochester’s Wave of Trouble—A Slight Shock at Albany—Syracuse
Seriously Threatened—Other Places Experience Some Uneasiness—The
Conclusion of the Blockade at Hornellsville—The Empire State Comes
Out of the Great Strikes Almost Unscathed.
The momentous occurrence of the days of the strikes overshadowed every
other topic, and agitated the public mind to its profoundest depths. So
sudden and terrible was the struggle between capital and labor—so
widespread and so disastrous to some of the most gigantic railroads in
the world—that the public mind was wholly unprepared for the events
which took place, and the stoutest hearts were appalled at the scenes of
arson, pillage and murder, which were enacted in two of the most
prominent manufacturing cities in the country. The daily press was never
more actively employed in gathering up the stirring news, and reporting
fully the exciting events that occurred during those dark days, so that
the public has been made familiar with all the details of the great and
desperate struggle.
What this struggle was, every man, woman and child in the land
understood, who was capable of reasoning. It is proper to show how this
conflict was viewed, and however widely diversified opinions were
expressed, in the main, the strikers enlisted a large share of public
sympathy. All overt acts, however, were severely condemned.
It has been noticed how quick the American people can emerge from a
period of excitement. They not only allow the events of such a crisis to
pass out of mind with remarkable celerity, but seem to abandon just as
readily the theories and plans which absorbed their attention
completely, during the entire time these were uppermost. Their passions
subside so rapidly and completely that they become oblivious of the very
nature of an exciting cause almost as soon as it has ceased to master
them. This may be due to a trait of national character, or it may arise
from the fact that no class among us have for any great length of time
labored under the sense of an intolerable grievance. The American people
are quick to forget and forgive. Those in the wrong generally own up
when beaten, and the victors are willing to let the dead past bury its
dead. But it is also quite as true that no considerable fraction of our
citizens, as such, inherit the memory wrong and oppression
systematically continued from one generation to another. It is only
recently that any appreciable number of our people have been brought
face to face with suffering not caused by themselves.
For these reasons we are inclined to believe that the causes which
produced the turmoil of this year will leave a rankling source of future
disorder behind it. The striking and disaffected railway employes will
not forget that they avowed opinions, and entered upon a course
subversive of the existing vicious system in the distribution of
wealth—the production of labor. The general public will forgive the
attack upon its peace, when the principle on which that attack was based
is discovered to be after all, in the main, correct. And then, perhaps,
the whole community may become gradually pervaded by the idea that the
question of wages is not alone one of supply and demand, but that in the
long run the better paid, and consequently the more prosperous and
intelligent laborers, are the better and more profitable workmen.
Some day the discussion must take place in regard to the proper
adjustment of the relations between those who have hands to produce, and
those who have brains to accumulate all the hands can make. There is an
ethical side to the question, and it would be well for the country—well
for the interests of humanity, if men can come with earnest minds and
right purposes to the discussion of the subject. It seemed that the
working men, actuated by more wisdom than characterized some of their
class, resolved to await the solution of the question by discussion, so
far as the great State of New York was concerned. They did well.
The freight conductors, firemen, and brakemen at East Syracuse struck on
the 24th, and sent a despatch to William H. Vanderbilt, announcing the
fact, and declaring they would not resume work until their pay was
restored to the amount received prior to July 1st, 1877.
The mechanics at East Syracuse, numbering one hundred also struck. Six
hundred freight cars, seventy engines, and forty trains of freight were
embargoed at East Syracuse. The strikers detailed a force of their own
men to guard and protect the property of the Company.
The strikers were very quiet. They warned all outsiders, tramps, and
Communists to keep away from them, declaring they were competent to
manage their own business.
At East Syracuse passenger trains were stopped by the striker on the
25th, but afterwards were allowed to start. Mail cars had been placed at
the rear of trains, and as the other cars could not be detained without
interfering with the mails, the trains were allowed to pass on. An
effort to cause a general strike at Syracuse during the day was not
successful. Eight companies of the Forty-eighth Regiment, N. G., arrived
from Oswego, and were quartered at the State Armory.
Passenger trains were running on the Oswego, Syracuse and Binghampton
branch of the Delaware and Lackawanna Road. No freight was received at
Syracuse. President Sloan, of the Delaware and Lackawanna Road, and
Superintendent Priest, of the Central Road, caused to be served notices
on the Sheriff of Onondaga County, and Mayor of Syracuse, of
molestations and apprehended troubles. The local authorities perfected a
strong organization to suppress any outbreak.
It was a fortunate circumstance for the whole country, that among the
working masses of the great State of New York, their grievances were not
of a character to induce, or compel them to go into the strikes which
pervaded the greater part of the Union. There was a time, however,
during the troublous days, when it appeared as if the great laboring
masses of the Empire State were on the point of rising, and with the
might of their numbers still further complicate matters and endanger the
political and social institutions of the country. In the interior cities
of the State, outside the great Metropolis, there were a number of
marked manifestations of disquiet. The first trouble occurred at
Rochester, where at one time the railroad men held a meeting and sent a
committee to confer with Mr. Vanderbilt, and decided to await a definite
answer from him as to the rescinding of the ten per cent. reduction
order, before taking action. But there was so few of them as compared
with other places, that, without reenforcements from outside, the
chances were against serious disturbance. A hard looking gang went down
from Buffalo, on the 22d, but the police overawed them. One young man
was arrested and locked up for inciting to a breach of the peace, and
the night passed without any act of violence. All the companies of the
Fifty-fourth Regiment of Rochester, were held in readiness for service
at the shortest warning. Early the morning of the 23d, Gedde’s cooper
shop was burned; the fire was charged to the coopers on strike.
From Monday, the 23d, no trains went west of Rochester, except over the
Falls branch. Tuesday the Blue Line freight train went over the Falls
road under police guard. An engine and tender went from Buffalo to
Rochester the 23d.
The Albany Burgess Corps, an independent company, was ordered out the
23d. The Ninth Brigade, General Dicherman, was reported ready to proceed
to Rochester at a moment’s notice. The strikers at West Albany sent a
message that they would not allow troops to pass over the road. The
strikers were in immense numbers on the tracks between Albany and West
Albany, and stopped all freight trains on the 23d of July. The strikers
presented a picturesque appearance, scattered along the road on either
side of the track, the women and children carrying their noon meal, and
all sitting down enjoying it, while others were racing with hand-cars
and singing songs. One thousand men from the Albany Railroad shops
joined the strike, and proceeded towards Albany. Governor Robinson,
Mayor Banks and Chief of Police Malory, held a consultation at the
Executive Chamber, on the 24th, to devise plans of operation to preserve
the peace. The Tenth Regiment was ordered to Rochester the same day.
The Central Railroad officials notified the Sheriff of Albany county
that they looked to the county authorities to protect the Company’s
property at West Albany. Most of the rolling stock there had been sent
away in advance of the strike, and twenty-three engines went on to
Buffalo on Sunday, to help in moving the cattle cars. But the shops,
barns, cattle sheds, and material remained. The authorities were hopeful
that there would be no violence. The strike of one thousand men employed
at West Albany was brought about by a visit of a delegation. An
additional supply of ammunition was received at the State Arsenal, which
was well guarded. Some excitement was caused by a report that roughs
were gathering in force near the Watervliet Arsenal, between Albany and
West Troy.
The strikers forced the men in the Central depot freight house, on Water
street, the roundhouse, and elevator, to quit work; when the men
objected they were taken by the shoulder and thrust out. On State street
the Citizen’s Corps, of Troy, were met marching to the armory of the
Tenth Regiment. The crowd hissed the soldiers but did not attack them.
On the 25th of July, Governor Robinson, from the Executive office at
Albany, issued a proclamation, in which he invited the special attention
of all the citizens of the State, and especially of such persons as were
attempting to interfere with the running of railroad trains, to the
provision of an act of the Legislature, passed last year, which
provides, “That any person who shall willfully place any obstruction
upon any railroad, or loosen, tear up, or remove any part of a railroad,
or displace, tamper, or in any way interfere with any switches, frogs,
rail, track, or other part of any railroad, so as to endanger the safety
of any train, or who shall willfully throw any stone, or any other
missile, at any train or any railroad, shall, upon conviction thereof,
be punished by imprisonment in a State prison, not exceeding ten years,
or be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by both
such fine and imprisonment.”
The Governor warned all persons engaged in the violation of the law to
desist therefrom, and he called upon all Sheriffs, Magistrates, District
Attorneys, and other civil officers, and upon all good citizens to aid
in the enforcement of the law, and secure the punishment of all who were
guilty of its violation, and he offered a reward of five hundred
dollars, to be paid upon the arrest and conviction of each and every
person who should be found guilty of a violation of the act. The failure
or omission of any Sheriff, District Attorney, or other civil officer to
take the most active steps in his power to enforce the provisions of the
act was declared to be a sufficient cause for his removal.
At Albany the crisis was passed on the 25th. That morning the workmen
resumed operations in the railroad shops and yards, and freight trains
were despatched. The military, under the command of General Carr,
embracing the Ninth and Tenth Regiments of National Guards, with the
Albany Jackson Corps, and the Citizens’ Corps. of Troy, protected the
road and held the streets of the Capital in quiet.
A striker in Albany was not to be found. An attempt was made to hold a
meeting within the lines of General Carr’s Division, at West Albany, but
by the sudden onslaught of six companies of the Ninth Regiment, the
workingmen were dispersed. It was remarked that there was no
interference with a meeting of capitalists held the same day. The
strikers had gone to a portion of the line between Albany and
Schenectady, where they could overhaul trains without fear of the
military. Nobody believed that the rioters had permanently dispersed.
At the Adjutant General’s office, at Albany, business was excessively
brisk about this time. The Adjutant General was superintending the
movement of troops which was going on with the expedition that might be
expected from regulars. The promptitude of commandants and commissaries
was something worthy of commendation. The troops were posted where they
could best suppress disorders. The promptness of the Governor and the
Adjutant General had so far prevented violence and bloodshed.
Early in the morning of the 25th, the Ninth Regiment, accompanied by
General Carr and staff, proceeded by special train to West Albany, where
there had been a sort of blockade. It had been feared from the
operations of the previous night that an attempt would be made to
prevent the despatch of freight and other business at that point. It was
well known that the men who crossed the river at East Albany, to prevent
the passage of the Ninth Regiment, on Tuesday evening, were only too
ready to act in concert with any malcontents in that vicinity, and,
moreover, a mass meeting of strikers had adjourned to meet there at nine
o’clock in the morning. West Albany was considered a vantage ground, and
there it was expected the most hostile demonstration would be made;
therefore, the concentration of troops at that point was decided to be
of vital importance.
General Carr and Colonel Hitchcock had a council of war during the
night, and decided to occupy and hold West Albany depot. Accordingly,
the Ninth, after sleeping on the soft side of pine planks in Martin’s
Hall, turned out, unrefreshed, at daybreak, and formed on Broadway. The
men had a good breakfast, marched to the depot and embarked. The
Regiment, with General Carr and staff, arrived at West Albany before
seven o’clock. The train was stopped and the men alighted, and by column
it was countermarched along to the bridge and crossed to the depot, half
a mile distant. Beneath the bridge the Ninth rested. General Carr made
his headquarters at the railroad station.
The Tenth Regiment, of Albany, four hundred men, arrived soon after,
commanded by Colonel Amasa J. Parker, Jr.
The first train moved west at a quarter to twelve A. M., and about the
time the Citizen’s Guard, of Troy, appeared, as did also crowds of sulky
people. These, however, did not interfere with transit, and during the
day trains went east and west without let or hinderance.
Early in the afternoon the pickets south came in, and reported riotous
demonstrations in that direction. Instantly the Ninth was in line,
moving down the track. General Carr and Colonel Hitchcock were in
advance, and Carr’s son was the sentry on the left front, where some
excited men were assembled. A slight movement of some of these fellows
led young Carr to think that his father’s life was menaced.
“Stop,” said he to the men, “the first man that attempts to hurt him,”
pointing to his father, “I will shoot him on the spot.”
He brought his piece to his hip as he spoke, and the men quickly got out
of his way, whereat the young hero chuckled.
Meanwhile Colonel Hitchcock’s and Parker’s men had cleared the bridge
and roadways without difficulty, and the rioters south retired without
doing any mischief.
An attempt to fire the railway bridge over the Neversink river, situated
one-half mile east of the Erie Depot, in Port Jervis, was made on the
night of the 24th. Precautionary measures were taken by the Company at
the commencement of the disturbances, and an increased number of
watchmen were stationed at the bridge. This fact undoubtedly saved it
from destruction, as a five-gallon can of kerosene was discovered under
the bridge, placed in such a position that its ignition would have
carried the flames to the wood-work of the bridge.
It was supposed that the incendiaries became alarmed before the
completion of their arrangements, and thinking they were discovered,
fled, leaving the oil behind them. The guards at that point were
increased, and there was no further trouble.
A spirit of maliciousness developed itself that was not manifested at
the outbreak of the troubles. Rails were torn up, and obstructions of
every conceivable kind placed on the track. Along the Delaware Division
of the Erie, several attempts to wreck trains were made, but additional
watchmen were employed, and but little damage was done. An extra engine
was despatched ahead of trains to see if the track was all right, and
they ran at a less rate of speed than usual.
On the engines of the trains passing through the turbulent section of
the country, sharpshooters were placed, and they were ready for any
emergency. At all stations a force of Sheriff’s deputies were on hand on
the arrival of trains, ready to check any riotous movement.
On the 25th, a hundred firemen on the Easton and Delaware divisions of
the Erie were ready and anxious for a strike; an equal, or perhaps a
larger number, were opposed to one; more than this, they refused to give
it the least encouragement, asserting that regardless of the action of
the Brotherhood, or of any other class of employes, they would continue
to attend to their duty. Of those belonging to the Order a majority were
undoubtedly in favor of a strike. The Brotherhood met every night, and
though the men were pledged to secrecy, and every possible effort was
made to prevent the railway officials from obtaining accurate reports
from the organization, disclosing the result of their deliberations, the
meetings became disorderly in the extreme, violent language was used,
and recriminations and charges of unfaithfulness to the Order were of
common occurrence. Representatives from abroad made inflammatory
speeches urging the Brotherhood to action, but the more prudent ones saw
the folly of striking, unless there was unity among the men.
Donahue, the leader of the strikers at Hornellsville, and five others
were arrested on the 25th, and placed in irons, and the strikers were
much depressed.
A settlement of the difficulties seemed near at hand. The strikers made
propositions to Receiver Jewett, agreeing to surrender, conditioned only
that they be granted immunity from punishment for the mischief they had
done. This the railroad officials declined, as they were determined to
make no concessions, and had resolved to prosecute to the end every
violator of the law. But this determination was subsequently changed.
Through the earnestness and zeal of the attorneys for the strikers, the
Company was induced to accept the proposition of the strikers, as the
very best thing that could be done, and on that basis the Hornellsville
troubles were disposed of. Business was resumed on the Erie at
Hornellsville, at six o’clock on the morning of the 26th. The yard was
rapidly cleared of the blockade of trains; the late strikers were
working with a will, and the leaders declared that their settlement
would be the death-blow to the strikers on the other trunk roads.
Regular passenger trains left Hornellsville for New York, Buffalo, and
Dunkirk almost on time. The managers of the strike there were in
communication with those of the strikes elsewhere, and were using their
best efforts to bring about a discontinuance of their rebellion against
their respective companies. General Howard and General Superintendent
Bower left for New York. Assistant Receiver Sherman, Chief Engineer
Chanute, and Mr. MacFarland, the Company’s Attorney, were still at
Hornellsville, completing details of the settlement, and directing the
opening of business. The utmost good feeling prevailed; only a few
chronic malcontents, who had nothing to lose, and everything to win by
the strike, were expressing any dissatisfaction with the result.
The Seventy-fourth Regiment, of Buffalo, and the Fifty-fourth, of
Rochester, were ordered home. The military guard was removed from the
Company’s property, and the employes had full charge. The Twenty-third
Regiment was awaiting orders. Bands of music paraded the streets amid
popular demonstrations of rejoicing over the result. The amicable
settlement was due to the sound counsel of Horace Bemis and Miles W.
Hawley, attorneys of the late strikers, which more than anything led to
the conciliatory and magnanimous spirit in which their propositions were
met by the Company. Trains were soon running regularly between New York
and Salamanca, and Dunkirk.
A train with the Seventy-fourth Regiment on board, went to Buffalo.
General Superintendent Bowen and Attorney MacFarland left on the same
train. Assistant General Superintendent Chanute remained in charge at
Hornellsville.
The troops still remained in camp at West Albany, to the number of
twelve hundred, on the 27th, but the strike was at an end. The strikers
held another meeting in Capital Park during the evening. It was chiefly
remarkable for the earnestness with which the speakers denounced the
outside element that had brought them into disrepute. After appointing
an Executive Committee to transact all the future business of the
strikers, it was resolved not to hold any more public meetings. The
petition, which the Mayor was to have circulated for signatures, asking
rates paid before the reduction made on July 1, was not circulated. At
the meeting held the evening of the 27th, the chairman of the Committee
appointed to look after the petition, when asked what had been done,
could not explain why no action had been taken. The shops were still
closed at West Albany, with the exception of the Wagner Drawing Room Car
Shops, but the Railroad officials said the road could be operated for
six months without employing a mechanic.
Governor Robinson, accompanied by Adjutant General Townsend and General
Tracey, reviewed the troops in camp at West Albany, on the 27th. The
next day he reviewed them on Pearl street, Albany. They did not again
return to camp. Assistant Adjutant General Taylor figured up the cost of
moving and maintaining the troops in the State since the commencement of
the strike. He placed the expense at about two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. The allowance under the law is at the rate of sixteen
dollars a month. The Ninth Regiment left on the 28th for New York. It
was not deemed wise to move all the troops away at once. It was
apprehended that serious trouble might result if such a course was
pursued. Some stones were thrown at a train on the 27th, in a cut, near
Albany, but no one was hurt.
During the evening of the 27th, orders were issued from the Adjutant
General’s office, to the Division Commanders, to disband their forces.
The strike was regarded as at an end. No further trouble was anticipated
in New York State, and none occurred.