Clippings from the Reading Daily Eagle, Monday, July 23, 1877

The railroad troubles reached Reading in a terrible form last night, and a gathering of at least five hundred men commanded open operations against the Reading Company, completely stopped the operations of the Fire Department of this city, defied the Police authorities, and wrecked, ruined and burned P & R railroad property in the coolest and most determined way. These occurrences were anticipated by many, who plainly saw by the actions of the men on Saturday and Sunday that a gigantic storm was brewing and would manifest itself in some shape or other before many hours.

A mysterious blowing of a horn near 7th and Penn streets disturbed the quietness of the Sunday evening and a large crowd gathered in that vicinity. At half past 8 o'clock a car loaded with shingles and standing on a siding near the coal shutes at ? and 7th streets was set on fire. There was no alarm sounded and the occurrence created many very little excitement. It burned brightly and the report was soon scattered broadcast that the main gallery of the depot had been set on fire. Finally, however, water was poured on the burning car and the flames extinguished.

Shortly before 10 o'clock about five hundred men moved out 5th and 6th streets in a body. They yelled and cheered lustily and the noise resembled the war cry of the rebellion. The noise of tin horns and the yelling of the crowd was heard ten and twelve squares off, and a report was soon circulated that the Reading Rifles were marching to the depot and that the noise was being made by men and boys who were opposed to any military interference. All this attracted a very large crowd and by half past ten o'clock about 2,000 people at the lowest calculation had assembled on the banks, tracks, and sidings near the new depot. There was a fearful yelling and screaming and trouble was predicted on all sides.

The 20:30 train due here from Allentown arrived on time last night on its way to Harrisburg. The train hands were informed that it was certain death to them and the many passengers if they continued the train on its journey. The engine was uncoupled and ran out towards the cut by the regular train hands, but before it had proceeded far a volley of stones shattered the head-light and smashed in the glass of the cab.

Shortly before eleven o'clock one large and one small caboose, Nos 5, 114, and 3014 standing near the 5th street bridge were discovered to be on fire. The caboose contained the clothing of the railroad men, stoves, chairs, tables and other railroad property. The fire alarm was sounded and upon the arrival of Chief Engineer BOYER, he was received by a large crowd on North 5th street near the railroad.

They cried out, " No use for you here, Howard, you better turn right back, for we will allow no water to be thrown on the fire." The Neversink engine arrived at the corner of 5th and Woodward streets, and the Keystone truck followed soon after. They were ready to go into active service but were prevented.

Chief BOYER for the first time since he has been Chief of the Fire Department was unable to proceed. He was fully equipped and ready for service, but the large number who were opposed to having water turned on the fire prevented him and the department from doing anything.

Chief CULLEN and Sergeants BAUM and KISSINGER, with nearly all the night detail of policemen were on the spot, but they seemed to fully realize that their strength was not sufficient to cope with any number who were suspected with being concerned in the burning.

The cabooses burned away and not a hand was raised to save them.

The crowd indulged in many ludicrous remarks among which were, "Lightening must of struck them," "Pittsburg on a small scale."

Where's them Baltimore fellows?" and the like. Near by and lying across the main track, was a hand truck lying wheels upward.

Crowbars, iron rails and heavy timber were also lying across the rails. Near the 5th street bridge was a loaded coal car off the track and one axle and one pair of wheels unshipped, so that the car was dumped.

The sliding rails of the switches were wedged with iron rails, wooden blocks and rocks securely hammered beside them.

Shortly after eleven o'clock an Eagle representative who had been on the grounds from half past eight o'clock, proceeded out the Lebanon Valley tracks beyond the North 5th and 4th street bridges for the purpose of inspecting the obstructions. He had not proceeded very far in company with a friend before three stalwart, strange looking men advanced for the purpose of inspecting their visitors.

The men were roughly dressed and to all appearances were strangers.

The Eagle representative and friend were inspected from head to foot, when a fourth man standing in the shadow of a bank remarked, "They're all right, let them pass," and the three men stepped back and continued in their work of piling ? on the track, coolly and determinedly, and immediately in the presence of the Eagle representative and friend.

Both of the switches leading to the West Reading Railroad at Third street were opened. At one of the switches the lock was broken off and at the other the staple was torn out, and stones were fastened in and pounded down between the tracks at the switches so that the switches could not be closed again. Two large house freight cars were standing near the switch and a strange looking man remarked, "Guess we'll burn them two next," and it so happened, for in less than ten minutes they were burning brightly.

Box 7 at Jefferson and Kissinger streets was sounded but the Reading Fire Department for the ? time was in reality out of service.

Shortly after this the cry of "the bridge is burning" went up from the crowd, but for that time the alarm was premature. Two more freight cars were burning near the North Third street crossing, which occasioned the alarm.

Several hundred men about eleven o'clock proceeded up the Lebanon Valley tracks and it was freely remarked in the small crowd of men congregated under the bridge that they had gone up to burn the Lebanon Valley bridge.

Shortly before twelve o'clock the wooden section of the bridge at the western end near the watch tower was set on fire and it burned like a tinder box. The flames shot high in the air and the lurid glare was reproduced on the surface of the waters of the Schuylkill below.

The heavy beams and timber of the magnificent structure were royal food for the flames, and as they were eagerly devoured the site was one of the grandest ever witnessed along the Schuylkill in this section. From a point on the eastern end, the entire city waterfront could be seen, and the river nearly down to the bend at the steelmill with all its weird and fantastic shadows swaying and bending under the soft moonlight made pale by the glare of the fire, could be distinctly be made out. The church steeples pointing to the sky looked like giant spikes against a background of black night, and the housetops [ink smeared]..... For fully one and a half hours the flames were busy in their lurid work, and at half past one o'clock this morning [ink smeared]......

It was known in official circles in Reading yesterday afternoon that the 7th Regiment of Schuylkill County had been ordered to report at Harrisburg, but it was at first supposed they would be conveyed to that point by a road not leading through Reading. This supposition was incorrect, and Gen. SIEGFRIED at two o'clock this morning arrived with four car loads of soldiers (about 180 men). They were informed that communication wire had been cut off, and the train was run back towards Pottsville.

All was quiet at the depot this morning. The obstructions on the tracks were removed, the switches put in proper order, and the business proceeded as well as it could under the circumstances.

The Harrisburg trains were ordered to come to Reading by way of the Auburn road, which delayed them for some time. Telegraph communications between Reading and Harrisburg by the Philadelphia and Reading lines was cut off by the burning of the bridge.

Messrs. WOOTTEN, PAXON, HITZ, and NIEBELN occupied the private office of the dispatcher at the outer depot at 8 o'clock this morning. Mr. WOOTTEN said he was so busy that he could not spare a moment to talk upon any subject. When asked concerning the rebuilding of the Lebanon Valley bridge, he replied that Mr. LORECK would be in Reading today, and as that was in his department he would be the proper official to consult. There was no doubt, however, as to the immediate rebuilding of the bridge, Mr. WOOTTEN, however, would volunteer no further information, as he appeared to be very busy in communicating by telegraph the facts of last night's work to Mr. GOWEN in Philadelphia.

Depot Master BOONE says that he was at the depot last night at ten o'clock and witnessed the demonstration. When the 10:30 train from Allentown arrived they were to have changed engines. The ostler took charge of one of the engines and when he ran out to the switch Mr. BOONE says he was stopped. "They're attacking the ostler, " cried Mr. BOONE to officer GILES, and the two officers went to his relief but found the crowd of men entirely too large. Detective BOONE says that officer GILES did not fire the shots. He could not tell who fired them, but they were fired.

While the cabooses were burning on the siding near Fifth street, one man in the crowd near the burning car, hallooed in a loud voice, "The railroad shops will go tomorrow night." The excitement was great, and it was impossible to ascertain who made the remark. Another made the remark that the roundhouse would be burned. It is hardly probable that the people who made the above remarks knew anything about it.

Those who knew the programme, if there is a programme, it is thought are shrewd enough to keep their information to themselves.

Reports were prevalent that a small number of troops were stationed in the vicinity of the Round House. These reports were unfounded, as their absurdity was sufficient to deny them. A small number of soldiers against five hundred determined men would have no chance of victory. The Allentown soldiers enroute to Harrisburg and the west were ordered over the Auburn road, thence to Harrisburg.

At the Pottsville armory, the soldiers yesterday afternoon waited, drilling, giving instructions and bidding goodbye until 10 o'clock, when a train came from St. Clair with Companies O and K, Captains BURWELL and EVANS mustering 42 and 37 men respectively. Word was carried to the headquarters of the Pottsville companies, and they were marched to the depot under command of Colonel HUNTSINGER. The Gowen Guards numbered 43 men, and was commanded by Lieutenant A. J. DERR, and the Pottsville Light Infantry, commanded by Captain WETHERIL numbered 41 men. Accompanying the soldiers were Major General J. K. SIEGFRIED of the 4th Division; D. W. BLAND, Division Surgeon; Major John F. FINNEY, Dr. HALBAUER of St. Clair and Majors D. O. HENNING, A. H. HALBERSTADT, and W. Henry BOYD. When they arrived in Reading they learned that the railroad men had anticipated their coming and cut off their communication.

Mr. McCOOL, Adjutant of the Regiment, was in this city yesterday.

The watch house which was occupied by George HEEBLER at the Reading and Lehigh Railroad junction, near BUSHONG's furnace, was set on fire and destroyed. These with the seven freight cars, two cabooses and the LebanonValley bridge burned will make the loss amount to about $50,000. The track of the Lebanon Valley road is carried across the Schuylkill 72 feet above lower water mark.

The Lebanon Valley bridge had five brick arches and four Howe tresses, the latter resting upon brick piers supported upon bases of stone. It was built in 1857, and cost about $150,000. The piers are considerable damaged.

It was reported this morning that two hundred men from Baltimore had arrived in this city who came here for special work tonight.

Quite a number of stranged faced were seen today in various out of the way localities. The morning trains from Pottsville, Allentown, and the South, as well as those over the Berks and Lehigh road arrived on time, the tracks having been carefully inspected at all points.

The telegraph lines over the above route were also in working order.

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A man fell into an epileptic fit at Seventh and Penn streets at 10 1/2 o'clock this morning, and in a minute or two about 500 persons had collected around him, as the report immediately spread that he had been knocked down.

The P B & P telegraph line from Reading to Philadelphia and other points were very busy this morning principally with private dispatches.

Extraordinary efforts will be made to have ample military and special police protection tonight if the officials consider it necessary.

A number of citizens are in favor of issuing a call for a town meeting for the purpose of taking steps to protect the destruction of property.

At 12 o'clock today the rumor fast gained ground that all communications with Philadelphia would be cut off tonight for the purpose of preventing the Philadelphia military from visiting this city to aid the civil authorities to preserve order.

Mr. WINBIGLAR is the watchman at the signal station of the Lebanon Valley Bridge. He states that he was approached about midnight last night by a very large man, apparently a stranger. The man said, "You had better take all your things away, we are going to burn down the bridge." The watchman said they shouldn't do such a thing because it would be a great pity. Shortly afterward another big man came up. He was carrying a big plank. He also said they were going to burn the bridge and upon the watchman begging they should not they replied, "Can't help it, its our orders and it must be done."

The men then went across the bridge to the eastern side. There is a trap door at that point, and the men entered there and walked across the bridge on the trestle work. They used coal oil as they went, and the watchman is certain that the bridge was fired from the eastern portion. In a short time the entire structure was ablaze.

The falling timbers could be heard a great distance.

From all accounts, and it seems to be the prevailing opinion among many, that the majority of the men engaged in last night's business were strangers. The burning of the cars was for the purpose of directing attention from this point.

The strangers were from all appearances piloted by Reading men who knew all about the bridge and its surroundings.

Those who burned the bridge are supposed to have departed immediately afterward.

It was definitely stated that detective McPARLAN, the noted Mollie Maguire detective, was seen and recognized in this city yesterday. A large number of strangers are pointed out as Mollies from Schuylkill county, who have come here to participate in the proceedings tonight, if any. There are rumors of a general attack on stores and private property here, and there is considerable demand for a public movement to provide for special police protection.

About 9 o'clock this morning a young man followed the pusher engine up and down the road in the vicinity of the passenger depot and finally drew a revolver out of his pocket, flourished it and threatened to shoot fireman SMITH. The fireman then jumped off the engine and attempted to catch the young man, who then fled.

Submitted by: Sue.