The Eagle has never been called upon to chronicle a more horrible slaughter of its peace and law-abiding citizens as is its duty today. In the very heart of the city shortly after eight o'clock last night, took place one of the most terrible butcheries that has ever disgraced the pages of Reading's local history.
The pavements, sidewalks and streets were mostly baptized in blood; neighboring drug stores were for the time transformed into hospitals and operating rooms, and the dead and dying were carried home to their families they had left in health and strength but a short time before. It was the old story of military interference and military blunder over again, blunder whose absolute law is and has been for all time that the innocent are shot and the guilty escape. All last night the city has been in a state of anarchy and riot, and at this writing no one can rightly anticipate the end.
The Eagle columns tell graphically how the onslaught of the strikers waged all yesterday afternoon in horrible earnestness. Coal, freight and passenger trains were prevented from running, and the company trade and business was virtually blocked by the dissatisfied railroaders and their friends. Night had settled upon the city, and after the work of the strikers at Seventh and Penn streets was over, after the tracks had been blockaded, after the main body of the rioters had separated for other points of operation, after thousands of peaceable and law- abiding men, women and children had assembled out of curiosity to witness for themselves what work had been accomplished by the railroaders, the military marched in from the depot through the cut, and proceeded to Seventh and Penn streets, there to fire into the assemblage of men, women and children, innocent and unprotected, without warning and without a chance of escape, and ruthlessly hurry out of the world at least nine citizens, and shoot down in cold blood a large number of others.
An Eagle representative was at the Walnut street bridge a few minutes after 8 o'clock last night. He had private information that representatives of seven companies had arrived at the depot from Allentown, and were to proceed to 7th and Penn streets to disperse the crowd. It was quite dark when the uniformed fronts of the soldiers were first distinguished entering the cut under the bridge at Walnut street. The military marched steadily to the gentle tap of drums that could not be heard a square away.
As the military proceeded in the cut towards Washington street the excitement ran high on the pavements above but nobody fro a moment imagined the terrible scenes of blood shed that were soon to follow. A few young men threw bricks and stones into the ranks below, and as the soldiers proceeded the assault became more active. It was the subject of remark and the severest criticism that the unacquainted soldiers were piloted in through the cut. Had they been marched in over the pavements above, it is believed they could have dispersed the crowd without the loss of a single life. But down in the cut they were fair marks for the mob who could fight with the soldiers at a disadvantage, whereas, had they been brought in on the pavements above no such tempting opportunity would have presented itself for rockthrowing.
The Eagle representative advanced steadily in 7th street with the soldiers beyond Washington street until the head of the platoon of military had reached a point immediately below the Court street bridge. Suddenly and without any warning whatever, volley after volley was discharged in quick succession.
The report was that those volleys were blank cartridges fired in the air, yet Valentine GRAF, a blacksmith, residing at 321 Pearl street, who was standing on the Court street bridge at the time, was shot in the shoulder blade and dangerously hurt, and a number of others were seriously wounded.
After the first volleys were fired, men, women and children ran for their lives. All along Seventh street people were sitting at their doors and windows enjoying the cool air of the evening.
They jumped and disappeared instantly, closing doors and windows after them.
At Seventh and Penn streets there was the wildest confusion.
A large force of policemen were on duty at that point. They had succeeded in keeping the pavements and sidewalks clear, and were in the discharge of their duty as directed. Before these generally cool men could understand what was going on, five of their number were shot down from their posts of duty and seriously hurt.
It was reported that the soldiers had shot high or discharged their rifles in the air. The result of that sort of shooting is the wounding of five policemen in the lower limbs. These officers were on duty immediately in front of the military, and were shot down by well aimed rifles. Officer Abner JONES shot through the back will recover; Officer RUPP, two balls through the right leg below the knee; Officer ODENWELLER shot through his leg above the knee, great loss of blood last night; Officer HAGGERTY shot in the ankle, and Officer HART shot in the leg. Bullets penetrated the coats of Chief CULLEN and Officer WEIDNER, who had narrow escapes.
The neighboring drug stores were transformed into hospitals, and a number of them resembled bloody operating grounds at the front after a desperate battle. Physicians, surgeons and druggists were at once called into active service, and the excitement was very high as the many scenes incident to caring for the dead and wounded were witnessed by the clamorous populace.
The following were killed: Daniel NACHTRICH, residing at 1005 Count street and a carpenter by trade; John WARREN, North 9th street beyond Oley, formerly a P & R fireman; James J. FISHER, carpenter, 130 Mohn street; Howard CRAMP, No. ? South 8th street; Milton TRICE, 504 Minor street; John CASSIDY, repairman, border at the General Taylor House; John WUNDER, 111 Franklin street; Levi ____ known as "Cady" SCHAEFFER; and Alexander EISENHOWER, 527 Maple street. Undertaker Charles HENNINGER had seven of the above bodies, and himself and sons were kept busy during the entire night.
Among the large number of wounded was Mr. John WALIER, of the afternoon Post, who was severely shot in the right ankle. As Eagle representatives found him shortly after the fight in Chief BOYER's office, below the Eagle building. Mr. WALIER was suffering intense pain, yet he had sufficient coolness to give an intelligent statement of how he was wounded. He said he was just leaving the office, Penn above 7th, to go down Penn, when suddenly and without one moment's time to escape, he was shot down. Dr. GRIESEMER attended the sufferer. Mr. ROSENTHAL, his employer, soon appeared and took personal charge of the case of the reporter.
In going over the field of battle, an Eagle representative was one of the first to find Mr. Henry W. CORBIT, 526 South 5th street, lying wounded in the left leg above the knee in front of HAGY's clothing store at 7th and Penn streets. Mr. CORBIT was consulted in reference to his wounds, and he requested the reporter to order a conveyance to enable him to reach his home, which was done promptly.
Elam KISSINGER, a brother of Sergeant and Officer Frank KISSINGER, was shot in the leg; Edwin BOYER, bricklayer, 923 Spruce, shot in the leg; Frank BAUMAN, shot in the leg; Patrick QUINN, shot in the right ankle; Thomas QUINN, North 3rd street, employed at the Reading Hardware Works, severely shot in the arm; Valentine GRAF, 321 Pearl street; Martin NOONAN, 414 South 7th; Samuel GRAUL, son of Policeman Charles GRAUL; William CLARK, machinist at Scott Foundry, shot through the bowels, residing at 303 Elm street; Albert MILLS, 235 Spruce street, and Messers. RIBBLE, BENNER, Frank CRONSE?, Samuel BROWN, Valentine LONGLOTT, 128 Bingaman street, through the legs and the lower portion of the abdomen; Christian GROETZINGER, shoemaker, 812 Franklin street, shot in the wrist and back of the ear; Walter GROFF, 323 Church street, dangerously wounded; Lizzie McGLINN, 949 Culvert street, knocked down by the retreating crowd and badly bruised; James McGLINN, 949 Culvert street, has a flesh wound; he was carrying the child Lizzie out of danger to a place of safety, when both fell and were trampled upon; together with a number of others who were slightly wounded and able to get out of the way and home without assistance. Many of these wounded are dangerously hurt and may die before night.
Samuel GRAUL, son of policeman GRAUL, 527 Willow, was just coming out of the UMl House, 7th and Penn streets. Before he was aware of what was going on he was shot through the stomach, the ball entering the left side and passed out the right side. He fell into the arms of Councilman RHODE and Mr. John WEITZEL.
The same ball shot KISSINGER and Officer ODENWELIER as they were standing together. The ball passed through the leg of KISSINGER first, then through the leg of the officer.
The soldiers who shot the above people belong to the following companies: Company B, Allen Rifles of Allentown; Company B, Blue Mountain Legion of Hamburg; Company F, Easton Grays of Easton; Company H, Slatington Rifles, Slatington; Company I, Catasauqua; Company K, Portland, Northampton County. The force consisted of from 250 to 300 men under the command of General REEDER.
The above military, after the battle was over, drew up in line on Penn street below Seventh, and subsequently marched to Penn Square. Some of the wounded soldiers were provided for at the Mansion House. The troops then marched out Fifth, thence on to the depot which they garrisoned during the night. Prior to this a number of soldiers laid down their arms and asked for citizens' clothing, at the same time expressing themselves as being thoroughly disgusted with such wholesale barbery.
All is quiet in Reading this morning. It is the gloomy, melancholy quiet after the storm. In some homes there is sorrow and mourning. The business on the main line of the company is completely stopped, as no traffic can pass up the road. The rails are torn up, and the tracks in many places obstructed. The road has a comparatively dead look, and the strikers are holding their councils elsewhere than at 7th and Penn streets in anticipation of a continuation of the proceedings. [rest of paragraph illegible]
Mayor EVANS returned home promptly upon the receipt of the news of affairs in Reading and issued a proclamation which appears elsewhere in today's paper. His request that the saloons and drinking places be closed is generally respected and ____. Sheriff YORGEY issued a proclamation yesterday afternoon commanding the rioters to disperse, but no attention was paid to it.
Ludwig G. HOFFMAN was among the last to die. He was shot through the body and died at his residence, 103 Chestnut street. Howard CRAMP, 3__ S. 8th street was shot and killed in the _____. Undertaker HENNINGER today had nine dead bodies in his care who were shot last night. He has all the bodies with the exception of Mr. John CASSIDY. Besides the nine shot, Mr. HENNINGER has three more corpses, making twelve in all.
During the firing of the military at Seventh and Penn streets the scenes were terribly exciting. Men dropped like flies. The rifle balls penetrated the large plate glasses of business houses, and some of the store fronts were riddled. Many of the stores were closed this forenoon. The military shot up and down Seventh street, and up and down Penn street, and in one case, one man, Mr. TRICE [or TRACE?], was killed several squares down Seventh street. It was certainly the most terrible situation of affairs know in Reading. Merchants and clerks, in fear and trembling, sought refuge behind brick walls, and the feeling against the actions of the military was very high. Several sections of the two streets were plowed up with balls of all sizes.
Following soldiers were wounded with stones and brickbats while marching through the railroad cut, North Seventh street.
1st Lieut. G. P. ROTH, Co. B, Allentown, in the back, slight.
3d Lieut. Charles G. WEAVER, shoemaker, Co. B, shot through the bowels.
Private Robert STERNER, Co. B, hit on the head with a brickbat
Private Andrew W. KLOTZ, Co. B, hit on the arm with a brickbat, slight
Private Daniel WEISS, Co. B, was stripped of his uniform and hit on the head with a brickbat
Private James HILLEGAS, Co. B, was stripped of his clothes and severely kicked in the side
Private Edward F. SMITH, Company B, Hamburg, struck on the head
Private Lewis HECKMAN, Company E, scalp wound
Musician Charles LEIDY, Company F, head cut open with a brickbat
Private Joseph MUMMY, Co H, Slatington, was taken suddenly, very ill while passing through the cut
Private HART of Co. I, was also taken suddenly ill with cramp in the stomach
Private Albert KILDARE, Co. I, struck on the breast, arm and back with brickbats
1st Sergeant H. M. LaBAR, Co K, Northampton county, wounded at the left elbow, right forearm, right knee and right foot
Private Wm. F. ALLEN, Co. K, scalp
Between 5 and 6 o'clock this morning, Col. SCHALL arrived in Reading from Norristown in a special train, over the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, with five companies of the 16th Regiment - Companies C, D, and H of Norristown, and Companies E and I of Conshohocken - altogether about 150 men. They alighted from the cars below Reading, and at Seyfert, McMANN's and Co's furnace they turned down South street to Sixth, and marched up Sixth to the passenger depot.
Michael G. LEWIS jr., the colored janitor of the passenger depot, was attacked on North Sixth in front of the Keystone, yesterday, while he was on his way with a dispatch to G. A. NICOLLS. He was struck on the arms and severely kicked on the side. Yesterday afternoon while he was distributing handbills on Penn street, offering a reward for the discovery of the person who set the Lebanon Valley Bridge on fire, he was warned not to go up to Seventh.
The Easton Grays, Capt. F. A. STITZER, were camping at Stroudsburg, Monroe county, during the past fortnight, and last evening they intended to have "complimentary hop" at the Barnett House. Cards of invitation were extended to the guests at the principal boarding houses and a brilliant time was expected. While camping out the company received orders to come to Reading, and last night they engaged in a fight in this city instead of dancing in Stroudsburg.
When the dead body of John WEAVER, North Ninth street, was brought home last evening, his wife fell on him, wept loudly and called to him by name and asked him only to speak, and his children cried, "They have murdered papa." When he left home in the evening, his wife begged him not to go, as she feared he might get hurt.
The neighbors and friends who were at the home also wept when they saw how deeply the widow and orphan children were affected.
Daniel NACHTRICH, Court above Tenth, who was killed, was married only a few months ago. Howard CRAMP, of 324 North Eighth street, had been assisting in laying out the body of Mr. NACHTRICH, and on coming out of the house of the afflicted young widow, he met an acquaintance who told him that his son, Howard CRAMP, had been killed. It was a horrible shock. He hurried home and found it true. Deceased was 13 years of age.
Yesterday afternoon Capt. H_____ with 25 detectives of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company____ in Reading in a special train from Pottsville, and lst night ____ in guarding the ____ of the Railroad Company north of the passenger depot.
Mr. Harry PYLE was present when the ball was extracted from Mr. WALKER's leg at 2 o'clock last night. He described the ball as having perfectly flattened itself against the bone. Mr. WALKER may be confined to his house for six months. The wounds made by the balls are of the most terrible and painful character and will gangrene many months from now. Officer JENN was reported dead at 4 o'clock today. Officer HART's ____ wound in the leg is a very large one and extremely painful.
The condition of Officer RAPP is such that it is feared that his leg will have to be amputated. The ball he was shot with was a very large and heavy one.
Two members of the Easton Grays were seen near Kutzown and Blandon this morning. Both were wounded and walking toward home. They objected to fighting against workingmen.
About 10 o'clock this morning, the soldiers from Conshohocken appeared at Seventh and Penn streets and were immediately outnumbered by about a thousand_____ [several sentences illegible]......Two of the soldiers who had either abandoned their arms or threw them away, said that before starting out at Conshohocken, they had stacked their arms and refused to come to Reading, but the Captain said it was their duty to come, and when they were here he could not make them fight it they did not want to.
The Conshohocken soldiers said that when they started from home at one o'clock this morning a freight train of cars had been set on fire at that place and the cars were burning up rapidly.
The reports of the breech-loading rifles of the troops were not nearly as loud as those of ordinary shot-guns or muskets, and many persons did not know until after the firing that soldiers were in the city. They supposed the reports to be fire crackers set off by the boys, who thickly covered the engines and car roofs and were occasionally blowing the whistle or tapping the bell for sport. These sounds attracted many people, who thought an attempt was being made to start the train; and some of them did not realize their danger until the third or fourth volley. The presence of the troops was a complete surprise.
It is stated that many boys of quite tender years were in Seventh street during the depredations early this morning, armed with excellent guns, supposed to be some of those stolen from the armory of the Reading Rifles. Many of the riotous demonstrations during the day were made by crowds of bad boys, and some of them were injured by the firing and by the rush of the crowd to get away.
The hardware stores yesterday very prudently refused to sell arms or ammunition to any but well known orderly citizens, and many persons went away disappointed.
A freight car loaded with tobacco standing at Seventh and Cherry streets, was forcibly entered last evening, and some of the contents carried off. And this morning a crowd of half-grown boys and men and women knocked more of the boxes open with axes and carried off more. Small boys deliberately marched off with bundles of the cured tobacco leaf over their shoulders, and the women filled their aprons. A large quantity was stolen in this way.
Shortly after nine o'clock a number of young men started from Seventh and Penn streets, and marched down the road to a point near the upper light house at the base of Neversink hill. After some difficulty they procured a self-working hand car, and breaking open a tool house, secured a number of track sledges and levers, and loading them on the truck two of the number were delegated to work the hand car back to the city. Arriving at Seventh and Penn at eleven o'clock the crowd there seized the sledges and began at once, amid considerable cheering and yelling, to tear up the track.
One rail was carried on the shoulders of the men down the street, and another thrown over the up track. A telegraph pole at Cherry street was knocked over, and to complete the work of obstruction the watch box at Penn street was turned over across the track. Care was taken, however, to keep open a through passageway for the Penn street passenger railway.
John CASSIDY, engineer who was killed by the troops last night, had been for some time separated from his wife, and was boarding at the General Taylor House. Yesterday it is stated the pair again became reconciled, and agreed that they would live together from today. In the few hours, while standing in front of Dr. GROSSCAP's drug store, Penn above 7th, CASSIDY was killed.
An Eagle reporter asked Sheriff YORGEY this morning whether the report was true that the soldiers fired while in the railroad cut last evening by his orders, and he replied that it was not. The first that he knew of the firing was while he was sitting in his office and heard the volley of musketry. All that he had done so far was to issue a proclamation commanding all persons not to assembly for purposes of violation of law, but to return peaceably to their homes.
A city policeman is guarding the few boxes of tobacco that still remain this morning in the freight car off the track at Seventh and Chestnut streets. A quantity of tobacco which had been thrown upon the roof of a low house close by was thrown down upon the railroad about 10 o'clock this morning when hundreds of boys rushed up and carried it off.
When the 4:10 p.m. passenger train passed through Reading from Potttsville to Philadelphia yesterday, the depot track at Penn street was blockaded by an eight-wheeler coal car, with part of the coal dumped upon the track. It the cut the train was switched off to the up-track so as to pass the obstruction. When the locomotive was within about 50 feet of Penn street a large crowd of excited people rushed toward the train, and several strikers went up in front of the locomotive and signaled the engineer to stop the train.
Several persons jumped up on the train, and ordered the engineer, Michael CASSIDY and his Brakeman to stop the train and get off else they would put him off. A large stone was hurled against the engine about the same time. After the train was stopped, several other "strikers" got on the locomotive, remarking to the others who were about to put off the crew, that it was a U.S. mail train, and then told the engineer to go ahead. The conductor at the same time pulled the bell several times, until the train was soon alerted and allowed to pass through the city safely, below the coal cut. In order to switch over upon the right track, the damaged coal car had to be pushed up past Penn street by the hind car of the passenger train. Some ladies who were on the train became frightened and left the train, while some women and children who remained in the cars wept bitterly. In shifting the train from one track to the other below Penn street, several of the strikers assisted the engineer by giving proper signals and opened and closed the switches.
Submitted by: Sue.
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