As anticipated yesterday the riotous proceedings, thus far, have come to a close, and the trouble in this city, from every outlook, is over. Law and order has the victory over ruin, incendiarism and desolation, but the victory was gained by costly sacrifices beyond the possibility of man to replace, to say nothing of the thousands of dollars worth of property that was swept away at the hands of the men engaged in warring upon the railroad company.
Notwithstanding the fact that everything appeared to be quiet and likely to remain so, every means was resorted to to place Reading under thorough patrol. At 7 o'clock roll call last evening at the Central Station, about thirty extra policemen took positions in line and were detailed for various sections.
They wore stars and carried hickory maces fresh from the turning lathe, they having been ordered yesterday. The new men carried the clubs in their hands, the authorities having had no time to have belts prepared for them. A large number of hickory clubs have been ordered for the "volunteers" if it is necessary that they are to go into active service. The officials think that clubs are the best weapons for riots and disturbances of that character. In using clubs, innocent men are not killed, property is not ruined, houses not disfigured and the blows generally fall upon the persons for whom they are intended.
The enrollment of volunteers continues slowly. Should they be required they will be called upon to act in the capacity of special policemen under the command and direction of the Mayor. Co-operating with the regular police force they will be required to move promptly toward the scene of disturbances, and if they fail to quell the riot, the military will try their hand.
The presence of the rifle-armed coal and iron police and their marching through the city with the officials while the arrests of yesterday were being made, had the effect of making many of the guilty men tremble. At last accounts it has been ascertained that quite a number have mysteriously departed. The question as to were[sic] they have gone presents itself in two shapes, as follows: First, those who have departed went either to escape the officers of the law, or departed for Allentown, Shamokin or the coal region, to continue their work of destruction and ruin. There is little doubt but that the strangers who were in Reading left the city to fill engagements made for them elsewhere in the same sort of terrible business, and that a number of Reading men are with them.
From all accounts fathered by the Eagle reporters here and elsewhere, it seems conclusive that this city has now, and had for the past ten days, a fully organized branch of what is termed "The Train Men's League" where membership exists for all kinds of railroad labor. Many are of the opinion that either the above League or some other organization of a similar character, and bur recently organized, had charge of many of the depredations. From what can be learned from the best authorities the original plans and ideas of the new organization were to take measures to stop the running of trains, if it could be done, either by intimidation or persuasion. Whether they considered the burning of the Lebanon Valley bridge necessary to accomplish their object is not definitely known, but according to the statement of the signal man on duty that night, the destruction of the bridge had been fully agreed upon, because the men who did the work said, "it was the orders". The question then presents itself by whose orders was the bridge burned, and what body of men hatched the conspiracy?
On the other hand there are people who entertain the idea that the burning of the bridge was nothing more than a spirit of revenge that suddenly took possession of the minds of a few, who had the triple object in view of preventing the running of trains, making a heavy loss for the company and preventing the military from passing over the Lebanon Valley road. It is believed by many that the time will not be long before the authorities will have full possession of all the facts surrounding this bridge burning business, the names of all participants or nearly all, and under what arrangements or instructions that desperate work was carried out. It is a well known fact that a half hour prior to the burning of the bridge it was freely remarked in the crowd near the burning cabooses near the North 5th street railroad bridge, that "the big bridge would go tonight, sure." It was a common topic of conversation; some; looked upon it as a mere surmise and guess work, while others accepted the intelligence as absolute fact.
The Mollie Maguire system of murdering is well known. A party from a distant locality was hired to kill the victims. From every observation and fact obtainable it appears evident that this same system prevails among the organized wreckers of the railroads. Reading was filled with strange looking bronzed and coarsely clad men on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Those faces have nearly all disappeared, and it is thought they are now pursuing their occupation near Allentown and Shamokin.
They to a great extent were the practical wreckers under the guidance and direction of people living in this city, who had them in charge and aided and abetted them in every way. The entire history of this organized effort to wreck and ruin will undoubtedly be developed by due process of law, and when the details are given to the world they will fully show what a desperate turn the minds of some of the railroad men had taken; not only in Reading, but in other localities. The arrests will continue, and the police authorities have given special orders that the work of improvement about the cells of the Station House shall be discontinued for the present, so that there will be plenty of room to confine prisoners.
The Committee on City Property had intended to tear out the floors and make repairs at the Central Station, but they will not proceed until further direction.
In conversation with Coroner GOODHART, an Eagle representative learned that the official intended to make a thorough examination into the facts of the shooting done by the military.
He will ascertain by whose orders the military proceeded in through the cut; to what extent they were assaulted with rocks, bricks, or pistols; how far they proceeded before they fired; in what direction and from what point the missiles were hurled at the soldiers; what direction the military fired; whether they gave sufficient warning to the innocent men, women and children who were on their way home and not congregated there to gratify their curiosity; to what extent, if any, the crowd at 7th and Penn streets assaulted the soldiers; whether any of the stone throwers were shot; whether the stone throwers were fired upon at all; who gave the orders to fire if any were given; whether the police received sufficient warning to get out of the way; whether they were not ordered to remain at 7th and Penn streets, and whether they were relieved of such orders. Upon the principle that no officer can leave his beat without permission or orders, the Coroner will ascertain whose neglect it was that those five wounded men were not properly relieved or sufficiently made acquainted with the plan of operations, if any plan at all existed. For this purpose the Coroner desires the aid of all good and responsible citizens who are In any way acquainted with the facts. He desires their testimony in order that a proper and just verdict may be rendered, and if blame is to be placed upon the shoulders of any one, it will be intelligently, conscientiously and correctly attached. The Coroner and jury will meet for this purpose tonight in the Mayor's office, at 7:30.
A number of arms belonging to the Reading Rifles were found.
Officer LUTZ secured one at 350 North 11th street, another on Maitland street, and another on Wunder street. Captain WENRICH is under $4,000 bail for their safe keeping. A broken rifle and three bayonets were found in a Penn street gutter below 8th.
It is stated that police officials can find a number of arms and uniforms secreted in a Court street stable. The Reading Rifles are now considerably spoken about. Capt. WENRICH's order to report at the armory on Saturday night was obeyed by only one-fourth of his command, and some of the non-commissioned officers absolutely refused to go. It is stated that a number will be placed under arrest. Those parties in whose possession the missing rifles were found have been arrested.
Yesterday morning Paymaster WELLS proceeded to Pottsville with his bags of silver and his piles of bank notes and commenced paying. As he went up the line he paid out the sums due at various points for May. During the afternoon he distributed between $3,000 and $4,000 among the depot hands and flag men. Today he will go to Palo Alto, St. Clair and Frackville.
Along this route he will disburse between $30,000 and $35,000.
Tomorrow he will go to Cressona and out the Mine Hill branch, and on Saturday will pay north of the mountain.
All the tracks of the Philadelphia and Reading Company, particularly north of Reading, together with all the bridges &c. were securely guarded between here and Pottsville last night.
Last evening another force of picked men were raised at Pottsville, commanded by Colonel John N. WYNKOOP. The latter left last night on a special train for Reading, dropping the men at intervals along the line. Colonel Ed. O. WYNKOOP went to Pine Grove last evening at 8 o'clock on the Witch. He went there to raise a squad to go to Dauphin and guard along the S. and S. line.
The enrollment of the volunteers in this city continues at the Mayor's office. Following are additional names to be added to the Eagle's list of yesterday: Davis P. HARDEN, John B. DAMPMAN, L. H. COOPER, E. W. FOX, D. McM. GREGG, H. M. KEIM, Geo. E. CONNARD, Frank O. SMINK, H. WEIGEL, Thomas C. LEINBACH, Hiram KIRK, S. M. MEREDITH, D. E. SCHROEDER, Joseph V. KENDALL, Henry SAUNDERS, Samuel L. KURTZ, E. R. SCHOLL, J. FARNAN, T. Yardley BROWN, David ARMENTROUT, J. N. HUNTER, Samuel L. YOUNG, P. M. ZIEGLER, Albert R. DURHAM, W. Lord CONWELL, S. R. RITTENHOUSE, Geo. K. WHITNER, Harry MOULD, C. E. SCHROEDER, W. G. McGOWAN, H. F. HAINS, B. F. OWEN, Wm. DECHANT, C. M. DECHANT, Chas. M. RAEDER, Daniel R. CLYMER.
Harrison HARTMAN, Commissioner of the Eastern Highway District, was taken into custody this morning by Chief CULLEN on the charge of riot at the new depot. In the Chief's sworn information he says that the accused ordered the Coal and Iron Police away from the depot, said they had no business there, and threatened to shoot them. The officer said to the accused:
"Mr. HARTMAN, I know that ordinarily you are a peaceable and law-abiding man, but you were angry and excited and you don't remember exactly what you did or said." Mr. HARTMAN says he made a few remarks about the police, but he denies having threatened to shoot them or that he ordered them away. He was required to give bail by the Mayor in the sum of $1,000.
James McSORELY and Corey FREEMAN were arrested by Officer LUTZ at 12 o'clock yesterday on the charge of hanging about 7th street for the past few days. McSORELY told the officer he was from Virginia, and subsequently informed the Mayor that he was a single man living in Coxetown and formerly worked at the P & R rolling mill. Sent to jail for 30 days.
Henry WEAN was arrested at 11:30 last night at 3rd and Franklin streets on the charge of lying on the pavement dead drunk. Retained 48 hours.
William SETLEY was found by officer FREES at 8th and Chestnut streets, very drunk. His parents refused to receive him because he has been behaving very badly. He promised the Mayor to turn over a new leaf and make no more slips. The judgment of the Court was that such promises had been too often broken by the accused and that the sentence would be 30 days in jail.
Frederic LeMAITRE, one of the most polite and genteel of tramps, hailing from Paris, and speaking English very fairly, was arrested last night by officer FREES on Plum street on suspicion. The prisoner told what the Mayor thought was a straight story, and he was allowed to depart. He said he had been attending a camp meeting ten miles from here, and originally lived in Bethlehem.
William MILROY, who had been appointed a special officer on the force, was arrested last night on the charge of throwing bricks at the military on North Seventh street, and inciting people to riot. He was held by the Mayor in $1,000 to answer.
The Mayor says that MILROY came highly recommended for an appointment, and that after he had been sworn in he told others of his actions on North Seventh street. The Mayor instantly issued a warrant and dispossessed him of his police powers.
Chief CULLEN and Detectives ROONE and LYONS, supported by a squad of 15 members of the Coal and Iron Police in charge of Capt. LINDEN, last evening, arrested a man known as "Long Tom", charged with being concerned in the riot. Henry E. SEIDERS, in whose possession was found one of the guns taken from the armory of the Reading Rifles, was also arrested. Both were coimmitted to prison in default of $1,000 bail. The Coal and Iron Police have 14 and 16 shooter Spencer rifles.
Among the alleged rioters arrested at their homes at an early hour this morning and taken before Alderman MENGEL, were John Quincy ADAMS and Albert GRETH, each of whom was committed in default of $1,000 bail.
Charles HEISLEY, better known as "Stap" HEISLEY and Thomas FRANCIS were arrested early this morning by Detective LYON and Chief CULLEN, with the aid of the Coal and Iron Police, and taken before Alderman MENGEL. Detective LYON charged these two prisoners with riot, malicious mischief and bridge burning, and the alderman fixed the bail of each at $3,000 in default of which they were taken to jail.
Lewis RODGERS was arrested on the charge of riot, and gave bail in $1,000. John LAHAYE was brought to the alderman's office between 8 and 9 o'clock this morning by the detectives and was committed to jail in default of $1,000.
Alderman MENGEL remarked this morning that he had received additional information against Henry R. SEIDERS and raised the amount of his bail from $1,000 to $3,000.
The Coal and Iron Police were on duty night before last, yesterday and last night without sleeping, and they were out early again this morning making arrests. Marshal HEISLER said to an Eagle reporter last evening that his present force in this city numbered forty men.
The Miners Journal says: All the Coal and Iron police having been taken to Reading by Marshal HEISLER, it was considering necessary to enroll a special force for the protection of property in this region. Fifty men were accordingly enrolled to serve as special police for the company, and placed under the command of Captain John F. GRENNING. They will be assigned to duty today.
On Tuesday Marshall HEISLER telegraphed his son, Frank HEISLER, on duty at Minersville, for 10 picked men for duty at Reading. They were selected in Minersville and armed and went to Pottsville. They took supper and went to the P & R office on Centre street where they received carbines, and they took a special engine at the depot and left for Reading.
Berkley correspondence says: The railroad trouble did not do much on the B & L branch. The trains were delayed a little, but all goes right again. Limestones were shipped in large lots from Maidencreek to Reading. Yesterday twenty-six cars were shipped down to be used at the furnaces that got their stone along the Lebanon Valley road before the bridge burned down.
Correspondent "R" writes from Macungie under date of yesterday: a squad of twelve soldiers of the Hamburg Company, Fourth Regiment, with their Captain, arrived at this place about 1 o'clock last night. The regiment passed through this place about 7 o'clock last evening bound for Allentown, but not deeming it safe to take the train into the city, the troops were unloaded at E-maus and were to walk into the city; but before starting, the majority of them broke ranks and struck a bee line for home. Those that arrived here last night told a sad story; they had hardly anything to eat for over a day. Some were barefooted, some without shirts, and others had their pants badly torn, showing they were pretty roughly handled at Reading. After partaking of what they could get at the Continental, they started for home on foot about two o'clock.
Correspondent J. wrote from Kutztown yesterday: Captain SMITH and eleven men out of Blue Mountain Legion, of Hamburg, arrived at this place this morning from Emaus. They are to be taken to Hamburg with a team and expect to leave here this morning. They have been allowed a short leave of absence.
The following passed through this place Tuesday evening: Four men of Company B, four men of Company H, three men of Company K, four men of Company I, two men of Company D.
The excitement at this place is very intense. The papers were more sought after for news yesterday than they were for four years.
The stock of coal at the furnace here is exhausted, and today or tonight the machinery will have to be stopped until a supply is received.
Capt. SMITH with 25 men of the Blue Mountain Legion passed through Reading last evening. They came down the main road from Hamburg and changed cars here for Allentown, the headquarters of the Fourth Regiment. Capt. SMITH said to an Eagle reporter at the depot that he had gone home from Allentown to recruit more men, and he was now on his way back to join the regiment, in accordance with orders received the night before. Some of the regular officers handled and examined the rifles of the Blue Mountain Legion with considerable interest, while the militia were awaiting the Allentown train.
Berkley correspondent "S" writes this morning: A good many of the Hamburg soldiers walked home from Reading, and do not intend to make another visit to that place on such business, unless better arrangements are made, so that they have a better right to protect themselves. One of the Slatington soldiers left Reading on Tuesday morning and came out as far as Berkley, where he made a day in the oats field, helping to bind oats, and said he had visited Reading for the first time and he was never so glad before as he had been after he was far enough away to fear no more harm. In the evening he took the train at Maidencreek for Slatington, saying that if another disturbance would turn up in Reading they might burn down the city before he would go there again.
During the past week 20 deaths from 13 different causes occurred in this city. 11 were males and 9 females, 8 adults and 9 minors, 6 married and 14 single. 5 deaths were caused by cholera infantum.
Four new cases of small-pox, same number as last week, were reported to the Board of Health, but no deaths from this disease.
During the sixth [sic] months from the 1st of January to the 1st of July 559 children - 288 males and 271 females - were born in this city. In January 69 males and 57 females were born; February 62 males and 48 females; March 49 males and 53 females; April 39 males and 46 females; May 33 males and 36 females; June 36 males and 31 females.
During the six months 157 couples were married - 32 in January, 25 in February, 32 in March, 22 in April, 24 in May and 24 in June.
During the same time 450 deaths were reported to the Board of Health, 115 of which were caused by small-pox. 238 of the 450 persons who were males.
One hundred and four of the persons who died were under 1 year of age, 89 between 1 and 5 years, 33 between 5 and 10 years, 30 between 10 and 20 years, 33 between 20 and 30 years, 32 between 30 and 40 years, 24 between 40 and 50 years, 27 between 50 and 60 years, 29 between 60 and 70 years, 37 between 70 and 80 years, 1 between 90 and 100 years.
Four of the persons who died were colored, 45 were foreigners.
Jonas BILLIG came to market yesterday morning from his home in Brecknock township, near Pleasantville, and whilst returning home over the Morgantown Road in nearing STICHTER's Powder House, his horse took fright at some ill-looking men, supposed to be Poor House tramps, and started off on a fearful run down the road, but were stopped by Mr. BILLIG putting on the brakes and pulling hard at the reins. Beyond a slight disarrangement of the harness there was no injury or damage sustained, and the farmer pursued his journey without further difficulty.
The funeral of the late George K. BOYER, Fifth and Bingaman streets, yesterday afternoon, was largely attended. The body was dressed in a suit of black broadcloth and laid in a walnut casket, silver-mounted. Rev. F. K. HUNTSINGER preached the sermon at the house, and the interment was made at the Charles Evans cemetery. Following were the pall-bearers: James YEAGER, William HARBETER, Conrad FRAME, Geo. W. HOFFMANTER, Jacob DEYAHER, and John MAITLAND.
Henry and W. N. B. MAUGER, in Douglass township, killed a copper snake five foot long.
Unknown parties stoned a passenger train at Phoenixville Tuesday evening, one stone shattering a window and covering two passengers with pieces of glass.
At Royer's Ford on Monday, seven of the Reeve's Rifles, residing at Spring City, assembled to take the cars and join their company at Phoenixville, and were insulted by a number of men. A riot was with difficulty prevented by peaceable citizens.
The excursion planned to come off today by the First Reformed Church Sunday School, and to have proceeded to a grove in Maxatawny township, near Kutztown, was postponed to a future time.
Shamokin, July 26 - The wages first offered to the men by the citizens was 80 cents a day. They refused this and demanded $1, and that the citizens should not ask interest on their money.
A special meeting of Council last night agreed to this, and the workingmen's committee said they were satisfied and retired to report.
The workingmen's meeting voted down the committee's report with cheers and refused to accept their own proposition. About 1,000 men and boys assembled on Rock street, moved to the Reading Railroad depot, broke the windows, and gutted the building, carrying off the freight. They then started for the Northern Central depot, but by this time the citizens had armed themselves and met the rioters, firing into them, wounding three of them, two, it is thought, fatally. The rioters scattered in dismay, and the citizens, commanded by Chief Burgess DOUTY, and armed with muskets, revolvers and anything available, charged the rioters, drove them out of town, and took possession of both depots. The rioters rallied outside of town and threatened to return and burn the place. The Chief Burgess telegraphed to Sheriff WERNER and asked for troops. Chief BOYD and his 36 citizen policemen are on duty. All persons who are not doing guard duty were ordered off the streets. It is not known how many were hurt, but two or three citizens were wounded.
The stable burned by incendiaries was at Lost Creek, near No.4 breaker, owned by David KRIEGER, timber contractor for the Philadelphia Coal Company. Eight mules perished.
Sheriff WERNER, a posse comitatus, and Capt. GROSSANG's special coal and iron police, left Pottsville by a special train and reached Lost Creek at 2 o'clock, finding everything quiet.
[next few paragraphs cover Pittsburgh, Washington, New York, St. Louis & Kansas City]
Three U. S. Regular soldiers went into an uptown saloon and called for three glasses of beer. Whilst they were quietly sipping it a man came in and remarked to one of them, "You are going to leave Reading this evening." The Regular replied, "We expect to stay in this city a few days." "But by [blank line] you will leave if you must," said the man. The soldier replied, "We came in here to take a glass of beer and not to be insulted. Any person using the language you have used is no gentleman."
The man then went to the rear end of the saloon and in conversation with some acquaintances used some harsh language in talking about the Regulars, when one of the soldiers walked back and said to him, "You are no gentleman to use such language; you are only a cur." No reply was received. Quite a number of persons were in the bar-room.
Yesterday afternoon Miss Elisabeth OSCHMAN, an employee in HENDEL Brothers' Hat Factory, South Fifth near Laurel, met with a very painful accident whilst engaged in her usual work in the finishing department. Another lady employee, desirous of playing a practical joke, stood a long necked oil can, used in oiling the machinery, upon the chair of Miss OSCHMAN, and that lady in resuming her seat, after a minute's absence, sat down on the can, the long pointed neck of which penetrated her body to a considerable extent. Her screams brought assistance, the can was removed, and the lady, who was severely injured, conveyed to her home on Carpenter street.
Conductor PRIZER's material train, with engine 136, while unloading sills? along the P & R road near Monocacy, Tuesday, collided with a passenger train that was backing up from Exeter, with engine 147. The engineer of the material train, on seeing the other train backing around the curve, reversed and tried to get away, but was struck, and engine 194, of the passenger train, which was traveling backwards on account of there being no turntable at Exeter, was badly wrecked, and was relieved by engine No. 147 and left at Pottstown.
Christian GROETSINGER, shoemaker, residing at 812 Franklin street, who was shot in the arm and head on Monday night, is reported to be in a dangerous condition, and his recovery is doubtful. The attending physicians stated last night that if a discharge of matter would take place there would be no danger, but should it not mortification would set in, making the recovery of the sufferer very doubtful.
A mare with a two year old colt, the property of Ephraim GROMAN of Upper Saucon, Lehigh county, were struck by lightening and instantly killed. They were out in pasture and had taken refuge from the storm under a tree, which was also shattered by the electric current. When discovered they were doubled over each other, both lifeless and cold.
Mrs. William YOUNG, of Noble street, Kutztown, an aged woman, died very suddenly of apoplexy or heart disease, while sitting at the supper table on Tuesday afternoon, with the rest of the family.
There are 57 children in Bethany Orphans' Home, Womelsdorf, at this time, and 300 have been there since its organization. Teachers and pupils are enjoying their annual vacation.
[Second Edition columns cover the strike in other parts of the country as well as events in Europe.]
Submitted by: Sue.
Last Modified