In the sweltering heat and under the fierce glare of the brilliantly illuminated chandelier of Common Council chamber, Coroner GOODHART and his jury last night vigorously prosecuted the examination of witnesses to ascertain whose negligence it was, if any, that led to the killing of the ten citizens by the military. The Coroner occupied the Clerk's desk and around him in a semi-circle sat the jury. District Attorney RABER was present and examined the witnesses in connection with the Coroner.
Not many were present outside of the witnesses, owing probably to the intense heat. Following is the evidence taken:
George EITZ, sworn: Am in the employ of the Company as Superintendent of Transportation, office near the new depot. I saw the tumult and disorder around the depot and my office; saw the troops arrive here from Allentown, Monday night; they left the train 1/4 mile above the depot; I know of no officer, either civil or military, here or elsewhere, who met the officers of the visiting soldiers on their arrival; Brigadier General REEDER was in command; after they arrived they went down the railroad toward Walnut street and halted at the northern end of the platform; I do not know at whose insistence or orders they moved; I think they went into the train gallery, but am not positive; this was the last I saw of the troops, did not witness the conflict; not see any of them struck down, nor did I see any of the collision; I was eating my supper with Mr. PAXON in the depot restaurant when I heard the first shot fired; I knew not where the troops were going, or what they intended to do, or at whose insistence they come. They arrived at 7:40; I do not know where the shots wee first fired, not do I know whether the first shots were fired.
Geo. B. YORGEY, sworn: I am the High Sheriff of Berks county; witnessed no collision between militia and citizens or disorderly persons on Monday night; I was in my office during the time; I arrived there after seven o'clock, where I remained until 11 o'clock, Monday night; no officer, either civil or military, called upon me during these hours in reference to quelling the disturbance; I had no notice whatever that any troops were coming that night; I had no information of the troops being in the city, and knew nothing of their presence until I heard the firing; I was never consulted in reference to the military at all; I never ordered them nor knew nothing about them being ordered; they never formed any part of my posse. Daniel FRANCIS and the watchman of the Court House were with me in my office; I was waiting for orders which detained me until eleven o'clock.
After the firing I inquired to know the result and what had been done; I was told the crowd had dispersed; I did not visit the scene of the disaster; I was there once on Monday, saw the crowded condition of the streets and witnessed the riotous proceedings; saw this when I posted up my proclamations on the four corners; I should have been informed of the coming of the troops but was not informed; I do not know whose business it was to tell me; I informed the railroad officials where they might find me if they wanted me to call out a posse comitatus; I telegraphed this to Mr. GOWEN Monday afternoon about 4 o'clock, shortly before I issued my proclamation, and I received no answer from Mr. GOWEN. The militia came here without my knowledge, and I had nothing to do with them after they were here. In the forenoon things were middling quiet, and in the afternoon I had my proclamations struck off. I was not in the city Sunday night, and came up from my Douglass township farm Monday morning at five o'clock. I heard the news Monday morning, and in the evening at five issued my proclamation.
Mr. KELLY, one of the jurymen, asked the Sheriff whether he should not have issued his proclamation early on Monday morning instead of waiting until nearly night. The Sheriff said he thought not.
Levi B. PAXON, sworn: "I am in the employ of the Reading Company as Engineer of Machinery. I was at the depot when the troops arrived Monday night. They were under the command of Gen. REEDER.
I have no knowledge that the Sheriff was instructed by any of the railroad officials to call out the posse comitatus. We had the telegraph reports of the troops coming, but I do not know at whose request they came here. They came from Allentown, and numbered something over two hundred men; there was considerable railroad property destroyed on Seventh street Monday afternoon and Monday night; first disturbance on Monday took place in the afternoon about three o'clock; stoned, abused, mobbed and driven from the trains; our employees were insulted Monday morning; we were aware of the coming of the soldiers from Allentown; when they arrived I had a few words with Gen. REEDER; I gave no directions to him or anybody else; the train stopped near the East Penn shops; I met the train at Temple and rode down with them; do not know who ordered them to go through the cut; I told him where the mob was; told him the mob was in the cut and had captured train number six; I presume Gen. REEDER knew the position of the cut before he entered it; I do not know who ordered the troops here; I named the three valuable properties of the company that needed protection; saw no railroad official talking to the military prior to the departure down the cut.
Sheriff YORGEY recalled: "In the forenoon of Monday Mr. WOOTEN called on me and offered to furnish me with men. I did not issue my proclamation sooner because I could not get ready any sooner."
G. B. STEVENS, Esq., sworn: "Myself and Messrs. MALTZBERGER and ERMENTROUT were at Seventh and Washington streets when the troops passed in the cut; a crowd of roughts passed and exclaimed that the troops were coming. They ran back over the pavement, and two of the gang threw large stones down in the cut and one soldier fell. Then a man on Seventh street discharged a revolver at the soldiers. Not a shot was fired by the military north of the Washington street bridge, although plenty of rocks were thrown and chamber pots descended from the windows on Seventh street. A number of women were also engaged in stone throwing. I heard no orders given by General REEDER, although I saw him. There was but one man firing at the military - two shots I think - before the soldiers fired; one soldier was knocked down sprawling in the cut with a stone hurled by two men, the attack upon the soldiers was made upon their flank; the military fired into the crowd in front; their ranks were broken and running toward Penn street, in their own minds it might have been justifiable.
Joseph HOYER, 37 North Seventh street, testified as to the crowded condition of Seventh street Monday night, the approach of the troops and the subsequent firing. Heard no pistol shots fired at the soldiers, nor did I see any bricks or stones thrown; saw or heard no firing except that which was done by the soldiers, there were bricks thrown, because a cart load might have been picked up in the cut after the affray.
Hamilton WHITMAN testified as to having witnessed the riotous proceedings Monday afternoon and the commencement in the evening, and that when the troops marched down the cut and when near the Court street bridge he heard one pistol shot fired, but saw no persons throw stones or bricks.
John B. PRINTZ testified as to having been on North Seventh street, east side, during the firing. He witnessed the approach of the soldiers and saw bricks and stones thrown by the mob.
When near the Washington street bridge, two pistol shots were fired into the cut at the soldiers. A cross and zig-zag fire then ensued from the militia.
C. B BISHOP also testified as to having heard several pistol shots fired before the military commenced firing. The evidence for the night closed at this point.
The understanding is that another meeting is to be held this evening in the Court House.
The leading police development of yesterday afternoon positively fixes the crime of burning the Lebanon Valley bridge upon several of the guilty parties who are now under arrest and in jail. Mayor EVANS succeeded in obtaining evidence of undoubted character which will be of the greatest value when the offenders are brought before a court of justice. When Mr. NICHOLS was informed of this new and late development yesterday afternoon, he expressed himself as being highly gratified. The testimony gained is from parties who desire no part of the reward offered by Mr. GOWEN, nor does it emanate from parties who took part in any crime against law and order. Detective LYON last evening remarked that the two ringleaders of the gang who fired the bridge are from Reading and now in jail. The strangers who were participants in the deed have left for parts unknown, and their non-arrest, in many instances, leads some people to erroneously suppose that the principal acts of lawlessness were wholly committed by residents of Reading. It is highly probable that unless confessions are forthcoming, the guilty wretches who live elsewhere than in this city will never be arrested, because they are unknown.
At nine o'clock last night the detachment of rifle-armed Coal and Iron police and a number of special officers halted in front of the Central Station, and eight prisoners, accused of riot, arson and malicious mischief, were marched off to jail in default of bail.
Albert STEWART, charged with riot and malicious mischief, was committed by Alderman MENGLE in default of $2,000 bail.
A colored man by the name of Henry TALBERT was committed in default of $3,000 bail to answer to the charge of riot, arson and stopping mail trains.
Dr. WEIDMAN, who is attending Officer HAGGERTY, entertains the opinion that it will not be necessary to amputate the foot of his patient. Officer RUPP was resting easy at last accounts and getting stronger; Officer JONES is slowly improving and converses a little to a few friends; Officers HART and ODENWELLER are getting along fairly. It is now believed that all the officers will recover.
The Department Commander of Pennsylvania has ordered McLean Post 10, G.A.R. of this city to organize into a company without delay; elect its officers and await further orders. In obedience to the above, the Post had a meeting last evening in order to complete its organization, when the following officers were elected: Captain Col. Geo. W. DURELL; 1st Lieut.; D. J. McLEAN; 2nd Lieut. J. H. McKNIGHT; Orderly Sergeant W. B. GERMAN. The services of the Post also have been offered to the city to aid in the protection of property, and about 75 men will respond to a call from the Mayor, should he see fit to ask their assistance.
A Mr. KOCH, conductor of No. 68 freight train, was killed at 3 o'clock this morning at the Proving Ground 2 miles below Reading. It is supposed he was struck by a stone thrown by some evil person, and knocked off the train. When last seen he was sitting on a car about the middle of the train. The body of the man was taken to his home at Port Richmond.
The gentlemen's sitting room at the passenger depot of the P & R Railroad is used as a hospital, in charge of the hospital steward of the regular troops. The steward gave some medical attention to the stranger who had received a sun stroke yesterday, and an Eagle reported asked him whether he was a doctor, and he replied, "No, sir; I am an apothecary. The stranger's case was such that it required immediate attention, and when the two civil physicians - Drs. WEIDMAN and LANDIS - came they said I had given the man correct treatment, and they prescribed further for him. He had several severe attacks of spasms and I feared he would die, but he is now out of danger, and, as you see, he is fast asleep. He did not give his name, but I understood him to say that he had been a watchman at a machine shop at Pottstown, but was now out of employment and was looking around for work.
John Quincy ADAMS has given bail in $1,000 to answer the charge of riot, and has been released from custody.
Thomas SHARP, who is engaged in business with his father on South Seventh street, was arrested, but was immediately released on his own recognizance.
One of the alleged Lebanon Valley bridge burners has been arrested at Sunbury and will be brought to Reading by a member of the Coal and Iron police.
It has been stated that the man who was arrested at Sunbury got drunk in company with a detective, and while in that condition he related to the latter all the particulars about the burning of the railroad bridge, and said he participated in destroying the structure. A warrant was issued by Alderman MENGEL to bring the man back to Reading.
Following are the additional volunteers at the Mayor's office: John S. SCHROEDER, C. M. KURTZ, Sylvester S. GRETH, Cyrenius SELLERS, W. A. MENSCH, George W. WAGNER, Augustus W. HOFF, F. M. BANKS, E. RICHARDS, William HARBETER, C. B. BISHOP, Amos DRENKEL, J. George ECKERT, Wayne HAYMAN.
At the late meeting of Communists in New York, a speaker exclaimed: "Glory, gentlemen! glory to the militiamen who refused to fire on these men! (Cheers) Glory, glory to that brave regiment (Cheers) Glory to the Sixteenth Pennsylvania!
(Cheers) Let us send the echo of these cheers to Pennsylvania, and to that Sixteenth Regiment, and let them know that an hundred thousand stalwart voices in New York were raised in acclaim of glory for such patriotism, and honor, and courage."
Charles STAFFENBERG was arrested this morning by Chief CULLEN, charged with being one of the leaders of the rioters in the cut, and the person who assaulted Captain Darius RHOADS, of Slatington. He is further charged with threatening, intimidating, urging and leading various parties during the riotous proceedings. Malicious mischief is also charged against him. $2,000 bail was furnished.
Henry C. GRIM, a young man, was held in $1,000 bail by the Mayor on the charge of riot and disorderly conduct, July 23d.
James KERPER was arrested by officers GILES and BOONE on the charge of malicious mischief and riot. Held in $2,000.
Officer GILES arrested a young man named Solomon SEIDERS on the charge of tearing up P & R tracks with a crowbar during the riotous proceedings. He was held under bail.
C, M. ATKINS, of Pottsville, who had been detained on a western business trip by the riotous mobs, returned home yesterday.
Mr. ATKINS was as far west as Chicago, and at that place the excitement was increasing when he left.
The Pottsville Journal says that there is great want in Mahanoy.
Men in a great many instances have worked all day with nothing to eat from the time they left their homes until the returned, and even then nothing but dry bread and water. Property holders, seeing the necessity of doing something, organized a relief committee and caused the following to be posted all over town:
As great distress is known to exist in the borough by reason of the present difficulties, all persons in such distress are hereby requested to make their wants known to either of the undersigned citizens.
Shamokin was quiet last night. A large number of citizens with muskets patrol the streets today and a company of mounted men are doing picket duty around the outskirts of the town. The whole fire department is on duty today.
A rumor was started that a crowd of men were tearing up the railroad track a few miles east of town and a scouting party of mounted men went out to reconnoiter. They returned and report everything quiet as far as they went.
The citizens feel confident that they are able to check any demonstration that may be attempted by the strikers.
Patrick LEIDY, a middle aged man, residing on Cotton street between 10th and 11th, was arrested by officer CULP on the charge of having stolen a market basket full of tobacco from a P & R car on South 7th street, on Tuesday of this week, during the riotous proceedings. He was required to give $100 bail. LEIDY says he saw the men throwing the tobacco out of the car on South 7th street, and he along with many others, helped himself and took as much as he could carry in a big basket. A married woman in Irishtown was also suspected of having taken tobacco. "No, your Honor, she's a decent woman," said the prisoner, "and she would not do such a thing. I was walkin' home with the tobacco. She met me and says, "good morning," and says I, "good morning, Ma'am." "Its a fine morning," says she, "and its a fine lot of tobacco you've got." "Yes", says I, and would you like a bit of it?" The prisoner related how he had given the woman the tobacco and that she was innocent. Subsequently, the woman with whom he boards told the Mayor that LEIDY was not in his right mind at times. All the parties who carried off tobacco are to be arrested.
Between the hours of 9 and 2 o'clock last night Constables KRAMER and HOLLENBACHER arrested Peter HIGH, Jr., Peter RESH and John NOLL, charged with rioting and obstructing the railroad. They were brought before Alderman BECKER. Messrs. HIGH and RESH each gave $1,000 to answer at Court, and John NOLL was committed to prison in default of bail.
Coroner GOODHART forwarded the following notice to General REEDER, at Allentown, this morning. Copies of the notice were also sent to other officers of the several companies:
Coroner's Office, 338 S. 5th St.
Reading, Pa. July 27, 1877 General REEDER, Allentown, Pa.
Dear Sir: - As Coroner of the city of Reading, and county of Berks, and now having the occurrence at 7th and Penn street on Monday night last under investigation, as you will observe by papers marked and forwarded to you today, the jury desire you to answer, under oath, the following questions:
Any other sworn information that you can give to the jury to aid them in making up their verdicts will be gratefully received.
Very Respectfully,
George R. GOODHART, Coroner
A thief lifted up the marble top of the dressing bureau of Mrs. Daniel J. PARKER, 117 Chestnut street, and stole from the upper drawer, which was locked, a large quantity of valuable jewelry, among which were the following:
Lady's gold watch with gold chain 6 feet long, attached to which were a gold slide, two gold dollars and two gold quarter dollars, the quarters being the gift of a sea captain; two children's gold neck chains, 8 finger rings, 3 children's finger rings, gentleman's locket containing pictures of two children, cross breastpin containing 23 diamonds and valued at $250, two pairs of children's armlets, and two silver dollars made from the Fairmount (Phila.) Fire Company's fire horn.
Mr. PARKER charges one of his recent employees, by the name of "Ferd" with having committed the theft. "Ferd" was in PARKER's employ two weeks in Philadelphia and two months in Reading. On Thursday evening he said to Mr. PARKER that he was afraid of being arrested as one of the rioters, and he intended to "skip out of town". He disappeared soon thereafter.
Mr. PARKER said this morning that he would obtain a warrant from the Mayor, take it to Philadelphia and employ a detective in that city to assist him in catching "Ferd".
On Tuesday Mrs. PARKER saw that the jewelry was still in the bureau drawer, but yesterday when she was preparing to attend a funeral she noticed that the drawer had been robbed of the jewelry. The bureau is in the front room on the second floor. "Ferd" slept in the same story in the back part of the house.
The Reading Rifles (Co. A) left for Allentown on the 10:30 train last night. The Rifles numbered about 35 men, under command of Capt. A. P. WENRICH, Lieuts. BROBST and WEIDNER.
The non-commissioned officers are orderly sergeant Thomas KING, sergeants Thomas HEADLY, Gilbert HILL, Samuel STAHR and John YEAGER; corporals VAN BUSKIRK and BEATLY; drummers Daniel ROSS and William NOLL. They were drilling last evening in the armory, in full gray uniform, with packed knapsacks.
It was very warm and no spectators were admitted. A number of others will be equipped and sent off today by private Cyrus F. GROW, who was so badly disabled by an accident that he has walked on crutches for some time past. Private GROW was in the armory when the mob broke open the door on Monday night, and not only refused to surrender his musket, but carried it and a drum and other property home with him.
A dispatch from Allentown says that the Rifles arrived there in safety.
The funeral of John H. WEAVER, who was killed by the militia, was largely attended yesterday afternoon. The body was dressed in a black suit and laid in a walnut coffin, silver mounted. The sermon was preached at the house by Rev. HUNTSINGER, at 3 o'clock, and at 4 o'clock the cortege proceeded to Aulenbach's Cemetery where the interment took place.
Large delegations of Chandler Lodge 237, A. Y. M., Juniata Tribe, No. 74, Improved Order of Red Men, and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, attended the funeral, and the Masons and Red Men performed their usual burial services at the grave. At the cemetery the coffin was opened for the family to take a last look at the remains. The deceased leaves a widow with three children. The youngest, a child about 2 1/2 years old, said "papa sleeps long."
Following were the pall bearers: John HAHN, Samuel WHITAKER, Andrew FICHTHORN, Jr., and Edward BARFORD. The two mentioned were Masonic and the latter two Red Men.
Berkley correspondent says: J. LESH, living in Bern township, has a new kind of wheat called the Egyptian wheat. Oat of a half a pint of grains that he had sowed last fall, he realized about eight thousand ears. Most of the ears are five doubled, and of one grain of wheat as high as twenty-five stalks grew.
He said he would give a man a dollar to go in the field where he had this wheat and find one stalk standing alone. This wheat had no fly, while the other wheat in the neighborhood was all down with the fly. It grows about four and a half feet high.
Franklin B. SMITH, aged 38 years, died in Pittsburg [sic] on Saturday last, of heart disease. He formerly resided in Reading, and served an apprenticeship to the printing business under Col. John F. MYERS, of the Berks County Press. Mr. SMITH left a wife and three children. He served in the late rebellion.
His remains were brought to Pottsville and interred by the Grand Army of the Republic.
This morning Mayor EVANS received $25.00 for the assistance of the wounded policemen. A number of other gentlemen will also contribute for the [unreadable word].
Gov. HARTRANFT has issued the following order, dated at Headquarters of the National Guard, July 26, 1877: No. 2.
First - during the existing emergency, in all cases troops are to be moved in compact bodies, and under no circumstances is firing to be permitted except by the officer in immediate command.
Second - All other means of quelling riot and restoring order having been exhausted, the officer commanding the troops shall notify the rioters that they will be fired upon unless they promptly disperse. The order to fire will then be deliberately given, and every soldier will be expected to fire with effect. The firing will continue until the mob disappears.
Third - Officers in command of troops will report to these headquarters the names of all citizens who have attempted or may attempt to dissuade any member of the National Guard from the discharge of their duties. All such persons should be arrested if possible.
Fourth - Headquarters after 2 o'clock p.m. today, will be in a special car on the Pennsylvania Railroad. All communications will be addressed accordingly.
Fifth - General officers will publish these orders, not only to their troops, but to the public generally.
Yesterday Gov. HARTRANFT and staff, with all the troops he could spare from Philadelphia, including detachments of the Keystone Battery, State Fencibles, Second, First and Sixth Regiments, left the city for some unknown point in the State. The Eleventh Regiment, made up from men from Chester, West Chester, Media and other points, joined the expeditions at Paoli, and batteries K and M of the 2d U.S. artillery, I of the 4th and a company of engineers from Baltimore followed them. It is thought they will join the troops now concentrating at Blairsville, near Pittsburg [sic], for an overwhelming occupation and general starting of trains at Pittsburg.
At 7 1/2 o'clock last evening the troops, including calvary and DENTITHORNE's battery from Phoenixville, passed Harrisburg.
The Governor will mass 2,000 troops at Pittsburg and compel the running of trains. He went to Philadelphia to consult with General HANCOCK as to using United States troops, and a large force will cooperate with him at Pittsburg, under Colonel HAMILTON.
Pottstown Special Correspondence
John O. SMITH, John Y. FRITZ, D. B. MAUGER, Frank M. HOBSON, and Tobias BARTO, officers of the Reading & Perkiomen Turnpike Company, yesterday drove to Bishop's creek, six miles east of Reading, where a new bridge is being erected on the pike, for inspection of the progress being made. The bridge is ready for the flooring, and will be finished in about a week or ten days.
William SMITH, a young married man, residing on Jefferson Avenue, is lying at the point of death with typhoid fever. His home is at Fox Hill, and he was on a visit to his parents when taken sick. Four persons in the same house are down with the same disease.
Moses BINDER, of North Evans street, is visiting his daughter at Trenton, New Jersey, to remain a week or two.
Levi KNAUER, residing in Mintzer's Addition, an employee of Cofrode & Saylor, bridge builders, this borough, while at work, yesterday, had a piece of steel to fly from a hammer of the machinery which struck him on the right arm below the elbow, inflicting a severe wound one and a half inches long and one inch deep.
The heat here yesterday was excessive, the thermometer at 2 o'clock reaching 95 in the shade.
The 16th Regiment, National Guards, of Norristown, was ordered to report at the armory yesterday, to remain ready for service at a moment's notice. Jacob CHARLES, a drummer of one of the companies, who now resides at Pottstown, left for Norristown, made yesterday morning, that inasmuch as the 16th Regiment has been in a certain manner disgraced by the action of Co. I of the Conshohocken at Reading on the 24th inst., and their subsequent disbandment, the balance of the Regiment, if called into action, intend to show the people that they are soldiers in the true sense of the word, and are consequently unjustly classified with those who fraternized with the Reading mob.
Ephraim HERPTS was fishing yesterday and caught one bass 19 inches long, two each 17 inches and a number of others of good size.
WILMAN & LORAH, truckers, High and York streets, had a banana last evening measuring 5 1/2 inches in circumference.
Frederick NOLL, First street, Van Buskirk's Addition, has a corn stalk measuring thirteen feet and one inch. Some half dozen other stalks are nearly the same heighth.
Some of the regular troops at Reading have gotten off a joke on the Norristown militia, calling them candy soldiers because they were easily "licked".
The Good Will Fire Company yesterday leased the room over their engine house from the Reading Railroad Company, to be used for meeting purposes, &c., and also obtained some five feet additional space on the first floor.
William NYCE, residing near Harmonyville, Warwick township, had a boy prostrated by the heat, and after having thrown water upon it, death soon followed.
John H. HENDRICKS, truckster, opposite the Farmer's Hotel, had the first watermelons in town last evening, selling them at 15 to 40 cents.
John NICELY, drover, had a drove of cows, part of which he sold at the Yellow House to J. B. GUYER and the balance to the Steward of the Montgomery county poor house.
Samuel SEIFERT, of Long's Corner, was in town this morning selling produce, and had with him a bee hive now used for carrying eggs, about 110 years old. It is made of straw and oak splints.
H. C. FAGER, of this borough, yesterday caught a fine string of bass, one of them being 14 inches long.
Francis WEAND, of Swamp, who has been ill for some time, was not expected to live over last night.
Mrs. Zephaniah YOHN, of Van Buskirk's Addition, died last night, aged about 25 years. She leaves a young child.
A. W. BICKEL, of this borough, opened an envelope this morning, addressed to him, which contained a check payable to his order, for $65. It did not belong to him, however, and he thinks it is the property of a Mr. BICKEL of Pottsgrove township, who sends milk to Philadelphia.
Doctor KELLER, of Pottstown, in lying at the residence of D. K. HATFIELD dangerously ill.
H. P. HEFLER, residing with Dr. John TODD of this borough, yesterday spilled a bowl of hot gravey [sic] over his hand, scalding it hotly.
Gen. MINTZER began recruiting his new company here today.
Yesterday afternoon as Daniel S. FRANCIS and SYDENHAM R. ANCONA were out driving, they met with an accident near the Black Bear Hotel. One of the front wheels of the carriage came off, throwing out Mr. ANOONA, bruising him considerable. His injuries were attended to by a physician.
Constable HOLLENBACHER arrested James SCHREFLER this morning on the charge of having a quantity of tobacco knowing it to be stolen. Defendant gave bail in $300 to appear at court.
The family of Milton TRACE, killed at Seventh and Chestnut street, by a soldier's bullet, are in very destitute circumstances.
The Grand Army are doing all in their power, but their means are inadequate. Any distributions citizens may desire to make may be sent to the residence of the family, No. 621 Minor street.
Mayor EVANS, Alderman MENGEL, and Alderman BECKER each claim to have within reach either a Lebanon Valley bridge burner or a person who knows all about it - where the coal oil, cotton-waste, picks and pinch bar were obtained that were used in setting fire to the structure; how many persons participated in setting fire to the bridge, where they started from and what route they took to reach the bridge. An Eagle reporter was told that one of the bridge burners who has "squealed," says that the incendiaries consisted of 15 persons, that they obtained two cases of coal oil at the upper station, and then broke open a car and obtained another can of oil; they took cotton waste from a box on a locomotive, and obtained picks and a pinch bar at a tool house, and thus all the material used in firing the bridge was the railroad company's property; they crossed through fields, truck gardens and lanes between Centre avenue and the Lebanon Valley Railroad to the bridge, where they pried up the tin covering and poured coal oil down upon the frame work of the structure, some of the oil running down upon the water below, when one of the incendiaries remarked, "You are pouring all the oil into the river."
An Eagle special from Mahanoy Plane at noon today says: "One of the men who fired the Lebanon Valley bridge on the Lebanon Valley Railroad, near Reading, on Sunday night, was arrested in Sunbury this morning, and was taken through here to Reading on the one o'clock train by officer WHITMAN of the Coal and Iron police."
Street Commissioner HARTMAN says: "I came to the depot shortly after six o'clock Monday evening. It was on my route down town, and the way I generally come. I was going to the City Hall. As I approached the depot, one of the Coal and Iron police, I think, fired a shot and the ball came near me. I became angry, I confess, and I remarked I'd knock his head off if he shot towards me again.
I was not within eight feet of any train, and I never cut any bell-rope or interfered with any of the railroad hands or anybody else. The above is all I did or said. I am a peaceable, law-abiding citizen, and I have quarrels or disturbances with no one."
John B. BECKER was arrested by officers today charged with being one of the parties who made a raid on the armory of the Reading Rifles. He was held in $4,000.
Sheriff YORGEY is issuing notices today summoning citizens for his posse comitatus. Mayor EVAN's volunteers have received notices. The following is a copy of the notice sent to citizens:
"Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Berks county, ss. Under authority conferred upon me by the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, I hereby summon, constitute and appoint you as one of my deputies, to serve in the Posse Comitatus, to preserve the peace and order of the county, now threatened by divers turbulent and ill-disposed people; and I further direct you to report for further orders at my office, in the city of Reading, county aforesaid, at 3 o'clock p.m., Friday, July 27, 1877, and hereof fail not, under the penalties of the law. Done under my hand and seal, Reading, 26th of July.
(Signed) George E. YORGEY,
High Sheriff of Berks County
Those who were sworn in received the following cards:
"I, George E. YORGEY, Sheriff, do hereby depute you until otherwise ordered, to serve and perform such duties I may in my official capacity require you to do and execute." Signed, George E. YORGEY, Sheriff
At noon today the Sheriff and his deputies in the office were very busy in filling the blank notices to be served. The Court House officials were sworn in, and all those having business at the Sheriff's office, including lawyers, newspapermen and others, were captured as soon as they entered the office and impressed into service as a Sheriff's deputy. An Eagle representative visited the Sheriff's office on business this morning, and put a question to that official. The Sheriff, instead of replying to the question, said, "Let's see, what is your first name?"The reporter told him, and without any further communication the Eagle man was gathered under the wings of the sheriff and sworn in as a full-fledged and legally authorized officer to help maintain the majesty of the law. Several hundred notices were issued for citizens to appear and be sworn in at two o'clock.
One of the citizens inquired whether the Sheriff had ever heard the little story about locking the stable after the horse was stolen.
Orlando BORTZ, son of Mrs. Mary BORTZ (oldest daughter of Wm. RITTER, New Berlin), resided with his parents in Lehigh county, near the Poor House, until his father's death, when his mother and younger brother came to reside with the mother's parents at New Berlin, Orlando remaining with his uncle, Mr. BORTZ. About a year ago this boy one night suddenly came into the room at the residence of his grandparents at New Berlin, to the utter surprise of his mother and the family.
The boy was barefooted, his week day clothes on, and nearly worn out by exposure to the heat of the day and the long walk, having made the distance from Lehigh county to New Berlin on foot in but a few hours. He complained that he was treated very badly by his master and some around him. He was kindly treated by the RITTER family, and given clean clothes and shoes until his clothes from Lehigh county could be obtained and sent to school to Boyertown until Christmas, when he again went to his grandfather, Mr. BORTZ, in Lehigh. Everything moved smoothly until on Wednesday afternoon, in an oats field, a number of hands were binding, some hauling, and a boy raking with horse and rake. After the load was ready to take to the barn, the boy in charge of the rake was directed to put the horse in the shade under a tree and accompany the men to the barn to assist in unloading. When the men returned to the field it seemed rather strange to see the horse still attached to the rake grazing. Upon examination it was discovered that the rein was missing, and the boy was hanging to a limb on a cherry tree above them, having used the rein to commit the act. A telegraph was sent to his mother, who in company with her brother, H. L. RITTER, went as far as Treichlersville, and there first learned the sad news.
George HUNTSINGER, president of Philadelphia Coal Company, stated that the reports regarding the destruction by fire on the night of the 25th inst. of the Company's No. 4 breaker and stables near Shenandoah are untrue. There was a stable burned adjoining the breaker, but it belonged to Daniel D. KRIEGER, and was set on fire by a crowd of drunken tramps, and not by striking miners as reported. Mr. HUNTSINGER also stated that their collieries were all working, and that there had been no stoppage during the present troubles, and there was no probability of any occurring, as the wages of the employees had not been reduced.
Submitted by: Sue.
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