Annals of the great strikes in the United States

Threatened Riot at Phillipsburg—The Trainmen’s Strike—Intense Excitement at Trenton—Governor Bedle Takes Decisive Action—Disagreeable Demonstrations at Jersey City—Militia at Hoboken—Governor Bedle Goes to Newark and Jersey City—Guarding a Bridge at Brunswick—Soldiers Sympathizing with Strikers—The Jersey Central Railway—Relieved Soldiers Rejoicing.

On Wednesday, July 23d, 1877, the Mayor of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, issued his proclamation calling upon persons “to desist from making threats against or intimidating such persons as desired to follow their usual avocations,” and warning all good citizens from gathering on streets, and asking them to aid him in preserving the peace of the town, and notifying all strangers bearing unmistakable evidence of idle wanderers, that they would be arrested by officers on duty.

The firemen and brakemen of the Central Railroad of New Jersey joined in a strike on the 23d of July, and would allow no train, except a locomotive with a mail car attached, to pass over the road. Deputy-Sheriff Shaffer and Dispatcher Harris endeavored to start a passenger train for New York from Phillipsburg, New Jersey, but were unsuccessful, as no engineer could be found who would risk his life to run it, and in consequence no train started until evening. The railroad men were considerably surprised when they saw the train, consisting of two baggage and one passenger car, and censured the men at the other end of the road for allowing it to start.

The Deputy-Sheriff had a conference with the leaders of the strike. He told them that the laws of the State would be enforced at any hazard, and advised them to go to their homes and remain quiet, assuring them that their rights, as well as those of the Company, would be protected. He proposed to start all trains on time, and, if the strikers did not interfere all would be well; but if they molested the men who run the trains they must expect the consequence. One of the leaders replied that they were willing that a locomotive and mail car should run, but they would not allow any other cars to be attached, and then the mail agent must do the braking. The strikers seemed determined that no trouble should arise from any fault of theirs, and requested the Chief of Police to arrest all tramps found around the road.

The engineers drove away about twenty tramps from the Morris and Essex roundhouse.

The firemen and brakemen of the Lehigh and Susquehanna road struck in the morning of the same day, and no train was allowed to leave Easton. The men on that road were very orderly.

R. H. Sayre, of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, issued orders that in case there should be a strike on that road, all of the shops should be shut down, and not started again until the difficulty was settled.

A mail car attached to a locomotive left Phillipsburg in the morning. All trains arriving at New York over the Central Railroad of New Jersey, consisted of a baggage car and locomotive; the passenger cars were brought to Bloomsburg and left there. The mail train over the Morris and Essex Railroad for New York run on time. When the train was about to leave Phillipsburg, on its return, the fireman left the engine and refused to fire up, when the chairman of the strikers ordered him to resume his post and take the cars left at Bloomsburg to the Washington side where they would be in no danger, as it was not the wish of the strikers to have any damage done to the Company’s property.

The proprietors of the Warren Foundery, at Phillipsburg, were compelled to shut down the 26th, as they could not ship their pipe, and had no place to store it. This threw over three hundred men out. The Company had a very large contract on hand, and the strike proved a great damage to them.

A large number of boatmen and tramps were in Phillipsburg and it was feared they would endeavor to incite a riot.

On the morning of July 24th, Jersey City presented an exciting scene, as laboring men were on their way to work, little knots of men were gathered on every corner of the principal streets exchanging speculations as to the cause of the sudden advent of the military. They had been summoned on Saturday to be at their armories in the evening, but they did not appear in their uniform then, as on Sunday. Monday morning they were in squads here and there, in search of absentees. One squad stood at each ferry to detain such members as, through not being notified of the latest order from headquarters, or from whatever reason, sought to cross to New York. Inquiry at the regimental armory revealed the fact that Governor Bedle, who had spent Sunday at Long Branch, had issued an order, by telegraph, at midnight, to the commandants of all the regiments to collect their men at the armories, and uniform, arm and equip them. The regiments which had already been ordered to hold themselves in readiness, were under arms all over the State by daylight Monday morning.

Brigadier-General Plume, of Newark, arrived to assume command, and Surgeon-General Varick, of Jersey City, and Inspector-General Fay, of Elizabeth, were soon in attendance. Lieutenant-Colonel Marvin, Major Howard, Brigade-Surgeon Hitchcock, and Captains Meeker and Wardwell, all of Newark, and of General Plume’s staff, accompanied him. Of Governor Bedle’s staff, Messrs. Charles S. Gregory, W. H. Vredenburg, A. Q. Garretson, William Douglas and John Ramsey, were in attendance during the entire day. Upon Governor Bedle’s arrival it was learned that his order was based on a despatch that he had received from Philadelphia, to the effect that the Pennsylvania Company’s buildings there were in the hands of the mob, and another from Major-General Mott, in Trenton, saying that trouble was anticipated there.

Governor Bedle established his headquarters in the apartments of the Chief of Police, Jersey City, Tuesday morning, and assumed the duties of Commander-in-Chief in fact. At Elizabeth and elsewhere, regiments had not a round of ammunition, but it was ordered on from Trenton at once. Lieutenant Ellis’ Battery, in Jersey City, was ordered to be in readiness, but they had only one gun; the Hoboken Battery was in the same condition. The Battery at Guttenburg had two, and one was ordered from there to each of those cities.

The first detachment of several batteries of United States Regular Artillery, ordered to Philadelphia to protect Government property, crossed from Fort Hamilton to Jersey City, and marched up several squares through Montgomery street, before they turned towards the depot, where the cars lay, near Washington street. At this point an ugly crowd had gathered. It was noticed throughout the day that there were a good many strangers in Jersey City, mysterious men, who assembled in little knots and talked together, or drew near to any collection of people seen in conversation, as though feeling the pulse of the public. The soldiers were jeered and threatened as they passed. About this time a conductor, named Wright, sauntered along the track, when the following colloquy occurred between him and one of the crowd: “Are you going to take the train out with these sogers?” “I guess so.” “Well, then, by God! you won’t go above Grove street.” And the speaker turned away and Wright went on towards his train. Another man called after him: “Say, young fellow, don’t make no mistake. If you have any regard for yourself you won’t give nobody any chance to lay you out.” Jack Wildey, the engineer of the same train, was standing at the Glayne street crossing a few minutes later, when he was accosted by another man, and asked: “Are you the engineer of this train, taking out the sogers?” He said “Yes.” “If you attempt to take that train out we’ll kill you before you go six blocks.” Superintendent Barker walked along just then, and found that both conductor and engineer were so badly alarmed that they refused to take the train out. Warren Hawk, conductor of another train, consented to go if his engineer, McMichael, would go, although he felt sick. The engineer said that he would not take out the train. Mr. Barker asked him whether he would take it out, provided the militia dispersed the crowd. He replied that he would.

Mr. Barker laid the facts before Governor Bedle, who thought that it would needlessly excite the people to call out the militia, and that it would be best to send a police force. A strong reserve had been called out early in the morning, and fifty of them, under Captain Mullany, were sent to the scene of disturbance. They took possession of the crossings and kept back the crowd. The engineer then consented to start, and the artillerymen, including another detachment of about equal numbers, armed with muskets, about one hundred and fifty in all, got away about six o’clock. Other detachments arrived from Fort Adams, Boston, and departed later. Altogether, about eight hundred went by the Pennsylvania Railroad for Philadelphia.

About two hundred and fifty men of the Ninth Regiment were encamped on Elysian Fields, Hoboken, to hold themselves in readiness to protect the Morris and Essex, or the Erie Railroads. Nearly one hundred extra watchmen were guarding the property of the Eastern Division of the Erie Railroad.

No indications of trouble on the New Jersey Southern Railroad were reported during the strike. There had been no cutting down of wages since last winter. The pay of some of the men had been increased.

George Doremus, conductor of the Midland Railroad, while going home with his cash box was attacked by four men, one of whom struck him on the head with a piece of lead pipe. His wounds were considered serious. His assailants escaped without any plunder.

Hundreds of men lounged about the Newark depots all day the 23d. General Plume received an order from Governor Bedle to hold the First and Fifth Regiments in readiness to move. At noon six hundred men were assembled at the armory, under command of Colonels Barnard and Allen, and rations were dealt out. Several of the men declared that they would throw down their guns rather than shoot at the strikers. The entire police force, with the exception of the men on patrol, was held in reserve. The police were ordered to take all of the guns in the gun shops to the police stations. They were in full sympathy with the railroadmen, and openly said they would not fire upon any strikers. The passenger trains ran on time all day; but few freight trains passed. The brakemen and firemen sneered at and guyed the soldiers when passing the armory. The employes at the depot feared to say anything, but they were in sympathy with the strikers on the other railroads. The miners at Dover were ready to help the railroadmen.

The publication of a call for a mass meeting of citizens at Turn Hall, Newark, Tuesday evening, excited a tumultuous feeling, and hundreds of men gathered on street corners and talked over the situation. It was signed by the United Workingmen’s Party and the Communist Committees. Many of them were in the Paris Commune. The societies there number nearly eighteen hundred men. The call had aroused the laborers and mechanics, and alarmed the city officials. Sheriff Harrison summoned all the constables in the county to meet at the court house, and swore in a large number of deputy marshals. Mayor Yates issued a proclamation to the people to abstain from public gatherings.

An attempt was made to destroy the new bridge at Bergen Tunnel, and President Sloan, of the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad, caused two constables and forty armed men to be posted there. The train from Scranton brought ten or twelve men of a delegation from the United Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers to Newark.

The excitement at Trenton was greater than any time since the strikes began. It was expected that the train hands on the New York and Belvidere divisions would strike, and there was not a soldier in the city that could be depended on. The members of Companies A, B and D, Seventh Regiment, were kept in their armories all day. Companies B and D were workingmen, and many of them refused to turn out. Guards were sent out, and the men had to be brought under guard to the armories. One hundred and twenty men of the Trenton companies were ordered to go to the Clinton street depot, where they took the train to New Brunswick to guard the railroad bridge there. A guard of old soldiers was at the State Arsenal under General Truex, and the battery loaded with grape and canister was in a position commanding the approaches thereto.

Seven companies of the State National Guards left Trenton to concentrate at New Brunswick. They numbered nearly three hundred men. Of these a part went to Jersey City and a part remained in New Brunswick to guard the railroad bridge at that place. Ammunition had been forwarded to Jersey City.

Four guns and a battery from Fort Hamilton, and a battery from New London, acting as infantry, passed through Trenton, en-route for Philadelphia.

At night the excitement at Trenton was gradually rising. The State authorities ordered the Seventh Regiment to be ready at a moments’ notice, and Company A took charge of the State Arsenal.

Governor Bedle issued the following proclamation:

In the present State of the public mind I warn all citizens to keep at their homes and places of business, avoiding all gathering in the streets, so as to give encouragement by their presence to evil disposed persons. Let every good citizen now by word, act, and sentiment aid the authorities in securing perfect peace. Sheriffs and officers of cities are particularly requested to exert all their power in a calm, judicious, but effectual way to protect life and property from all lawlessness, and thereby save counties and cities from any liabilities under the statute for destruction of property by mobs. The whole power of the State will be used for the maintenance of the law. I caution every person disposed to disturb the peace to desist at once, and thereby prevent any necessity for the use of the State force.

Given under my hand at the city of Trenton, this 23d day of July, A. D., 1877.

At Elizabeth, General De Hart sent Colonel Morrell a second order to have the Third Regiment ready for marching orders. Companies A, B and C assembled at the Market Hall Armory, Elizabeth. Companies from Rahway, New Brunswick, and Keyport were en-route to that city. A large crowd collected in the streets around the armory, but there was no disturbance. The companies rested on their arms that night.

Mayor Townly and Sheriff Thompson received official notices from the receiver of the Central Railroad and from the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Company, that they feared riots in that city and county from strikers. The Third Regiment received orders to go to Hackensack Bridge to protect it. Hundreds of people surrounded the Pennsylvania main depot and Market Hall, and some threatened the militia.

Sheriff Billis, of Hunterdon County, arrested a number of strikers on the 25th, who, it was thought, would cause some trouble if they had been allowed to remain at large. He sent them to Hunterdon County jail. At Phillipsburg there were thirty strikers arrested.

At Easton the trains running had guards on each engine. Eight hundred Pennsylvania militia were ordered to Easton, though all was quiet there. The New Jersey troops were in camp at Phillipsburg.

Several trains arrived at Hoboken from Scranton, Washington, and Phillipsburg, with passengers. Among them were some United States Marshals, who had in their custody the somewhat noted Jack Gallagher, who, during the strike, had detained the United States mails. He had also, it was charged, threatened to take the life of any man who would run the mail train. Gallagher’s arrest was delayed for the reason that it might have caused trouble had it been made while the excitement was at its height. The prisoner was taken before United States Commissioner Muirhead, at Jersey City, and committed for trial.

Detective Killcauly, of Jersey City, arrested Frank McCleary, Financial Secretary of the Brotherhood of Brakemen, on a charge of conspiracy to create a riot at Communipaw, (New Jersey Central Railway.) He was locked up.

The Jersey City Police Board, in a private consultation on the 25th of July, decided that as the three hundred and eighty special policemen on duty were costing the city $3.75 per day each, and as there was no further use for their services, it was necessary to discharge them, which was accordingly done.

The Vice Chancellor of New Jersey had issued orders to all Sheriffs along the line of the New Jersey Central, directing them to summarily arrest for contempt of court all persons obstructing the running of the road by the receiver.

Governor Bedle issued orders on the 26th, for the disbandment of the Ninth Regiment, stationed at Elysian Fields, Hoboken. The soldiers immediately deserted their camp, where they had been for ten days, and marched to Odd Fellows’ Hall. Colonel Hart thanked them for their obedience at the hour of need and general good behavior. He also read a despatch from the Governor, complimenting the troops. Vociferous applause followed, and amid the tumult a soldier shouted, “Three cheers for Pills,” and there was loud laughter and hurrahs. The men, during their encampment, had to doctor themselves pretty energetically.