CHAPTER V.
Riot and Ruin.
Progress of the Great Strikes—Social Disorders—“The Dangerous Classes”—The Commune Comes Upon the Scene—Intense Excitement Throughout the Country—Dealings with Death in Baltimore—Alarm Throughout the Country—Proclamations and Orders.
Those who had cherished the hope that the consequences of the railroad strike along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway would be local and limited, were doomed to be disappointed. The strikes were extending in all directions. It was no longer the railroad men, as a class, who were involved. Other classes of laborers had become enlisted. The situation had become extremely critical. The very foundations of society were shaken in their lowest depths. Like the wild tumult and commotion of a midnight storm, sweeping across both land and sea, with vivid flashes of lightning illuminating its pathway and giving new awe to its ravages, was the mighty current of passion and hate which threatened the destruction of both the social and political institutions of this country on the 20th day of July, 1877. From the very first the cause of the strikers had been gathering strength. In West Virginia the masses of the people were open in their sympathy toward them. Everywhere there was an undercurrent of sympathy with their object. Thus far the railroad men had committed few, or no acts which the general public regarded as lawless. From the Baltimore and Ohio road, on which the first trouble occurred, the strike had extended to the Connellsville Branch, the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne, the Erie, and the Great Pennsylvania Railway System. To the bands of railroad strikers had come a nondescript assemblage of canal-boatmen, truckmen, unemployed mechanics and artisans belonging to various trades, and more dreadful than all, vast swarms of vicious idlers, vagrants and tramps. The whole mass had been transformed into a lawless mob. In the cities the rabble composed of vagabonds, tramps and thieves, were on the alert, ready to plunder, burn, and cut throats on the slightest provocation.
To complicate matters, in all the principal centers of population and seats of trade, the Internationalists, an association with which the American people had heretofore had small acquaintance, became suddenly extremely active, and dangerously bold. The Commune, even worse than the Internationalists, joined in the tumult, and boldly demanded concessions which would have proved subversive of all government, all social order. Coal miners came from their black pits and joined their voices to swell the universal tumult.
Such was the condition of affairs in the most populous and wealthiest regions of the country on the morning of the 20th of July. The conferences, and mysterious assemblages of the previous day had not been unproductive of effects disastrous to the supremacy of law and the good order of society. It was a time of dread even to the coolest and most daring.
The strikers had invoked a power which they themselves could not control. While the contest was between them and their employers, while they committed no other unlawful acts than such as impeded operations of railways, while they confined themselves to petty acts of annoyance to the public and injury to railway companies, there can be no question as to the fact that a vast multitude of people sincerely wished them to be successful. Right or wrong, there was a feeling abroad that to stop a train, not only by quitting work themselves, but by actively interfering to prevent others from working, was at most but a venial fault, an error perhaps, but scarcely a violation of law. There is too much of the opinion entertained by the masses that the property of corporations is not to be regarded in the same light as the property of individuals. And this widespread error rendered it possible for such scenes as we are about to describe, to be enacted.
While centers of interest had multiplied indefinitely during the 18th and 19th, yet the chief interest was still concentrated at Baltimore and along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as late as the 20th and even after that date.
The meeting at Cumberland, Maryland, held on the 19th, and an account of which is given in a former chapter, created no little uneasiness in the minds of those in authority; not so much because of what was done, as on account of what was threatened. The speeches of Jones, O’Donnell and others on that occasion, unquestionably had a bad influence on the more recklessly disposed members of the mass of strikers there assembled. So threatening was the condition of affairs at that point, that the officers of the Railway Company, made application to Governor Carroll, of Maryland, for a military force to protect their interests. The strikers included canal-boatmen, and some mill men and other laborers, together with a few of the railroad strikers, who had retired from Martinsburg after the arrival of General French with the regulars at that point, had taken up a position at Sir John’s Run, a dangerous place on the road some twelve miles from Martinsburg. This band now numbered some four hundred persons, and had degenerated into a turbulent, lawless mob. The presence of the military at Martinsburg had enabled the Railway Company to despatch a large number of their delayed trains from that station. But the strikers at Cumberland, Sir John’s Run, and other places, not having the fear of General French and his regulars before them, resolved to stop all trains that attempted to pass. Accordingly, the rioters at the first named place, proceeded to switch off every train that arrived from the East or the West, and drag the engineers and firemen off the locomotives, in many cases handling them very roughly, and threatening them with severer treatment if they attempted to operate trains on the road during the continuance of the strike.
At Sir John’s Run, the turbulent mob there assembled, stopped a train which was guarded by soldiers, climbed upon the engine, and threw the engineer and fireman to the ground. This mob had procured arms, and was prepared to resist a considerable force. Many of them were supplied with Henry and Winchester repeating rifles, and from this circumstance were able to overawe any train-guard likely to be sent out.
Meanwhile, train after train was dispatched from Martinsburg. They commenced to move them at seven o’clock the morning of the 20th, and moved a train both East and West every thirty minutes. Few of these, however, reached their destination on time. Early in the day General French issued stringent orders, forbidding any person to approach the yards and tracks of the Railway Company, under any pretence, no matter whether friendly or hostile. Strong guards were posted, and a picket line thrown out to enforce this order. Only the persons connected with the operation of the trains were permitted to enter the guarded precincts.
The strikers sullenly retired to a neighboring height, whence they viewed the operations below, and occasionally taunted the trainmen while engaged at their work. The assurance of protection, with offers of extra wages, had its effect on engineers and firemen who were idle, and by the morning of the 20th the Company had no difficulty in securing all the men they wanted. The small force at his command rendered it impossible for the commander of the federal forces at Martinsburg to afford sufficient guards for all the trains.
In the afternoon General French issued the following order of warning to the rioters:
Due notification having been given by the proclamation of the President of the United States to those concerned, the undersigned warns all persons engaged in the interception of travel on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail road that the trains must not be impeded, and whoever undertakes it, do so at their own peril.
It was also determined to break up the encampment of the mob at Sir John’s Run. Accordingly, a train was sent out and with it went Captain Litchfield, with two companies of soldiers to the point of disturbance. On the approach of the troops, the canal-boatmen betook themselves to the Maryland side of the river, or to their boats. Two trains with fires out, which had been stopped by them, were fired up and sent on to the West. A detachment of troops were left at this post to overawe the mob, and afford protection to passing trains. The strikers everywhere expressed a determination to hold out until their demands were complied with. A mob numbering about eight hundred men took possession of a portion of the track of the railway near Baltimore, and compelled all trains which started out to be backed into the yard again. This gang was not composed of railroad men, but consisted of unemployed and vicious persons of the city, in sympathy with the strikers.
Lieutenant Curtis, commanding a detachment of regulars, was sent by General French to afford protection to the trains. The result of the expedition is thus related by that officer, in a despatch to General French.
“The train was stoned at Sir John’s Run, but no one was injured. The rain doubtless prevented a large gathering. Reached Cumberland without molestation at 12:45 A. M. Torpedoes on the track notified the strikers at Keyser of our coming. The regular engineer and fireman were taken off by the strikers and the train run on a siding. About one hundred strikers are at the depot now. My detachment is too small for effective operations, and there are poor accommodations. Shall I remain here, retire to Cumberland or return to Martinsburg?”
The force at his command not being sufficiently large to warrant any further reduction, Lieutenant Curtis was ordered back to Martinsburg. Practically the attempt to open the road through the aid of the military forces of the United States, had come to an end, as the strikers had possession at Cumberland, Keyser, and several other important stations.
The situation at Cumberland had become alarming. There the strikers, their sympathizers, and whole troops of tramps who had come in and joined them, numbered about five hundred men. The men in the large iron works in the place were discontented, and at the point of joining the lawless bands. Towards the close of the afternoon, the crowds of idlers had increased to such an extent, and become so threatening in their demonstrations, that an urgent appeal was telegraphed to Governor Carroll for assistance. The Governor had already been advised of the critical condition of affairs at that point, and had immediately on his arrival in Baltimore consulted with the railroad officials as to the best means for suppressing the disorders, and had arrived at a determination to send General Herbert, with the Fifth Regiment, Maryland National Guard. In pursuance of this purpose, the following order was issued:
Sir:—You will proceed at once with the Fifth Regiment of your command to the city of Cumberland to aid in the suppression of riot and lawlessness along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, in this State, and there await further orders.
The Governor being fully informed of all the facts bearing on the wild disorders in a portion of his State, resolved upon issuing the following proclamation, which was at once made public.
Whereas, It has come to the knowledge of the Executive that combinations of men have been formed at various points along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in this State, and that a conspiracy exists, the object of which is to impede the traffic and interfere with the legitimate business of the said Railroad Company; and,
Whereas, Various acts of lawlessness and intimidation to effect this purpose have been perpetrated in this State by bodies of men with whom the local authorities are, in some instances, incompetent to deal; and,
Whereas, It is of the first importance that good order should everywhere prevail, and that citizens of every class should be protected;
Therefore, I, John Lee Carroll, Governor of Maryland, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby issue this, my proclamation, calling upon all citizens of this State to abstain from acts of lawlessness, and aid lawful authorities in the maintenance of peace and order.
Given under my hand and the great seal of the State of Maryland, at the city of Baltimore, this twentieth day of July, 1877.
In obedience to the orders of the Governor, General Herbert summoned the officers and men of his command to repair to their armory on North Howard street at once, and there await further orders. This order was promulgated about three o’clock in the afternoon. The men began to assemble, but without alacrity. At five o’clock not more than one hundred men were found to be present. A train to carry them West was being prepared, and the militia-men then assembled in the armory on North Howard street fully expected to be transferred to the seat of war out in the mountain regions of the West. Such, however, was not to be the case. Baltimore was even then on the eve of one of the most momentous events in her history. The Spirit of violence was brooding over the city—was destined to have her streets reddened with blood before the sun rose on the morrow.
All the afternoon the crowds at various points in the city had been augmenting with every passing hour. About the railway depots, especially, there were dense masses of people congregated. There was an unwonted air of excitement visible among the pedestrians, who poured through the streets. The Mayor, through information obtained of the police, was convinced that the city was in danger of riotous demonstrations.
In the neighborhood of the armories vast masses of people had collected, and these hooted and jeered the assembling militia-men. In the neighborhood of the armory of the Fifth Regiment, in North Howard street, the thoroughfares were literally packed by a throng of people of all ages, and both sexes. Women taunted the soldiers, and cheered for the strikers. Nor were the feelings of the mob vented alone in tantalizing language. A crowd of roughs stationed themselves on the sidewalk, opposite the armory, with bricks and stones, and in some instances pistols, and began to throw at the soldiers within, through the windows. The appearance of a militia-man at a window was greeted by a perfect storm of missiles. Several shots were fired. The gathering soldiers had great difficulty in forcing their way through the crowd, and ran the risk of being torn in pieces when they attempted to effect an entrance into the building.
Moment by moment the storm of passion gathered in volume and force. It was evident that the situation of the city was perilous in the extreme. The police force was powerless to effect a dispersion of the rioters. Disaster and death threatened to walk hand-in-hand through the streets of the ill-fated city.
During the day, the German section of the Internationalists, otherwise known as “The Workingmen’s Party of the United States,” held a largely attended meeting at their hall at Nos. 43 and 45 East Pratt street, and discussed the situation. Christopher Hesse, made a speech, in which he declared the present movement was a revolution, and offered the opportunity to the Internationalists to carry out their principles. “The government,” he said, “should own all the railroads, and the workingmen should constitute the government.” He called upon them to rise and assert their rights, even though it should be necessary to deluge the streets of Baltimore in blood.
Another meeting of the same character was held in the afternoon at No. 20 Bond street. The persons who attended this place were principally Bohemians and Poles. An individual named Frank Wovrinna, a late importation from Prague, seemed to take the lead in this demonstration. His sentiments and purposes were on a level with those expressed by Hesse.
At No. 261 Battery avenue, still another convocation of the Internationalists assembled, and one John George Ricker, seemed to breathe the spirit of his own fiery nature into the small band of tramps who had assembled there. He, too, was for war, swift, terrible, relentless, in order that the wrongs of workingmen might be redressed.
These people were dealing with death in their desperate venture. It was such counsel as they could give, which led to the deadly volley that caused the streets of Baltimore to be stained with blood that same evening. To the scenes and incidents of the night of the 20th in the city of Baltimore, we must devote more space than can be afforded in this chapter.