REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE Railroad Riots IN JULY, 1877. (continued 21)
Reading edition
Q. Was there a telegraph office adjourning this room where Mr. McKay carried the soldier?
A. The room is connected. There is a door just here.
Adjourned until this afternoon, at three o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Pittsburgh, Tuesday, February 26, 1878.
The committee met, pursuant to adjournment.
All members present except Messrs. Lindsey and Larrabee.
P. J. Young, sworn:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Where is your residence?
A. No. 61 Fountain street.
Q. What is your occupation, sir?
A. Police officer.
Q. Were you on the force at the time of the riots, in July?
A. I was one of the men that was dropped at the time of the reduction—suspended.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday and Thursday night, at the railroad?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Be kind enough to state what occurred there?
A. Well, on Thursday, about noon, I think, Mayor McCarthy called—came to my place where I lived, and told me to hurry down to the mayor's office, I was wanted. I went down, and met Chief Dimick, and he told me I was wanted on the Pennsylvania railroad, there was a strike. I asked him if I was to act as a police officer, and he says, Yes, I was only suspended. I went out and met Mr. Butler at the Union depot. I believe he is the depot master there, and I told him I was sent out there by the mayor's orders. He sent out a car with me and two more officers to Twenty-eighth street, where we joined more police out there. When I arrived there, there was a large crowd of people congregated upon Twenty-eighth street, along the railroad, and remained there until two or three o'clock. I don't know exactly what time.
Q. In the afternoon?
A. Yes. Then me and four officers were detailed to go on board of a double-header. There was a train going out. I went on the first engine, with another officer, as I understood for a protection for the engineer, as far as East Liberty. The train started, and moved on a little piece up the track, and a crowd of, I couldn't say how many, came in front and motioned their hands at the engineer. I said to the engineer, go ahead. He made some remark, and he jumped off the engine. I remained there on the engine, and finally the fireman jumped off. I stood there for some time, thinking they might come back again. They didn't, and I got off, and was asked by, I think, Mr. Fox—he is police officer of the company—if I wouldn't go on the engine again. I said yes. I went on the engine and remained there. No engineer came aboard, and finally I left. At the same time, the other police that were out there—I don't know how many—were strung all along the track, keeping the crowd off. I suppose in the neighborhood of six o'clock I came into supper here, together with more of the officers, to the Continental, on Fifth avenue, at Mr. Newell's; we had supper there. After supper we all went out. A good many went out along with me to the Union depot, and we expected to get a train to go out as far as Twenty-eighth street. We stayed along there, and no engine came down to the depot that night. Me and two or three more officers walked out Liberty street to Twenty-eighth street. There was a large crowd of people along there when we got out. I moved around through them. We patrolled Liberty and along Penn and Twenty-eighth street, and everything was very quiet. I left, I suppose, in the neighborhood of four o'clock in the morning. About that time. That is all I know.
Q. Did the crowd make any demonstrations? Was that all they did, waving their hands to the engineer?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. They didn't make any attempt to commit any violence?
A. No, sir; that night they were a very orderly crowd.
Q. What was this crowd composed of, railroad men?
A. I suppose there was some railroad men there through them.
Q. How many was there, do you suppose, altogether?
A. I couldn't exactly say. There was a large crowd of people. They were scattered up and down the railroad. It was dark.
Q. When you got this train, could you not have run that train out? Did you have a sufficient police force to guard a train—I mean on Thursday afternoon?
A. I wouldn't be afraid, if I was an engineer, to run away. I don't know what might have happened.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did you have a police uniform on?
A. I had a summer uniform—police blouse?
Q. A regular police blouse?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. So that you would be known as a police officer?
A. I had no buttons on it. I had my shield on the inside of my coat. I wore citizen's clothes all the time I was detailed as a reserve man.
Q. A stranger would not have known you were a police officer?
A. There were a great many that did know me.
Q. A stranger would not have recognized you as being a police officer?
A. No; I didn't wear a shield.
Q. Did you know that engineer that jumped off the train?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you know the fireman?
A. No, sir.
Q. How many police officers were there at any one time?
A. I couldn't, in fact, say how many. There was a squad went out in the morning—some more men that was suspended at that time. I don't know how many went out.
Q. Ten or fifteen or twenty?
A. I expect there was over fifteen men.
Q. Was there twenty?
A. I couldn't say, sir.
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Did you keep the track clear?
A. The track was clear at that time. Afterwards, of course, we were not keeping it clear. There was a large crowd that stood away back.
Q. On Friday, what did you do?
A. I didn't go out there on Friday.
Q. Why?
A. I think I came down to the mayor's office Friday, and I got some sleep that forenoon, Friday, and I heard that the sheriff and his posse had gone out and our services were not required.
Q. Who told you that?
A. I couldn't say. I don't know whether it came from the chief's clerk or not—Mr. Davis.
Q. You heard it at the office?
A. I heard it, I think, at the office. I won't swear to it, but I think I heard it at the office. However, I didn't go out.
M. Mulvaney, sworn:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Michael Mulvaney.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. In Eighth ward, Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Policeman.
Q. Were you on the police force in July, at the time of the disturbance?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What days were you on?
A. On Thursday, the mayor's clerk told me to go to the Union depot there, and report to Mr. Butler. Mr. Butler told me to go to work at the round-house, and two or three more of us went down and we remained there. We went to the round-house, and we met some more of the police and stayed there for a long time. There was a big crowd around there. A lot of the police jumped on the train to help take it out—a double-header. Eight or nine of the police jumped on the train, and I saw the engineer and fireman jump off. The fireman and engineer jumped off. That is all I saw at that time. Everything was quiet.
Q. Were you there during that time?
A. No, sir; I was not. I left at four or five o'clock.
Q. Clearing the tracks and keeping the crowd off?
A. The crowd stood one side.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were you one of the discharged men?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who sent for you to appear at the mayor's office?
A. I think it was the mayor's clerk or the chief clerk. I could not say which of the two.
Q. How many of you went out together?
A. Me and two more fellows went together at that time.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You went up there to help to take out the train—a double-header?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How many of you?
A. I could not say. There was a good many police there. I could not say how many.
Q. Were you on the engine?
A. No, sir; I was not on the engine. I saw a lot of them jump on the engine.
Q. Policemen?
A. Policemen.
Q. Were there any threats made against the engineer or fireman?
A. I did not hear any.
Conrad Shaffer, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Conrad Shaffer.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. 318 Fifth avenue.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Police officer eight years and nine months.
Q. Were you on the police force last July, at the time of the riots?
A. I was not, sir.
Q. Were you sent for to appear at the mayor's office?
A. On Thursday morning, when this occurred, we were standing down there on Smithfield street. We just had been paid off, and I was standing there with George Kauffman, another police officer, and Detective O'Mara came to us and said we were wanted at the mayor's office. We went over, and they said to us there was a strike some place. They did not tell us where. There was ten of us gathered around there in the mayor's office, and we were marched by Smithfield street to the Union depot. Mr. Fox, the railroad officer, was along. We walked up Smithfield to the Union depot and got into a car with the shifter in front, and took us out to Twenty-eighth street. They stopped there and we got out, and when we got there this man McCall, who struck Watt—I seen the man running backwards and forwards—then somebody got him by the back of the neck, and I then ran up and put the nippers on him and arrested him and took him to the Twelfth ward station-house, and we went back to the railroad track. I stayed there all the forenoon, until about two o'clock in the afternoon. There was a train came along, and Mr. Fox came to us and said he wanted men on the engine. Fox told me and Cochran to stay in the rear, and we went back to the rear, and while we were going back the train moved on, and men got in front and done this like, [holding up his hands,] and the engineer got off. The second engineer got off, and the men that was firing they got off, and we stopped there then all the afternoon, and we went to the central station. We had our supper in the Continental, and after we had supper we were marched back again out to the depot. Walked up then to what they call the dispatch office, at the outer depot. There is a little house that they call the dispatch office, and a telegraph dispatch came in that they did not want any more officers—thought they could do without the police out there—so then we stood there for a long time, and did not know what to do, and Clerk Davis told us we might go home if they did not want us. Directly a dispatch came in that we could go out. We were put on a car and taken out again, and we remained all that night, until half past three o'clock in the morning. Then there was no disturbance going on, and we went home. I then stayed at home. We were not wanted any more—the city did not want us, and the railroad company did not want us.
Q. Did they tell you they did not want you?
A. We were our bosses.
Q. You say the railroad company did not want you?
A. I did not see any official of the Pennsylvania railroad there at all. On Monday evening after the proclamation was issued for all the old officers to come back again, I went to the Central station and offered my services, and on Monday morning the mayor, and General Negley, and a squad of his men, and a company of Mr. McFarland's were marched down Smithfield street to this place, where the boat was coming in from Elizabeth—right down here on second avenue—and stopped them, and the mayor and General Negley then made speeches to the men, told them they had better not raise any violence in the city of Pittsburgh, and keep quiet. We were taken away again, and placed on the city of Pittsburgh force on our regular beat.
Q. After you tried to start this train, and the men waved their hands, and the train stopped, did you get off?
A. I was not on the train. I was in the rear of it.
Q. Were the officers in possession of the track?
A. There was officers all along the track.
Q. They could have run this train. It was possible for the train to go out; that is, the crowd could not have interfered.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You went back to the depot after supper?
A. After we had supper, we marched to the Union depot. Went into the telegraph office, outside the Union depot—there was a two story frame they called a dispatch office. A dispatch came in that they did not want any officers, and I asked Clerk Davis, says I, "Don't they want any more police out there" and he said, "It seems not."
Q. Who is Clerk Davis?
A. He was the chief's clerk.
Q. The mayor's clerk?
A. No, sir; the chief's clerk.
Q. He was not a railroad official?
A. No, sir; the chief's clerk.
Q. Dispatch came that they did not want any more officers?
A. They dispatched that a man was here, and if they wanted him, they could have him. There were two young men in there that were playing checkers. I could see them standing at the window and looking in. They were playing checkers at the time, and I walked right up to Mr. Davis, and the young fellow held his ear right down to the instrument when it came. They telegraphed, "You can send him, if the man is willing to go out." So he went.
Q. You did not go back, you said.
A. I went home.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did you know those engineers that jumped off the train?
A. No, sir; they were perfect strangers to me.
Q. Did you know the man that waved, to stop the train?
A. No, sir; he was a tall young man, light moustache, to the best of my recollection.
Q. Did you know any of the railroad employés?
A. No, sir. It was on a different part of the city. My way was out here on Fifth avenue, that was over on the other side.
By Mr. Yutzy:
Q. Did they start the train?
A. They ran about the length of this room.
Q. How many men were on the track in front, and waved and signaled to stop?
A. I could not say how many there were in front of the train. There was not any more on the track than there is in this room.
Q. Did they make any threats?
A. No, sir.
Q. Said nothing to the engineers?
A. No, sir. All the man done was this. [Waving his hands.]
Q. Did you take that to be a signal to stop?
A. I supposed so. I was in the rear, and Mr. Fox told me. He says, "Shaffer, you go in the rear, and get on the train." Says I, "All right, Mr. Fox." Just as I got ready to jump on, the train stopped.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. This man that made these signals, was he on the track in front of the engine?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How far were you from the engine?
A. I went to jump on. I went to get on, and I seen the young man doing this. Some of them hooted and cheered, and then she stopped.
Q. You were not at the rear of the train?
A. Not quite; it was a long train. I do not know how many cars were on it.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were you up there on Sunday?
A. No, sir.
George Cochrane, sworn:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. George Cochrane.
Q. Your residence?
A. Eighth ward.
Q. Occupation?
A. Been on the police force until they dropped these men.
Q. Are you on the force now?
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday and Thursday night of July 19th?
A. I was one of the ten men that was called in on Thursday.
Q. Be kind enough to relate what occurred?
A. We mustered up ten men, started out to the Union depot, got on a car there and went as far as Twenty-eighth street. Seen a big crowd out there. Stopped around there a little while, and this McCall, he jumped on a switch there and made use of some threatening language, and I believe, struck superintendent Watt, and we arrested him and put him in the Twelfth ward station-house. We fetched him to central station at Diamond alley. We came in, got supper and went out again, then went to the Union depot and stopped out there awhile, and didn't know whether they wanted any more men or not. We stopped there awhile, and finally went out as far as Twenty-eighth street again, and stopped there all night. In the morning, I guess, six or seven o'clock, I came in again—Friday morning I came in to the Union depot, and seen Mr. Fox there, and he detailed me for the depot then—detailed five of us. Stayed in around about the Union depot. I stayed there until nine o'clock Friday night, and Fox told me I had better go home and get some sleep. I went home and came back Saturday morning, stayed around there all day Saturday and Saturday night, and I went up home to change my clothes. Sunday morning I came back again, stayed around until the Union depot had catched fire, and word was sent from the mayor's office that the mayor wanted all the policemen he could get hold of to report at the mayor's. We went down to the mayor's office, and was detailed there, doing duty around the city. We went out Second avenue here and stopped a party there from coming in. The mayor made a speech to them. Went to the Connellsville depot and arrested some thirty or forty there that had taken a train and would not pay any fare.
Q. Taken a train to go out?
A. No; they took charge of a train and would not pay fare.
Q. That was the parties that came from Cumberland, Maryland.
A. Yes; that was the same party.
Q. This double-header, on Thursday, I believe, was thirty-six cars and two locomotives?
A. We started to go out with some four or five policemen on each locomotive. Sheaffer and I was on the rear part of the train, and we made several attempts to go out, and the engineer on the first locomotive he jumped off, and the crowd cheered him. Then he got back on to his locomotive, and got his coat out of the box and put it on, and they both left their engine. There was nobody to hinder them going out, that I could see.
Q. Do you suppose they could run out, and did you have sufficient force to protect them?
A. There was sufficient force to protect them.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were any of those ten men you speak of, that left the mayor's office, dressed in police uniform?
A. No; they had blouses on them.
Q. Could any of them be distinguished from any other citizens?
A. No; a stranger would not have known them, I suppose. There was hundreds of them out there knew me. I don't suppose a stranger would.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What made the engineers leave their engines?
A. They told them to get off.
Q. They told them to get off?
A. They beckoned for them, I believe, and they got off.
Q. Did you know the engineer?
A. Never had any acquaintance with him. Since that time I have.
Q. You did not know them at that time?
A. No, sir.
Q. Didn't tell you why they got off?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was any threats made by any one?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You speak of these men making some threats. They struck Mr. Watt?
A. Yes, sir; McCall, he used threatening language at the time he struck him.
Q. What did he say?
A. He jumped out there and says, "We will die here."
Q. Die—make a fight before these trains would go out?
A. Yes; we had no trouble out there after we made that arrest?
Patrick J. Carrigan sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. No. 109 Second avenue.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Police officer.
Q. Were you on the police force on July 19?
A. Special police officer—yes, sir.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday and Thursday evening?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Will you be kind enough to state what occurred?
A. I went on duty Thursday afternoon. There was a pretty good sized crowd at Twenty-eighth street. And they were getting ready to take a train out, and they put a good many officers on each car and the locomotive, and some stayed along the line and watched them. One man got out in front and done this way. [Waving his hand.] The train and the engineer got off.
Q. How long did you stay there?
A. I stayed until five o'clock, and then came in town, and they were taking this McCall in; and I got supper, and then went out again in the evening, and stayed there all night.
Q. Were you on duty Friday?
A. No, sir.
Q. Friday night?
A. No, sir.
Q. Saturday?
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you on duty at any time afterwards there?
A. Yes; went on duty again on Tuesday after the riot, and when going out on the train, one of the Pennsylvania officials got on the train, and told us when we got to Twenty-eighth street to get off, and not let these men see us. They did not want these men to know that they were…. About twelve of us went up the hill, and lay there behind some trees all night.
Q. This was Thursday?
A. Thursday. A few of us would go down to where the railroad fellows were, and stand around there. There was not over twenty-five or thirty.
Q. Were they on the tracks?
A. No, sir; on Twenty-eighth street. There was nothing on the tracks but railroad men, walking up and down.
Q. Could you have taken that train out that day?
A. Yes, sir; if they had engineers that train could have gone out.
Q. You had possession of the track—and the officers did?
A. There was only this one that was on the track.
Q. Was there any attempt made to assist him?
A. Not that I saw. He went over in the crowd. I was down back where the crowd was, in case of any of them interfering. We were in citizens' clothes, and we scattered amongst them.
Q. There was no attempt made to arrest?
A. They made arrests before I got up.
Q. They got McCall?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Policemen hid behind trees?
A. We were told to go there by the railroad officials—to get off and not show ourselves; there was some trees in the road, and we laid down there.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were you ordered by the railroad officials in charge of you to go behind trees?
A. To go up on this road. He didn't tell us to go behind trees.
Q. And conceal yourselves?
A. And conceal ourselves.
John Davis re-called:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were you out at Torrens, Mr. Davis, during Thursday?
A. I was.
Q. Will you be kind enough to state what occurred there, and what efforts were made by the police to disperse the crowd?
A. When I got there there was nothing special going on, for everything was quiet. I didn't remain there but a short time—came back to Twenty-eighth street, and when I was there everything was perfectly quiet.
Q. Officers had possession of the track?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You have testified to what knowledge you had of the occurrences at Twenty-eighth street?
A. With the exception of Thursday night—a little matter I forgot. After I had got the men their suppers, I went to the depot, and reported at the telegraph office I had men to go out. And the reply came back that everything was quiet, and they needed no more men, and they could not send an engine for us. I told the men what transpired, and directly a second despatch came, that we could go out if we wished to. Some of the men walked out, some remained around the depot, and went out afterwards. As I have stated in my other testimony, on Friday morning I sent officers up to the depot, and they returned and stated that they were not wanted; they had all the men they wished.
Q. I believe you testified to that?
A. Yes; I testified to that.
Q. Anything else?
A. Nothing further than I was a witness of the transaction of the firing.
Q. Have you testified as to that?
A. No, sir. You stopped me right at the firing. I was present when the troops came up, and witnessed the whole transaction.
Q. Go ahead?
A. After the troops came up there were civilians in front of the troops. They halted probably five or six feet from Twenty-eighth street. The column left faced, and marched towards the sand-house. The first two columns about faced and marched towards the hill side—formed an open square—and a detachment of soldiers came between the two columns, with the Gatling guns in the rear of them. A detachment of soldiers came up between the two columns—came towards where the crowd was gathered—at a carry arms, and it appears they could not get further, and they fell back five or six paces, and came to a charge bayonets. At that time, when they came to a charge bayonets, there was in the neighborhood of a dozen or two missiles thrown from the house. I only saw one stone among the lot. At that moment they commenced to fire. I was on the hill side.
Q. Was the crowd resisting the soldiers?
A. There was such an immense gathering there they could not get away—they had no chance to get away.
Q. Did the soldiers attempt to press them back at first?
A. They first came to carry arms—carrying their guns at the side of them—then they stepped back and came to a charge. Just at that point these missiles came from the little house, thrown by the boys.
Q. Did you hear any pistol shots?
A. Previous to that? No, sir; I did not.
Q. Did you hear any command to fire?
A. I didn't, sir. I was probably sixty yards above the railroad track. I could witness the movement of the troops, but could not hear any orders given. After the firing I immediately came down the hill the way I went up—took the same course. Came down past the soldiers, and went into the railroad buildings. I saw this soldier, who was carried off the ground before they had formed a square, and helped to bring him to.
Q. Who was there?
A. There was two men there—a reporter of one of the city papers.
Q. Do you know these men?
A. Only one of them.
Q. What was his name?
A. Mr. Rattigan. Him and I went in together. He is a reporter—used to be on the Pittsburgh Chronicle.
Q. What office was he carried to?
A. Telegraph office. The first floor in that building, Twenty-sixth street.
Q. Was there anybody in the room at the time besides these two men?
A. There were two other men attending him. One of them had a bandage around his head, and said he had got hit with a stone. He said he was not hurt very much. There was a small bandage around his forehead.
Q. You didn't know who gave the orders to fire?
A. No, sir. After the firing there was quite a …. raised. Some parties were excited over it—some of their friends being killed. It was quiet Thursday, Friday, and Saturday along the railroad. Had no trouble.
Q. How soon after the firing did you go down to this telegraph office?
A. The minute they commenced firing I saw dust flying pretty lively round me, and I started up the hill. I suppose I was three to five minutes going up and coming down. After the firing was done I came right down the hillside again—I came down the same course I went up.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You say a sick soldier was in the telegraph office?
A. In the room in the left of the building as you go in.
Q. Is that the telegraph office?
A. They call it a telegraph office, but it is not in that room.
Q. Train master's office?
A. I don't know whose office it is. They call it a telegraph office.
Q. The instruments are in the adjoining office?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Could you see into the telegraph room?
A. I opened the door to look in.
Q. Anybody in?
A. No; the operator was working with this young man on the floor. He was having a spasm, stiffened up. They worked with him for probably ten minutes before he came to.
Q. He had a fit, didn't he?
A. A fit of some kind.
Q. That was fifteen minutes before the firing took place?
A. I came down the hill immediately after the firing took place, and went there to see these parties in the room.
Q. Did you see General Pearson on the ground just before the firing or during the time of the firing?
A. Didn't see him out after the troops went into the round-house; then I saw him in the yard, probably six o'clock in the evening—between five and six—I saw him in the yard.
Q. Did you see the officers in the hollow square?
A. I saw some, but could not recognize any of them.
Q. Do you know General Pearson?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Didn't see him?
A. No; didn't see him until the firing was all over.
Q. If General Pearson had been in the hollow square, wouldn't you have seen him?
A. My attention was not directly called to the officers. I was watching the movements of the men, and the minute these stones were thrown, my attention was called to that. In fact, I was not looking at the officers, I was watching the movements of the men. I suppose if I was looking for General Pearson, I could have picked him out from others. I have known him for a good many years.
Richard Hughes, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Richard Hughes.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. 2512 Carson street, south side, Twenty-fifth ward.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I was on the police force.
Q. Were you on the police force on the 19th day of last July?
A. I was one of those suspended.
Q. Did you offer your services to the railroad officers on the 19th of July?
A. Yes; I went up to the Union depot, two or three parties along with me, ex-policemen, Thursday morning. Stayed there until about eleven o'clock. The first thing, I seen about ten or fifteen, or twenty policemen, with two or three detectives, walking through the Union depot. That drew my attention, and I followed them. George Crosby, and two or three other parties went back, and met Mr. Davis on Smithfield street, and he told us they wanted to see us at the office—wanted us to go out to the Union depot. We went down to the Union depot, and seven of us, with detective White, and taking a train between one and two o'clock from Union depot to the stock-yards, we went out—seven of us. Sam Leary, at East Liberty, he came in, too. Mr. Watt was along with us. There was two or three hundred people around there, and they told us to clear the track, they were going to start a train then. We went to move them off the track, so they did, and when the track was clear, they couldn't get engineers, firemen, or brakemen to take out the train. Stayed there until seven or eight o'clock that evening, and everything was quiet. The regular force came out about half-past six that evening, in full uniform, around the stock-yards. There was nothing going on there. We came on on Monday morning following. I came to town; went up to the Union depot. I saw two or three policemen, and asked who hired them, and they said Fox. I asked him if they wanted any more policemen, and he said he had plenty. I asked for Mr. Watt, the superintendent, and he told me he was at the round-house. He told me they wanted no more policemen. I asked him to pay me what he owed me, I want to leave town in the afternoon. He said he couldn't pay me, to go to the office. He told me he didn't want any more police. I went to Mr. Watt myself.
Q. Did you tell him the mayor had sent you?
A. I told him the mayor had ordered us out there. The day before that we wanted to know who was going to pay us. They told us the pay was all right. Clerk Davis asked me, why ain't you on duty, and I told him they didn't want me.
Q. Did you see anything of the fire that night?
A. No, sir; I left two o'clock Friday afternoon.
George W. Crosby, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. George W. Crosby.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. No. 1117 Carson street, south side.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Formerly a policeman and laborer.
Q. Were you on the police force on the 19th of July last?
A. No, sir. I was taken off on the reduction. The 11th or 12th of July the suspension took place.
Q. Did you offer your services to the railroad officials on Friday, the 20th?
A. Yes. I went to the Union depot on Friday, the 20th, between nine and ten o'clock. I met Mr. Fox, a police officer of the Pennsylvania railroad, offered my services to him, and he told me he didn't want any more. He had all the men he wanted, and mentioned the number of men he had.
Q. How many did he say he had?
A. I couldn't say positively. Three or four, or four or five. I couldn't swear to the exact number, but I know he mentioned it to me. He had all the men he wanted.
Q. You were not on duty on Thursday?
A. Yes; I was.
Q. Did you see anybody besides Mr. Fox?
A. At the Union depot?
Q. No, sir; that day—on Friday?
A. No, sir. I only offered my services to him.
Q. Did you see Mr. Watt, the superintendent, at any time?
A. I was in company with Mr. Hughes at the time he saw Mr. Watt, and I had nothing to say to Mr. Watt at all.
William J. White, sworn.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. City of Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. On the detective force.
Q. Were you out at Torrens on Thursday, the 19th of July?
A. I was, sir.
Q. Will you be kind enough to state what occurred, and what efforts were made by the police force to disperse the crowd?
A. I will state that about the neighborhood of twelve o'clock on Thursday, the 19th of July, I met the chief's clerk, Mr. Davis, and he told me he wanted all the available police he could get, to go out on the railroad, there was a strike. I hunted around and got one or two, and going up Fifth avenue I met the mayor, and the mayor told me to go out and get all I could, and go to Twenty-eighth street. I went up to the depot, and got about six or seven men, besides myself, and took up some on my way—about seven men, I guess—and went to Twenty-eighth street, getting off the cars there; and Mr. Watt was with us, and he told us we had better go on to Torrens station. We got on the cars and went to Torrens station, and got off there. There was quite a crowd—I suppose seventy-five or one hundred strikers. Mr. Watt asked me to clear the tracks. I done so. Told the men to get off the tracks, and they all went off the tracks, and had no trouble or difficulty whatever. Stayed around there for a considerable time, and I think Mr. Gumbert, a gentleman connected with the dispatcher, came to me and said, "We are going to send a train out." Says I, "All right." Says he, "What I want you to do, is to get the men up the track, and see that nobody mounts the train." I told the men to scatter along, in different positions, on the track; that this train was going out, and see that nobody got on the train, and that the train went out. No person interfered whatever.
Q. What day was this?
A. Thursday, the 19th.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. Was that a double-header?
A. I could not say. I suppose there was over twenty cars on it.
Q. Do you know whether there were two engines on it?
A. No, sir; there was only one engine.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. How long did you remain there?
A. I remained until seven o'clock in the evening.
Q. Any further effort made to run trains after that?
A. No, sir.
Q. Any threats made by any of the men when the train started? Was the engineer threatened by the crowd?
A. No; I talked to some and they said they did not wish to intimidate any person. They were talking to the engineer and fireman. There was no threats or violence while I was there.
Q. Were you at Twenty-eighth street during the firing on the troops?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know anything connected with the riots?
A. I was not up at Twenty-eighth street, from the fact that the rules at the mayor's office require that a man has a week in the office, and it was my week in the office, and Friday and Saturday I was in the office all day. Sunday, after dinner, I started out. Then I started to help the fire department, and do what I could in that way.
Q. You were at the office after the Thursday of that week?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. While there, did you hear any demand made on the mayor for a force of police?
A. I cannot say that I did. The mayor was a good deal confused about it. We had not the force, in fact. I think it was Friday or Saturday morning. I seen a party come down to the mayor, and go into the office, and ask for that—some warrants that should have been served—that they hand them over. I believe they were handed over to a young man that came there—some warrants issued, I think, for some of the head rioters.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Do you know anything about those warrants?
A. No, sir; I do not.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you see any one ask the mayor to go along up to the railroad, and see Mr. Cassatt or Pitcairn or anybody else?
A. I did not.
Q. Did you hear any conversation in the office by some men, in regard to the burning of all the railroad property, on Sunday?
A. I did not; no, sir. I was in the office until dinner time. There was a good deal of excitement around there. Citizens running in—and the mayor was doing all he could, under the circumstances.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Who was the man that demanded the warrants?
A. He was a young man. I could not tell.
James Scott, sworn.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your name?
A. James Scott.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Ninth ward, Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I am a detective officer.
Q. Were you on the force at the time of the disturbance, in July?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you hear the mayor offer the services of the police force to the firemen to protect them, at any time during the fire on Saturday night or Sunday?
A. I will just state, as brief as I can. On Sunday morning I was sent by the chief to the Twelfth ward station to take charge of the telegraph office, and I met the mayor coming down. He asked me if I was going down. He told me to remain at the station there until I was relieved. In an hour and a half the mayor came back again in a buggy and asked if any squad of police had come up. He left his buggy there, and went to Twenty-eighth street. The station-house is at Twenty-sixth street. We went up street and came back again, and about the time we came back the squad of police was there. They brought in some prisoners. They had their arms full of goods. The mayor gave them orders to string along on Liberty street and protect the firemen, and arrest anybody that would interfere with them, and they started. I stood there all day, until seven o'clock in the evening.
Q. Do I understand you went with those men to Liberty street?
A. No, sir.
Q. You stayed at the station-house?
A. I stayed until I was relieved by the night captain. There were one hundred and fifteen men taken out. I think there are seven different station-houses that have a police wire in, and you have to have a man to attend to it; but in daylight they have none.
Q. There is no man left in the station-house at that time?
A. Nobody to do that. When we had the one hundred and sixteen men on, the lieutenant was always on duty more or less, and it was understood he could operate, and if there was anything wrong in the district, he could telegraph to head-quarters. We have one in East Liberty, one at Lawrenceville, one in the Twelfth ward, one at Centre avenue, one at the Fourteenth ward, and three on the south side. I came down in the evening at seven o'clock. Some parties threatened they would be around in the evening to burn the water-works, and the citizens of those two blocks surrounding that and edging on the Fort Wayne sheds considered if any of those places got started it would be liable to burn them out. I went down to the mayor's office and reported this danger, and I thought we ought to have a squad of police, fifteen or twenty. I reported to the chief and also to the mayor, and said I would start back and get together what citizens I could; and it was not an hour until there was twenty-five police there. We surrounded these water-works and stayed there until daylight.
Q. The morning of——
A. That was Sunday night at the time of the fire. During the night, about eleven o'clock, we smelled smoke at the far end of the Fort Wayne, and a couple of citizens, by the names of Moran and Reed, went down there and put it out. If it had got started there would have been quite a fire there.
Q. You are a detective, I understand?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday?
A. On duty on Thursday; yes, sir, on duty right along.
Q. Did you witness any of the occurrences?
A. No, sir; was not out there at any time. No orders to go out.
Q. You received no instructions about arresting these men. There was a warrant for some men who were supposed to be leaders?
A. There was a party detailed for that purpose.
Q. You were not in that party?
A. No, sir.
Q. Would it have been possible that night for these men to get hold of these parties—those officers that had the warrants? Were you out that night on duty?
A. Not that night—never off duty, you might say—we are always on duty.
Q. What I want to know is, whether these officers could have arrested these men they had warrants for?
A. I think it would have been almost an impossibility to have got them, unless they were got at their homes. To take them out of that crowd would take twice the force to get one or two men.
Q. You believe that with the force of the mayor, it would have been impossible to have taken these men?
A. To take these men right in the crowd, it would have been dangerous. I felt that way. I have had occasion to be where there was something like a riot at the bolt works, this same summer, and we had about twenty police there, and I suppose there was some fifteen hundred or two thousand men. We gave them to understand they could not pass into the gates, and they did not pass in, and it all passed quiet, and nobody hurt; but if we had fired one shot, I do not think we would have been of much use.
Q. As an experienced officer, you would not have made the arrest that night in that crowd?
A. Not in that crowd.
Q. Do you know whether there was any effort made to shadow these men—following them to their homes?
A. No, sir.
Charles L. Schriver, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Reside in Harrisburg.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Locomotive fireman.
Q. Were you employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company?
A. I was.
Q. At the time of the strike on the 19th of July?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you there on Thursday?
A. I was there on Thursday morning.
Q. Be kind enough to state what occurred?
A. I got to the round-house, I guess, about eight o'clock; stayed in there awhile. I was reading a dispatch containing an account of the riot in Martinsburg to three or four other fireman and engineers. There was a man came into the round-house and said the brakemen were on a strike. So a couple of us went down to the yard, and the brakemen said down there that they were not going out on any double-headers. There was a fellow tried to make a coupling, and a man hit him with a link, and a little while after that they took out the same train with a yard engine. They couldn't get any long road engines out—nobody would go. I went home to dinner and came back. They tried to take out this double-header. They coupled engine 775 and 473, and it was an understood thing between the engineers and conductors, that any person could go out ahead and make a signal to stop, they would stop and get off. As soon as 775 went down the yard and got the train of thirty-six cars, and came up into the yard, and 473 coupled ahead and pulled her out, there was four or five policemen got on each engine, and John Major, he was on 473, and the engineer of 473, pulled her out. She made about two exhausts, and a fellow got ahead on the track and threw up his hands. That stopped her. He reversed, and got off. Then the road foreman and civil engineer took the train back into the yard and ran the engines up to the round-house. I went home to supper that evening, and was going to Allegheny, and parties said, "You better stay around here at Twenty-eighth street." It was all very quiet. There was no disturbance or anything. About twelve o'clock, somebody says, there was a kind of collision in the crowd. Right at Twenty-eighth street, about three feet on to Twenty-eighth street, there was a car that they used in loading cinders, and directly a man stepped up—it was Sheriff Fife—and commenced talking, and said we had better go home, and leave the company do as they please. It was only making the thing worse. The company would come out ahead anyhow, and it was no use kicking about it. General Pearson and Davy Watt was along, and, I guess, they talked in the neighborhood of ten minutes, perhaps, and some person went to General Pearson, and asked him about the case of McCall, who had been arrested. Pearson said if they would be down at the lockup with all their witnesses, he would defend them, and would not want any money for it. They thought that was a magnificent offer of General Pearson, and they would accept it, and I do not know whether they went down or not. I went home—the sheriff was there—and went to bed and got up about six o'clock, went down street; bought a paper to read an account of the strike, and went down town; and going down, there was one hundred cars of stock that had come to Twenty-fifth street, and asked for them to have two engines, and some parties volunteered in the crowd that they could have a dozen if they wanted. I went down to the depot about nine o'clock, and the engineer requested me to fire one of these trains to East Liberty. I fired up twice for him. The first trip they had put up this proclamation purporting to be the Governor's. I read it myself. There was three of them, I believe, posted up round there somewhere. This was about eleven o'clock. There was nothing further occurred of any importance there that night. I heard of the First division being called out. Knew of the other troops being called out—I heard of it about eleven o'clock. The First division was called out, and was coming here at about two o'clock. I heard about the shooting in Baltimore, and was told that they came to do the same thing here. I stayed there until General Pearson came. I was acquainted with General Brown. Talked to Major McDonald, he said his men could not fire, that his men had no ammunition.
Q. Who told you that?
A. Major McDonald, of the Fourteenth regiment. I talked to General Pearson a while, and he got up and said there was no damn use of the boys going around there, he was going out with a double-header, and was going to ride on the pilot. Some of the boys allowed that he was not. I stayed there until ten o'clock, and I knew the Philadelphia troops ought to be there pretty soon. I left and went home; went to bed. I slept then until evening, and didn't know anything about the shooting, until I was awaked up about six o'clock. I went up to Twenty-eighth street. Didn't see any dead men. Seen some blood around. Stayed around Twenty-eighth street and Penn, and saw parties marching out with guns, flags, drums, &c. Went home and slept until half-past three o'clock that morning. I got awake by seeing the fire out of my bed. Waited until daylight. As I got to the Twelfth ward lockup the black maria came. They took down a whole gang for stealing up there that night. Just as I crossed Twenty-sixth street, an engineer of the road says, "The Philadelphia troops fired at us." I got up to Twenty-eighth street again, and was told they were going to leave the round-house. I stayed there at the corner of Twenty-eighth and Liberty, and I saw them marching down Twenty-fifth street. Then I stayed at Twenty eighth street until they passed. I saw they had all their arms cocked, and ready to fire.
Q. Did you see anybody fire?
A. No, sir. I went up to the hospital grounds with a lady friend of mine, stayed around Twenty-eighth street. She thought it would be the least danger. As soon as they got to Thirty-third street, I heard a volley. I guess it must have been a hundred pieces went off.
Q. You said it was understood that if any man came in front of the engines, any engineers and firemen were all to get off?
A. It was an understood thing between the crew of this train. The conductor, by the name of Franze—he formerly run from Pittsburgh to Connemaugh, and then from Derry to Altoona. He came from Johnstown that morning. He didn't want to go out, and he came to where there was a crowd standing, and he said if any person would tell me not to turn the switch, I wouldn't do it. He only wanted an excuse not to go out. He wanted to keep himself solid with the company, and keep his job. He went down to the transfer, and coupled up thirty-six cars, and Woodward, the engineer of 473, he said the same. All he wanted was some one to go and signal to stop, and then they would have an excuse that they couldn't go out. They would be solid with the company and men also. When they coupled these engines, 473 and 775, a man by the name of David Davis, he was the first man to swing, and they understood what he wanted, and he reversed, and stopped. That is what I say, it was an understood thing between the crowd and that train crew.
Q. Was there any understanding among the men generally?
A. No; there was no understanding among the men generally. I think every person said they wouldn't go out on double-headers.
Q. They had all agreed on that?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What were the causes leading to the strike?
A. When the reduction become known it was decided on a strike. Then there was to be a strike, and they sent a committee of engineers to see Mr. Scott; but they couldn't get any satisfaction. I understood then that the 27th, I believe, was set for another strike, and that fell through; but this strike, it was not a pre-arranged thing, until it was known, until the first eight-forty train that morning. When I came to the round-house—everything was double-headers. On Monday there had been an order posted on the telegraph that all trains were double-headers, and a new line would ran to Altoona. That would have taken a great deal of work from some men. There would be a good many discharged. They suspended two or three of their oldest engineers. Every man refused to give up. They all talked of it, and went on with the strike, all the other roads striking. On Friday a telegram came from the Erie that all of them were on a strike.
Q. Telegraph came from the Erie?
A. Came from Hornersville, New York.
Q. To the Trainmen's Union.
A. It come to the master of the Firemen's Brotherhood of this division?
Q. It was an understood thing they were going to strike on Friday?
A. No, sir; you misunderstood me. It was an understood thing that a strike was to occur on the 19th of July, but after the Baltimore and Ohio went out first, and then, when the men on the Pennsylvania struck, then the rest of them followed suit. The Fort Wayne, Pan Handle, and all over the country, all followed after the B. and 0. and Pennsylvania.
Q. That was not double-headers?
A. The rest of them followed—that was going against their ten per cent.
Q. What was the cause?
A. The ten per cent. and abuse and double-headers was the main cause of the strike. If a man didn't make himself solid with these petty officials, they were abused.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was it understood that there was to be a strike all over the country when the Pennsylvania Central men struck?
A. No; as far as I know I don't think it was. After the Pennsylvania went out, the other men had their cause to strike, too, and they followed suit, right after the Pennsylvania, because they had the two big trunk lines striking, and these other little roads, that they would follow suit.
Q. You were speaking of the Firemen's Brotherhood. Is that the same thing as the Trainmen's Union?
A. It is just the same as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Q. That is separate from the Trainmen's Union?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Are you a member of the Firemen's Brotherhood?
A. No, sir; I don't belong.
Q. A member of the Trainmen's Union.
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you a member of any organization?
A. No, sir; I attended one meeting the firemen had. Engineers had their meeting, and firemen had their meeting, and trainmen had their meeting.
Q. Do you know whether there was a man selected to start this strike in any way?
A. To tell the truth, there was not one man in Pittsburgh knew this strike was to occur on the 19th of July.
Q. You believe the first man that left the train——
A. Was the cause of the rest following. This Rye, one of the men you had before you, his crew was to go out that morning at eight-forty. That would have been the second double-header on the road. Of course, there was a good many double-headers run over it, but it was to be general. There was to be no single trains. When his crew said they were not going out, we might as well quit this, as to be discharged after a while, then the rest of the men coming in, they would not go out, then, because the first fellows refused to go out on double-headers. If a man would have wanted to go out, he could have. There was nothing to prevent him, if he had a little courage.
Q. There would have been no bodily injury?
A. No, sir; if I had wanted to go out, I could have gone out or anything else. The strike was conducted by intimidation.
Q. I understand you one fellow got struck with a link?
A. That was done by a party who was not really responsible for what he was doing. He was a little the worse for his beer, or he would not have done it.
Q. We had testimony that links and pins were thrown at engineers on their engines—did you see anything of that kind?
A. There was one link thrown at this man that went to couple the caboose to the engines on the Thursday morning, and he had no business to couple a caboose, or they wouldn't have thrown any link. He belonged down to the transfer, and was not a long road man.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Every fellow has his work, and if he undertakes to do anything else, they don't allow him?
A. Just as affairs stood then, they didn't allow it. There was no threat made. Another fireman and me sat down on a track and talked to some of them—asked what they were going to do. They said nothing; only we are not going out on double-headers.
Q. How did they come and take possession of the switches, and stop trains from running?
A. They didn't stop any; they didn't have any men to go out with them. A good many men deny that they had anything to do with the strike, but they had at that time. They wanted their ten per cent. as much as anybody.
Q. Had the order cut their wages down below what they could have lived on, or could the men make fair wages enough to live on?
A. If the strike had not taken place that morning, there would have been twelve engineers to go off, about ten firemen, and forty trainmen, conductors, brakemen, and flagmen—that would have been fifty or sixty men. It would have been only a week or so until they would have run everything to Altoona, and that would have thrown out the east end of the division, and then there would be nothing left for the strikers at all, only when freight was a little heavy they would not have made anything. A man never made much money unless freights were very good, and he is running all the time, and is half dead—then he can make money. That is in regard to firemen or brakemen; of course engineers, with their big wages, they can make money.
Q. Was it your object, as strikers, to compel the railroad company to employ more men than they really needed?
A. The object of the strike was to do away with double-headers and get their ten per cent. back, if they could. If Mr. Watt would have come up there that morning and said, all right, let them run single trains, the thing would have been over in half a minute. No; they wouldn't do that. They didn't think about their ten per cent. that morning. All it was about was double-headers. After the strike was prolonged, then the ten per cent. was more thought of.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You informed the masters of those lodges that there was a strike here in Pennsylvania, on the Pennsylvania, and he telegraphed back that there would be strikes on all the roads?
A. No, sir.
Q. What was it?
A. There was a telegram came from Hornersville, on the Erie road, from a man by the name of Donahue, to the master of this division of the Firemen's Brotherhood, stating that they were all out, and wished the Pennsylvania railroad men success. I believe that was it.
Q. Was there any understanding among the men that they were safe here, in Pittsburgh, to strike, and not to be molested, and they wouldn't be if they were Philadelphia men?
A. No, sir.
Q. In other words, that if the Philadelphia men came here they had no sympathy with the strikers, and they would be apt to attempt to run trains out, and take possession of the tracks?
A. No, sir; I have never heard anything of that.
Q. You don't know that this point was selected, then?
A. No, sir; it was only accidental the strike came about, and it was through the double-headers. If the strike would have been to occur that day, every body would have known it.
Q. Are you working now?
A. No, sir.
Q. Discharged?
A. No; I never was discharged. I asked for my time twice, and it was refused me, and I never went to work one day. I went down to Pitcairn's office to get a letter of recommendation—I wanted to go on some other road—and all the letter he would give me was a note saying he discharged me on account of reduction of force.
Officer White, re-called:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. State what action the police officers took on Sunday to put down the riot, and burn, and break into the stores?
A. I would state that on Saturday night, about the breaking in of stores, I was at the office, and word came there that they were going into Johnson's gun store. I was ordered up there, and went up there, and the mob was then there, and I believe Mr. Johnson had handed out two or three guns there, to keep the mob away until the police came there. As soon as we got there, we closed the doors, stood and guarded the gun-shop for a considerable time, until the mob went away, and stopped them from going in there.
Q. Did you have any encounter with the mob?
A. No; not a good deal to keep them away?
Q. You made a show of force, and they dispersed?
A. Yes. Then we had word they were up on Liberty, at a place kept by a man by the name of Shute. I found they had opened and cleaned it out. I came to the office again, and was ordered down to O'Mara and Bown's, and we found they had been in there.
Q. What did they take out—pretty much anything they could lay their hands on?
A. I do not think it was for arms, for the purpose of going out to kill the Philadelphians. I think it was plunder more than any thing else—a general cleaning out—anything they could get their hands on—scissors or anything else. There was a man came into the office with a couple of pair of scissors he had taken from some one. I did not think he wanted the scissors to kill any one with. They cleaned Bown's out completely—knives, pistols, scissors, anything that was in the store.
Q. Do you know where that crowd was from that broke into Bown's store?
A. I could not tell. I did not know whether it was the party that had stopped at Johnson's or not. There was a couple of hundred at Johnson's trying to get in, and we kept them from getting in there.
Q. Do you know where they were from?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know of an alderman that was with them, from the south side?
A. After I had left Bown's store, a company happened on Fifth street. I saw a gang of two or three hundred, and I saw an alderman with them.
Q. Anybody else you know?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who?
A. A councilman.
Q. Did they appear to be leading this crowd?
A. The councilman did. The alderman did not seem to take much part in it. The councilman seemed to be at the head of it.
Q. What day was this?
A. Saturday night.
Q. Whereabouts does he live?
A. Fifth avenue. After the breaking in at Bown's——
Q. Do you know whether they were part of the crowd that broke into the stores or not?
A. I do not think they were.
Q. Do you know whether the property was destroyed at the Union depot?
A. I could not tell you. I would also state about the police, on Sunday afternoon, during the time the Pan-Handle depot was in their charge. The police drove the mob out of the Pan-Handle depot at the time they were setting fire there. I know that they were police stretched the ropes on the street and kept the mob out, so as not to interfere with the firemen when working there.
Q. Did they hold it for any length of time?
A. They did hold it and kept the fire from going any further—kept the mob outside of the ropes.
Q. Was it not burned?
A. It was burned; yes, sir.
By Mr. Means:
Q. As an officer, do you believe that had there not been any interference with the railroad employés that you could have kept the peace with the force of police you had?
A. I do not think it was the railroad employés that gave us the trouble. I think it was the outside rabble entirely.
Q. I asked a question. The question is this: Do you believe, as an officer, had you nothing to contend but the railroad employés, could you have kept the peace?
A. Yes, sir; I think the mayor could have kept the peace. I do not think there would have been any trouble at all if the military had not been called out at all. My experience on Thursday, with these men at Torrens station, was, I had not any trouble with them. These men were orderly, and when they were ordered off the track they went off the track, and I had no trouble at all, and I apprehended no trouble. The men said they only wanted their rights, and did not wish to interfere with us at all, while we thought they were.
Colonel J. B. Moore, re-called.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. I believe you testified to being at the firing, and so forth. Did you see General Pearson that afternoon?
A. I saw General Pearson continuously, sir, from Friday at eleven o'clock until eleven o'clock Saturday, except——
Q. How was General Pearson dressed that afternoon?
A. Full major general's undress uniform.
Q. What was that?
A. Fatigue cap, with velvet band and wreath, and the letters "U.S." in front of it; shoulder straps, with two stars; dark blue blouse and pants, and blouse braided, as worn by officers usually.
Q. Gold braid?
A. No, sir; it is black braid. Major general's belt on, very rare workmanship.
Q. Was it something that would attract attention—conspicuous?
A. Yes; it was one of those gotten up for a present, very elaborately embroidered.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What color was it?
A. Red, marked with gold braid.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. General Pearson, then, had a fatigue cap?
A. Yes; such as prescribed for major generals to wear.
Q. What was it made of—the blue cap?
A. Dark blue cloth, with a velvet band.
Q. Gold wreath, with the letters U.S. in front?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did he wear this cap up there, just prior to the firing of the military on the mob?
A. No, sir; not just prior. On Friday, when I reported to him, he had on a straw hat, a white vest, and a blouse, before he and I came down from the Union depot, and we put on our uniforms in the evening. I suppose between eight and nine o'clock. It was not dark.
Q. On Saturday he wore this uniform?
A. Yes; he wore a uniform continuously from that up.
Q. Insignia of rank on shoulders?
A. Yes; and his sword. He had a sword with a gold scabbard. All the officers of his staff that were there were in full uniform, except Colonel Hays.
Q. Was he there with the military or with the Philadelphia troops when the firing took place?
A. No, sir; there was no officer near the Philadelphia troops except myself, that is, at the point when the firing took place at Twenty-eighth street. Mr. George Steen, Major Stouts, and Major Fife were at the cars taken out, one hundred and fifty feet below the street. They were down at that flank of the troops.
Q. Were you inside of this hollow-square?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you wear a cap?
A. I wore a cap.
Q. Wear a belt?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Sword?
A. Sword and blouse, precisely like the one General Pearson had on, except the shoulder straps.
Q. Did you know where General Pearson was, about the time the firing took place?
A. I knew where he started off. He gave me orders to remain with General Brinton, while he would go to the telegraph office.
Q. How long before the firing?
A. I should judge five or seven minutes.
Q. And started, did he?
A. Yes, started; I judge that from the fact that General Brinton went down the Weccacoe Legion and the Gatling guns, and go through the two lines that had been formed on each side of the track. Just as he had sent down that order, General Pearson started, and I should judge it would take time to get the guns up. I have no distinct knowledge of the time at all. It was quite a little time before they were able to get the guns up over the ties.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Then General Pearson left before these troops marched down? That is the Weccacoe Legion, with the Gatling guns—he left before that?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And it was before the firing took place?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That was the detachment that attempted to put the crowd back off Twenty-eighth street?
A. I cannot say whether it was the Weccacoe Legion or Washington Grays. I understood they were both there, but I could not distinguish them, they were all, as a matter of course, strangers to me. I saw "W.L." on their knapsacks, of either the front or rear rank. I could not see which it was.
Q. General Pearson could not have been there at the time of the firing?
A. No, sir; it was impossible for him to be there without my knowing, for he gave me orders to remain with General Brinton, while he went to the telegraph office, and I know there was no officer there except myself. When a man is alone, he generally knows it.
Q. No officer of your division there—that is, General Brinton and his command were there?
A. General Brinton was about as close to me as you are.
Captain E. Y. Breck, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where is your residence?
A. Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I am a stenographer of court of common pleas, No. 1.
Q. What position did you occupy in the militia at the time of the disturbance in July?
A. I was captain in the National Guard, commanding Hutchinson's battery at that time, now known as Breck's battery.
Q. Were you present at the time of the firing of the troops, at Twenty-eighth street?
A. I was, sir.
Q. Be kind enough to state what occurred?
A. Do you wish a statement, as to the firing?
Q. As to the fire, and who were present—what officers?
A. Well, I was stationed just above the flag-house—I suppose you know where that is—and I had received an order a short time before the First division arrived on the ground to be prepared to load my guns on gondola cars, and I saw a plank brought out from the round-house on a truck, and dumped there on the track to load the guns. I was quite anxious, of course. There was a large crowd around there, and I did not feel altogether secure. There was only one company of infantry there, behind me, supporting the guns, and there were a great many rumors floating around there. There was a rumor of trouble in Philadelphia, and I was to be sent there, and for various causes I was anxious to see commanding officer—General Pearson—and as soon as I saw the column advancing up the track, I stood up on one of my limbers, where I could look over the heads of the crowd, and see what was going on. As they came up, I noticed, I think, first it was the sheriff, I remember of seeing him, I think some of his deputies, and I saw General Pearson and two officers, whom I afterwards knew as General Brinton and General Matthews. Although I did not know them at the time, I got acquainted with them that night. This, I suppose, was about half-past four in the afternoon. They moved up until the right of the column rested at Twenty-eighth street. They halted once down about opposite Twenty-sixth street gate, and then, I suppose, was the time that General Loud's brigade was put in possession of those cars down there. Then the first division started on up. The First brigade, they came up until the right was about at Twenty-eighth street, the First regiment was leading. The regiment was in columns of four. They wheeled in line to the left, forced the crowd back off the track, and up to within probably within twenty feet of the walls of the round-house. There were, I think, four gondola cars there, standing on side tracks, that prevented them clearing the track clear to the walls of the round-house. These cars were covered with people. As soon as they halted, both ranks were faced about, and what had been the rear rank was marched toward the hill. Then there was a company brought up from the rear, marched up through the open ranks, and about that time General Pearson disappeared from view. I was watching out very carefully for him, because I was expecting orders every moment, and I was very anxious that he would know where I was. In fact, he did see me. As they were marching up I stood on the limber, and did something to attract his attention, and I attracted his attention, and he nodded, as much as to say he knew where I was. The reason I did that was, my position had been changed since morning, the guns had been moved from the position in which he had ordered them placed, and I wanted him to know exactly where they were. About that time I lost sight of him, and I did not see him again until I suppose about quarter of six, I saw him in the telegraph office.
Q. How was General Pearson dressed that day—could you see?
A. Yes; I was with General Pearson the evening before, when he put on his uniform. We were down at Union Depot hotel, and he asked me if I would like to take a walk around to head-quarters. I told him I would, and he and Colonel Moore and myself started off for head-quarters. We came up Grant, and I remember some house over here, where the general was acquainted with two or three ladies there. That two or three ladies sat on the steps, and they stopped the general and made some remark about they hoped he was not going to shoot the people, and he stood and talked some little time. We went on down to head-quarters, and got a fatigue blouse out of some of the cases there—the fatigue blouse of the old pattern is alike for all officers of different rank—the designation is by the shoulder-straps. He got this blouse out and found his straps, and I pinned the straps on for him—major general's straps—and he put on his cap and belt, and I think he carried his sword in his arm, if I am not mistaken. We stayed there a few minutes, I do not know but we might have been there ten minutes. Then we went down to the corner of Fifth and Smithfield, and took a car for the Union depot, and went right back. He had the same uniform when he came up the track and the same uniform when I saw him in the superintendent's office, at a quarter to six.
Q. Immediately after the firing?
A. Yes, sir; the first time I saw him after the firing. The cap—it is an ordinary fatigue cap, with a velvet band for general officers. He had that cap and a wreath in front, and I think two stars in the wreath—either U.S. or two stars. I believe it is regulation to wear two stars, and the blouse had what they call herring-bone trimming—black braid, and runs from the buttons out into loops and slashed at the sides, and the belt was usually worn under the blouse, but it was over the blouse—a red morocco belt, groundwork of morocco, with gold embroidery. Quite profusely embroidered.
Q. Did the crowd resist these soldiers when they marched to Twenty-eighth?
A. Up the tracks?
Q. Yes, sir.
A. As they came up the crowd opened out for them—the column was narrow. They were in columns of four. There was a great deal of hooting and jeering. I think some few of the people were trying to cheer. It certainly was a sight that any man who had love for the military would cheer at. I never saw a handsomer sight for so small a body of men. They were in regular order, well uniformed, thoroughly equipped, and their guns looked splendidly in the sun; and the crowd gave way and there was no actual resistance—nothing to stop the troops until they tried to clear the Twenty-eighth street crossing. The column marched up without halting. I do not think they impeded their step any. When they marched toward the round-house they wheeled into line, to the left, and went towards the round-house. The crowd got back. They could not clear the tracks clear to the round-house on account of those cars. When the rear rank marched toward the hill the crowd gave way, but the troops only came to the edge of the track—the right hand track going out. That, of course, left plenty of room for the crowd on the road. The road was black with people. There were a great many on the side of the hill and the base of the hill.
Q. This crowd at Twenty-eighth street, did they resist when this detachment marched through the center and marched up against them?
A. Yes; there was one company that it looked to me, from where I stood, as if they were unable to do anything with the crowd—unable to move it—and there was a stronger company, or more men—it was another company—I think it was the Weccacoe Legion and the Washington Greys—brought up from the rear. They came up at a carry, but they did not drive the crowd far. They could not do it without using their bayonets, and I do not know whether there was an order to charge bayonets given or not, but at any rate, the men commenced to bring their guns down as if they were going to charge, and from where I stood, I could see the guns held by the mob—held them in their hands—and I could see the men take hold, up near the muzzle, and draw their guns back, in order to get them down to a charge. Just as they did that there were one or two pistol shots fired, and then I saw about a wagon load of stones and lumps of coal—in an instant the air was black with stones and lumps of coal. Then a gun went off on the right of the company, followed by three or four more, and then very nearly a volley; and I did not want to be killed and jumped off the lumber.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you hear any command to fire?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. How near were you to this body of men—the Philadelphia troops?
A. I was within sixty feet of the middle of the Twenty-eighth street crossing, I suppose.
Q. Could you see the officers inside this hollow square?
A. The officers were mostly—except the regimental officers—the general officers were up on the crossing with this company—General Brinton and General Matthews. I ran down on the track to help the first regiment officers stop the firing. The men had fired, I suppose, two or three rounds apiece. I helped the officers to steady the men up, and give a little confidence to the men, and as soon as they did that, and I think loaded again by command. Then I went up to the crossing, and I saw General Brinton and General Matthews, and he had already thrown two companies further up the track, and had the two Gatling guns in position, one pointing up the track—both, in fact. And while I stood there, they, turned and went down Twenty-eighth street.
Q. Just before the firing of the troops, did you see any officers in this square, or between these two lines facing away from the tracks—one facing the hill, and another facing down the other way?
A. They were both facing the hill at that time. As soon as the battalion wheeled into line, there was some little fuss there—a man or two fainted. They faced both ranks about.
Q. There was a space there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. The regimental officers were there?
A. Yes; I spoke to Colonel Miller. He reminded me of it the other day in Philadelphia.
Q. Did you see any of the officers of the Sixth division there between these two lines?
A. No, sir; I think not, they were further up, right on the crossing. The two lines reached—suppose this is the lower line of Twenty-eighth street. [Illustrating.] They brought these lines right up to within ten feet, perhaps, of the lower line of the street, and then those two companies were right here. [Indicating.]
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Do I understand you to say, that the company that was marched toward Twenty-eighth street did connect with those two wings of the flanks?
A. The company was practically covered on the flanks. There was a flag-house in here. [Indicating.]
Q. Some space between that company and the flanks of the regiment?
A. Yes. There was a little space, because I remember when I went down I went around the left flank.
Q. Did you see any of the officers of the Sixth division in the rear of this first company, marching towards Twenty-eighth street. Did you see Colonel Moore?
A. I do not remember of seeing him. I might have seen him.
Q. Where did you see Pearson? You said you saw Pearson, and nodded to him?
A. That was when he was marching up, and I followed him with my eye until I saw him on the crossing where the crowd was, but this was before they attempted to drive the crowd back, and there was one company—it was a small company—and they did not make much of an effort with them. They sent back for more men. I do not think the Gatlings were brought up at first. My recollection is they came up with those other companies that were brought up from the rear.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You did not see him after those other companies came up?
A. No, sir; I did not see him then.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Where did the firing commence?
A. Commenced on the right of this company.
Q. The company advancing towards the crossing?
A. Yes. They were facing up the railroad track right as you go out. The firing into the troops commenced over here. [Indicating.] There were two or three car loads of coal standing there.
Q. On the left going east?
A. On the left going east, and there was a man on that car fired the first shot.
Q. A pistol shot?
A. As nearly as I could state. Then there was a house on the road going up to the hospital grounds—there was a man behind that that was firing down this way—I saw that they both fired about the same time. There must have been a dozen pistol shots almost simultaneously with the lumps of coal and stones.
Q. Did that house stand near the gate that leads up to the hospital?
A. Yes. I think this end of the house was on a line with the gate. The watch-box would be down here [indicating] across the street, and up a little from the railroad. I was out there a month or so ago, and it has been removed.
Q. Where was your battery?
A. Right in there. [Indicating.]
Q. A little above the watch-house?
A. A little above the watch-house.
Major J. B. Steen, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. James B.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. I reside in Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. The coal business.
Q. Were you a member of the National Guard of Pennsylvania in July last?
A. Yes; I was quartermaster on General Pearson's staff.
Q. Were you present at the time the troops were called out to quell the disturbance or strike?
A. I was present at the time the Philadelphia troops arrived.
Q. State as briefly as you can when you came upon the scene, and what occurred?
A. These Philadelphia troops arrived at Union depot some time after dinner, and they furnished them with meals there, and along in the afternoon the column started out towards Twenty-eighth street, headed by Sheriff Fife, General Pearson, and General Brinton, and Major Stroud, and Givens, and Moore, and myself were on the staff; and when we arrived at Twenty-eighth street, we formed a hollow square. There was a pile of plank about the center of the square, and I sat down on the plank with Pitcairn. We marched the Washington Grays through the center, to force the crowd back off Twenty-eighth street. There was pistol shots, and stones thrown, and they commenced firing on the right, and then there was a general volley along the line.
Q. Was this firing by orders?
A. I did not hear any orders. General Pearson had passed me while I was sitting on this pile of plank, and he asked Pitcairn where the nearest telegraph office was, and, I think, he told him in his office, and he started down that way. It was five or ten minutes before the firing took place.
Q. That was before this company was marched out to clear the crossing?
A. No, sir; it was after the company was marched out. I am not positive whether it was after or before, but my recollection is that it was after.
Q. General Pearson passed you, then, going down to go to Pitcairn's office?
A. Yes; to the telegraph office.
Q. How was he dressed?
A. He had a fatigue uniform, blue cap, blouse, sword, belt, and blue pantaloons.
Q. Had this blouse buttons up close to the throat?
A. Buttons all the way up to the throat.
Q. Did you notice whether it was buttoned that way?
A. I could not say whether it was buttoned or not. I should judge it was though.
Q. Did you say he had a cap on?
A. Cap; yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Shoulder straps?
A. Two stars on the shoulder—straps and stars.
Q. Were they conspicuous enough to be noticed?
A. They would be noticed, I should judge—regular size.
Q. Regulation size?
A. Regulation size.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. General Pearson passed you before the firing commenced?
A. Before the firing commenced.
Q. Five or ten minutes?
A. Five or ten minutes. I was sitting on a pile of plank there, and Pitcairn was sitting beside me and Major Stroud.
Q. How far is it from there to Pitcairn's office?
A. I should judge it was about a square—a little over that—two squares.
Q. Did he come back again at all, before the firing?
A. No, sir; the next place I saw him, was in Pitcairn's office. I went down to hunt him up to report, and I saw him in Pitcairn's office.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did he know that there had been firing?
A. He knew it; yes, sir.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Was anybody there when you got there?
A. Yes; there were several gentlemen there, but I do not recollect who they were.
Q. Was he in the telegraph office or in Pitcairn's—that is above the telegraph office?
A. In Pitcairn's office.
Q. Has he a telegraph instrument there?
A. There is a waiter that goes down, and they send the messages down to the office.
Q. Was he dressed the same as when he passed you?
A. Yes; in his fatigue uniform.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. How close were you to the military when the firing took place?
A. I was sitting right in the center of the hollow square.
Q. Were you in uniform?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you hear any command to fire by any officer?
A. I did not. I do not think there was any command given to fire.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Did the officers attempt to stop the men when the firing took place?
A. As soon as the firing took place, they attempted to stop them. One company, I think on the left, did not fire.
Q. What did they say—order them to cease firing?
A. Run to them and knocked their guns up.
Q. Did you hear the command to cease firing?
A. I heard that very plain.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. Who gave that command?
A. The different officers of the regiments.
Q. Did you hear any shots fired from the crowd before the firing by the military?
A. Some pistol shots and some stones thrown.
Q. How many shots?
A. I should think there were several. I suppose about ten or twelve.
Q. Before the firing by the military?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were any of the military struck or injured before the firing on the mob?
A. There was one of them hit with a stone.
H. Vierheller, sworn:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Henry.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Keeping saloon.
Q. Are you a resident of Pittsburgh?
A. Yes.
Q. Were you a member of the National Guard?
A. Yes.
Q. At the time of the July riots?
A. Yes.
Q. What position did you hold?
A. Private in company A, Eighteenth regiment.
Q. Were you out at Twenty-eighth street on the afternoon of the Twenty-first—Saturday?
A. No, sir; not on the Twenty-first. I was at the Union depot on Saturday.
Q. Did you see the troops start from the Union depot, out?
A. I was there before the Philadelphia troops arrived there on Saturday. I went there with Major Stroud, of General Pearson's staff. He came to General Pearson's head-quarters and wished to report to the general. Their head-quarters were right over my place, on Fifth avenue, and he asked me to go out with him to report to the general, and I did so.
Q. Did you see General Pearson there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What time was that?
A. It must have been between twelve and one o'clock.
Q. Had the Philadelphia troops arrived then?
A. No, sir.
Q. How was General Pearson dressed?
A. He had a fatigue uniform blouse—officer's blouse on and a fatigue cap.
Q. You were not present when the firing took place?
A. No, sir.
Q. Know nothing of that?
A. No.
Q. If you have anything that has not been testified, that is of any importance to our committee, make a brief statement of it?
A. In relation to Saturday, and that is all I know of it. I remained around there for an hour or so, intending to wait until the Philadelphia troops arrived, but they were late getting in, and I left there.
Q. You were not there when the firing took place?
A. No, sir.
Major General Albert L. Pearson re-called.