REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE Railroad Riots IN JULY, 1877. (continued 26)
Reading edition
Q. One of the rioters?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. It was your posse that fired?
A. The posse fired. You will hear of the action of the posse from the gentlemen who were with the posse. I cannot give that. And then while standing—the two men seemed to be standing together—as the one fell, the other, who was standing with him, thew a stick, or stone, or something from his hand and started running, and ran probably ten or fifteen steps. He was covered very thoroughly by two guns, but the parties who were covering him with their guns could not apparently hit him without hitting somebody else. As soon as he uncovered himself the guns were immediately discharged, and he fell dead. Almost in a breath after this, the whole crowd turned in all directions, and inside of five minutes our avenues were almost clear of people. I came down—I do not know whether I mentioned that before I left—while Father Dunn and me were together, that one of those men in front of me previous to coming under the bridge came in front of me, and with a blow from a front as he passed by me, gave me a blow which broke my jaw and fractured the whole roof of my mouth.
Q. The upper jaw?
A. Yes, sir; I have no use, even now, of my front teeth. The jaw is not together at all. I am unable to use them at all for anything, only soft food. I called upon the citizens to rally, or at least took a gentleman's arm and he made the announcement for me, I was unable to say much, my mouth being so full of blood—calling upon them to come to the rendezvous at the company's store, as my head-quarters; the posse and myself then went there. I immediately telegraphed the Governor stating the case, and issued a proclamation calling upon the citizens to rally and take all precautionary measures possible for the suppression of any further outbreak. In the course of half an hour, the whole of the arms we had were placed in the hands of good responsible persons; our posse was drawn across the head of the street, and orders were sent—I sent my police out with orders that all persons should disperse—all crowds, and so on. In the course of probably half an hour from that, the report came that they were firing in the residence of the Messrs. Scranton, which was immediately above our head-quarters there. I went with the posse there, and placed some men on picket, and so on, taking precautionary measures. By two o'clock the crowds began to gather through the streets again. I sent my police officers out again to try to disperse the crowds. In the meantime, the dead bodies had been taken from off the streets, and taken home. Our acting chief came back and reported to me that he was unable to disperse the crowds. I immediately had Captain Repple to detail twenty-five men, and in company with him marched down the street, and as I met the crowds I merely said this: Gentlemen you must disperse, and go immediately home. I gave no other orders, and the result was that by the time I struck the corner here below, the crowd in this part had all dispersed, or dispersed immediately upon my giving orders. I sent the police on further, as I was quite weak at this time, bleeding very thoroughly from all of my wounds. I was unable to walk further, and went back again to head-quarters, and my policemen went on below, and were unable to disperse the crowd. The posse were kept on duty. I remained at head-quarters until next morning at half-past five o'clock, when General Brinton and his command arrived here. I then went home and had my wounds dressed. That is the history of the matter as I have it.
Q. These twenty-five men that you sent down in the afternoon at two o'clock—who were they?
A. They were the gentlemen I had sworn in as special police.
Q. Citizens of the city?
A. Yes; I could give you the names of them if I thought it was necessary, sir. Colonel Hitchcock, and Mr. Brown, and others of our best citizens.
Q. What did you learn about the assembling of this crowd, if anything, as to where they got together?
A. What I subsequently learned?
Q. What have you learned since?
A. The meeting was called at the silk-works—what we call the silk-works—it is in the Twentieth ward, near the outskirts of our city—the portion adjoining Taylorville—in a southerly direction. The resolutions which I got from the arrest of the gentleman who was president at the meeting—the chairman of the meeting—he was arrested and brought before me—and Mr. Thomas, who will be subpœnaed before you, can give you the exact wording of that resolution and can give you more intelligently the proceedings of that meeting than any other gentlemen that will be called upon. If you please, bear that in mind.
Q. What time was that meeting at the silk-works held?
A. I learned they commenced coming from Dunmore and the outer vicinity as early as three o'clock in the morning.
Q. Of What day?
A. Of the 1st day of August.
Q. Had been called by previous announcement?
A. They called all their meetings in their own manner of calling—by runners. I might say right here, at this point, they had a complete code of signals on the night of the 1st of August. While we placed our sentinels on the top of the buildings we occupied, we could discern lights from one side of the valley to the other—from point to point—a line of different colors and different shades. They had a thorough code of signals so all the way through. You are aware, undoubtedly, that so far as the engineers or the firemen—the strikers—were concerned, they used their own alphabet in telegraphing over the wires. They used their alphabet.
Q. Had there been any assembly prior to their reaching the silk-works?
A. No, sir; this was the meeting.
Q. What time did they leave the silk-works and come to the city?
A. That the other gentlemen, (Mr. Manes,) can give you about the hour when they struck his works. I judge, I left my office somewhere about eleven o'clock.
Q. Were there any railroad men among this crowd that assembled on the 1st day of August?
A. There were some railroad men that I saw at the shops around when I struck the crowd?
Q. What class of men did they seem to be principally?
A. Well, they were mechanics and miners and laborers.
Q. Were there any men from the shops within the city?
A. Yes; there were mechanics and laboring men from the shops. Among the men who were more upon the outskirts, were quite a number of the men who were employés of the shops—men whom I recognized—quite a number of them. As soon as I made the remark that they had better disperse, they commenced, upon the outer portion of the crowd, quite a number, to go through from under the archway, apparently going up the street.
Q. Did you have any difficulty in getting extra police to serve?
A. Yes; the paid specials I wanted to put on for the protection of the company's property, whom I placed for the purpose of relieving the city from any legal liability, after having received these notices, of which I have given you a copy. It was with difficulty I could find men who would accept the position. Quite a number who came and were sworn in on the morning before stopped at noon, and served half a day; but in regard to those that were specials—were paid—those were probably gathered through and by Colonel Hitchcock—a large number of those—quite a large number came to me; that is, volunteered first, and enrolled themselves.
Q. Offered themselves?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And were sworn in?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was there any difficulty in getting men to serve in that way?
A. No, sir; not in the least. Had all that I deemed was necessary, and more, too.
Q. Had no difficulty in that respect?
A. No, sir.
Q. In getting the paid police that you spoke of first, what was the reason—what objections did they have in serving that way?
A. That was on account of the resolutions that had been passed in some of the meetings of workingmen, in which this vote of censure against me for placing these special policemen on had been passed. These resolutions had been passed without the men having any knowledge—report had it that I was putting five hundred or a thousand special policemen on the city, and putting them on pay. I didn't deem it to be my duty, nor the interest of the city, to let everybody know what I was doing, and this report got it, and this series of resolutions was afterwards passed by the council—first started under a misapprehension.
Q. Then I understand you to say, that it was not on account of any unwillingness of the citizens of Scranton to serve and aid in keeping the peace and good order of the city?
A. There are the facts, just as they are. It was with difficulty that I could get them.
Q. What powers are given you as mayor by the city charter or organization?
A. We are acting under the law of 1874, the Wallace act, where the mayor has the same power as the sheriff to call a posse comitatus, and so on. I might state right here, in regard to the passage of that very act, that I was before the committee, Mr. Merryfield and myself, asking that very power of the sheriff to be given to a city. Or town, as an instance, where we were so far from the county seat, in the case of outbreak, under the old charter the mayor would be helpless.
Q. Did you make any regular call upon the citizens to serve as a posse?
A. I made this call, in which I called those enrolled—my posse. When I went up the street, I might state right here, that Mr. Thomas, a gentleman who will be here, who was one of the committee from the workingmen, came and guaranteed me any aid I might need.
Q. How many did that posse number?
A. One hundred and twenty, sir, enrolled.
Q. Were ready to come at the signal?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You speak of legal liability. Is there any law by which your city is made liable for damages done within your limits?
A. Nothing more, I suppose, than any neglect upon the part of the officers of the city to protect property. It is nothing further, sir.
Q. Any act of Assembly?
A. No, sir. I am not a lawyer, but I presume, if the officers of the city should fail to render abundant protection to property, when notified of its danger, that then the city would be held responsible, in case the property was destroyed.
Q. In the interview that you had with the executive committee of the railroad employés, did you learn what their grievances were, and their reasons for striking?
A. On account of wages—desired more wages.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Were they the first that struck?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Had there been any reduction of wages on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, or any of the roads leading to your town?
A. Well, sir, I cannot tell you that, sir. The superintendent will be here.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What grievance did the railroad men complain of when they did strike?
A. Only in regard to reduction of wages.
Q. Had no other complaint?
A. I understand that the miners themselves and the laborers in the mine didn't strike. They were forced out of the mines on account of no work the very moment that the railroad ceased operating. That morning, or the next day, at least, mining had to cease, because there was no place to put the coal that they mined; but, upon their coming out, they then assembled together, and asked for an advance of wages.
Q. Had there been any reduction of wages among the miners prior to that strike?
A. The wages had been under a reduction for some length of time.
Q. For several years past?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you know when the last reduction was made?
A. No, sir; I don't know the date.
Q. Did you have any interview with the miners?
A. This committee of eighteen represented miners, engineers, and laborers—represented all connected with the mines and all of its parts.
Q. What did they complain of?
A. The engineers of the pumps had some complaint to Mr. Brisbin in regard to not fulfilling the agreement made at the long strike.
Q. The long strike was in what year?
A. In 1872, I think.
Q. I would like to know whether they were railroad engineers or engineers at the pumps?
A. Pumps and collieries.
Q. Any railroad men in this delegation?
A. Not in this delegation of eighteen.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. I understood you to say they were miners, engineers, and brakemen?
A. No, sir: the committee on Monday was firemen and brakemen, not engineers. The engineers were not in the strike.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. The committee of eighteen was composed of who?
A. Composed of miners, laborers, engineers, and pumpmen at the mines.
By Mr. Yutzy:
Q. Not railroaders?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did they state in what respect the agreement had not been carried out by the companies after 1872?
A. They did, sir; in the interview with Brisbin they did very clearly. It was in regard to the pro rata reduction. I didn't take interest enough in it to explain it to you thoroughly, sir. It was a matter between them more. While it was at my office, and the parties were got together at my suggestions, I was there during the whole time, but the matter was more immediately for them to discuss, as I didn't consider it my place to take any part in the discussion, and did not.
Q. What did you ascertain subsequent to the conflict of the 1st of August? What did you find out about the cause that induced that assemblage at the silk-works?
A. They were called together, as I understood, to hear the report of this committee of eighteen.
Q. In the interview with you, did the committee of eighteen state what their purposes or objects were for the future?
A. On this Sunday interview?
Q. Yes?
A. Nothing more than they believed that the companies had been cutting down their wages too much, that they had been extravagant in the management of corporations, that it had come a time for retrenchment, and the retrenchment was all coming over on them as laborers, that they believed they could, by a proper way of disposing of their coal and so on—they had some grievances in regard to that—that better wages could be paid.
Q. Did they intimate about what they intended to do?
A. Nothing more than they wouldn't work until there should be an advance in wages.
Q. Did they give any intimation of any intention to make an attack upon the city and disturb the peace in any way?
A. Directly the opposite, sir; gave me every assurance to aid and support. This question in regard to the large number of strangers that were here, was brought up and discussed, and they felt an anxiety in regard to that very point, that an overt act might bring them into disgrace.
Q. The miners?
A. This committee of eighteen.
Q. What was the object of this delegation calling on the mayor and making this statement? Did they make any demand of you?
A. I sent for them when the companies asked of me. This is a notice I didn't read, and this will more clearly show why I sent for the delegation:
Scranton, July 27.
R. H. McKune:
The men employed by this company to fire and operate the engines at our mines for pumping the water therefrom, have by threats and intimidation been driven from their works, and notice given, that any person or persons who should attempt to perform such service would do so at the peril of the lives. This action involves the flooding of the mines, which would cause immeasurable loss and damage to the company. I therefor call upon you for such protection as employés are entitled to under the laws of this Commonwealth.
Signed by
William R. Stoors, General Coal Agent.
It was after receiving this from Mr. Stoors that I sent for this committee.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did you know that that committee was in existence at that time?
A. By the papers, sir. The meeting was a public meeting, and the names of this committee were published in the papers, sir. Nothing secret about it so far as to the gentlemen who were going upon the committee. This committee had also called upon Mr. Stoors, making a request for more wages, which my scrap book that I have, if I had it here, would give you still fuller than that.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. What did you advise them in the interview, Mr. McKune?
A. I advised them—they disclaimed of having any knowledge of these parties who were sending letters or attempting to intimidate these men who were at work at the pumps. They disclaimed any knowledge of that, and at this interview stated clearly and distinctly that it was against their wish and desire, and as I said about the proclamation which I issued in regard to this very matter—the proclamation was framed by us there, jointly. The language, if you will read it, you would see that it is very careful—that it is very guarded—there is no implication of anybody being in the wrong—there is a difference of opinion. The whole thing was carefully gone over. Our interview lasted from one until between four and five o'clock. The whole of our interview was extremely pleasant, and they seemed just about as anxious as I was for the protection of property, and in the first draft of the proclamation that I made, there might have been an inference drawn that they were at fault, and we worked until the proclamation which was issued met their views.
Q. I understood you to say that you put persons at the pumps before that interview?
A. No, sir; I had nothing to do with putting them at the pumps. I notified Mr. Stoors, the general agent, in regard to the interview that I had. This was on Sunday, sir, and on Monday the men went to work.
Q. To work at the pumps?
A. Yes; there was more or less intimidation in different parts, even after this. I might state that, sir, and Mr. Stoors probably will be able to give you a better account of the reports that he received.
Q. I understand the pumps were working at the time of the assemblage of this crowd, on the 1st of August?
A. Yes; the pumps were working more or less.
Q. And trains had been started?
A. Yes. The pumps were not being worked by the regular engineers or regular pumpmen.
Q. By whom were they worked?
A. Mostly by men—foremen and other men that understood how to work the pumps, but were not the regular men—were not the men who had previously operated these pumps, in no single instance.
Q. By whom were they sent there?
A. By the company.
Q. The trains were run on that day also?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were the freight trains run?
A. Oh, yes, sir.
Q. All trains?
A. Oh, there was no coal going out, because there was no coal mined. What freight there was through freight, and passenger trains were running on schedule time.
Q. In the crowd of men that were assembled there when you went down to the Lackawanna office—Delaware and Lackawanna was it?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you see any men that you knew—railroad men or mechanics—about the city—the men you were accustomed to see?
A. Oh, yes; saw quite a number standing about. A large number even upon the railway, and a large number of our business men and prominent citizens drawn there to look upon the crowd.
Q. Were any of those engaged in riotous conduct that you knew?
A. No, sir.
Q. Railroad men?
A. No, sir.
Q. Miners?
A. No, sir. The first of the parties who had swept through the shops and who came out from under the shops, there was not a man of them that I recognized as a man I had ever seen before.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. These men that you knew were simply standing about?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were they the men that undertook to protect you?
A. Some of them probably did, sir.
Q. Did any of your mechanics in the city engage in the riots when it was once precipitated?
A. Well, sir, they were among the crowd that passed me as I was coming up Lackawanna avenue. There were quite a number of those that I had passed in going down, and while the cry was being made, "Now for Lackawanna avenue; now for the company's store."
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. They joined with the rioters after you returned?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. I wish you would state whether the action of the council in refusing to pay extra police was justifiable. Whether at that time the condition of affairs here was in a condition to warrant them in taking that action?
A. No, sir; it was not, because I had, as I said, but eight special policemen, whom I had sent out to the different parts and to the different properties upon which I received notification, I placed these special men. You, gentlemen, can judge whether a city of thirty-five thousand inhabitants, the larger portion, or a larger per centage of that of the laboring element—whether a force of twenty men is any too great a force as a police and protective force. I leave that for you, gentlemen, to judge.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Do I understand you to say that you called your council together with a view of then taking some action on this subject?
A. On Wednesday I consulted with a number of the council in regard to whether we had not better call a meeting, and what was best to be done in the matter; but this meeting where these resolutions were passed, I think, was a regular meeting. I am not clear in regard to that.
Q. They declined to meet. Is that what I understand you?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What reasons did they give?
A. They thought it was not necessary—the one or two I talked to.
Q. Did they say why they thought it was not necessary?
A. No. Everything was quiet and peaceful.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Then, at this regular meeting, what action did they take in regard to disturbances?
A. There had been none at that time.
Q. But afterwards you said there was a regular meeting?
A. No, sir.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. This crowd that swept through the shops was headed by a man who was a stranger?
A. They all were strangers.
Q. Was that the same crowd that was fired on in the street?
A. I should judge that some of them were the same.
Q. Were those men that were killed strangers?
A. Two of them were not residents of the city. I believe one of them was.
Q. Were any of your posse killed?
A. No, sir; but two of them were wounded, sir, with pistol shots.
Q. With pistol shots?
A. With pistol shots and with clubs. Two were wounded with pistol shots, and one with clubs.
Q. Did you ever ascertain where those two strangers that were killed came from?
A. Yes; I think one of the killed was from the Sixth ward, and two from the adjoining township—Lackawanna township.
Q. Were they railroaders?
A. Men employed in the mines—around the mines.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Were any more of the rioters wounded?
A. There was one man—a young man—was wounded. A one legged Welsh boy that had formerly worked for the Lackawanna Coal Company, and he recovered.
Q. Did you, in your first correspondence with the Governor, did you think that you were able to control matters here in the city, and did you so indicate to him, without the aid of the militia of the State?
A. The following is a copy; I am not clear whether the date is right: "Governor Hartranft, in consulting with my advisory committee, they do not deem troops necessary, and advise against home troops," and further, on the 28th I telegraphed to the Governor again, as follows: "All quiet. I expect to get the pumps in the mines going to-morrow." I telegraphed to the Governor, "The employés of the railroad company have just informed me that their difficulties have been adjusted, or have been settled," and again, on the 29th, I telegraphed to the Governor, "Pumps will start to-morrow. Send no troops until you hear further from me Am in hopes of a peaceful settlement."
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. That was at the time of this agreement.
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. What date was that dispatch?
A. The 29th, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. What date did you call upon the Governor to send you troops?
A. The 1st day of August, sir.
Q. After the conflict?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. As part of our duties is to find out about the conduct of the militia, I wish the mayor would just state what was the conduct of the militia during their presence here?
A. I can say, in regard to the militia—I don't know much about them, for I have very little knowledge of General Brinton's command that was here, for I was quite severely unwell, and was not out much, any further than going down in my carriage, and calling on General Lyle. In reference to those that remained, you are aware some of them remained here for three months, the Nineteenth, under Hartley Howard, and the First Pennsylvania. Their conduct was most excellent, so much so as to receive the encomiums, upon all sides, of every person.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. You say that you were at Ocean Grove at the time you heard of the Pittsburgh riots?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How long had you been there?
A. I had been down a week previous.
Q. Had there been any rumors of any difficulty here, prior to the commencement of the Pittsburgh riots?
A. I telegraphed, on Saturday, to Mr. Halsted, superintendent, like this: "Do you apprehend any difficulty; if so I will return home." He telegraphed me, on Saturday: "I apprehend none; if I do so I will wire you." I have not got a copy of that telegram here.
Q. Did you, from any source, receive any intimation that there was liability to be any strike here, prior to the outbreak at Pittsburgh?
A. No, sir; not in the least.
Q. In your judgment, was this trouble here precipitated by the news of the rioting at other places?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You think it grew out of that? That, the news of what was going on at other places, stirred up the workingmen, and incited them to do as they did?
A. Yes; permit me to say that I do not believe the miners would ever have come out of the mines, had the railroad men not suspended, and if the coal had been taken away from them as they mined it, the men would not, in my opinion, have come out of the mines.
Q. You think, then, it was a sort of a fellow-feeling that animated the workingmen here?
A. You might call it an epidemic.
Q. Will you state whether there were any symptoms of any difficulty or uneasiness among the men here prior to the news having been received of trouble?
A. There was none. Everything was the most perfect quiet when I left home.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. The fact that the railroad was not carrying away the coal, was not that the cause of the miners coming out of the mines?
A. That is what I say, sir. I wish that to be on record.
Q. Did you ascertain who these men were that were interfering with the pumps at the mines?
A. No, sir; I do not know as I did.
Q. Were they miners on a strike?
A. No, sir; there were no arrests made of those. There were arrests made, afterwards, for an attempt of riot somewhere along about the 20th August, I should think, sir, by one of the companies of Colonel Howard's command—I think some five or six—my record book would tell the date, and soon—who were tried, and afterwards convicted at our county court.
Q. Men engaged in interfering with the pumps?
A. I don't know whether it was that, or an attempt. I think that was an attempt at riot about that date.
Q. Were any of the rioters arrested that were engaged in this riot here, on the streets, afterwards?
A. I think there has been some, sir.
Q. Were any of your posse arrested?
A. Yes; thirty-eight were.
Q. Arrested on information of some of the rioters?
A. The finding of the coroner's jury, sir. A coroner's inquest was held.
Q. Were they tried?
A. They were.
Q. By whom—the court?
A. The court, Judge Harding presiding.
Q. On what charge?
A. Upon a charge of murder—manslaughter.
Q. Were they acquitted?
A. They were.
Q. Were any of the rioters tried, that were arrested?
A. I think there has been, sir. There are other gentlemen here, who had charge of that matter, that will be able to testify better in regard to that than myself.
Q. At the office where you found the young lady, state whether any assault was made upon that by the crowd or mob?
A. None, that I know of.
Q. Was there any made after that time, or where did the crowd go, and what became of the inmates of the office?
A. The attention of the crowd was drawn away from that part over towards me, and the party who came out from the shops.
Q. Had you been informed they were in danger?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And that is the reason you went down there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And after you got there, and found the young lady in a fainting condition, you did not consider it advisable to take them away from there, and didn't do so?
A. I didn't? consider it advisable to take them away, and made no effort so to do.
Q. You did not consider it advisable?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did they afterwards escape from the office, and reach their homes?
A. Without any difficulty.
Q. Why didn't you consider it advisable to take them away, if they were in danger?
A. I did not consider they were in danger.
By Mr. Means:
Q. I suppose you considered them more safe, than taking them away in the street?
A. Yes, sir.
Joshua Thomas, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State where you reside, if you please?
A. I am residing at Hyde Park.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I am a blacksmith.
Q. Were you here in July last, when the difficulty occurred?
A. I was.
Q. On what day was it that the disturbance took place in the streets here?
A. On the 1st of August.
Q. Will you please state whether you had any previous knowledge of the intention or existence of any disturbance, prior to that date?
A. No, sir; I had none.
Q. And what was the first thing that you noticed or discovered?
A. At the silk-factory meeting?
Q. Yes. State whether you were at the silk factory meeting?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. For what purpose was that meeting called?
A. As near as I could learn on the streets, the men anticipated hearing the reports of the standing committee of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, and they all went down there expecting to hear the committee report as to the result of the intercourse with the company.
Q. That was the committee that had been——
A. There was a meeting held out in the Round woods, and a committee appointed there to confer with the company with regard to their wages, and some time after this meeting was called, by whom I do not know, but the people generally thought that this committee was going to make a report there of the result of their conference with the company, and when we arrived there at the meeting, this committee was not present, and after being there possibly half or three quarters of an hour, the chairman of the committee of the coal and iron company's men, called the meeting to order, and he stated that it was now time to appoint a chairman. There was quite a number of the men present in the meantime, but none of them would serve, finally he was told to serve himself in that capacity, and he did.
Q. What name did you say it was?
A. It was Rudolph Kreshner, and some one asked him from the crowd—there was, possibly, from five thousand to seven thousand people there—asked him what the object of the meeting was, and he told them if they would keep quiet for a few minutes they would learn. He didn't know. He said they would find out, and he talked to some of the men—I could not hear what he said, and then he rose, and he said he believed the meeting was to take some action with regard to those men that were working in the shops at that time, and there was then a party got up and offered a motion that a committee of I can't tell you how many—his motion was, that a committee, however, be appointed to ask these men to leave the work alone for the present, until the difficulty was settled. And after some little discussion, there was a motion made to amend that by making the committee twenty-five. Then that was objected to, on the ground that the companies would discharge all that would be appointed as a committee to go and ask these men to leave their work, and one man, I don't know his name now, he spoke there in favor of a committee of twenty-five, and others again spoke and objected to it, on the ground that they would be discharged—they had been before, and have been since, because they waited on these men. While this motion was under discussion, there was a motion made, that the whole body adjourn, and pass up around by the shops and ask the men to quit their work for the present, until the difficulty was settled with the company. Just at this time there was a man offered a letter to Kreshner, and wanted him to read it. He took up the letter and looked at it, and passed it back to the party and shook his head. Then this man got up on a little stand himself and read the letter to the body. Previous to that there had not been any unkind words, or anything boisterous—nothing out of the way at all, no abusive language, or anything—but as soon as the letter was read it was like a spark in a powder keg.
Q. Now, where did that letter come from?
A. I don't know.
Q. By whom was it signed?
A. It was signed by "Working Man."
Q. How many?
A. One working man.
Q. Just signed "Working Man?"
A. Just signed "Working Man."
Q. Can you give the contents of the letter, or the substance of it?
A. Only partially. It was on note paper. He went on to state—the writer did—to speak of the grievances of the men, how they had suffered short wages and short time, and the additional reductions, &c., and he said that the men could not live. He said, that W. W. Scranton had said, that he would have the men work for fifty cents a day—I don't remember how soon, but for fifty cents a day—or he would bury himself in a culm pile. He went on to state he was sorry he could not be present to-day as he had business elsewhere, but he hoped the men would do their duty, and signed himself "Working Man."
Q. After that letter was read what was done?
A. After that letter was read, there was four, five or six of us—I don't just remember how many—we held a little caucus near the stack—near one end of the silk factory, and we divided; I was to go one side, and another man was to go another side, and try to speak to allay the excitement, but the crowd was so dense we could not get up there. While we were trying to get in, there was a motion made at that time again that the body adjourn to the shops, and ask the men to leave the shops. Even then there was no threats of violence at all, but of course there was some epithets used against W. W. Scranton, but no threats against him at all, nor no threats against any person, or property, or anything.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What do you mean by shops?
A. These shops where the men were working—railroad shops, furnaces, and steel-works. I didn't hear anything said, or any motion made, and the motion was not made to turn them out, but to ask the men to leave the shops.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. I want to know what you mean by shops?
A. Railroad shops, steel-works, furnaces, mills, &c.
Q. All the manufactories?
A. Yes; all down on that side. [Indicating.] Then there was some discussion after this by the men backward and forward, and we went back again to the silk-works, and we were talking, and we saw the crowd dispersing. I saw no motion carried, I simply heard them offered and seconded, and put to the meeting, and then they were discussed. I heard the ayes and noes while I was back, but supposed they were voting on the motion; the decision of the chairman I could not tell what it was. Then the men began to disperse, and we stood talking there. We had no idea that any damage was being done. And while we were standing at the silk factory, just on the railroad we came over from the iron and coal company's factory—we could see the men running towards Ward street, in that direction from here.
Q. You remained down there when they started from the shops?
A. Yes; and when we saw these men going that way, we came up the L. and S. railroad, and I was just at the arch near the L. and S. shop when the firing occurred. I just heard it, and that was all, and then I walked right up to the corner here.
Q. When you got to the corner, what did you do?
A. I saw the men lying there dead in the street.
Q. Had the crowd dispersed?
A. Well yes, in the main. There was a great many standing around down the street, and up and down the avenue, walking and talking.
Q. Who notified you of the meeting at the silk-works?
A. Indeed, I could not tell you that. I had it from quite a large number.
Q. Laboring men?
A. Yes—oh yes. A gentleman that told me, said that he understood the D. L. and W. committee was going to make a report.
Q. Was it kept secret?
A. Oh, no, sir.
Q. How long did you know that before the assemblage?
A. I knew that was to be three or four days before that—two or three days.
Q. Why was it called at the silk-works—to meet at the silk-works?
A. Because there was no room elsewhere, unless they would have it up in the Round woods, back of Hyde Park, and that was about just as far over there.
Q. What do you mean by the Round woods?
A. It is a piece of woods that lies west of Hyde Park, commonly known as the Round woods.
Q. Grove?
A. A grove.
Q. How many were assembled there at the silk-works?
A. Well, I should judge there was between five and seven thousand?
Q. Assembled in a hall?
A. Oh, no, sir; out of doors.
Q. What class of men were they?
A. Workingmen.
Q. Railroad men any of them?
A. I do not remember particularly. I did not know a railroad man there. Doubtless there may have been some; but I don't remember of seeing any. Miners, laborers, carpenters, blacksmiths, machinists, teamsters, and so forth. All classes of men—working people.
Q. And they were there hearing the report of the committee appointed by the miners?
A. Of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Company.
Q. To consult with the officers of the company?
A. Yes—beg pardon, sir—they were there; believe that that was the object of the meeting.
Q. Why were the blacksmiths and carpenters and other mechanics generally notified to meet there?
A. They were not notified; but merely heard it talked on the streets, and I went there for one. I was very anxious to learn whether the miners were going to work, for, if they went to work, we stood a chance of getting work in the shops.
Q. Did your work in the blacksmith shops depend upon the work going on in the collieries?
A. Not altogether in the collieries; no, sir.
Q. Carpenters' work would not depend on that at all?
A. Curiosity, as much as anything. A great many of them went there out of curiosity.
Q. Were the men asked there from the shops—the crowd to stop the work—that is, you said the crowd went up to the steel-works, and the factory and machine shops here. Were any of that class of men at the meeting?
A. I only presume they were. I could not say that any one individual was there, but I presume there were, and had good reason to think so. They were Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad men were there. That is, miners, not railroad men, but miners. The coal and iron company's men were there—some of them—and some were there from Munica, a village below here, and some from Taylorville, and some from Old Forge, and they were anxious to know what the report would be of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western committee, and they came here, anticipating to hear that report, because the success or the failure of the strike, in the main, was dependent upon the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western men, and if the report of this committee would be of such a nature as would advise the men to work, then the strike would end immediately, while if they held out, I suppose the rest would.
Q. Did you get any report of the committee?
A. No, sir.
Q. Nothing of the kind?
A. Nothing of the kind.
Q. Did you learn what action had been taken by the committee and the officers of that committee?
A. No, sir; not at that time. I do not know whether they had taken any action at all—whether they were prepared to make a report.
Q. Was any motion made to adjourn?
A. Down at that meeting?
Q. Yes?
A. Yes.
Q. That was voted down?
A. No, sir; it was carried, at least I presume it was carried, for this reason. I heard the motion made to adjourn where I was in the crowd. I could not get any further up towards the stand, but I came up, and then I heard a vote taken, and I could hear the "ayes," and they predominated, and I presumed it was on that question, for immediately afterwards the crowd dispersed.
Q. The crowd dispersed in the direction of the machine shops?
A. Up this way. Some went up across the river, waded the river, and went to Hyde Park, and some walked the road, and some came up this way and some up the other road.
Q. How many came towards the steel-works on the flat?
A. I could not tell you how many.
Q. Can you judge?
A. There was probably—may be—fifteen hundred or two thousand walking up the street and walking over that way. They didn't all go to the shops that came up.
Q. Did you know that they started to the shops when they started to persuade the men to quit work?
A. No, sir; there was a motion made to adjourn to the shops to request the men to stop work for the present, until the difficulty was settled between them and the company; that was the motion.
Q. Was that motion carried?
A. I presume it was, but when it was carried we were out of the crowd.
Q. And they all went to the shops, a large number?
A. A large number went up this way, and towards the shops.
Q. Was there any organization—any secret organization here known as the Trainmen's Union, to your knowledge, of the railroad employés.
A. I do not know. I presume there was.
Q. Do you know of such an organization called the Trainmen's Union?
A. No, sir; not as the Trainmen's Union.
Q. Do you know of any organization among the railroad employés?
A. I have understood that there is what is known as an Engineers' Brotherhood.
Q. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers?
A. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers; but we had nothing to do with this meeting.
Q. This Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was that the only organization that you knew of among the railroad men?
A. Oh, I had heard and understood, and it was generally understood, that there was what was called a Firemen's Brotherhood.
Q. And brakemen?
A. And Brakesmen's Brotherhood. Nearly all trades have some sort of union—Machinists', Blacksmiths' Union, Coopers' Union, and so forth.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Beside the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, then, there was an organization of brakemen and firemen?
A. All, sir, independent of each other.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. Do you know that of your own knowledge, or only by hearsay?
A. Hearsay.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was there any public call for this meeting in the papers or otherwise?
A. No, sir; I didn't see any call; didn't hear of any published call.
Q. How did the idea that there would be a meeting there get abroad?
A. I do not know.
Q. Do you know of any one that advised the meeting?
A. I do not.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Is it the custom of workingmen to congregate in meetings and crowds, that way, and hear the report, for instance, if there is a committee been known as having waited on the officials of a railroad or coal companies?
A. Yes sir; if there was a committee pending between the men and the company, possibly the committee could not afford to issue a call through the papers, and nine, ten, or fifteen of the committee would go around and tell some one, and they would tell others that the meeting would be held at such a place.
Q. Do you suppose that was the way this meeting was called?
A. No, sir; I have no idea how it was called. I have no idea how it was called, not the slightest.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Except you heard it talked among several of the laboring men, that there was to be such a meeting?
A. Yes; or rather asked me if I was going to be at the meeting.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. When the motion to adjourn was carried, and the meeting broke up, did the men that went off to the flats, and come towards the city, go in a body, or with an organization, or was it merely that portion that lived in this end of town, coming home?
A. I should judge, that out of curiosity, some was along with them from different places, but there was no organization. They didn't come in an organized body. They took in the ground between two roads, between the street and the railroad, on the street and on the railroad, and on the ground between, and on the other side of the road. They were scattered along there. I should judge that it is nearly or quite three quarters of a mile from the silk-factory up to the shops and the head of the body—some of them went on; lived at the steel-works, fifty yards or one hundred yards this side of the steel-works. And we looked towards the hill, and we could see the men on the side of the hill; and we could see them, some of them going towards Ward street. There was nothing in the form of a government at all.
Q. You considered the meeting broken up at the time that motion to adjourn was carried?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. This man who read this letter, did he make any remarks in regard to it after he had read it?
A. I do not think that he did.
Q. Don't think he made any comments or advised the crowd what to do?
A. No, sir; he made no comments whatever.
Q. Did any one, after the reading of the letter, make any comments upon it, or advise the crowd what to do?
A. Not upon the letter.
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Did he call upon any of the crowd to follow him?
A. No, sir; there was no one that I heard call upon the crowd to follow him. No one. When the motion was made to adjourn, that side of the crowd or of the meeting that was this way, the northern side of it—the north-east of it, came first, some of them, and some stayed back.
Q. Did the greater part of the crowd come down through the shops?
A. Well, I don't know about that. I would not like to say, because I took no particular notice.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did the crowd appear to have a head or a leader?
A. No, sir.
Q. Every fellow for himself, was it?
A. So it seemed to be; yes, sir. There was no leader at all.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. They all seemed to have an idea of coming the same way?
A. Not all.
Q. That is, they got headed this way?
A. Well, there was a great many that come up this way; lived that—live over this way. They live back on this side—a great many that came up—and they came down the avenue.
By Mr. Means:
Q. From the commencement to the end, in your opinion, you suppose there was no regular organization?
A. No, sir; there was no regular organization.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You are pretty well acquainted with the laboring men in this vicinity, are you not?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were those six or seven thousand that assembled there composed of laboring men of this section—Scranton and surroundings—here principally?
A. Oh, yes, sir; principally.
Q. Were there any strangers, tramps or strangers—outside men entirely—outside of this region?
A. I could not answer that, because I do not know as there was.
Q. Did you see any?
A. No, sir; I took no notice of any.
Q. The faces of this crowd was familiar to you, were they, as men that you had seen in the vicinity?
A. Yes; a large majority of them were.
Q. You didn't see the conflict that occurred on the street?
A. No, sir.
At this point, the committee adjourned till to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock.
Scranton, March 30, 1878.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment, at nine o'clock in the morning, Mr. Lindsey in the chair. All members present except Mr. Dewees.
W. W. Mannis, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Where do you reside, Mr. Mannis?
A. Scranton.
Q. What is your business?
A. Superintendent Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, building and lumber department.
Q. I wish you would just state the facts that came under your observation in reference to the troubles—the strike of July last?
A. On the date of the riot, the 1st of August, in the morning, about eight o'clock, I heard there was a meeting called at the silk-works.
Q. Go on, Mr. Mannis?
A. I heard that there was a meeting called down at the silk-works, and they were going to clean us all out. I made my way around among my men, and went down to the foundry, supposing that would be about the first place they would strike. I stayed there. There had a man gone from our shops to attend the meeting. I asked of the different foremen what was best to do, and we decided that we would continue on. We would not close up our shops—that we would see what their intentions were. May be it was false. Pretty soon this man came back, and said, "You had better shut up. They are coming in a body to clean you out. You had better get out of the way." We had another consultation, and decided we would stand our ground and protect our property. Pretty soon we saw them coming up Washington avenue, across the track. There they halted for a few minutes. Then they filed off, a part of them towards our shops, and the other part came on directly up the street. I should judge there were from fifteen hundred to two thousand that turned towards our shop; and as they came to the shops they scattered into all the shops; some of the men run out. Some started to run out, and they struck and chased them. They went into our boiler shop, where we have a shaft driven by water wheel and a large belt. Five or six caught hold of that to stop it. Says I, "Boys, don't destroy property now. You are only injuring yourselves. Don't come around here and destroy property." They paid no attention to me. I got the attention of one that seemed a leader, and says I, "If you have any control over these men, for God's sake take them back. You are only injuring yourselves." "Damn you," said he, "we have got the power." Says I, "If you were worth anything I would knock your brains out." They says, "Where's Bill Scranton, that is going to make us work for three shillings a day." Says I, "Listen to me. Go back and attend to your work." No; they had the power and they were going to use it. "You have got plenty," they said, "and we ain't. We are going to have our rights." They went into our shop and ordered the man to draw the fire. He started to do it, and then some one struck him with a chunk of iron, and he got up and went through the shop, they pelting him as he went. His shirt was torn off him, and his back was bloody. Another one started to run behind the foundry, and they were after him, and throwing stones and chunks of iron and cinder and anything they could get. They got the shops all cleaned out, and they started for the blast furnace. I heard one man sing out. Says he, "I know the way; follow me." With that I started on ahead of them. Before that, while they were standing in front of the machine shop, there was some one got up on a piece of casting. "Now," says he, "fetch on your Bill Scranton. Where is he? We'll gut him. We'll have his heart's blood." Says I, "Don't talk so loud. You are crazy. You do not know what you are talking about." He turned to me with some abuse; "that they had the power now, and they were going to use it—that they were going to gut Scranton." Says I, "You had better keep off Lackawanna avenue or some of you won't get home." They started to the furnace, but I got ahead of them, and went on ahead to notify the men to take off the blast and fix the furnace, and met the foreman and told him they were coming. He ran to the furnace and took the blast off. The most of the men scattered, I don't think they got hold of any of them. I passed through the casting-house, up the steps to the engine-house. There was a lot of them behind me following me up. They came in contact with our boiler tender, an old man sixty or seventy years old. They knocked him down. I went to the engine-house. The engineer was coming out of the engine room—they had brought him out. He had walked across the street. Says I, "Come back, the boiler will blow up in twenty minutes with the steam you have got, if you stop the pumps." The leader of that gang came up and they surrounded me, and swore if they would put that man back in there again they would blow my brains out. Says I, "Gentlemen, you had better go back home; turn right around and go, or you will miss it." Says I, "Don't come around here and destroy property." They soon passed off, and came down toward the shops. I had nothing at all with me to protect myself. I had a pistol at home. I ran up home and got that and put it in my pocket, and went back to the engine-house again. Found the engine-house was afire in two places. The engineer had gone back and put it out, and drew the fire from the boilers. Then I started up to the railroad, toward the company's store again, and as I came right in front of the company's store the men had just filed out of the store—this posse—and came down the street, and as they crossed Washington avenue, the street was literally filled up with men, but they seemed to open and let this posse through, and as they went through the gap closed up again. Then I heard two or three pistol shots, and pretty soon I heard the rifle cracks—more than two minutes, maybe less—heard the rifles crack, and pretty soon they began to scatter. In a very few minutes I saw the posse come back, and the streets were pretty well cleared. I started down this way to where the shooting was; and I got part of the way down and I met them coming, one man on a litter—that was near Mr. Phillips'—his father was behind. I met them walking back towards the company's store.
Q. Was this one of the posse?
A. No, sir; he was one that was with the rioters. He is a Welshman, a very bad character; had but one leg. He was with them, and he was shot through the arm. The ball passed through the fleshy part of the arm. I thought he was dead, but he recovered again and is now at work. Previous to the 1st of August, they had driven our men and sent our men out of the shops. My shops are on the other side, the car smith shop is on the other side of the engine-house—part of them went over and took them out. Before the day of the strike they had notified them several times that they should stop work. In fact, they had stopped pretty near all my men. There was not more than half a dozen to work at that time. Ordered them to stop work.
Q. Had you had any difficulty with your men previous to the 1st of August.
A. No, sir; I had not.
Q. Did they all continue to work?
A. No, sir. Our men came out—I forget the date. Our puddlers were the first men to strike in the city.
Q. What day did they strike?
A. They struck at noon. I think it was Tuesday night the engineers and railroads all stopped. That was on Tuesday night. I do not remember the date, but the engineers and firemen stopped. Our puddlers all came out that day at noon.
Q. What day do you think that was?
A. That was the day that the engineers stopped at night—at noon.
Q. On the railroads?
A. Yes. Our railroad stopped here at night.
Q. Was it the Tuesday after the fire at Pittsburg—the burning at Pittsburgh?
A. Really, I could not say, sir. It seems to me it was before that, but I won't be positive of that. I forget what day our railroad stopped.
Q. Tuesday, after the trouble at Pittsburgh, your railroad stopped?
A. Then it was that Tuesday noon our puddlers stopped. The puddlers stopped at noon as the men came out at night.
Q. How many of them?
A. I should judge there were near a hundred.
Q. What did they complain of?
A. They made no complaints. It was like a perfect panic among them. They said the first thing they knew, the whistle blew at the mill, and "now come on," and they all came down to the steel mills, took the men with them there, and went down to the machine shops and foundries and stopped the men there. They did not succeed in stopping the foundry. They stopped the men at the machine shops. They had not asked for anything prior to that time. Had not asked for any advance. Mr. Scranton went down as soon as he heard of it, and asked them what they wanted, or had some talk with them. Maybe he could tell more about it than I could.
Q. Had they complained of low wages prior to that time?
A. It has been a complaint all through about low wages. I had not heard anything from our men. I suppose I have probably one hundred or one hundred and fifty men under my employ.
Q. You had heard nothing from them?
A. They had made no complaints to me.
Q. In any way?
A. No, sir.
Q. What were you paying these men?
A. The puddlers?
Q. Yes?
A. I could not tell you. They work by the ton, do not know what it was. It is not in my department.
Q. Was this W. W. Scranton employed in the works in which you were superintendent?
A. Yes; he is general manager.
Q. Were any of those puddlers in the crowd that came up from the silk-works?
A. I do not know, sir. There was not a single face I knew. All the crowd that I saw, that I came in contact with, were strangers to me, and looked to me more like miners than laborers.
Q. What proportion of the number of men that you had employed, was at work on that day—the 1st day of August?
A. I should suppose, probably not more than—you mean in my department—probably one fourth.
Q. Take it in the whole shops—what proportion were at work?
A. Probably one fourth. The others had been intimidated by threats and some had been assaulted before that, because they had continued to work. They had been notified that they should not work.
Q. Had you heard of any discontent among the men, or had there been any discontent or any strike contemplated, so far as you learned, prior to the news of the strike at Pittsburgh reaching here?
A. There had not anything positive. I knew there was a very bad feeling among the men, I knew the men felt sore and uneasy, didn't seem contented or happy. I had not heard any threats of any strike.
Q. What about?
A. About low wages. The companies had been oppressive, and they ought to have more, and there seemed to be a general dissatisfaction and bad feeling.
Q. Had the wages been reduced any last year, during the summer?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. When were they reduced?
A. I think our reduction took effect the 1st of July—a general reduction among the mechanics, I think.
Q. How much did you reduce the wages?
A. I think it was ten per cent.
Q. Was that reduction general among the companies in Scranton?
A. I think it was, I would not be positive about that, I think it was.
Q. Did it extend to the miners—had there been any reduction in miners' wages?
A. No, sir; I think not. I think there had not been any since the 15th of last March.
Q. Simply applied to mechanics?
A. There had been a reduction in March of miners' wages—I think it was March there was a general reduction.
Q. How much of a reduction was made then?
A. I could not tell. That was something I had not anything to do with at all.
Q. Can you tell what the class of men were getting in the shops you had charge of?
A. How much they were getting?
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. About?
A. From $1 50 to $2 25.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. What class of men were getting $1 50?
A. Ordinary carpenters and car-makers.
Q. What class getting $2 50?
A. Our best blacksmiths and some of our best carpenters.
Q. Some of the best carpenters getting $2 50?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What would the wages average? Take it on an average?
A. Among mechanics?
Q. Yes.
A. I think it would average, probably, $1 75.
By Senator Yutzy':
Q. This man that was wounded, is still here in the city working?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was he actively engaged in the riot?
A. I do not know.
Q. Never was arrested?
A. No, sir; his father is a very good mill hand, and through the influence of his father, and the sympathy with his family——
By Mr. Means:
Q. Had he been in your employ?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is he in your employ now?
A. Yes, sir; he was a short time ago, and I think he is. His father is a boss heater. It was his father's influence—we had a good deal of sympathy for the family. They are poor.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Can you give us an estimate—an approximate estimate of the amount of loss sustained, by reason of the riot, in the works of the company?
A. I could not swear. The principal loss was the furnace. We had two furnaces in blast. They were filled up full. That was a complete loss. It is very expensive to cut them out.
Q. Chilled, were they?
A. Both chilled.
Q. Who can give us the probable loss?
A. W. W. Scranton.
Q. You said you were notified that there would be a meeting at the silk-works, and they were going to clean your shops out. How did you get your notice?
A. The superintendent of the blast furnace told me.
Q. Do you know where he got his information?
A. I do not. I presume he got it from some of his men there.
Q. Got it from some of the hands that heard it talked?
A. Yes; how he got it I do not know. We were doing some work at the old mine, and I came through the blast furnace; says he, "There is a big meeting this morning." Says I, "Where is it? I guess we had better go down." Says he, "They have a rousing meeting, and they are going to clean us all out to-day, and you had better be on the lookout." Says I, "I will keep my eye open." That is Carl McKinney, he is superintendent of the blast furnace.
Q. You do not know whether it was some of the men that wanted to notify him so that he would be on his guard or not who gave this information?
A. I do not. I rather mistrust so, though, thought it was some man he had put for that purpose. I imagine so, he seemed to know pretty well how it was going to be conducted.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Is he still here, this man, superintendent of the furnace?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What is his name?
A. Carl McKinney.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. How long was it before your men resumed their work after the strike?
A. When our mechanics went to work after the strike?
Q. Yes?
A. There was not any general resumption of work until after the miners commenced working again. I do not recollect how long they were out, now.
Q. Was it a month?
A. Yes; it was more than a month, I think.
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Some time in September or October?
A. I think it was near the 1st of October.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Before your works started up again?
A. Yes; but I wouldn't be positive about that. I am a poor hand to remember dates.
Q. Where were the men during the time the works were standing?
A. They were around home scattered. They were some of them that wanted to work, who would go out in the country and get work. Some of them laid around—loafed around.
Q. Unemployed?
A. Unemployed principally. Our men—I could have worked a good many more men if they would have worked, but they were afraid; men were actually afraid, my men told me. I could not get enough hardly to do what work I had to do. Tried to prevail on them to work. They said they would like to work but were afraid. I had a few at work, and several of them as they were going home they were stoned. They said if they didn't stop work they would burn every building down.
Q. What class of men were those that made these threats?
A. They were German and Irish.
Q. Were any of them arrested?
A. I don't know that any of them were arrested. The men were actually afraid to work. There was a great many glad to work, but they didn't dare. I know it was the case with my men.
Q. Was any effort made by the civil authorities here to arrest the men that were threatening others and intimidating them?
A. All that I could hear of were arrested—that any one would complain of. These men that they had made the threats to daresn't report them, or it would not have been safe for them. They would have lost their property and their lives, undoubtedly. I had one man working that lived over in the Twelfth ward. He daresn't go to his dinner. He would have his dinner brought to him in the shop. He would go out early in the morning. Daresn't carry a dinner can. I never saw such a state of things among the men in my life. Never saw such a wild set of men as the men were that morning.
Q. Those men that threatened to stone those that wanted to work, were they men that had formerly been in your employ?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did your company take any means—adopt any plan—to bring those men to justice?
A. They did all they could, but they couldn't get the evidence without bringing these men they had made the threats to prosecute. The mayor told me once himself that any man that he could find out that had made any threats of that kind, that could be proved, to bring them right before him. I could get no man willing to go and swear to it.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did your company reëmploy any of those men that made threats?
A. Not if they knew it. I don't think they did. They would send squads around, half dozen in a squad, and wherever they found a company man at work, they would want to know who they were at work for. If they were at work for the company, they must quit—if they work individually, they could go on. I had some men at work about five miles out, and there were a party of men went out, and wanted to know if they were working for the company. They told them a lie, and said they were working for men that lived out there. They said, "If you are working for the company you have got to stop."
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. I would like to ask the gentleman whether those were men or boys, or what aged men they were?
A. I think it run from fifteen to forty.
Q. They were men most of them, were they?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Men of mature years?
A. Yes; they were men. I should judge the majority of them were between twenty and thirty, by their looks.
Q. Do you know the men composing the mayor's posse? Were you acquainted with them?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What character of men were they?
A. They were some of our best men—most of them. They were of good standing.
Q. And character?
A. Yes, sir. I would say nearly all. There might have been one or two that wouldn't bear sifting; but they were composed of our best men. They were headed by W. W. Scranton, and Chittenden up here, and that class of men. They were all young men of good standing.
James E. Brown, sworn:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State where you reside.
A. Ninth ward, city of Scranton.
Q. What is your business?
A. Hardware.
Q. Hardware merchant?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. If you will just give us a statement of the facts that came under your observation of the riots here?
A. How far back do you want I should go? I was one of the officers of the posse before the riot, and was with the mayor all through the crowd down there.
Q. Commence with the origin of it?
A. There was a great deal of excitement among all the laboring classes here, and a great many threats and rumors were current that property was going to be destroyed. After they had been current several days, a large number of young men here in the city, in talking over matters, made up our minds that something ought to be done to protect property, and it resulted in a meeting being called, and a paper circulated and largely signed, and the meeting was held at the club room of the Forest and Stream Club, to organize and decide what course we would take. We met and decided that we would organize in a sort of a military style, with the express intention of protecting property; but not interfering in any way between the laboring men and their employers. We had nothing to do with their quarrels, but we must protect our own property and the property of the citizens.
Q. When was that meeting called?
A. I cannot tell you the date. I could get it. It was near about the time, I think—immediately after the Pittsburgh riots.
Q. Had these rumors of difficulty and of attack upon property and destruction of property existed here before the Pittsburgh riots?
A. I cannot say just the dates. I didn't pay much attention to it. I thought, like a good many others, it was doubtful that there would be any trouble. We organized as fully as we could, and were careful who we allowed to belong to the party, and after the organization, who we elected went down to the mayor. Of course, we proposed to act through him and under his authority, and in no other way. He welcomed us and took proper steps to give us a legal standing. It was understood that we were to turn out only at the call of one of the officers, and a proper signal was agreed upon to be given, and that signal was only to be given by one of the other officers, and by no other persons; and as I happened to live nearer to the bell than any one else, it was understood that I was the only one to go out at night. A person was on duty all the time at the mayor's office to give me notice if that signal was to be rung if there had been any trouble. Things went on that way—rumors were constantly flying about—until, I think it was, the first Monday in August, when we met as usual at night. There was reports they were going to make an attack that night on the company's store I think, and we met, when I had a long talk with the mayor, as well as a great many others of the posse, and he told us of this meeting to be held at the silk factory on Wednesday. That he was perfectly certain there was going to be no more trouble; that everything was in a very satisfactory condition, and the same story again on Tuesday. That night word came to us they were going to throw a train off the track above the iron company's store, and they wished us to be on hand and see that if that was done there would be a force there to preserve order. We stayed there until a little after twelve, and in view of what the mayor told us of the train coming in all right, peaceable, and quiet, we made up our minds we had fooled with this thing long enough, and I saw Captain Ripple in the morning, and we agreed it was time to stop all that performance, and we would have nothing to do with it unless news came somewhat different from what we had. I went to the store as usual, and was around there. Knew of the meeting at the silk factory. Saw a crowd coming down there—from the upper stories I could see the crowd coming down there. I came down the street, and was talking with several members of the posse. The streets were very crowded. A great many strangers here—strange faces. Along towards eleven o'clock—between ten and eleven—members of the posse commenced to come to me and say they didn't like the looks of the meeting down here, and they wanted me to act—to do something. Captain Riddle was at his works, and was not expected to be here all day, and I was the only one that was here that had any authority to give the signal.
Q. You were one of the three officers?
A. Yes, sir; I laughed at the notion of there being any trouble, and was so confident that the meeting with the railroad men had been so satisfactory, that I thought there was no danger whatever. Along just about eleven o'clock, near that, a man came to me and was very excited, and told me that the meeting had broken up and were coming up this way, and it was time to act. I told him, well, if you are afraid, go into the company's store—tell everybody you see to go to the company's store—I shall stay here until something more occurs. I went back to the store, saw that the crowd was getting more excited, and I commenced telling every man I saw to go to the company's store. I stayed in front of the store two or three minutes—the store is on the corner where the riot took place, and one of the Logan boys came over and said they wanted the signal given from the company's store. I told him we must have the mayor's order first, and to go down and tell the mayor I was there at the store, and if he wanted the signal given I would give it immediately. He went down and reported to the mayor, and his brother, at the time, standing there over the bell that nobody should ring it, and he had not been gone long before the messenger came then at the company's store who had been sent down to ring the bell, and I could not do it. I sent back word I would get the mayor's order and ring it immediately. I met the chief of police, and said they had sent down to have the signal rung, and they were driving the men out of the blast furnaces, and he said, don't give the signal. He said, send every man you see to the company's store. We went down Washington avenue, and went under the arch. There was a great many saw him going into the crowd where the disturbance was. They were then driving the men out of the car shops—cheering, and others hissing. He made a remark something like this: "Boys you better go home; you better get away from here;" and went on through the crowd. Some spoke and looked, and some started as if they were going to leave. There was no perceptible difference. We went as closely as we could, until we got to Mr. McKinney's office. He went up about to the door. Just as he got to the door the crowds were coming out of the shops. The crowds seemed to strike there—the lookers-on and the rioters. Some that came out of the shops were very much excited, brandishing their sticks around. The mayor started to come back. Just as he turned around and got a little back, I saw him struck over the head with a club. He turned around and went to see who struck him, and started off again. There was a movement made in the crowd as if to protect him, and I was separate from him, I believe, five or six feet. I kept as close to him as I could. Neither of us were armed. Both of us were perfectly helpless, that is, we had not even a stick, and he was struck again. Meanwhile, the crowd as they came out of the shops, didn't seem to recognize him, and they said, "Who is he?" and I guess a dozen voices answered, "The mayor. Protect him." Some said—a great many said, "God damn him, kill him. What is he doing there?" Just then a pistol was fired. I saw the smoke of it. He evidently had it in his hand, and in getting it up the crowd was so thick it went off. Two or three rushed to strike him, and two or three rushed to protect him. The crowd was very thick just then. Father Dunn came along, and took hold of the mayor's arm, and marched him off. Another effort was made by the crowd to protect Father Dunn and the mayor, but especially Father Dunn. A great many more tried to protect him. When I speak of the crowd, I mean the men who had been driving the men out of the car shops. They says, "Who is he—Father Dunn—God damn him, kill him. What is he doing here?" That cry was repeated. After I got out of the crowd, I would have sworn that I saw Father Dunn struck, although he denies it, but I still believe, in my mind, that he was struck. After we got a little further, a man jumped from my side and struck the mayor on the cheek, with either a billy or a slung shot. That was the blow that broke his jaw. That man I wouldn't recognize again. I never saw him before, but from the view I had of the men who were killed, I think he was one of the men who were killed. As we got further along towards the arch—after we got out under the arch—towards Lackawanna avenue on to Railroad alley, the police took hold of the mayor, and helped him on to the street. I saw the rear of our store was open, and I knew what threats had been made, and I jumped into the store and told them to close the front up. I thought that might be a very good place to start a fire. At the same time, I went to get a pistol. I tried to lock the front door, and as I looked over my shoulder, I saw the posse coming down the street. I jumped for the head of the posse. Stones were thrown, pistols were fired, and I heard one shot, I think it was, and I immediately turned around and yelled, "Don't fire!" My impression was they were not in any position, and they wanted to avoid a conflict with the crowd, if possible; but immediately after that, stones came from the other track parties by us, and there was another pistol shot or two—I couldn't say how many—and I saw a crowd throwing stones, and I turned around and I said, "Give it to them boys." Then the volley was fired, and immediately from that side between Colson's store and the next—the crowd over there—and I told them to give it to them, and they turned the guns that way; and by that time the crowd had got so thoroughly panic stricken that the riot was over.
Q. How many were there in your posse that were firing?
A. There was just fifty-one men with myself. As they came down the street they counted thirty-eight. I had the names of the whole posse, and from evidence I know—positive evidence—I know there was just fifty-one men.
Q. They were all present at that time?
A. Our whole posse was over a hundred.
Q. Was the signal given?
A. No, sir; I would not give it without the mayor's order. He was completely bewildered after this blow breaking his jaw. He was struck three or four other times, and just as soon as he could, got out of the crowd. I ran to give the signal, but I wanted my pistols first. I thought we were going to fight, and I wanted to be armed. Before I could get near the church to give the signal, the firing took place, and the whole thing was over. They ordered the men to fall in on Washington avenue, and they all fell right in without any excitement, just like old veterans, and we went straight to the company's store, and by the time we got to the company's store, a great many citizens were there to support us. I had no idea they were whipped. I supposed they would merely go around through the yard and attack us again. We went to the company's store to prepare to meet them.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Who was given command of this posse?
A. There was no officer in command. W. W. Scranton had brought them out. They had gone there and got their guns, and W. W. Scranton had as much command as any one. I had command as soon as I got with them.
Q. Were your men sworn in as special policemen?
A. These also had written authority from the mayor.
Q. You said that the intention of your posse was to protect the property of private citizens. Did you intend to leave the property of corporations at the mercy of the mob?
A. No, sir; that is, we intended to protect common property which would damage the city if it were destroyed. We did not want to be sworn in. We would be sworn in, but we wished to be placed in such a position that we would not be forced to go over to breakers or outlying property in any direction to protect it, but property here in the city, for instance, the company's store we would protect. We did not wish to be mixed in any such way that we would have to take sides as between strikers and the man that wanted to work. It was not our business, we were not serving for pay, we were only serving for our own protection.
Q. I understood that was the case, but the language might be construed otherwise?
A. We could not draw the line between private property and corporation property.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. You better explain more fully the object of the organization?
A. The object of the organization—we understood the cry had been raised all through in all directions among—I can't say whether there were miners or laborers, but among the worthless set of men who were in one thing or another, and hardly ever did a stroke of honest work, that they were going to gut Lackawanna avenue, that was the cry, and we organized to prevent any such thing as that taking place. We wished distinctly, and had it understood as distinctly, that the quarrels of men with their employers were nothing to us. We did not wish to side with the companies or men.
Q. The question of wages between the men and the company?
A. That was not for us to decide.
Q. You organized for protection?
A. Merely for protection of the property of the city. We had up to the time of the riot the best wishes of a large portion of the laboring class.
Q. How was it after the riot?
A. Then came a question of order. Three men were killed—whether in killing these three men we were justifiable, and under the excitement, a great many would privately tell us they thought we were justifiable, at the same time to hear them talk in a crowd, you would think they were not.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You were tried, and the court sustained you?
A. Sustained us.
Q. How many were arrested of the posse and tried?
A. We were all tried—no we were not all tried. There were two indictments brought, one was for murder, and one was for manslaughter. Those they supposed had done the shooting were tried for murder and acquitted, and those that were under indictment for manslaughter—the whole thing was nolle prossed. The same evidence that failed to convict the men of murder would have to be used on the trial for manslaughter.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Where were you tried?
A. Wilkes-Barre.
Q. Before what judge?
A. Harding. I was not tried; I was indicted for manslaughter only, because at the time the firing took place I had no weapons about me.
Q. All that were tried were acquitted?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Was the case ever submitted to a jury?
A. Yes; the murder case was submitted to a jury.
Q. Under the instruction of the court?
A. Yes. It was so plain a case, we had so many men hurt, and we could prove so many stones thrown and pistol shots fired at us. We had four men altogether, wounded—one man shot in the leg, one man a pistol ball took him right across the fingers—it made no wound to speak of, still the intention was to hit him, and that same ball struck a gun and left its mark in the wood, and on the iron. Another ball that was fired whistled by my head and broke a plate-glass window.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. Did this all occur before your men fired?
A. The shooting of this pistol—the man who fired that pistol was killed. Two men were struck, and badly hurt with stones, and the men that threw these stones were killed. All this took place before a single shot was fired from our side.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were there any other stores broken into and robbed?
A. No, sir; not robbed. Our store was broken into, but it was by the mob, in their efforts to get away from the guns.
Q. After you were arrested, tell what took place in regard to your being arraigned before a magistrate.
A. We were not arrested; there were no arrests, virtually no arrests made. We voluntarily gave ourselves up, after this coroner's inquest had taken place, which was a coroner's inquest held by an alderman, an illegal inquest, as decided by Judge Harding. An inquest was held, and myself, as well as a number of others, were found guilty of murder, and warrants issued for the arrest.
Q. Were you charged with murder?
A. Found guilty by the coroner's inquest of murder, so far as a coroner's inquest could do that. Among the number found guilty, were men, who—or accused of it—were men who were not in the posse, and had no connection with it, and it was known to every one, who were blocks away from Lackawanna avenue. One of them was three blocks away from Lackawanna avenue, at the time the firing took place; another one was in his barn, one block away from Lackawanna avenue; and another one, I doubt whether he was in the city; another one was inside the store—of our store. Both the Messrs. Hunt who were found guilty—were brought in by the coroner's jury, charged with murder, had no connection in any way, shape or manner with the posse, and were not present at it, the elder Mr. Hunt, being inside of the store, and the younger one, being over two blocks away. Warrants were issued for the arrest of the elder Mr. Hunt, and some others, and Mr. Hunt was arrested. This was done at night. It was understood that we would be arrested at night, and taken in carriages to Wilkes-Barre, and not allowed a chance to consult counsel, and taken down through Taylorville, where a large number of this crowd had come from, and where two of this crowd that were killed lived, and then probably lynched. As soon as any notice was given of these arrests, word was carried immediately to General Huidekoper's head-quarters, who was then stationed at the company's store, to come along on the track, and scattered where they would do the most good. He immediately ordered a company down, and took the prisoners from the constable, holding himself personally responsible for their delivery to the proper authorities. That was done, because no one had any idea that the coroner's inquest was a legal affair, and that the lives of the men arrested were not worth that, if they were taken off at night, because any one of them could be arrested in the day time. Any one of us could be arrested at any hour of the day, if they had seen fit to do so, and it was merely an action of revenge on the part of the crowd. The next day, all that were in any danger of arrest, voluntarily went to Wilkes-Barre, and entered bail.
Q. How many were arrested by that constable?
A. Two.
Q. And they were taken from the custody of the constable by this company of Huidekoper's?
A. Yes, sir. Undoubtedly other arrests would have been made, but they did not care to go under his guns to do it. We put ourselves under his guns, and spent the night there.
Q. Had they warrants against all the posse?