Chapter I: Preface

To collect and arrange the facts and incidents connected with the history of the great labor strikes in this country, is an undertaking of so much importance that it must commend itself to the favorable consideration of the American people. The interest in events of the nature and character of those treated of in the following pages cannot prove to be ephemeral. An epoch in the history of the nation is here marked, and from it will be dated the beginning of political discussions, and social movements which are destined to enlist the profound attention of thinking minds throughout the civilized world. These events are phenomenal. The world is witness to a spectacle, the like of which has never before been presented. A Republic still regarded in the light of an experiment, having lately terminated a long and fierce sectional conflict by engaging in one of the greatest wars of modern times; having achieved order, reconciliation and peace between all sections, having demonstrated the greatness and magnanimity of the people; having extorted from the enemies of liberal institutions acknowledgements that self-government was a possibility, having accomplished all these things—this Republic suddenly startles the world; drowns the noise of strife on the Bulgarian plains, and among the Balkans, and draws exclusive attention to a social _emeute_ on this side the Atlantic, unparalleled in the annals of time. Astonishing as was the suddenness of the movement, yet no less surprising was the facility and rapidity with which law, order, and profound peace were restored.

In this uprising of the laborers against their employers, aggravated as it was by the early appearance on the scene, of a vast number of theorists, and dangerous characters, who sought their opportunity, during the reign of general tumult to subvert the very fundamental principles of social order, we have gained a deeper knowledge of the character of the American people. Sudden as a thunder-burst from a clear sky, the crisis came upon the country. Hundreds and thousands of men belonging to the laboring classes, alleging that they were wronged and oppressed, ceased to work, seized railroads, closed factories, founderies, shops and mills, laid a complete embargo on all internal commerce, interrupted travel, and bid defiance to the ordinary instruments of legal authority. Commencing at Camden Station, Baltimore, and at Martinsburg, West Virginia, in three days the movement had extended to Pittsburgh, Newark, Ohio, Hornellsville, Fort Wayne and a hundred other points. State militia forces were encountered and repelled. The whole country seemed stricken by a profound dread of impending ruin. In the large cities the cause of the strikers was espoused by a nondescript class of the idle, the vicious, the visionary and the whole rabble of the Pariahs of society. No standing army was available, and these classes absolutely controlled the country.

During these few days of the reign of the strikes, it seemed as if the whole social and political structure was on the very brink of ruin. From the Atlantic to the Pacific the laws were momentarily subverted; officers, civil and military were for the time being powerless to compel or restrain, yet the outrages committed, such as might have been expected in a time of high excitement and the reign of passion, were confined to a few great cities, in which a large element of vicious and idle persons were to be found.

These are features of the Great Strikes which awaken our profound attention, and demand that the record be made up while the events are still fresh in the minds of the people. No better testimonial to the sterling worth of the American character, no better evidence of their fitness for self-government, can be produced than is furnished by their conduct in rising in majesty in favor of law and order, during the Nation’s trials. The American people are emphatically upholders of the principles of social order and the reign of law. For these reasons the author has undertaken the onerous task of gathering up the scattered facts which go to make up the complete history of the Great Strikes.

In the preparation of this work, the author has experienced no little difficulty, not from the paucity, but from the plethora of materials at hand. Care has been exercised to separate fiction from fact, and every possible endeavor has been made to secure accuracy in statements and details. In all cases, where it has been possible to do so, a careful investigation as to the correctness of alleged facts has been gone into by the author. It is believed, that in all essential respects, the volume herewith presented for the approval of the American public, is accurate and reliable. The brief time which has elapsed since the events treated of occurred, has of course rendered it impossible to make a thorough investigation of minor incidents. The author does not claim for his work a high standard of literary excellence, but the claim is preferred, that it possesses real historical value, inasmuch as all the principal events of the critical period through which the country has passed are here concisely and truthfully recorded. For these reasons the work is commended to the consideration of an appreciative public.

J. A. DACUS.

St. Louis, Mo., Sept., 1877.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

_Relations Between Capital and Labor._

Condition of the Country—The Duty of Patriotic Citizens—The
Mistakes of Capitalists—The Faults of the Workingmen—The Poor
Man’s Hopes the Rich Man’s Protection—The Conditions of Social
Order. 15

CHAPTER II.

_Strike on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad._

A Circular to Employes—Ten per cent. Reduction in Wages
Announced—How the News was Received—A Delegation of Employes—The
Officers of the Road will not Reconsider—Commencement of the
Strike—Trains Stopped at Martinsburg—Trouble at Baltimore. 27

CHAPTER III.

_A Day of Dread._

The Strike Continues—The Governor of West Virginia Confesses his
Inability to Suppress Disorders—An Appeal to President
Hayes—Proclamation of the Chief Magistrate—Military Companies
Disarmed by Strikers—The Third Day of the Strike, and the Alarms
it brought—Wide Extent of the Disorders—Portentous Mutterings. 36

CHAPTER IV.

_Culmination of the Crisis._

Soldiers and Strikers—Fears Realized—From Baltimore to
Chicago—Pittsburgh Affected—The Pennsylvania Railway
Embargoed—Intense Excitement Throughout the Country—Successful
Emissaries—Immense Extent of the Labor Movement. 46

CHAPTER V.

_Riot and Ruin._

Progress of the Great Strikes—Social Disorders—“The Dangerous
Classes”—The Commune Comes Upon the Scene—Intense Excitement
Throughout the Country—Dealings with Death in Baltimore—Alarm
Throughout the Country—Proclamations and Orders. 56

CHAPTER VI.

_The Tocsin Sounds in Baltimore._

The Gathering Mob—Thronged Streets and Angry Men—Terrible
Exhibition of Passion and Temerity—Soldiers Stoned by
Rioters—Sharp Volleys and Sudden Deaths—A Night of Terror—Alarm
Bells—The Torches’ Red Glare. 67

CHAPTER VII.

_The Internationalists._

The Baltimore Mob Not Railroad Strikers—The Communistic Tendency in
American Cities—Destructive Theories—Danger to the Country
Threatened—An Element to be Feared—Some Account of the Origin of
the Association. 76

CHAPTER VIII.

_The Reign of Anarchy._

The Commune in Baltimore—A Paralyzed State Government—An Appeal to
the President—A Perilous Situation—Apprehensions felt by the
Administration—Another Riot—Clubs and Skulls—A Mob of Twelve
Thousand People—From the Atlantic to the Mississippi—The Country
in an Uproar—Precautions—Unparalleled Demonstrations. 88

CHAPTER IX.

_The Trouble in Pennsylvania._

Beginning of the Strikes—The Cause Assigned—The System of “Double
Headers”—Formidable Character of the Movement—Freight
Transportation Suspended—No Concessions—Measures of Repression
Taken—Dangerous Indications in Pittsburgh. 100

CHAPTER X.

_A Night of Terror at Pittsburgh._

The Culmination—A Sea of Fire—Death-Dealing Volleys—The Spirit of
Desolation Lighting the Torch of Destruction—A Horrible
Spectacle—A Reign of Terror—The Commune Gains a Brief but Fearful
Ascendancy—The City Sacked by a Howling Mob—An End of all Lawful
Authority—The Ghouls of Pillage Abroad in the Glare of the
Devouring Fires—Millions of Property Resolved into Smoke and
Ashes. 112

CHAPTER XI.

_Given Over to Pillage._

The Great Conflagration—Demoniac Satisfaction—The Reign of the
Commune—Besieged Soldiers—Abandoned Artillery—The Miserable
Retreat—Pittsburgh Given Over to the Mob—Scenes of
Pillage—Citizens at last Aroused—A Vigilance Committee—Restoring
Order. 129

CHAPTER XII.

_General Movements in Pennsylvania._

Difficulty at Erie—Rioters near Bethlehem—Sunbury Strikers—A Rabble
at Altoona—Meadville Militia—Mauch Chaunk Characters—Lebanon
Valley Villianies—Marietta Marauders—Wilkesbarre
Disturbances—Shenandoah Colliers—Hazards at Harrisburg—Scranton
Miners—Hazelton Isolated—The Johnstown Murders. 143

CHAPTER XIII.

_The Tumult at Buffalo._

The Beginning of the Trouble—A Militia Company Arrives—Exasperated
Strikers—Business Suspended—The Railways all Cease to Transport
Freight—Threatening Outlook—Governor Robinson’s
Proclamation—Military Movements—The Strike Collapses. 154

CHAPTER XIV.

_The Federal Administration._

Precautionary Measures—The Rioters Declared to be in a State of
Insurrection—Indications of Trouble in other Regions—General
Schofield ordered to Washington—Determination to send General
Hancock to Pittsburgh—The Rule of the Mob to be Overthrown by the
Friends of Law and Order. 164

CHAPTER XV.

_Affairs in Philadelphia._

The Call for Troops—Gathering the Militia—Anxious Days—Governor
Hartranft and Mayor Stokely—A Street Riot—Dispersing a
Meeting—Colonel Thomas A. Scott and the Locomotive
Engineers—Philadelphia a Nicer Place than Pittsburgh. 182

CHAPTER XVI.

_The Strike on the Erie Railroad._

The Strike at Hornellsville—The Road Completely Blockaded at that
Point—The Demand of the Strikers—Action of the Officers of the
Road—The Situation at the Home Office, New York—Apprehensions of
Further Complications. 192

CHAPTER XVII.

_Reckless Slaughter at Reading._

The Fourth Pennsylvania Militia at Reading—General Frank Reeder
Undertakes to Restore Order—Bold Rioters Tantalize the Citizen
Soldiery—Without Orders They Fire into a Crowd of Peaceable
Citizens—Thirteen Killed and Thirty-seven Wounded—Not a Rioter
Hurt—A Boy Horribly Mangled—Five Police Officers Victims of the
Bullets—A Lady Shot, while Engaged at her Sewing Machine—Terrible
Anger of the Citizens and Rioters—Threats of the Mob—General
Reeder’s Sworn Statement. 205

CHAPTER XVIII.

_Jersey Trainmen._

Threatened Riot at Phillipsburgh—The Trainmen’s Strike—Intense
Excitement at Trenton—Governor Bedle Takes Decisive
Action—Disagreeable Demonstrations at Jersey City—Militia at
Hoboken—Governor Bedle goes to Newark and Jersey City—Guarding a
Bridge at Brunswick—Soldiers Sympathizing with Strikers—The
Jersey Central Railway—Relieved Soldiers Rejoicing. 223

CHAPTER XIX.

_New York Agitated._

The Excitement in the Great City—“The Dangerous Classes” Carefully
Watched—Getting Ready for Contingencies—Numerous Regiments of
Militia Ordered Out—No Strikes but Serious Apprehensions Felt—The
Internationals Active—A Great Communistic Meeting in Tompkins
Square—What They Demanded of Society—Gay Times at the
Armories—Ready Warriors without Foes to Face—Escaped the Danger. 234

CHAPTER XX.

_Away from the Metropolis._

Rochester’s Wave of Trouble—A Slight Shock at Albany—Syracuse
Seriously Threatened—Other Places Experience Some Uneasiness—The
Conclusion of the Blockade at Hornellsville—The Empire State
Comes out of the Great Strikes Almost Unscathed. 258

CHAPTER XXI.

_Onward Through Ohio._

Events in the Buckeye State—An Ugly Mob at Columbus—Marching Around
and “Shutting Manufactories Down”—Festive Firemen at
Collingswood—Marching Through Zanesville—The Breeze at
Newark—Cincinnati’s Fortunate Escape—A Mayor Harmless but Wise—He
Talks Kindly to the Strikers—And They Hear Him Gladly—Trouble at
Toledo. 272

CHAPTER XXII.

_Insolence in Indiana._

The Strike Inaugurated at Fort Wayne—Trackmen and
Trainmen—Indianapolis Taken in—Terre Haute Yields to the Popular
Uprising—Miners at Brazil—Mayor Cavin of Indianapolis Indisposed
to Interfere—Governor Williams not Certain that it is any of his
Concern Except to Keep the Peace—United States Judges and
Bankrupt Railroad Receivers—Freaks of the Strikers—They Capture a
Railroad. 289

CHAPTER XXIII.

_Chances for Chicago._

The Tidal Wave Reaches the Illinois Metropolis—The Bad Elements
Restive—The Tramps Marching in by Hundreds—Chances for
Plunder—The Commune Commences—Boastful Manifestos—Absurd
Demands—The Social Atmosphere Grows Misty—Precautionary Measures
by Civil and Military Authorities—Noisy Demonstrations of the
Internationalists—Citizens Philip Van Patten and George
Schilling. 307

CHAPTER XXIV.

_Pistols and Clubs._

It Comes at Last—Riotous Roughs—Socialists Serving Satan—A Well
Organized Police Force—The Military all Ready—Hot Heads at
Halstead Street—Resisting Arrest—The Police Persist, are Resisted
and resort to Pistols and Clubs—Intense Excitement—A Scene of
Bloodshed and Death—At the Viaduct—Triumphant Law—Roughs
Retire—Dead in the Streets—Then Peace. 327

CHAPTER XXV.

_Anxious Days Elsewhere in Illinois._

At the State Capital—Peoria Strikers—Miners in the Southern
Section—The Braidwood Troubles—Troops Sent Down—Matters at
Mattoon—Effingham Idlers—The Trainmen at Many Points—Shutting up
Shop in Various Provincial Towns—Peace Restored. 343

CHAPTER XXVI.

_Blockade of the Great Bridge._

Excitement in East St. Louis—Scenes on “Bloody Island”—Council of
the Trainmen—A Night at Heims Hall—Hite’s Thrilling Oratorical
Flight—“Oppressed Labor”—“The Executive Committee”—Bold Jack
Benson—Organized for Business—Across the Great Bridge—Trains
Stopped—Slight Dissension Among the Strikers—Blue Coats in the
Early Morning—General Jeff. C. Davis Moves Over—Resigning
Potentates—Governor Cullom—General Bates—Exemplary Conduct of the
Strikers—The Last Scene. 352

CHAPTER XXVII.

_Demonstrations in St. Louis._

The Strike in the West—East St. Louis sends Emissaries Across the
Great Bridge—The Workingmen Aroused—The Valley Metropolis Shaken
by a Mighty Wave of Excitement—Marching Mobs—The
Internationalists—Vox et Præterea Nihil—Black Bummers—Disgraceful
Scenes—The Mob—Demand of the Pacific Railroad Employes—Oliver
Garrison, General Manager—How he Broke the Back-bone of the
Strike—Measures for Protection. 365

CHAPTER XXVIII.

“_The Storming of Schuler’s Hall._”

“To Arms!”—Down with Lawlessness—The Giant of Communism rather
Ghostly—Governor Phelps—Mayor Overstolz—General A. J. Smith—The
Mighty Executive Committee—More Phantom than Fact—An Important
Undertaking—Seven Hundred Armed Men—They March to Storm the Hall
of “The Workingmen’s Party of the United States”—Schuler’s Hall
Captured—The Vanquished Commune—A Grand Parade—Prevention better
than Cure. 387

CHAPTER XXIX.

_Minor Incidents of the Missouri Strikes._

Interest in the Strikes—Kansas City—The Sedalia Trainmen—The
Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway—Hannibal and St. Joe—“Strike
Smashers”—The General Tumult—Growing Quiet—The Decline—The
End—Peace. 406

CHAPTER XXX.

_San Francisco’s Problem._

The Workingmen’s Sympathies for Strikers—A Mass Meeting—The
Hoodlums on the Alert—Concocting Mischief—Race
Riots—Incendiarism—Chinese Wash Houses—The Hoodlum’s
Aversion—Destructive Conflagration—A Vigilance Committee—Chasing
the Roughs—A Bloody Scene—The Aroused Citizens Crush the Mob
Spirit—Peace Restored. 413

CHAPTER XXXI.

_The South and the Strikes._

All Serene in Dixie—A Slight Ripple in Texas—Speedy Restoration of
Peaceful Relations—“Old Virginia Never Tires”—Southern Men Offer
Services to Restore Order in Northern States—The Era of Sectional
Harmony—Law and Order. 428

CHAPTER XXXII.

_Minor Developments of the Strikes._

How a Strike was Averted on the Union Pacific Railroad—Concessions
to the Men—A Settlement at Memphis Tennessee—Declaration of the
Supreme Council of the Labor Union—Order of Melakhto—Rights and
Privileges—Sympathizers with the Strikers—The Engineers’
Brotherhood at Pittsburgh—Views and Opinions. 466