Part 11
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Were you there when the dispatch was sent for troops--the first dispatch, when the sheriff made up his mind to call upon the military?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What time was that?
A. It was about twelve o'clock Thursday night.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. The call upon the mayor and on the sheriff was not made until after you returned?
A. The call on the mayor was made on Thursday morning and the call on the sheriff was made on Thursday evening.
Q. Had you become satisfied then that you could not run your trains on account of the mob which had assembled?
A. Yes; I knew we could not run the trains.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. With safety?
A. No way.
Q. Did this ten per cent. reduction apply to all the officers and employés of the railroad company?
A. All the officers and employés, except those who got one dollar a day or less, either by the month or day--the track men getting ten cents an hour for ten hours. All above one dollar were reduced.
By Senator Torbert:
Q. That took effect on the 1st of June?
A. I think so.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. It applied to the general superintendent?
A. He told me so. It applied to me.
Q. To the president of the company?
A. I believe so.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. In regard to the dispatch which you received from Mr. Watt--did you receive any other dispatch except the one you received at Altoona, asking you to come back, or which caused you to make up your mind to return?
A. No.
Q. After you got back you say the crowd had assembled--had there been any attempt by the crowd to prevent trains from running?
A. They told me so--no trains went out.
Q. At what time was any train stopped?
A. The first double headers went out from Pittsburgh all right--they were not troubled.
Q. At what hour?
A. From three o'clock in the morning up to nine o'clock or eight o'clock in the morning.
Q. What trains were first prevented from leaving regularly on time?
A. The trains that should have left between eight and nine o'clock.
Q. A freight train?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That was prevented from leaving?
A. The crew on that train would not go out.
Q. It was not the crowd that prevented that first train from leaving?
A. I was not there.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Could you have got back any sooner?
A. No.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. You say the crew of that train would not go out. Were they discharged then when they refused to obey orders?
A. After I got home, I had too little control, and wanted to get along as well as I could.
Q. Do you know what your officers did when that crew refused to go?
A. I understood that they had either to go out or be discharged.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. I was endeavoring to ascertain the first time that the crowd interfered?
A. I was not here, but you can get that testimony if you want it.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Can you give any idea of the loss to property that occurred through this riot?
A. No; not of my own knowledge. I have no idea. The bills are coming in every day.
Q. About what was it in round numbers--the loss sustained by the company?
A. I have my own idea.
Q. Who can give us the figures?
A. I suppose our controller or one of the vice presidents could give them as estimated up to to-day.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. How many cars and engines did you lose?
A. We lost one hundred and four engines, and about sixteen hundred cars.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. The engines would average what?
A. I do not think the engines are all re-built yet.
Q. The cars are about how much?
A. About $800 a piece.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. On the freight cars could any of the iron be re-placed?
A. I might say no. Of course, occasionally, a wheel or two might be an exception, but none could be used again.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Who is your controller?
A. R. W. Downing, of Philadelphia.
Q. He can give us an approximate estimate?
A. He or one of our vice presidents.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. You were here when the troops arrived from Philadelphia?
A. Yes; I saw all the movements of the troops.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Tell us now the movements of the troops, the Pittsburgh troops first, and then the Philadelphia troops?
A. The Pittsburgh troops--most of them--were moved at night. One regiment was moved or went up the hill east from here on the arch of the hill, and then came down on Twenty-eighth street, so as to come down on the crowd.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. When was this?
A. On Saturday morning. General Pearson ordered the battery to be taken up to the same place. It was loaded in the cars at the Union depot, and I was requested to move it up about two or three o'clock in the morning, to get there when the troops would be there. About two and one half or three o'clock, I had just gone to bed when they told me that they would not take the gondolas with the guns up.
Q. The men would not?
A. That is it. I went down and saw the men, and asked them why they would not do it, and they told me they were afraid of the crowd, that they would like to oblige me. I said if you don't take those trucks up, I will have to discharge you. They told me that they would like to do it, but their lives were threatened. They would not do it, so I had to take them up myself. I went up to Twenty-eighth street with the guns, and then I saw this large crowd.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. Were you interfered with when you took up the gondolas?
A. No one said anything to me at the Union depot, only they kind of crowded around. When I got to Twenty-eighth street, they made a kind of rush, and when they saw I was running the engine, I expected them to attack me, but they did not. They did not say anything to me, only kind of crowded around. They got on the tank and saw no one but myself, and did not say anything.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Who got on?
A. The crowd.
Q. Employés of the railroad?
A. I did not recognize them as railroad men.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Give us the detailed movements, now, of the troops?
A. We brought the troops to Twenty-eight street with the battery on Saturday morning, and at the same time there was a regiment at Torrens. General Pearson and the sheriff and I went to those two places at different times to see what we could do. At Torrens that regiment, apparently, had the mob under control, that is they would not crowd around the tracks. The military seemed to be by themselves, while at Twenty-eighth street they were all mixed up--the military and the mob. Then I received word that General Brinton's command was coming on Friday night or Saturday morning. They ought to have arrived about noon; but did not get here until about four o'clock. They arrived at the Union depot about four o'clock on Saturday afternoon. We unloaded them, and got some coffee and sandwiches, and word was given to them to march to Twenty-eighth street, and clear the tracks.
Q. Who gave the order?
A. Some of the military. Mr. Cassatt, who arrived here on Friday, directed me to get two crews together, that General Brinton's command would clear the tracks, and that I could slip the trains out, and that everything, then, would go all right. Then General Brinton's command commenced to march, and the sheriff came up with about twenty members of his posse, and I urged him to hurry up and get there before the troops, and that if any of our men were there, I would talk to them, and perhaps prevent trouble. I went up. The crowd kept coming in on us all the way from the Union depot, so we took a large crowd up there. The crowd followed us up. We were so delayed in warning the crowd to get away that they came up close to us, and when we got to Twenty-eighth street, General Pearson was there, and the sheriff and his posse ahead of the military. The sheriff, I think, attempted to arrest one man who was very noisy, and then there was a general rumpus, and I was thrown back by the crowd and got in among the military companies, who had formed on Twenty-eighth street. They formed up and down on the north side, and up and down on the south side, and brought a company up between Then a man threw me back, and the company coming up the street allowed me to get in between. They went up, I suppose, to disperse the mob.
Q. Who threw you back?
A. I do not know; he was a great big man; he was a friend of mine, I know; it was not an attempt to hurt me. This company moved up, and dispersed the mob, and the command was given to charge bayonets, and put the bayonets between the people so as not to hurt them.
Q. Who gave that command?
A. I do not know.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. The object was not to use force, but to try and press the crowd back?
A. That is it. They were going to push them away. Then the crowd commenced cheering, and I saw two or three bayonets twisted off, and then a lot of stones were thrown at the military. General Pearson came back to me then, and said he was going to the office--was going to get more troops. He then went away. I could not get out. Then they commenced firing.
Q. What time was that?
A. About five o'clock on Saturday afternoon. I could not get out until the firing was all over and the crowd dispersed.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were not shots fired from the crowd before the firing commenced?
A. Yes; two shots were fired. I was near to the men.
Q. Fired at the military?
A. Yes; and stones came around and clouded the horizon.
Q. Before there was any firing by the military?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was any command given to fire?
A. No; all the officers I saw were begging the men not to fire.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. When the soldiers went up they did not attempt to injure the crowd? Were any of the soldiers hit and wounded at that time, before the firing--before they attempted to fire?
A. I saw two or three wounded right around me.
Q. Before that firing began?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. In other words, they attempted to do it without using force. Just by pressing back the crowd?
A. Yes, sir.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Will you describe the crowd? Who composed it?
A. The crowd immediately around Twenty-eighth street, on the track, were workingmen--mill men. The other men, from their appearance on the hillside, were citizens. A great many people that I knew.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Women and children?
A. I saw no children, but some women.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Mixed in with the crowd?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Close to the railroad?
A. They were apparently urging on the men. Some women were on the railroad.
Q. Encouraging the men?
A. They were yelling, and in through the men. There were very few women that I saw. They were all laughing and jeering at the soldiers.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. How long did the militia stand fire from the mob? Stand those stones and clubs before they fired?
A. Then the company moved up and got in the crowd, and there was a man in the crowd hallooed shoot, and two pistol shots and a great many stones followed, and then the soldiers commenced firing, and then there was shooting just that quick.
Q. Was any order given for the soldiers to shoot?
A. No.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was it a scattering fire, or did it appear to be a volley?
A. It was in every way and in every direction.
By Mr. Dewees:
Q. When those stones were fired, you were among the military?
A. I was among the military, in the hollow square.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Proceed with the military movements?
A. They dispersed the crowd by the firing, and as soon as I got out, I went down to my office, at Twenty-sixth street. I there found General Pearson, and I reported to Mr. Cassatt what had been done. He was talking to General Pearson, and General Pearson was writing telegrams to General Latta at the Union depot. Then General Pearson and General Brinton were discussing what to do next, and whether Twenty-eighth street was a proper position for them to take, or to go up the hill or to come into the shops--what they had best do with the men. General Pearson was telegraphing for orders. They decided they would come into the shops, in order to get under shelter. The crowd was congregated around my office, and around the shops. General Pearson told me he would stay there, and as he had had nothing to eat that day, asked if I would send up some provisions: I told him I would go down to the Union depot and send all the provisions I could. So Mr. Cassatt and myself went to the Union depot, and I tried to get provisions up to the soldiers, but they were all confiscated by the crowd before they got any. I then went up to the room where General Latta and staff were. All this time the drums were beating, and crowd after crowd was moving up toward Twenty-sixth street. Mr. Cassatt said we were powerless to do anything, and directed me, or rather relieved me altogether of any--he said I had no business in Pittsburgh. All the time, during Friday and Saturday, one after another had come to me and said I had better leave. At the Union depot, they had got a report that I had given the order for the troops to fire. They had a coffin and a rope for General Pearson. All these reports were spreading about. Numbers of people told me to leave, and Mr. Cassatt directed me to leave. I afterwards left in company with Mr. Watt and Mr. Cassatt.
Q. Where did you go?
A. We loafed around the outskirts, and then went to Blairsville and reported, and made our head-quarters there at the Blairsville intersection. There I remained until I received word from Mr. Garrett that some of the old men wanted to see me to see if the matter could not be arranged, and to see if the trains could not be moved.
Q. When was it that you received that word?
A. On Tuesday. I was informed that some of the old men wanted to see me, and had other messages that I should come, and I came down to Pittsburgh.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did you meet any of the men?
A. I met the men.
Q. To what number?
A. About eight or ten.
Q. What proposition did they make?
A. None. On Friday a committee of the men met me, making a certain proposition.
Q. You did not meet them until Friday after you came back?
A. I mean I met them the Friday of the trouble. I told them I could not possibly send such a paper to Mr. Scott. Then this other committee met me on Wednesday after I came back. I met that committee, and instead of what I expected, they brought out the old proposition.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What was the nature of that?
A. It was that no double headers, and full crews, and, I think, twenty per cent. advance. It was everything. I have got the paper. There are about four, or five, or six demands.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You have that paper?
A. Yes, sir.
Adjourned to meet again at three o'clock, P.M.
SAME DAY.
ORPHANS' COURT ROOM, THURSDAY, _February 8, 1878_.
Pursuant to adjournment, the committee re-assembled at three o'clock, P.M., and continued taking of testimony.
Robert Pitcairn, re-called:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Commence with the troops at the round-house, and tell us what troops were quartered there, and give a detailed statement of the movements of the troops from that point during the continuance of the riot?
A. I said that the Philadelphia troops had dispersed the crowd, and that made an opening for me to get to my office, where I found Mr. Cassett and General Pearson. General Pearson was telegraphing for more troops to come up. General Brinton arrived just behind me, and reported to General Pearson the result, that the troops had fired without orders, and what had been done. Then there was a consultation as to the disposition of the troops, whether they should go up the hill or remain an Twenty-eighth street, or come in to the round-house. They were asking our opinion. I remember, they asked Mr. Cassatt's opinion. I told Mr. Cassatt that I did not think he had any opinion. I remained there, and Mr. Cassatt with me. Before I left they decided that they were going to take the shops and the round-house to protect their men. I left, promising to send provisions, and went to the Union depot where I remained until some time in the night, and then went to Blairsville. When I left Mr. Cassatt, we had word that Brinton had gone to the Allegheny side, by the West Penn. That was what induced me to go to Blairsville. Not knowing where to go to, I felt that was my head-quarters for the time, we being compelled to run trains over the West Penn.
Q. When did you arrive at Blairsville?
A. On Monday morning.
Q. When did General Brinton's command arrive there?
A. I think that afternoon or evening. It might have been the next morning, but I think it was that evening. The next day, though, I was ordered to remain at Blairsville. I met this committee. Train-master Geyer wanted me to come down. I came down Tuesday, I think, or it might have been Wednesday morning, but I met the committee with the confidence that everything was going to be settled, but they brought this paper out that I told you was presented to me at Pittsburg, and with the committee that met me, instead of being very old men that we considered loyal men, there were some members of the committee who were among the suspended men. Nevertheless, I communicated the whole petition to President Scott, and asked for a reply. Mr. Scott's reply was in substance what Senator Scott told you was their reply to the citizens here, namely: that the welfare of the country would not allow him to give way to the men at the present time; that there were other interests involved, and that if they would go to work to start the trains again he would be glad to receive them. The conference with that committee amounted to nothing. The fact of the matter was, I was caught in a trap. I came down to see my old loyal men, and found suspended men, who, in an official way, I could not deal with, not being in our employ. A question was put to me this morning about the number of men suspended. I do not know how many suspended men we had at that time. I then came to Pittsburgh. I had orders to repair the damage, and try to get the main track through to the Union depot as quickly as possible, to gather up the force then scattered through the city, and the men who had gone to their homes, to repair the track and get to Union depot as quickly as possible. I went to the mayor, and asked him if we would commence work there if he would give protection. He said he would.
By Mr. Larrabee:
Q. What day was that?
A. I think Thursday. I was gathering up the men, but was cautioned by some of the citizens not to go out and work too brash in the beginning--not to take too many men about the ruins to clear them off, but to commence moderately, explaining the feeling of the city, how matters were not quiet there, and that delayed me some days. I met Governor Hartranft at Blairsville before I left, going to Harrisburg. After he came here we got a large force.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Do you recollect the day he arrived here?
A. As I have said, it was all one day to me. He came here with a force, and we went to work with a large force and commenced repairing the damage. On the Sabbath after--that was the Sabbath after the Sabbath succeeding the Saturday of the fight, we arranged to move our trains, and we then had force enough to move all the trains, as we had during all the time, with the exception that this time the men asked for the military to be sent with each train, to get them through the coal regions, and through Johnstown. That matter was arranged with Governor Hartranft to send a lot of soldiers with the men, to get them through the different points where we had trouble. I think it was the first or second train that went out from Pittsburgh on that Sabbath evening that was wrecked at Spring Hill, by a switch being removed by some parties while the train was passing over. From that Saturday night or Monday morning next, we gradually sent more trains and more trains, until we got our road running as heretofore, and gradually repaired the damages. Governor Hartranft stayed here a few days, and the committees urged them to stay until, at least, he left for Scranton.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You stated that when you commenced work you commenced with a small force, and that after Governor Hartranft arrived with the troops, then you increased your force?
A. Yes, sir; to as many men as we could work.
Q. Did you feel perfectly safe, after the Governor arrived with the troops, in going to work?
A. Yes. We had a large body of men.
Q. It was under their protection that you felt safe?
A. It was only under their protection.
Q. Did you feel safe from another demonstration of the railroad employés, or from any other source?
A. I have no hesitation in saying that we were never afraid of our own men. So far as our own men striking we were not afraid. We were perfectly able to manage our own men, so far as our own employés were concerned, if you took away from us the men suspended. But I do not pretend to say that we were not afraid of the party or parties they brought. But I know nothing about that, of my own personal knowledge. I say this: We always had enough men to move our trains, if other parties had not come in. Who they were brought by, I do not know.
Q. Your own men would never have given you any trouble, had not outsiders interfered?
A. I say that, but do not pretend to say who brought them.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. It was General Brinton's command which was present when the military dispersed the crowd by their fire. Was not any portion of General Pearson's command present?
A. General Pearson's command was at Twenty-eighth street. There were very few of the soldiers and some of the officers at Twenty-eighth street. The battery I had taken up on Saturday morning and some few men were there, and General Pearson's command was on the hill.
Q. Can you tell me why they did not hold their position that they then occupied--the militia. What necessity was there for retiring to the round house?
A. I knew what they thought--it was that they were coming under cover to prevent them from being struck. I was not a military man. However, I know what I should have done.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What motives actuated them, after dispersing the crowd, in retiring their troops to the flat position of the street?
A. After dispersing the crowd, immediately the crowd--not that crowd, perhaps, but other crowds came back in front of my office--a great crowd. They were marching by and gathering from all quarters. By dispersing the crowd, I mean they all ran away, and then they commenced immediately coming back, and I had pretty hard work to come down to the office. The crowds were coming up the railway as I was coming down to the Union depot. All I can say is, they said that the reason for going to the round house was to get under cover.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Was any effort made by the military to drive back that crowd when they commenced to reassemble?
A. I was in the office at that time.
Q. Only General Brinton's command went into the round-house?
A. General Pearson's command, I think, was dispersed, but I do not know it. I know this, that there were there soldiers that came with General Brinton's command, because some of them came down to the Union depot with messages.
Q. Had any property been fired or burned at that time?
A. Up to the time that I left no property had been burned.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Would it not have been natural, under military discipline, for the military to have held their position when they had obtained a position?
A. I think they ought to have gone up on the hill.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. When you returned from Blairsville, you said you expected to meet your old employés. Now, during all these negotiations, were the old men and the married men, that you have spoken of as being retained in your employ, engaged in this riot?
A. Not to my personal knowledge or observation. The majority of them were running.
Q. Did they make any complaint or any demand upon the company of any kind?