Part 75
A. No, sir; it depended entirely on his business. A new man was treated the same as an old man, so far as going out was concerned, unless he was an extra brakeman. If he was regular, on a regular run, he went on that train every time.
Q. Of course, if he was not there to go out, some one took his place?
A. If he was not there to go out, they always supplied a man in his place--the crew was slim, I think, as it was.
Q. The man that was there always got his work?
A. I never lost a day on the Pennsylvania railroad by being absent, unless it was voluntarily or freight was scarce. Sometimes freight was scarce for a month, and they would have to cut one train off one day, and once they sent me home in July, for a week. It was on account of trade being very dull.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You are not in the employ of the road now?
A. No, sir.
Q. When did you leave it?
A. On the 16th day of August.
Q. Was there more of the hands left at that time?
A. The road was principally operated after the strike was over, by the same that had been on the line before the strike, and I was among the number, and about the time I stopped off, things began to assume the old fashioned shape--one day they would want me and the next day they would not, and I went to Mr. Pitcairn and asked him for an order for my money, and he said it was not necessary to give an order to get me the money.
Q. Quit of your own accord?
A. I suppose I would have been discharged if I had stuck to it.
* * * * *
William M. McKay, was recalled and explained to the committee the situation of the room where the soldier who was sun struck was taken into.
* * * * *
Colonel Smith, re-called:
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You heard the last witness describe the building, and the manner in which he entered that building, and the way that he entered--where he says he left the soldier was at the telegraph office?
A. It was not a telegraph office. [Witness explains the situation of the rooms in the building on a plot.] This is the telegraph office, and this is the train master. I presume by the description that was where the soldier was taken. This is the passage connecting the main entrance of the building with the telegraph office. This is the first floor--the first floor above the basement--there is a basement under the telegraph office, and the superintendent's private office is immediately over this, on the second floor. The outer office of the superintendent is there on the second floor, and the clerks here. Three on the first and three on the second, and this is the trainmen's room, this is a sort of counter here with windows where trainmen come up to get their orders.
Q. Was there a telegraph office adjourning this room where Mr. McKay carried the soldier?
A. The room is connected. There is a door just here.
Adjourned until this afternoon, at three o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
PITTSBURGH, _Tuesday, February 26, 1878._
The committee met, pursuant to adjournment.
All members present except Messrs. Lindsey and Larrabee.
* * * * *
P. J. Young, _sworn_:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Where is your residence?
A. No. 61 Fountain street.
Q. What is your occupation, sir?
A. Police officer.
Q. Were you on the force at the time of the riots, in July?
A. I was one of the men that was dropped at the time of the reduction--suspended.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday and Thursday night, at the railroad?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Be kind enough to state what occurred there?
A. Well, on Thursday, about noon, I think, Mayor McCarthy called--came to my place where I lived, and told me to hurry down to the mayor's office, I was wanted. I went down, and met Chief Dimick, and he told me I was wanted on the Pennsylvania railroad, there was a strike. I asked him if I was to act as a police officer, and he says, Yes, I was only suspended. I went out and met Mr. Butler at the Union depot. I believe he is the depot master there, and I told him I was sent out there by the mayor's orders. He sent out a car with me and two more officers to Twenty-eighth street, where we joined more police out there. When I arrived there, there was a large crowd of people congregated upon Twenty-eighth street, along the railroad, and remained there until two or three o'clock. I don't know exactly what time.
Q. In the afternoon?
A. Yes. Then me and four officers were detailed to go on board of a double-header. There was a train going out. I went on the first engine, with another officer, as I understood for a protection for the engineer, as far as East Liberty. The train started, and moved on a little piece up the track, and a crowd of, I couldn't say how many, came in front and motioned their hands at the engineer. I said to the engineer, go ahead. He made some remark, and he jumped off the engine. I remained there on the engine, and finally the fireman jumped off. I stood there for some time, thinking they might come back again. They didn't, and I got off, and was asked by, I think, Mr. Fox--he is police officer of the company--if I wouldn't go on the engine again. I said yes. I went on the engine and remained there. No engineer came aboard, and finally I left. At the same time, the other police that were out there--I don't know how many--were strung all along the track, keeping the crowd off. I suppose in the neighborhood of six o'clock I came into supper here, together with more of the officers, to the Continental, on Fifth avenue, at Mr. Newell's; we had supper there. After supper we all went out. A good many went out along with me to the Union depot, and we expected to get a train to go out as far as Twenty-eighth street. We stayed along there, and no engine came down to the depot that night. Me and two or three more officers walked out Liberty street to Twenty-eighth street. There was a large crowd of people along there when we got out. I moved around through them. We patrolled Liberty and along Penn and Twenty-eighth street, and everything was very quiet. I left, I suppose, in the neighborhood of four o'clock in the morning. About that time. That is all I know.
Q. Did the crowd make any demonstrations? Was that all they did, waving their hands to the engineer?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. They didn't make any attempt to commit any violence?
A. No, sir; that night they were a very orderly crowd.
Q. What was this crowd composed of, railroad men?
A. I suppose there was some railroad men there through them.
Q. How many was there, do you suppose, altogether?
A. I couldn't exactly say. There was a large crowd of people. They were scattered up and down the railroad. It was dark.
Q. When you got this train, could you not have run that train out? Did you have a sufficient police force to guard a train--I mean on Thursday afternoon?
A. I wouldn't be afraid, if I was an engineer, to run away. I don't know what might have happened.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did you have a police uniform on?
A. I had a summer uniform--police blouse?
Q. A regular police blouse?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. So that you would be known as a police officer?
A. I had no buttons on it. I had my shield on the inside of my coat. I wore citizen's clothes all the time I was detailed as a reserve man.
Q. A stranger would not have known you were a police officer?
A. There were a great many that did know me.
Q. A stranger would not have recognized you as being a police officer?
A. No; I didn't wear a shield.
Q. Did you know that engineer that jumped off the train?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you know the fireman?
A. No, sir.
Q. How many police officers were there at any one time?
A. I couldn't, in fact, say how many. There was a squad went out in the morning--some more men that was suspended at that time. I don't know how many went out.
Q. Ten or fifteen or twenty?
A. I expect there was over fifteen men.
Q. Was there twenty?
A. I couldn't say, sir.
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. Did you keep the track clear?
A. The track was clear at that time. Afterwards, of course, we were not keeping it clear. There was a large crowd that stood away back.
Q. On Friday, what did you do?
A. I didn't go out there on Friday.
Q. Why?
A. I think I came down to the mayor's office Friday, and I got some sleep that forenoon, Friday, and I heard that the sheriff and his posse had gone out and our services were not required.
Q. Who told you that?
A. I couldn't say. I don't know whether it came from the chief's clerk or not--Mr. Davis.
Q. You heard it at the office?
A. I heard it, I think, at the office. I won't swear to it, but I think I heard it at the office. However, I didn't go out.
* * * * *
M. Mulvaney, _sworn_:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Michael Mulvaney.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. In Eighth ward, Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Policeman.
Q. Were you on the police force in July, at the time of the disturbance?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What days were you on?
A. On Thursday, the mayor's clerk told me to go to the Union depot there, and report to Mr. Butler. Mr. Butler told me to go to work at the round-house, and two or three more of us went down and we remained there. We went to the round-house, and we met some more of the police and stayed there for a long time. There was a big crowd around there. A lot of the police jumped on the train to help take it out--a double-header. Eight or nine of the police jumped on the train, and I saw the engineer and fireman jump off. The fireman and engineer jumped off. That is all I saw at that time. Everything was quiet.
Q. Were you there during that time?
A. No, sir; I was not. I left at four or five o'clock.
Q. Clearing the tracks and keeping the crowd off?
A. The crowd stood one side.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were you one of the discharged men?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who sent for you to appear at the mayor's office?
A. I think it was the mayor's clerk or the chief clerk. I could not say which of the two.
Q. How many of you went out together?
A. Me and two more fellows went together at that time.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You went up there to help to take out the train--a double-header?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How many of you?
A. I could not say. There was a good many police there. I could not say how many.
Q. Were you on the engine?
A. No, sir; I was not on the engine. I saw a lot of them jump on the engine.
Q. Policemen?
A. Policemen.
Q. Were there any threats made against the engineer or fireman?
A. I did not hear any.
* * * * *
Conrad Shaffer, _sworn_:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. Conrad Shaffer.
Q. Where do you reside?
A. 318 Fifth avenue.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Police officer eight years and nine months.
Q. Were you on the police force last July, at the time of the riots?
A. I was not, sir.
Q. Were you sent for to appear at the mayor's office?
A. On Thursday morning, when this occurred, we were standing down there on Smithfield street. We just had been paid off, and I was standing there with George Kauffman, another police officer, and Detective O'Mara came to us and said we were wanted at the mayor's office. We went over, and they said to us there was a strike some place. They did not tell us where. There was ten of us gathered around there in the mayor's office, and we were marched by Smithfield street to the Union depot. Mr. Fox, the railroad officer, was along. We walked up Smithfield to the Union depot and got into a car with the shifter in front, and took us out to Twenty-eighth street. They stopped there and we got out, and when we got there this man McCall, who struck Watt--I seen the man running backwards and forwards--then somebody got him by the back of the neck, and I then ran up and put the nippers on him and arrested him and took him to the Twelfth ward station-house, and we went back to the railroad track. I stayed there all the forenoon, until about two o'clock in the afternoon. There was a train came along, and Mr. Fox came to us and said he wanted men on the engine. Fox told me and Cochran to stay in the rear, and we went back to the rear, and while we were going back the train moved on, and men got in front and done this like, [holding up his hands,] and the engineer got off. The second engineer got off, and the men that was firing they got off, and we stopped there then all the afternoon, and we went to the central station. We had our supper in the Continental, and after we had supper we were marched back again out to the depot. Walked up then to what they call the dispatch office, at the outer depot. There is a little house that they call the dispatch office, and a telegraph dispatch came in that they did not want any more officers--thought they could do without the police out there--so then we stood there for a long time, and did not know what to do, and Clerk Davis told us we might go home if they did not want us. Directly a dispatch came in that we could go out. We were put on a car and taken out again, and we remained all that night, until half past three o'clock in the morning. Then there was no disturbance going on, and we went home. I then stayed at home. We were not wanted any more--the city did not want us, and the railroad company did not want us.
Q. Did they tell you they did not want you?
A. We were our bosses.
Q. You say the railroad company did not want you?
A. I did not see any official of the Pennsylvania railroad there at all. On Monday evening after the proclamation was issued for all the old officers to come back again, I went to the Central station and offered my services, and on Monday morning the mayor, and General Negley, and a squad of his men, and a company of Mr. McFarland's were marched down Smithfield street to this place, where the boat was coming in from Elizabeth--right down here on second avenue--and stopped them, and the mayor and General Negley then made speeches to the men, told them they had better not raise any violence in the city of Pittsburgh, and keep quiet. We were taken away again, and placed on the city of Pittsburgh force on our regular beat.
Q. After you tried to start this train, and the men waved their hands, and the train stopped, did you get off?
A. I was not on the train. I was in the rear of it.
Q. Were the officers in possession of the track?
A. There was officers all along the track.
Q. They could have run this train. It was possible for the train to go out; that is, the crowd could not have interfered.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You went back to the depot after supper?
A. After we had supper, we marched to the Union depot. Went into the telegraph office, outside the Union depot--there was a two story frame they called a dispatch office. A dispatch came in that they did not want any officers, and I asked Clerk Davis, says I, "Don't they want any more police out there" and he said, "It seems not."
Q. Who is Clerk Davis?
A. He was the chief's clerk.
Q. The mayor's clerk?
A. No, sir; the chief's clerk.
Q. He was not a railroad official?
A. No, sir; the chief's clerk.
Q. Dispatch came that they did not want any more officers?
A. They dispatched that a man was here, and if they wanted him, they could have him. There were two young men in there that were playing checkers. I could see them standing at the window and looking in. They were playing checkers at the time, and I walked right up to Mr. Davis, and the young fellow held his ear right down to the instrument when it came. They telegraphed, "You can send him, if the man is willing to go out." So he went.
Q. You did not go back, you said.
A. I went home.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did you know those engineers that jumped off the train?
A. No, sir; they were perfect strangers to me.
Q. Did you know the man that waved, to stop the train?
A. No, sir; he was a tall young man, light moustache, to the best of my recollection.
Q. Did you know any of the railroad employés?
A. No, sir. It was on a different part of the city. My way was out here on Fifth avenue, that was over on the other side.
By Mr. Yutzy:
Q. Did they start the train?
A. They ran about the length of this room.
Q. How many men were on the track in front, and waved and signaled to stop?
A. I could not say how many there were in front of the train. There was not any more on the track than there is in this room.
Q. Did they make any threats?
A. No, sir.
Q. Said nothing to the engineers?
A. No, sir. All the man done was this. [Waving his hands.]
Q. Did you take that to be a signal to stop?
A. I supposed so. I was in the rear, and Mr. Fox told me. He says, "Shaffer, you go in the rear, and get on the train." Says I, "All right, Mr. Fox." Just as I got ready to jump on, the train stopped.
By Mr. Engelbert:
Q. This man that made these signals, was he on the track in front of the engine?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. How far were you from the engine?
A. I went to jump on. I went to get on, and I seen the young man doing this. Some of them hooted and cheered, and then she stopped.
Q. You were not at the rear of the train?
A. Not quite; it was a long train. I do not know how many cars were on it.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Were you up there on Sunday?
A. No, sir.
* * * * *
George Cochrane, _sworn_:
By Mr. Reyburn:
Q. What is your full name?
A. George Cochrane.
Q. Your residence?
A. Eighth ward.
Q. Occupation?
A. Been on the police force until they dropped these men.
Q. Are you on the force now?
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday and Thursday night of July 19th?
A. I was one of the ten men that was called in on Thursday.
Q. Be kind enough to relate what occurred?
A. We mustered up ten men, started out to the Union depot, got on a car there and went as far as Twenty-eighth street. Seen a big crowd out there. Stopped around there a little while, and this McCall, he jumped on a switch there and made use of some threatening language, and I believe, struck superintendent Watt, and we arrested him and put him in the Twelfth ward station-house. We fetched him to central station at Diamond alley. We came in, got supper and went out again, then went to the Union depot and stopped out there awhile, and didn't know whether they wanted any more men or not. We stopped there awhile, and finally went out as far as Twenty-eighth street again, and stopped there all night. In the morning, I guess, six or seven o'clock, I came in again--Friday morning I came in to the Union depot, and seen Mr. Fox there, and he detailed me for the depot then--detailed five of us. Stayed in around about the Union depot. I stayed there until nine o'clock Friday night, and Fox told me I had better go home and get some sleep. I went home and came back Saturday morning, stayed around there all day Saturday and Saturday night, and I went up home to change my clothes. Sunday morning I came back again, stayed around until the Union depot had catched fire, and word was sent from the mayor's office that the mayor wanted all the policemen he could get hold of to report at the mayor's. We went down to the mayor's office, and was detailed there, doing duty around the city. We went out Second avenue here and stopped a party there from coming in. The mayor made a speech to them. Went to the Connellsville depot and arrested some thirty or forty there that had taken a train and would not pay any fare.
Q. Taken a train to go out?
A. No; they took charge of a train and would not pay fare.
Q. That was the parties that came from Cumberland, Maryland.
A. Yes; that was the same party.
Q. This double-header, on Thursday, I believe, was thirty-six cars and two locomotives?
A. We started to go out with some four or five policemen on each locomotive. Sheaffer and I was on the rear part of the train, and we made several attempts to go out, and the engineer on the first locomotive he jumped off, and the crowd cheered him. Then he got back on to his locomotive, and got his coat out of the box and put it on, and they both left their engine. There was nobody to hinder them going out, that I could see.
Q. Do you suppose they could run out, and did you have sufficient force to protect them?
A. There was sufficient force to protect them.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Were any of those ten men you speak of, that left the mayor's office, dressed in police uniform?
A. No; they had blouses on them.
Q. Could any of them be distinguished from any other citizens?
A. No; a stranger would not have known them, I suppose. There was hundreds of them out there knew me. I don't suppose a stranger would.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. What made the engineers leave their engines?
A. They told them to get off.
Q. They told them to get off?
A. They beckoned for them, I believe, and they got off.
Q. Did you know the engineer?
A. Never had any acquaintance with him. Since that time I have.
Q. You did not know them at that time?
A. No, sir.
Q. Didn't tell you why they got off?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Was any threats made by any one?
A. No, sir.
By Mr. Means:
Q. You speak of these men making some threats. They struck Mr. Watt?
A. Yes, sir; McCall, he used threatening language at the time he struck him.
Q. What did he say?
A. He jumped out there and says, "We will die here."
Q. Die--make a fight before these trains would go out?
A. Yes; we had no trouble out there after we made that arrest?
* * * * *
Patrick J. Carrigan _sworn_:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. No. 109 Second avenue.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Police officer.
Q. Were you on the police force on July 19?
A. Special police officer--yes, sir.
Q. Were you on duty on Thursday and Thursday evening?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Will you be kind enough to state what occurred?
A. I went on duty Thursday afternoon. There was a pretty good sized crowd at Twenty-eighth street. And they were getting ready to take a train out, and they put a good many officers on each car and the locomotive, and some stayed along the line and watched them. One man got out in front and done this way. [Waving his hand.] The train and the engineer got off.
Q. How long did you stay there?
A. I stayed until five o'clock, and then came in town, and they were taking this McCall in; and I got supper, and then went out again in the evening, and stayed there all night.
Q. Were you on duty Friday?
A. No, sir.
Q. Friday night?
A. No, sir.
Q. Saturday?
A. No, sir.
Q. Were you on duty at any time afterwards there?
A. Yes; went on duty again on Tuesday after the riot, and when going out on the train, one of the Pennsylvania officials got on the train, and told us when we got to Twenty-eighth street to get off, and not let these men see us. They did not want these men to know that they were.... About twelve of us went up the hill, and lay there behind some trees all night.
Q. This was Thursday?
A. Thursday. A few of us would go down to where the railroad fellows were, and stand around there. There was not over twenty-five or thirty.
Q. Were they on the tracks?
A. No, sir; on Twenty-eighth street. There was nothing on the tracks but railroad men, walking up and down.
Q. Could you have taken that train out that day?
A. Yes, sir; if they had engineers that train could have gone out.
Q. You had possession of the track--and the officers did?
A. There was only this one that was on the track.
Q. Was there any attempt made to assist him?
A. Not that I saw. He went over in the crowd. I was down back where the crowd was, in case of any of them interfering. We were in citizens' clothes, and we scattered amongst them.
Q. There was no attempt made to arrest?
A. They made arrests before I got up.
Q. They got McCall?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Policemen hid behind trees?
A. We were told to go there by the railroad officials--to get off and not show ourselves; there was some trees in the road, and we laid down there.
By Senator Reyburn: