-Finds Work at Shenandoah-Muff Lawler-Discovers the Character of the Mollie Organization-McKenna Becomes a Mollie Maguire-The Initi ation Ceremony-McKenna Rises in the Order-Account of the Ancient Order of Hibernians—Its Constitution and Organization-Its Strength in the United States-The Secret Signs and Pass-words-Precautions as re- gards Members-Use of the Body-Masters and Quarrelling Toasts-Syste matic Regulation of the Commission of Crime by the Order-Cold-blooded Murder the Object of the Society-System of Defence against the Law...... 469 McKenna as a Mollie Maguire-His Reports to the Pinkerton Agency-The "Long Strike"-Suffering of the Miners-Violence of the Mollies-Cap- tain Linden-Failure of the Strike-The Mollies try to bring on a Riot -Troops sent to the Coal Regions-Murder of George Major-Trial and Acquittal of Dougherty-Attacks upon him-Dougherty Demands the Death of his Enemies-His Demand Granted-Attempted Assassination of William M. Thomas-Murder of Benjamin F. Yost-The Work of the Mollies-The Murderer Rewarded-McKenna obtains the Confessions of all the Assassins-Murder of Gomer James-Hurley Acknowledges the Deed-The Mollie Convention Decides that he is Entitled to a Reward for his Come-McKenna secures Proofs of the Guilt of the Mollies-Murder of Thomas Sanger and William Uren-The Murderers Relate their Ex- ploits to McKenn Murder of John P. Jones-Capture of the Murderers - A Terrible Blow to the Mollies-Growth of the Opposition to the Mollies -The Mollies Cowed-Trial of Doyle for the Murder of Jones-His Con- viction and Sentence-Kerrigan Turns Informer-His Confession-Arrest of the Murderers of Yost and Sanger and Uren-McKenna Suspected of being a Detective-His Bold Action-Attempts to Kill him-Sees Father O'Conner-His Work Done-Returns to Philadelphia-Trial and Convic tion of the Mollie Maguires-McParlan on the Witness Stand-Sentences of the Mollies-Executions of the Mollies at Pottsville and Mauch Chunk THE HISTORY OF THE GREAT RIOTS. CHAPTER I. THE STRIKE ON THE BALTIMORE & OHIO RAILROAD. Cause of the Strike on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad-The Troubles begin at Baltimore-The Trainmen Stop Work-Spread of the Trouble along the Road -The Strike begun at Martinsburg-The Trains Stopped-The Civil Authorities defied-The Company appeal to the Governor of West Virginia-Arrival of Troops at Martinsburg-The First Shot-Failure of the Militia to accomplish anything-Colonel Delaplaine reaches Martinsburg-Governor Mathews calls upon the United States for Aid-The President's Proclamation-Regular Troops sent to Martinsburg-Firmness of Captain Miller-Arrest of Strikers -The Wheeling Troops hold their Prisoners-Arrival of the Regulars at Martinsburg-General French's Warning to the Mob-The Regulars open the Road-Troubles at Keyser and Grafton-Attack on Governor Mathews-The Strike at Cumberland-Quarrel between General French and the Railroad Officials-General Getty in Command-The Last Gasp of the Strike-Answer of the Railroad Company. ABOUT the middle of July, 1877, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company made a reduction of ten per cent. in the pay of its employés. The pay of all the employed, of whatever grade, was equally diminished, no invidious distinctions being made. All accept 1 the change quietly except the firemen and the men who run the freight trains. The first-class firemen on this 2 road had been receiving $1.75 per day; the reduction brought their wages to $1.58. The firemen of the second class were reduced from $1.50 to $1.35 per day. These men refused to accept the reduction, and stopped work. As soon as this became known, numerous applications were made to the company, by men out of work, for employment in the places of the men who had "struck." The company, having the large unemployed class along its line to choose from, had no difficulty in filling the places of the strikers, generally with experienced firemen who were eagerly seeking employ ment. Here the matter might have rested had the sober good sense of the strikers come to their aid. They had refused to work for the wages offered by the Baltimore & Ohio Company, and had abandoned their posts. In so doing they had exercised an undisputed right. Having left the service of the company, they should have recognized the fact that they had no longer any interest in its action, and should have sought employment elsewhere. Unfortunately for themselves and for the whole country they chose a different line of conduct, and one which changed the sympathy which the country had felt for them in their privations to the sternest condemnation of their lawlessness. The leaders of the strikers now resolved to compel the railroad company to recall the order for the reduction of wages. They believed that they could accomplish this by taking forcible possession of the road at certain points, and preventing the passage of all freight trains until the company should be driven, by the loss of its business, into an acceptance of their demand for a return to the old wages. They did not seem to be |