instructions, and if any blame is to be attached to the action of the military, it must be borne by the superior officer in command.

Fourth. That while the deaths were immediately owing to the firing of the soldiers, who were at the proper place, under proper authority, where the disorder was raging, yet the responsibility for the terrible tragedy of Monday night is directly attributable to those who composed the lawless body assembled near the corner of Seventh and Penn streets, who were instigating the riotous proceedings. While many were present not as inciting to riot, but out of idle curiosity, they, nevertheless, by their presence gave aid and confidence to the mob spirit who initiated the disturbance. The latter are the persons primarily responsible for all the subsequent trouble and bloodshed, and, if detected and arrested, should be held to the severest accountability.

Fifth. The absence of the mayor from the city may be a sufficient excuse for the inactivity of the city authorities at the time.

Sixth. While on the one hand the testimony clearly shows that Chief of Police Cullen was faithful in the discharge of his official duty, it is a matter of regret to the inquest that the testimony does not equally commend the sheriff in the discharge of his duty; on the contrary, though telegraphed for early on Monday morning, 23d July, and having reached the city by special train, provided by the railroad company, at five o'clock A. M., he nevertheless made no attempt to provide for the preservation of the public peace, although earnestly appealed to and urged to organize a posse by a number of citizens during the day. It is well known that during the whole of Monday the city was under the power and in the control of the mob, whose progress was hourly gathering strength, and that therefore at noon Messrs. Wootten and Miller offered to furnish a sufficient number of men, with arms and ammunition,

to constitute a posse comitatus, and suppress the riot if the sheriff would give the authority for so doing. This offer was declined by the sheriff, who significantly remarked that the mob also had arms. All that the sheriff of Berks county did in this fearful emergency, after wasting the whole day in his office doing nothing, was to issue his proclamation, after five o'clock in the evening, calling upon citizens to remain at home. In conclusion thereof, or in accordance with evidence presented, the inquest believes that the sheriff, having neglected and refused to perform what was his obvious duty, is in a measure responsible for the events which followed.

WILLIAM BLAND,

WILLIAM C. Kelchner,
JOHN H. KELLY,

DAVID FOX,
S. A. STOUT,

REUBEN HOTTENSTERN,

GEORGE S. GOODHART.

CHAPTER VI.

THE STRIKE IN THE MINING REGIONS.

The Strike Reaches the Coal Regions-Trouble at Pottsville and ShamokinStrike on the Lehigh Valley Railroad-Trains Stopped-Matters at Wilkesbarre-Efforts of the Company to Run the Trains-The Governor asked to Protect the Road-Riot at Wilkesbarre-A Plucky Engineer-Triumph of the Strikers-The Troops Capture Plymouth and Wilkesbarre-Wholesale Arrests -Collapse of the Strike-The Troubles at Easton-Excitement at ScrantonStrike of the Men of the Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company-The Railroad Men Join the Strike-Proclamation of the Mayor-Trains Stopped at Scranton -Strike of the Miners-The Mines Flooded-Mob Violence at ScrantonSurrender of the Railroad Strikers-Bitterness of the Miners-Trains Stopped at Plymouth-The Rioters Take Possession of Scranton-Attack on the Mayor -His Narrow Escape-The Posse Summoned-The Rioters Fired Upon and Scattered-The Mob Overawed-Arrival of the Governor and the TroopsCapture of Strikers-The Danger Over-Interview of the Strikers with the Governor-Sullenness of the Miners-The Coroner's Jury-A Shameful Verdict-Arrest and Rescue of Members of the Mayor's Posse-The Sequel-The Rioters Foiled-The Strike Spreads through the Coal Regions.

FROM Reading the strike spread rapidly into the mining regions of Pennsylvania. Attempts were made by the miners at Pottsville and Shamokin, in the Schuylkill district, to bring on riots on the 24th and 25th, but were failures. At Shamokin the rioters were fired upon by the burgess and his posse and dispersed. The citizens gave an unswerving support to the authorities, and the danger was averted. At Mauch Chunk an effort was made to induce the firemen and brakemen on the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad to join in the strike, but the majority of the men refused to leave their work.

The Lehigh Valley Railroad men joined the strike

on the 25th, and there was considerable excitement at Bethlehem. The trains were stopped and the engineers and firemen forced to abandon their locomotives. On the same day the brakemen and firemen on the eastern division of this road, extending from Easton to Mauch Chunk, struck, and blockaded the road. The Lehigh Valley men at Easton joined the strike during the night, and those at Wilkesbarre took similar action about the same time. This placed the entire line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in the hands of the strikers. All freight trains were stopped, and the strikers announced that while they would allow the company to carry the mails over its line, no passenger trains would be permitted to run. The railroad officials then gave orders to stop all trains, and to make no attempt to carry the mails.

Bethlehem and Wilkesbarre were the centres of the trouble. The principal excitement was at the latter place. On the night of the 25th all the passenger trains were stopped at Wilkesbarre, but on the morning of the 26th some of them were permitted to depart, in order that the men employed on them might reach their homes.

The strikers continued to hold the road until the last of July. The company then determined to run their trains in spite of the strikers, and on the 31st succeeded in getting a train through from Bethlehem to Mauch Chunk. They announced to their employés that their abandonment of their posts was virtually a withdrawal from the service of the company, and that their places would be supplied with new men. This was done in a great measure. Application was made to the governor for assistance, and a force of State militia and regulars was

ordered to protect the road. The strikers declared their intention to stop the trains, and on the 1st of August, the day appointed for the resumption of traffic, a large crowd assembled at the depot at Wilkesbarre, resolved that no trains should pass that point.

In spite of this demonstration the authorities of the road prepared to send out a train. This action greatly excited the rioters. At this juncture Mayor Loomis was observed making his way through the crowd to the engine. He was alone, not even a policeman accompanying him. By great effort he reached the engine and jumped upon its side.. Then he read the riot act to the crowd, uttered a few words of counsel and advice, and leaped down among the men, who began plying him with all sorts of questions. In the meantime the train backed down several hundred yards. The strikers supposed that it was for the purpose of changing engines, which is usually done at this point. Another engine stood all ready on a side track, and the strikers were impressed with the belief that they would have plenty of time to operate before the change was made; but suddenly the engine attached to the train began to move forward, and as Engineer Drumheller "threw her wide open," she bounced forward and left the depot at a terrific speed. She ran so fast that it was impossible for any person to board her. The march thus stolen on the strikers made them very angry, and they resolved to make up for it before night, and they kept their word.

It was when the 3.45 train from Elmira came in that Engineer Drumheller, who had taken the other train out, returned with this. The strikers made up their minds to stop him at all hazards. The train was