Many men were unemployed at Shamokin during the great railroad strike of 1877, and meetings were frequently held at Union hall and Slope hill to discuss measures for the redress of grievances. The climax was reached on the evening of July 25th, when, after a meeting at Union hall, a crowd of men and boys moved down Shamokin street, not, it appears, with any riotous intentions at first, but as they passed E. Shuman A: Company’s store someone threw a stone through the window: this caused a momentary excitement, followed by a general movement toward the Reading station, which was completely looted.
The mob then crossed over to the Northern Central depot, but at this juncture a company of citizens who had collected in response to the tolling of the Presbyterian church bell, a signal that had been agreed upon when acts of violence first became probable, marched down Liberty street with the burgess, Richard B. Douty, at their head. Upon arriving at the station he summoned the mob to disperse, but the order was utterly disregarded and the citizens then opened fire, with such execution that fourteen of the mob were wounded, one, Philip Wiest, a ringleader in the disturbance, quite seriously. This had the desired effect and the rioters retreated with great precipitation.
Two vigilance companies were forthwith organized, with J. A. Weaver and W. C. Huntzinger as captains; they cleared the streets and performed guard duty during the next two weeks, but there was fortunately no recurrence of riotous demonstrations.