Q. What day did you say you received the call from the mayor for troops?
A. On the 1st of August. The dispatch was:
"Mob have partly taken possession of the town. I was assaulted, and sent to my committee for assistance. Mob attempted to follow me up, when three or more were killed. Come to my assistance.
"R. H. McKune,
Mayor."
Very soon afterward, I received another dispatch: "How soon can I expect troops?" Then I received half a dozen dispatches from private parties. I sent a dispatch to McKune: "Keep quiet. Will be with you in the morning."
Q. Had you any communication with the mayor prior to the 1st day of August?
A. Yes; there were several dispatches in which he was confident that he could manage the situation. For instance, here is one on the 29th of July: "Pumps will start to-morrow. Send no troops until you hear further from me. Am in hopes of a peaceful settlement." Here is a dispatch from the mayor on the 25th of July, which I overlooked before: "Strikers have taken the coaches off of the mail train, and will not allow them to proceed. I am unable to assist the company in getting the train started." That is on the 25th of July. There is another dispatch here which influenced me to some extent, dated July 25:
"There is not flour or provisions enough in this (Wyoming) district to last one week. We are informed that at Scranton the situation is no better. Unless some means are adopted to open up western communication by rail, there will be serious trouble here. The situation is very grave, and demands urgent attention.
"Very respectfully,
"Conynghams & Paine."