This motion being agreed to, the committee retired.
Upon returning, the chairman of the committee announced to the witness that the question would not be pressed for the present.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. What time did the first firing occur?
A. In the neighborhood of five o'clock. It was, probably, a few minutes after five o'clock.
Q. But when did the first firing occur—that is, when was the fire first kindled by the mob?
A. In the neighborhood of ten o'clock.
Q. Was any effort made by the railroad company, during the night, to prevent the firing and destruction of property?
A. I would hardly know how to answer that. The railroad employés that we had considered loyal and ready to run, when we desired them to go on the trains, had gone to their homes, it not being deemed prudent to run any trains that night. I left the outer depot in the neighborhood of seven o'clock, to go down to the Union depot for supper, and to arrange for the sending of supper for General Pearson's staff, and General Brinton's staff, and all his brigade generals' staff. I went to the Union depot with Mr. Pitcairn and Mr. Cassatt, and, I think, Colonel Smith, on engine forty-five. At that time the military were in possession of the shops and round-house, and I did not anticipate that anything would be done until daylight. The firing of the cars was, I understand, up at Lawrenceville, or just within sight of there, and the cars were dropped down, and the switches so turned that they would run towards the round-house—the burning cars, these, of course, would communicate to other cars.
Q. Would the cars run themselves?