From the Cortland Democrat of Cortland, NY
Friday, May 12, 1876

WAR ON THE MIDLAND

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Cuyler Makes a Fight
   Last Saturday afternoon, as the 6 p.m. passenger train from Norwich, on the Auburn branch of the Midland, arrived at the depot in Cuyler, the passenger coach was boarded by Mr. Wm. Petrie, Collector of taxes for that town, and two or three assistants, and the coupling pin drawn from its place, and the car seized by the Collector for unpaid taxes. Some difficult was experienced in uncoupling the car, as the train was provided with patent brakes and coupling apparatus, but some of the collector's assistants piled ties on the track in front of the coach so that the car could not be moved, and the car was finally abandoned and the officers in charge of the train telegraphed the Superintendent at Norwich for instructions.

   The train finally came on to Cortland, leaving the coach in charge of Collector Petrie, and returned to DeRuyter the same night. Mr. Petrie ran the coach on the side track, chained it to the rails, and he, together with two or three others, entered the car for the purpose of watching it until morning.

   At about 2 o'clock in the morning, the occupants of the car were surprised to see an engine with a passenger coach, within a few feet of the one in which they were sitting, and Petrie at once rushed to the brakes, but the train ran against the car, breaking the chains and driving it away from its moorings. Petrie and his assistants called for help, and commenced defending themselves as best they could.

   The train was loaded with a large party - said to be from Norwich - and a free fight was indulged in. Several persons jumped on the platform of the car where Petrie stood, and assaulted him with clubs and other weapons. In the scuffle Petrie and his assailants fell from the platform to the side of the track, where they continued the fight, Petrie uppermost. The train hands then assaulted Petrie, and he was pretty badly bruised and cut from being knocked and struck over the head with a billet.

   He finally succeeded in getting possession of the billet, and his assailant managed to slip away from him and get on board, as the train started. Petrie, who was somewhat confused from the terrible beating he had received, ran after him, but did not succeed in catching him. The part that came on the train is variously estimated at from 50 to 100, and were well prepared for a row. Mr. Petrie received two severe cuts on the head, and was otherwise badly bruised and injured.

   A correspondent of the Binghamton Times, who was with the Midland party, gives the following version of the melee : "...And just here it is well to explain the legal points of the matter as ascertained from E.B. Thomas, Esq., of Norwich, the company's attorney. The warrant on which this seizure was made expired on the 31st day of March last, and was for a reassessment of the taxes of 1874, which were never paid, and also for taxes of 1875. This town assessed the company on only one-third valuation of its property, and fixed the amount of taxes at $25,000. The real amount based on this fractional estimate of value, would be a tax of $75,000 on 5 1/4 miles of road. It is claimed that the assessment of the 1875 taxes was wrong, and that on a writ of certiorari, Judge Murray, of Delhi, declared the assessment invalid.

   " The advance of the Midland Company upon the force at Cuyler commenced at 12, midnight in the shape of some 60 men, with engine #40, and one coach, from the Norwich station. As the train pulled out, Superintendent of Motive Power Minshull sang out clearly to the engineer, 'Vic, blow no whistle', and as the train moved slowly up on to the Auburn branch, your correspondent viewed Norwich by moonlight from the cab of the locomotive, through the courtesy of M.M. Williams and Engineer Vic Behste.

   " Passing up by the Canasawacta river, the speed gradually increased to 35 miles an hour, which rolled the train to DeRuyter, four miles east of Cuyler, before 'the boys' were hardly aware of the distance covered. Here the engine was turned and placed on east end of coach, and backed to the field of action. A mile out of Cuyler the speed was reduced; also steam pressure, that escaping steam might not alarm the enemy. Within 20 rods of the switch, which held the coach, the train stopped, and an advanced guard of trackmen were sent out to examine the switch for spiking. Having examined and found all right, Superintendent Brock said, 'back up'. It was done with General Superintendent Mackie and Superintendent of Machinery Minshull on the rear platform, the force in the car being previously instructed not to leave their seats unless called for.

   "Approaching within a car length of the levied property, a light flashed from its front windows, and Collector Petrie stepped on the platform and, with pistol in hand, said, 'Don't touch this coach; if you do you are dead men.' This did not seem to strike the train men very forcibly, for Brown got up as easy as though in the Norwich yard, and made ready to couple, and 'swing them back', and they came back. At this point the Collector fired four shots, two into the earth and two skyward, and then somebody hit him a stunning blow and seized his pistol, and he being full of grit would not go down. Then somebody hit him again, and at the same time a Cuyler farmer hit the Norwich man on the skull with an iron bolt and cut his scalp open about three quarters of an inch.

   " He bled profusely. Petrie was thrown into the ditch with a clear fall from the platform, and was mauled and beaten to insensibility. Another railroad man attempted to pull out a tie, was kicked in the side and responded with a blow with a hammer across the side of the head of his assailant, laying him prostrate. One other Cuyler man was struck with effect and one young railroad man lost a coat sleeve, and was struck in the back with a club. Good management was shown by backing from DeRuyter, as both coaches having Miller couplers, the connection could be made instantly.

   "As the coupling was made, the extreme force with which they came back broke a chain made fast over an axle of the rear truck, and to the track, and the signal to go ahead being obeyed instantly, the force jumped the truck over a tie that had been made fast ahead of it, but not until after three strong pulls at it with the 'taking of slack' and use of sand had been made, and cool, skillful direction by the officers, and, coolest of all, the engineer, who, when they had lost the coach a few rods from the start, backed upon it while the Collector's posse were discharging pistols and attempting to again board the train. The pistols were dried-pea caliber.

   " The most laughable point in the whole was a diminutive Cuylerite jumping down from the commencement of the attack and shaking his thumb on his windpipe to give the quaver to his attempted war whoop as a signal, and the response by the two detachments, one in the depot and another behind a wood pile, while the majority of the collector's forces sought the rear door of the car. The bugler joined them, and before the would-be defenders could reach the front the train was passing from view up the hill, and they were saluted by a thousand 'rockets' from the stack of the engine, and 'toot toot,' from the whistle.

   " The collector received medical treatment at DeRuyter on Sunday, and has engaged the services of Lawyer Miner in that village. Although the Constabulary used pistols freely and immediately on the approach of the train, it is a fact that although probably the advancing force were well armed, not a pistol was drawn. Coolness on the part of the company characterized every movement, and in less time than any one can read this report, they had backed in the switch and were away. Today switches at Truxton and DeRuyter have been disconnected, and the stations ignored by the company.

   " The train arrived at Norwich, returning at 4 a.m. Sunday, and a large number of the tourists attended the revival meeting in the evening. Dr. Coon of DeRuyter examined the only wounded Midland Zouave, and pronounced him sound, and although called out of bed at 3 o'clock a.m. with Parisian grace he declined the fee tendered him by the General Superintendent. The end is not yet, and an issue is hourly expected."