Riot on the Railroad

A revolt by workers means big changes.

It’s called the Bear River Riot. Union Pacific workers in Wyoming—mostly Irish—rebel against a local newspaperman’s critical coverage of their efforts. On November 19, 1868, they end up sacking the nearby town, although they miss the chance to kill the journalist. One of the major participants: Tom Smith (photo), who will acquire the nickname “Bear River Tom.” The railroad is angered by the riot. As a result, they abandon plans to run the line near Bear River and move it north to Evanston, Wyoming.