THOUGH yesterday was marked by savage rioting in and around the Union Stock-Yards, it is believed in Chicago that the end of the strike is in sight. The beginning of the end was when the United States troops from Fort Sheridan arrived in the City early in the morning of the Fourth. If the end of the strike in Chicago means the end of the strike all over the country, then the end of the whole outbreak is in sight. If the situation does not improve, the United States troops will be ordered to shoot. It is a marvel that shooting was not done yesterday and to-day. In fact, it is believed here that the minute the command to fire is given, that minute the strike is over. The strikers are bold now because they know that the word has not been given to the regulars. Nevertheless, Uncle Sam evidently means business, for heavy re-enforcements of troops will arrive early to-day from both Fort Leavenworth and from Fort Brady. All this sounds bloodthirsty, and if it applied to the situation in Chicago as a whole, the outlook would be gloomy indeed; but it applies only to a hornets' nest down in the stock-yards and vicinity. If blood is shed, it will be shed there. In all other parts of the city the situation is decidedly bitter, and getting more bitter every working hour. The general managers of the twenty-three roads entering Chicago are banded into an offensive and defensive organization, and are working steadily and persistently. John M. Egan was put at its head because he was a fighter.

They will neither confer nor compromise with Debs, and have eliminated Pullman and the original Pullman strike as a factor in the situation. They have declared that the strike is now war between the railroads and Debs, and that they will neither give nor ask quarter. The organization has weathered several ticklish situations, and is too firmly bound together now to have any weak sticks in the bundle. Debs, on the other hand, maintains his usual air of confidence, and continues to send out telegrams ordering all sorts of strikes in all sorts of places, apparently regardless of the fact that Uncle Sam is bending every energy to envelop him in the meshes of the law. It is noticeable, however, that while Debs a few days ago was boasting of what he himself would do, he is now engaged in explaining that some other fellow did it. While the American Railway Union and the plug-uglies who are always ready to help along any strike are with Debs as enthusiastically as ever, he is getting body blows every few hours now from the conservative train-men. These blows come from the engineers, firemen, and conductors who quit work on one pretext or another, though not authorized by their chief to strike. A terrific blow of this kind is the present condition of the Chicago and Northwestern; on Monday Debs had this road tied up, passenger, suburban, and freight. To-day the engineers and firemen find conductors are all at their posts, having decided as a body that Debs is the under dog. In consequence the Chicago and Northwestern was doing business yesterday to all intents and purposes as it was doing business before the strike.

Uncle Sam's legal preparations go steadily forward. Judge Grosscup's order for a special Federal Grand Jury to investigate violations of the United States statutes by the strikers was entered in the record of the Federal Court to-day. The jury will be drawn to-morrow. If President Debs and his associates escape indictment by this Grand Jury they are lucky.

Another encouraging sign to-night is the attitude of the Chicago police force. Though it has been steadfastly maintained at the City Hall that the police have been doing their duty, and their whole duty, it is a notorious fact that they have been lukewarm, so lukewarm that the strikers have apparently mistaken their attitude for sympathy. While Chief of Police Brennan has detailed officers as requested by the railway officials, yet it was an exasperating striker indeed who could stir an officer to action. Yesterday, however, pressure was brought to bear upon Mayor Hopkins: and he visited the scene of rioting just north of the stock-yards. The strikers overturned cars and applied the torch to them under his very nose, utterly unmindful of his august official presence; this disrespect and the pressure combined stirred the Mayor to action, and last night there were indications that the police will hereafter be a factor in the situation The evidence of this fact was given towards evening, when the police in force attacked bodies of rioters, gave them an old-fashioned drubbing, and dispersed them. Following this significant fact, the Mayor came out with a proclamation which has considerable backbone.

As proof that the situation outside of the stock-yards is decidedly better, it may be stated that through trains on all the lines using the Polk Street Depot left practically on time yesterday. These roads are the Chicago and Eastern Illinois, the Grand Trunk, the Chicago and Erie, the Louisville, New Albany, and Chicago, the Wasbash, and the Santa Fe. Little or no suburban business was, handled, however, and the freight business was practically at a standstill. At the Union Depot, into which run the St. Paul, Alton, Burlington, and Pennsylvania lines, the situation was regarded as satisfactory by the officials, the Alton being worst off of the lot. While none of these roads is doing business with a brass band, they are sending out through trains and handling some freight. At the Grand Central Station, the Baltimore and Ohio, Wisconsin Central, and Northern Pacific were doing business practically on time. The Chicago and Great Western trains, however, were considerably delayed. At the Van Buren Street Depot the Lake Shore sent out its through trains on time, and is handling freight for Chicago and the East. The Rock Island, however, was in bad shape, and the Lake Shore suffered in sympathy for the reason that both roads run through the hornets' nest around the stock-yards.

The Illinois Central, which for several days has been paralyzed, began operations in good shape Thursday morning. Its suburban service was resumed, through trains were sent on time, and preparations, were made to start freight business this morning The Michigan Central Big Four, and Chicago and West Michigan, which use its tracks, were in equally good condition. Riverdale, Blue Island, and Hammond, strategic points which a few days ago were in the control of the strikers, are now its peaceful as a summer's day. This result was accomplished by troops. As soon as the hornets' nest at the stock-yards is, cleaned out the situation seems simple. The railroads are ready to resume business—will do so the minute they get protection.