Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-19

the Pithay. They attacked them with shower
of stones and brckbats, which the men were una
Bile to resist no magistrate being IN attendance 10
make the responsibility Of orders to that enect'
The Aldermen, we have been assured cons'uer-
ing this to be the exclusive duty OF the mayor;
refused to give the word, and the lat1er'lt woa,o
appear, was overpowered by his feelings In !h!s
state Of things the commanding officer Judged it
prudent to withdraw the troops (the l4th ihsht
Dragoons) and replace them with body Of the Sd
Dragon Guards. On the retirement OF the for-
mer. they were followed BY large portion OF the
mob. who continued their assaults upon them
al ong the quay and over the draw bridge. on
arriving at St. Augustinc's Back. being provoked
beyond further fnrhearance, they turned rouho
and fired several shots On their assa,lants, ana
further loss Of life was the result. The moD'
however, nothin daunted. still continued 10 io''
low them. and in Cullege Green some further mr.
inv occurred In this place considerable num-
he. of persons had assembled, expecting that SIR
Charles, as usual. would attend divine service IN
the MAYORS Chapel Still the mob continued
their ass ults, hanging upon the soldiers heels
until they arrived at their quarters IN The BOAR
Head yard. when they were again hred upon
The discharges, as the result must snow, were
however but partial; the number oil Killed. as near
as we could ascertain. being l, and wounded
Or 8. One poor fellow, who had taken no part
in the disturbances, was shot through the arm as
he standing upon the quay, Oh The opposite
side.
Immediately after these occurrences, Colonel
Rrereton r, de down To the square, followed by
a considerable number Of men and boys, who
cheercd him on his way thither. He assured
teen there should be no more firing, that the 18th
should be Immediately sent out OF the city, and
again exhorted them to return to their homes.
This was about II O'Clock, and it was truly
awful to reflect on the scenes which we're passing
at the time when service was commencing IN the
churches in the neighborhood'
In the square, with the exception of the scenes
of drunkenness which were still going on, no.
thing particular transpired until the evening,
with the exception that all individual mounted
the statue OF King William. and fixing tri-co
lored car on long pop, pronounced aloud, The
Cap of Liberty'' The soldiers were drawn up
in front of the Mansion-house, and the mob SEEM
ed nowise disposed to molest them. After while,
however, they manifested restlessness TOR &C
ton. and party. by no means numerous, pro-
ceeded 70 the Rridewell for the purpose OF rescu-
ins the prisoners, On their arrival they lost no
time in procuring sledge -bamthers from the near
est smiths shop, and Immediately proceeded TO
knock in the doors. The Keeper, Mr.. Evans, we
have been informed, hat, just sat down to dinner
when he received the visit Of the unwelcome in
truders. Having succeeded in opening the doors,
they became apprehensive that the large folding
gates which at night shut upthe thoro" shfare,
would be closed upon them, and they directly
sat about removing them. This they accomplish
ed with most astonishing facility, and disposed OF
them ty throwing them over the bridge into the
feat; they then proceeded to Iiberate the prison
ers, and, having accomplished their end, they
forthwith set the building on fire. During their
operations not the slightest moestalion was Of
tered them This happened about two o'clock.
About the same time. stronger party OF rioters,
comprising, indeed, almost the whole body, pro-
ceeded to the New Jail. strong built modern
building having been built about ten years since,
at cost of about 100000. When we hrst
heard of this movement, we regarded any attempt
on the prison as the widest scheme that could
have bren imagined; but we lost no time IN re-
pairing to the spot. The scene which there pre-
scented itself will never be efaced from our me-
mory Along the New Cut, in front of the Jail.
dense mass of the rioters had assembled; and
on the opposite bank of the river. and. indeed.
wherever the eye could range. the people were
posted in thousands. The mob had already sue
ceeled in forcing an entrance into the yard and
the Governors House, and were busily employ
New River, and, as the tide was fast ebbing, all
was carried off by the stream. The caravan, u.s.
ed for conveying the prisoners to GudhalI, was
launched into the water entire, and thlher also
were consigned the Governors books, and the
apparatus for constructing the drop. The riot
ers, we have heard, procured immense hammers
from the adjoining ship yard and with them the
massive locks on the iron doors of the different
wings were smashed to atoms, and the prisoners
released.
After the prisoners had been liberated. 100 or
more. exclusive Of debtors. and setting the prl
SON and Governors house fire, the rioters pro-
ceeled to the Toll Houses, which were also tlr-
ed They then set off. about seven O'Clock, with
ardor unabarcd, to the Gloucester County Pr-
son. Lawford's Gate. which in a short time was
broken into. the prisoners all released. and the
building also fired Here the flames were as APP
palhns as at the New Jail AT the same time,
also, a party proceeded to Bridewell, which had
only partially been DESTROYED, and kindled up the
wing occupied by the keeper; so that the three
prisons were in flames at the same instant
There was not now even the appearance of a
check to the righteousness of the mob, nor in
H. fho f,ipr nFt hn nj