Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-11-29
From the Missouri Republican.


We subioin the following copy of a
letter from q friend at Alton:
"ALroN, Nov. 8.
"The curse Of Abolitionism has a
gain fallen upon our town. Yesterday
morning, at 4 o'clock, a fourth aboli-
ton press was landed from the Missouri
Fulton, and put into Godfrey, Gilman,
and Co.'s warehouse under guard of
the friends of Mr.. Lovejoy. During
the day of yesterday much excitement
prevailed, and during the evening ma
ny individuals collected, with a full
determination TO destroy it.. The
warehouse was again guarded by some
eighteen or twenty friends ofthe cause.
and, when the attack was made, Mr..
Lovejoy fired from a window, and
shot down a Mr.. Bishop. The popu.
lace, Infatuated at this, and not being
able to make entrance, set fire to the
building. The individual who applied
the torch TO the roof was about to be
fred upon (or was fired upon) by Mr..
Lovcjoy, when he mir. H. received
a mortal wound from some n of the
assailants. Two others inside recei-
we'd wounds, but not dangerous. The
press was then given up and destroyed.
To-day We have peace and quietness,
and trust in God that it may continue"
10 addition to the foregoing, We
learn that the crowd attacked the house
of Messrs. Godfrey, Gilman g. Co.
about eleven o'clock in the night, but,
finding IT defended, they retired. In a
short time afterwards the attack was
renewed. At each time no violence
was manifested. except to demand the
press. Those in the house having re.
fused TO give up possession, and having
expressed their determination to resist,
it was resolved by the assailants to set
fire to the building. For this purpose
a ladder was raised, and a fire kindled
On the roof. The fire when first kin
died did not burn freely, and a second
person assembled TO add fuel TO it.
Whilst he was in the act of ascending
the ladder, the Rev. Mr.. LoveJoy
| came out of the house and stood oppo-
site to the southwest corner oft h bull
| ding. He fired from this position sew
eral times at the mar ascending, but
without effect. A man from behind a
pile of lumber on the wharf below, Fl.
red al Mr.. L.: the gun was charged
with two balls, both Of which entered
Mr.. LIS body, near or in the chest.
Mr.. l.. dropped the gun he was in
the act of firing, ran up into the house,
and, as he reached the clerks room,
fell on the threshold and expired in.
stantly.
Those in the house now proposed
surrendering, if the fire was put out.
The crowd without assembled, and car.
ried water in their hats to extinguish
the flames. The doors were then
thrown open, and as the crowd rushed
in, two guns were fred by some oil
those entering. The ball from one Of
the guns lodged in the ankle Of a Mr..
Rolf, one Of the defenders of the house,
and it is yet doubtful whether he will
not lose his leg. The other ball lod.
gsd in the foot Of Mr.. Weller. SIEVE.
raj other persons in the house were in.
Jured, in attempting to escape. Al
soon as the crowd had gained posses.
sion they took the press, broke it uE
into many pieces, and threw il into
the river. All then dispersed, and by
two in the morning the towr was again
quiet.
The Mayor, we learn, was on the
ground, attempting to arrest the distur.
bance, but without any effect. He
narrowly escaped being wounded OF
killed, as a ball perforated his hat.
MIR. Lovejoy and Mr.. Bishop, were
both inferred yesterday, and every
thing seemed to Indicate that the storm