Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-12-04
MAYoR's OrrIcE, !
Ciu of Alton, Nov Sh, 1887. }
no THE PUBLIC.

In order that the public NINA may oe COL
,,octly informed of the lamentable ana la,al
tragedy that was enacted IN our Guy on inc
IN, of tho 7th inst. and with II view of pre-
venting and CORE cling distorted statements oil
tLn nroceedincs OF the mob and those persons
a,,oirsI ,ybom The uttnck was directed, l'dcem
!, incumbent on me and proper, that should
uescn, in nv Official capacity, PLAN state
-, 81 all The facts connected win tho I'M
-, excitement that has SO long aSilatcd the
renee and tranquility of the ciIlzehs oil Alton.
Without recurring TO the causes or results OF
preyious excilemcnts in reference TO the Alton
Observer, press and its final destruction, |
,b,ll cnn(;ne NV statement to the last aud most
melancholy occurrence that has beiallen our
cy.
Fol several days past ii had been announce
ed and generally believed that u printing press
was hourly expected to ne landed al our wharf.
It had also been the current rumOr that this
n,oss was intended for the reestabshment oil
,ho Alton Observer The circulation of these
rpmors produced no small degree of excite
mani AMONGST those who had taken decided
ct,pd AGAINST tho abolition sentiments that
were understood TO have been disseminated
THROUGH the columns Of the Observer. Various
reporls of threninnS character against the
-landioe Of the press were in circulation, which
led The friends of the Observer and its editor
to make treparatiuns 10 defend the press, in
.case any violence should be offered by those
,opposed 10 the publication OF that paper. On
Tuesday about three o'clock IN the morning |
was cailod from my lodgings and informed
that the press had arrived at the wharf, and
that my official interference was desired. |
Immediately repaired TO the wharf, and re-
manned there until the press was landed and
stored in the warehouse of Messrs Godfrey,
Md 70 There Indications
of violence or resistance on the part OF any one
nj that time. Tho arrival OF the " nboliiion
pressn las it was called) was generally known
in the early part Of that day, which served TO
,re.kiodle the excitement. Representation was
made TO the Common Council Of the threaten
ing reports which were i'll circulation. The
Common Council, however, did not deem ii
necessary 10 take any acton on the SUBJECT
Gentlemen directly interested in protecting the
press from mob violence, deemed 1t expedlent
TO Guard the warehouse with men and arms,
in readiness to resist violence should any be
offered. During the early part of the night Of
Tuesday, i. was reported through the city that
these were from 30 to 40 armed men on guard
within the ware house.
About 10 O'Clock at night 90 or so persons
,appcaree at the south end Of the warehouse
and gave some indications OF an attack. Mr.
w. S. Gilman from The Sd story OF The ware
house, addressed those without, and urged
them ia desist. aud at the same time Informed
them that the persons within the warehouse
w.rc p cpared, and should endcuvor 10 defend
their property, and that serious consequences
might ensue. Those without demanded the
Press, and said they would not be satisfied I'M
Ill it was destroyed; said they did not wish TO
iniure any person or other property, but m
sisted on having the press. To which MIR q.
Il IL ,n,,Il bn m
The persons outside then repaired 10 the
north end Of the building, aud attacked the
building BY throwing stones. etc. and contill-
,ued their violence for % or 90 minutes, when
q Gun was fired from one of the windows Of
lhe warehouse and man named Lyman
Bishop IN ,rtaly wounded. He was carried
to a SURGEONS office, and tho mob withdrew
and dispersed, with the exception OF a small
number. Upon the FIRST indication OF dlstur-
bapce | called on the civil authorltlts most
convenient and repaired with all despatch TO
the scene OF action. By his time the firing
from the warehouse and The consequent death
of one oflheir number, Bishop died soon after
he received the shot, J had greatly increased the
excitement and added TO the number Of The
mob. Owing To the late hour OF the night, but
few citizens were present at the onset. Con-
seaueniy the civil authorities could do but
little towards dis persng the mob was re-
aucsted to 60 10 the warehouse and state TO
those within that those outside had resolved to
destroy the press, and that they would moi de-
sisl until they had accomplished then object;
that all would retire Until shontd return,
svhich request was made by acclamallOn, and
oil -oon retired to await my return.
was replied 10 by those within the ware
house that they had assembled there To pi Otec
Iheir properly agains! lawltss violence, and
shat they were detcrminedto do so. The mob
hogan to -asscmSlo with increased numbers,
aud with guns aud weapons of different kinds.
| addressed the multitude and commended them
10 desisl and dispense, to which they listened
attentiyey and respectfully, but 10 no purpose
IA rush was now made to the warehouse,
with the cry Of Fire the house, burn them
out" &c.
The firing soon became fearful and danger
Gus between the con,ending pariies--so much
so that the further intcrposlton on the part OF
The civil authorities and citizens was believed
altogether inadequate and hazardous IN the
exlTeme--no means were at my control, OF
that oil any officer present, by which the mob
cond BIZ dispersed and the loss Of lie and the
shedding of blood prevented Scenes OF the
most daring recklessness and infatuated mad
ness followed in quick succession. The bull
ding was surrounded, and the inmates were
threatened with determination and death in the
most frightrul form imaginable. Every means
Of escape by flight we've cut off.
The scene now became Of the most APPALLING
and heart rending interest! Fifteen or twenty
citizens, among whom were some of the most
worthy and enterpisng, were apparently
doomed TO an unenviable and inevitable death
n Mi 81. al.