Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1837-12-12
THE ALTON RIOT.

equally TO be deplofed' IL Is 10 be hoped
that in both respects an instructive lesson
will be learned from the following meap.
choly narrative, which is extracted from
the statement of the Mayor Of Alton.
"About 10 O'Clock at night 20 or 80 per.
sons appeared at the south end Of the ware.
house, and gave some indications Of anal.
tack. Mr.. w. S. Gilman, from the third
story Of the warehouse, addressed those
without, and urged them to desist, and at
the same time informed them that the per.
sons within the warehouse were prepared
and should endeayor 10 defend their prop.
erty, and that serious consequences might
ensue. Those without demanded the press
and said they would not be satisfied until
it was destroyed; SAID they did not wish
to injure any person or other property, but
insisted on having the press. To which
Mr.. G. replied, that the press could not be
given up. The persons outside then re-
paired to the north end Of the building
and attacked The building by throwing
stones, &c, and continued their violence
for Is or 60 minutes, when gunwOs f.
red from one of the windows OF the wS,e-
house, and man named Lyman Bishop
was MORALLY wounded. He was carrrd
TO surgeons office, and the mob with
drew and dispersed, with the exception Of
small number. Upon the first inda.
ton Of disturbance called on the civil au
thoritles most convenient, and repaired
with all despatch to the scene OF action
By this time the firing from the ware
house and the consequent death of one Of
their number, Bishop died soon after be
received the shot,) had greatly increased
the excitement, and added to the number
of the mob. Owing to the late hour Of
the night, but tow citizens were present
at the onset, except those engaged in the
contest. Consequently the civil author
ties could do but little towards dispensing
the mob, except by persuasion. large
number of people soon collected around
me. was requested TO 80 to the ware,
house and state to those within, that those
outside had resolved to destroy the press
and that they would not desist until they
had accomplished their object; that all
would retire, until should return, which
request was made by reclamation, and all
soon retired to await my return.
was replied to by those within the
that they had assembled there
to protect their property against Iawless
and that they were determined
to do SO. The mob began again to assem-
BILE with increased numbers, and with guns
and weapons of different kinds. ! ad
dressed the multitude and commanded
hem to desist and dispense, to which they
listened attentively and respectfully, but
% no purpose,--a rush was now made TO
he warehouse, with the cry Of 'hre the
house, "burn them OUT" &c. The firing
soon became fearful and dangerous be-
tween the contending parties-so much 50
hat the further interposition on the part
of the civil authorities and citizens was
believed altogether inadequate and ha'
1ardous in the extreme-no means were
At my control, or that of any other officer N
present by which the mob could be dlsPer-
,ed and the loss of life and the shedding
If blood prevented. Scenes of the most
laring recklessness, u infatuated madness
in quick succession. The build
ng was surrounded and the inmates were
hreaten ed with determination and DEAN
n the most frightful form imaginable
Every means Of escape by flight were GU
'f. The scene now became one OF inc
most appalling and heart-rending inter-
,st!
Fifteen or twenty citizens, among wnOp
we're some of our most worthy and enter
'rizing, we're apparently doomed to ~
inevitable and inevitable death II NV
lanes continued. About the time '@
ire was communicated to the building
Rev. E. p Loveloy, (late editor OF the ~
eryer,) received four balls in his breaisss
ear the door of the warehouse, and le0
corpse in few seconds, two Others RON
he warehouse we're severely wounded-'-
several persons engaged in the attack
,ere severely wounded, the wounds now
YER are not considered dangerous. Inc
ontest had been raging for an hour q
more, when the persons in the warehouse
y some means (the exact manner Il WA
one have not been able to ascertaln)i III
mated that they would abandon the hous
nd the press, provided they we're pern'r
ID to departunmolested. The doors weD
BON thrown open, and those within =
'eated down Front street. Several suu'
ere fred upon them while retreat'nB'
nd one individual had narrow escape
ball passed through his coat near y
A large number Of persons now rusno
ltosthe warehouse, threw the press uPS
,e wharf, where it was broken ln9oPS