Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-11-23
from the Cincinnati " hig
Abolition Riot and Deaths al
Alton.

! There has been another very serious riot
ut Alton, (l.l) caused by The indomitnbe nbo-
htionl-m ot the Rev. T.. p. Lovcjoy; who
seems to have utterly GiSregardcd the senti
ments and feelings Ut large majority OF the
people Of that place, and who, apparently, has
taken no lItllc pains to bring about the aw-
iuI catastrophe Of viii, h we are now to speak.
I 1t will be- rccollected by our readers, that
on two former occasions, the people OF Alton,
fixed IN their determination TO permit no abo-
liilon press To exist in that place, destroyed
the press and printing materials OF Mr.. Love-
joy, taken to Alton by him, for the purpose
ot printing an abolition newspaper. The last
time the piess was destroyed, the people, IA.
mong whom were many OF the most respecta.
bic citizens warned Mr.. Lovcjny, under per-
II o! his personal safety, not again TO outrage
the feelings Of the citizens, by persising III
his intention of establishing aiS abolition pa
per. lie, however, with u fanatlclsm ihcX-
cusabe as unaccountabIe, determined to pei
severe in his purpose, and for the third time
purchased n printing press, and on It's arrival
had 1t deposited in the warehouse OF Messrs.
Godfrey, Gilman & Co., With a view ofre -es-
tublishng his abolition observer"
/ Mr. s. Gilman is n strong abolitlonist, but
Mr.. b. |. Gilman and Mr.. Godfrey (the other
members of the firm) are opposed, aud were
absent from town at the time Of the riot.
! The following account is from The mayor Of
Alton, and may be considered official, as it
certainly appears TO be guarded and Impair
tial.
Mayors Office, CRY OF ALTON, Nov'7, 1887.
TO TIE PUBLIC.
I .t. Il 4 L.
recty Informed Of the lamentable and fatal
tragedy that was enacted III our city on the
night Of the 9Th inst. and with n viewcof pre-
venting and correcting distorted statements
Of the proceedings OF the mob and those per-
SONS against whom. the attack was. DIRECTED,
deem 1t incumbent Oh me and prop6r, that J
should present, in my official capacity,o plain
statement Of all the facts connected With the
unhappy excitement that has SO long agitnted
the peace and tranquility Of the citizens ol
Alton. Without recurring TO the causes OF
result Of previous excitements in reference
to the ".aiion Observer" and its final dcs,ruc-
ton, shall con6ne my statement to the lntc
and most melancholy occurrence which has
befallen our city.
F. For several days past il had been announc-
cd and generally believed, that a printing
press was hourly expected to be landed a'
our wharf II had also been the current ru-
NOR, that this press was intended for the re-
establishment Of the "Al,on Observer" The
circulation of these rumors produced no smal
degree Of excitement, among those who l,at
taken decided stand against the abolition
sentiments that were understood to have beer
disseminated through the columns Of the lob
server" Various reports Of threatening
character against the landing Of the press
were in circulation, which led the friends q
the Observer and its editor to make prcpara
,ions to defend the press,in case any violenc'
should be offered by those opposed to thu
publication of that paper. On Tuesday n
bout 3 O'clock in the morning. was callc'
from my ludgngs ami informed that the pres
had arrived at the wharf, and that my officia
interference was desired. ] Immediately re
paired to the wharf, and remained there unit