The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-11-01
THE GREAT WING PAGEANT. s3

everything of the kind ever before attempted IN
this country. The newspapers filled with
glowing descriptions of this magnificent display.
Even Benefits ultra anti-whig Herald is filled
with cuts. devices, and accounts of it. We have
seen and conversed with gentlemen who were
present, and who inform us that they never had
conceived of anything in the way of pageantry
and display to equal what they there, in admira-
ton and establishment, beheld. They represent
ed the stores, workshops, and business places
generally, as being closed-that SO far as the
transaction of any business was concerned, the
day seemed like the Sabbath. We have not
room, of course, for 1.-THE of the descriptions of
bring us, and can only select brief portion of
one CT them which we find in the Cypress, de-
failing the outrages of the Empire Club rowdies,
for which they were, it seems, handsomely and
very properly chastised.
The procession was six miles and half long,
and beyond all question was, in it's display of
American industry, the greatest thing ever got
up in this country 1t was worth coming five
hundred miles to see
1t was not to be expected that the band Of row.
dies whom Tammany Hall keeps in pay at the
expense of $500 per week. would not be let
loose on this occasion, under the stimulus of an
extra quantity of foreign gold. The Infamous
Empire Club appeared in the streets through
which the wing procession had advertised that
they should pass. Their object was too apparent
to be misunderstood. They, however, did not
meet in a body, but scattered themselves at va
rious points of the procession, to annoy and Gre
ate disturbance.
Opposite the Astor House, the Locos made
some attempts to annoy the procession. A band
of boys (well backed) were set on to wave Polk
and Dallas flags before the horses as they passed,
and to utter abusive language. This juvenile
ruse did not succeed, however, no notice having
been taken by the wings of what it was plain to
see was intended by older heads than those of the
actors in it as an insult to the procession. These
boys were fitted out in neghborng political
hall, whence they emerged, under guardianship
of their abettors. Loafers signalized themselves
in various parts of the procession, indeed, by
their abortive and futile attempts to impede the
march of the INDEPENDENTLY in the Bowery.
The mounted men, (the valiant Butchers nclu-
ded,) and the trusty Unionists and Knickerbock-
ers took most excellent care, however, of the
order prescribed, and saw everything "put thro'"
strait, as arranged.
At various times attacks were made on the pro-
cession. At the junction of Grand street and
East Broadway, as the young men of the Gro
ton Hotel Clay Club" were passing, rope with
a moose was thrown from the top of the house at
their flag. 1t struck Mr.. Hoffman, late Deputy
Naval Officer, and in warding it off, it struck MIR.
Shepard, one of the Marshals. The Club being
all mounted on horses, rallied for the flag, while
the Empires from the top were attempting to drag
Mr.. Shepard to them. Some person cut the rope,
however, and then portion of the DULLES below,
acting in concert with those on the roof, made an
attack on the Croton Hotel Club. They protect
ed themselves by means of their horses, but the
Unionists having discovered the affray, were
there in moment, and it is needless to say that
few well directed blows from them adjusted this
difficulty.
Another desperate attack was made on the pro-
cession by another portion of the Empire Club,
opposite No. 325 Bowery. The Unionists being
within hailing distance, adjusted this matter also
by administering to the scamps sound drubbing,
which dispersed them with great despatch. One
member of the Club attempted to sieze a banner
opposite the Park; but summary horse-whippng
from one of the guard cut short his career.
Some OF the Empire Club became however,
more furious as the procession approached the
Park. They here adopted new mode of attack,
which was pricking the horses as they passed
through the crowd of spectators One of them,
more daring than the rest, pricked hgh-spired
horse near the Park gate, and was in the act of
shouting :" Hurrah for Polk and Dallas when
the Infatuated animal turned his heels and kicked
him with both feet in the breast. He was taken
up senseless, and, it is supposed, cannot survive.
Three or four of the DULLES of the Empire
Club were severely chastlsed by the Unonists at
different times; many others escaped with more
gentle punishment. 1t is due to the :" Unionists'
to state that in no case did they do anything ex-
cept when they or their associates were attacked,
nor did they administer any more punishment to
these villains than they deserved, while the pro-
cession are indebted to this "Guard of l640,' as
one of their banners calls them, for having any
procession at all. They have submitted 10 pro-
vocatlon after provocatlon, until forbearance has
ceased TO be virtue.
The Unonists are body of laborng, honest,
upright men of the Wing party. The city police
being great portion of the time past under Lo-
cofoco CONTROL this body formed union to pro-
tect themselves against physical force, and to
see that the aged and infirm could come to the
polls without moestation from the rutfians of