Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-05-15

we regret 10 believe with Mr.. Jefferson, that yer
large cities are 'sores on The body polite" w
pray Heaven, that many long year will pas
: over, without witnessing anolber SO dreadful
catastrophe, SO dark stain upon The nationa
characlerl
From the New York Journal of Commerce, May H..
DREADFUL RIOT AND LOSS OF LIFE.
, Que OF tie most lamentable and tragic occur
rences that ever took place in this city, occurred
last night, at The Aslor Place Opera House. Fo
some time past contest Of unusual bitterness
+ and animosily has been going on in This city be
tween the parlisans OF The rival actors, Macrea
dy and Forrest which has grown out Of the hos
lille feelings that are said 10 exist towards eact
other by both these lragedians, and which have
ceen excited 10 great pitch oil intensity, OF iale
from The correspondence that has passed between
them in the public press. In consequence of hi.
stale OF feeling, Mr.. Macready was driven from
The stage OF the Aslor Place Opera House, with
every kind OF indignity, on Monday night last
by The partizans Of Mr.. Forrest, and the play was
completely stopped.
This outrageous conduct induced Mr.. Ma.
crcady, we understand, 10 come 10 Inc delermina-
ton oil declining 10 play his farewell engagement
al This theatre; but, at the request OF Washing
Ton Irving and number OF gentlemen, 1ho were
disguised with the treatment he received, he was
influenced TO change his mind. Last night, there
| lore, was the next occasion on which he was an
nounced 10 make his appearance.
Assurances were az The same Time held out
| that all attempts Of similar kind 10 those which
| took place on Monday night would be promptly
| suppressed In the mean lime the feelings oi
| The actors 10 the proceedings OF Monday night
became more and more in6amed, and il was de.
termined by them TO repeal Them with increased
number and effect last night.
Serious apprthensions therefore were enter
tanned that riot would lake place, but no one
ever iancied that il would end in surh horrible
catastrophe.
During The day therefore the authorities were
on the alert TO take The necessary precautions
tor the preservation ot the peace. a consider
able portion Of The police lorce, under their chief,
MIR. Maisell, stationed themselves in and around
the house, aud company OF the National
Guards and one Of the Governors Guards with
a company of flying artillery generally known
As Yates Battery, occupied The park, ready 10 be
called on at any moment their services might be
required.
About o'clock The crowd began TO assemble
in The neshburhood Of the Opera House; and
from that lime til seven their numbers gradually
increased ill they reached, il was estimated, ten
thousand.
After several manifestations OF tumul,uous teel.
ing on the parl OF the crowd, stones al length be-
ga 10 fired al the windows, and The doors al the
back entrance OF The Theatre were broken in.
OurIeporl moi having been present himself,
was obliged 10 collect his information OF these
dreadful scenes from The military and from the
crowd, who were either actors or spectators; but
the accounts which were furnished 10 him were
so one-sded, and, in some cases, So conflicting,
that he prefers 10 decline entering into detail OF
~ ~ pnnF
able 10 furnish more correct and valuable inior-
nation. lie may briefly state, however, that the
principal attack was commenced about O'Clock,
when The Windows of the Opera House were de-
molished, and various attempts made 10 force
the doors.
The police commended with Them until about
9 o'clock, when the National Guards rame up
(havng been detained by The lack OF ammuni-
lion.) Their appearance seemed TO exaspera!e
The crowd who commenced throwing stones with
greater violence than '..ore. The military al
length fred wolfe, q sank cartridges, which
only had The effect OF Irritating the mob 10
greater degree. Orders we're Then given To load
with ball, and three voIlrys, we are informed,
were fired with the most disastrous effect. :
The m9b nSa ae eops Of police occupied
The interior OF the Opera House, while the CO.
yernor's Guards, sixth Regiment, under Colonel
Pierce, the National Guard Col. Die, compa-
ny of Horse Artillery, Yates Battery, Consist
ing oil TWO six pound pieces, loaded with canister
shot,l in all numbering about 800 men, were STA
toned in 7lh and Sh Streets in the immediate
vicinity OF The building
| L, was the subject OF general complaint asl
night at the scene OF action that no riot ACT was
| read. Under our laws there is no riot act. The
| Recorder and Sheriff demonstrated with the crowd
to disperse but being disregarded, the military
were ordered 10 fire as last resort.
Between 2 and 3 o'clock, some 70 or 80 prison
| er., who had been confined within the Opera
building, were removed 10 various police stations
under strong guard Of The 9Th Ward police.
| The crowd, perceiyng, from the number Of
wounded and dead, falling on all sides, that they
were likely to be overpowered, and that further
resistance was vain, gave way, and peace was
finally restored
LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Al the City Hospital arc the following wound
ed persons JOS. Mcdonald, aged II, Wountc'
in the LETT lung, native OF Ireland Geo N Kay
aged %, wounded in right lung, merchant o
New Brunsvick Bridget Pagan, of Ireland, 80
wounded in knee joint; Henry Burgelt, y, should
er; Geo. Curtis, 49, printer, right lung, OF New
York Geo. Lincoln, Mass, 30, shoemaker, alb
domen, dangerously; Thos. Ayword, 10, Halifax
leg; Stephen Boilon 81 eye and neck Conra'
Becker, %, Germany thigh; Edw'd Mccormack
N York, doubtful, groin; John Baiziel, scotland
% side.
II is stated as a remarkable fact, that all VIII
were shot about the trunk are shot through a n,
through, showing that they were engaged in clos
action.
The following were taken into the drug s,or
OF ID. Sergeant, corner OF Eighth sreet ami Thir;
avenue Or THE ClTlzrNs: two dead and MIN
wounded, OF whom seven are supposed 10 b.
morlay wounded. Or THE MILITARY six wh
were seriously injured BY stones
At the 18th Ward station house dead bodie
lie. The police have reported Henty Often
killed; Frederick Gillespie, wounded in III
foot; McGowen in the thigh; Brown, Of AZ Mer
Ger street, dead; and gentleman and lady VIII
were crossing the Bowery al 9th street, were
struck by a random ball, and taken 10 o an all
Joining store, both reported dead-a colole'
woman, who keeps an oyster shop on the corne
OF LAFAYETTE and Asor Places, was struck by
ball and afterwards died while on the way Il
the Hospital A butcher, named Roma inc,
resident in FIRST street, was also killed.
AT the l7lh Ward Station House IRE thre
more dead bodies, VIZ: VIM. Parker, sailor
VIM. Butler, ship joiner; Cd, unknown. ma
named VIM Smith, Of 18th street, also fell dea
while combating by the side of his brother
Body not vel found
II is believed that 80 or 40 soldiers wer
wounded, and as many policemen, BY balls an
stones.
We are also informed that MIR. Edgar, broker
in Wall street, is among the killed. but no
from source on which we can confidently rely
Though we believe the above TO be essentail
correct, il is quite probable that 10 all tho par
ticulars il is not.
From the N. Y. Journal Of Commerce, Friday afternoon
THE RIOT.
The Riot Of last night, and lis melancholy con
sequences, has caused, as might be expected
great excitement throughout The city, and II IS I
be ieare.i that some Iunher attempts al outrag
will be repeated tonight.
Several small groups OF men are now conere
gazing in The Park and on the steps OF The Cir
Hall, who are angrily discussing The occurren
ces of last night, and speaking in The mos! iTri
| ~ nj nj hp pf hpr