The New York herald., 1849-05-14

the police calling the crowd to dspersc tho Sheriff
also with the Recorder the mob getting the
better of the police and they thought they must give
up to the mob when troop OF horse ontered
Astor place and pelted with stones; some
time after the i.fantry arrived; the military on
their arrival received voleys of stones and bricks,
the mob closing upon them, giving them very
little room to man9uvrc: the police were driven In
within the lines Of the military; the charge was or
dered on the crowd but only partly executed as
the military were knocked down continually by paving
stones and carried into the house; think in few
conds. the front rank Of the military would have been
all knocked down; the word given to fire their
heads; this done. and the cry was then by the
crowd il only blank cartridges, the mob rushed
and infuriated than ever; Recorder Tall
madge tried repeatedly to address the mob but they
paid no attention; ut last tremendous shower of
stones came and they driven into the house; tho
military then fired and the mob dispersed; the ltary
to do snce his honor the Mayor arrived before the
military arrived and gave some orders; during the
iore part OF the evening the mouse was set re to un
der the parquettc but soon put out which created
great alarm.
FREpERIcx A TALLMApcE, Recorder Of the city nd
county Of New York, sworn, says.-The Mayor invited
with others 10 his Office, Thursday morning last,
the object of which to consult in regard to
pected riot at the Astor Place Opera House. Some
took place in regard to the closing of the
theatre. Messrs Nibo Hackett, lessees of the the
atre said they wished the performance to go on and
Marked from the information before us, thought il
they opened they would sustain serious injury in the
house and If they persisted in the performance that
the county ought not to be responsible for the
quences They answered, that their handbllls were
and citizens they wished to be protected. The
Mayor said that he did not believe no had the au-
thorty to close the house and that he thought they
were entitled to protection as regards what else
asked to be at the theatre in the evening;
about half past T. arrived at the theatre at the
of Astor place and Broadway, and in Astor place
large body of pc ople had copyrighted walked about
among the people there were number of policemen
stationed on the side walk, near the entrance Of the
theatre there was great deal of pushing and
crowding by the people on the police, there is al
ways on such occasions the crowd increasing
about o'cgck approached the doors of the theatre
and found the doors closed, and no more admitted
then called by the police, and informed that the
Chief OF Police wanted to see me saw the Chief In
out several in the theatre who dsordery
and threatening Macready Immediately ordered
were arrested in the upper part of the house,
by my order the house was then queted
very soon after, an attack was made on the win
both sides; then rushed out of the theatre, and
ordered the police to arrest all the who threw
stones; many arrests were made; violent attempt
was made then to the persons arrested;
the police then violently assaulted with stones
eastern part Ct the Opera House well as could; the
so great by the mob that myself and the
police were driven in they were continually pelted
with stones and brickbats three felled by
side struck several times, but not serously the
mob approached quite near the entrance doors, and
breaking In the panels Of the doors with large
stones; rushed into the house, finding that the police
unable to resist the mob in order to find the She
riff for the purpose Of ordering the military; the
Sheriff and asked for the military the sheriff then
messenger for them; then tried to raise force Of
to out ii. anG hss assist Sad the p0Gs h
available force on the nrth side Of the building;
rushed out of the house, and directed the police
cede found the voley of stones great that
the lives Of the men in DANGER directed them to
come inside and came in myself manv Of them
injured these assaults continued until the military
arrived; not aware Of the military arriving at
that time; in a few minutes alarm given that
the house fire. notified the audience that there
was no danger then went outside and the troops Of
horse had just passed through the mob, which had
closed up again; then asked for the commanding off,
Ger. General Sanford and req quested him to form
line the street and sweep the street. the head Of
the column was endeavering to be made, but were
thrown back by the mob line then formed on the
side walk facing the South; at that instant
they assaied with vocys of stones from the mob
then approached the right Of the column
would fire on rhem General Sandford did the same; /
then went to the north side of the house. and then
heard the discharge Of musketry; returned to the
south side again. and told them again to disperse
the military would fire upon them the people shouted
out blank cartridges and threw another volley of
stones saw some persons dispensing; Gen. Hall then
formed line the street, and came to me and
said Recorder you must give the order to fre-the
men VIII stand l5 no longer said No let me ad-
and invoked them and begged them to disperse the
military would certainly fire upon them the Sheriff,
some of the crowd exclaimed 'That is the Recorder"
voley Of stones then came, striking my person in
Ds Ss sa s
dispersed this was tho end OF the firing; remained
at the house until after peace and Quietness
stored.
General WILLIAM HAIL, Brigadier General Of the first
brigade, sworn. says:-On Thursday night sta
toned at the drill rooms an order came from the pub
lie authorities at the Opera House, for the military to
come up immediately which we did; General Sandford
took the right Of the cavalry and took the right of
the infantry arriving at tho of Astor place
and Broadway we saw very great crowd; the cavalry
had wheeled into Aster place and followed after
given, so great was the tumult; the insults we re-
ceived were almost everything you could mention
no violence at this time; ordered the not to
resent IT in any way; we then marched opposite the
stones; at this time had gained the left Of the
horse ordered Col Duryea to form line across the
street this was done; during all this time We were
peted with stones the horse particularly several of
them were injurcd about this time several Of the
stated that we were not loaded, and requested
would load after some little consideration gave the
order to load knowing at the time that each ball
an order to form hollow square that the troop of
horse might flank our square, then facing the
Opera House, Gen. sandford gave the order for the
right flank to face to the right, forward march, when
we arrived at the side walk, continued our march
along Eighth street towards Broadway until reached
the centre of the Opera House, Of the men on my
right fell and made groanng noise; asked him what
was the matter, and found he had been struck
on the back of the head with stone; he taken
from the line unable to remain; after had got pos
session Of the street. the length Of the Opera House.
Gen. Sandford informed he would get the police to
Places he sent for the Chief Of Police to take charge
during this time, several Of our men were knocked
uOWn; one OF tnem, was lnIOrncu, last night, IL
impossible for him to live; then into the theatre
saw the Mayor, and told him We could iot get along
without some magistrate; the Sheriff came out with me-
and the Chief Of Police, with body Of men, the first
battalion was ordered t. take to the right then
faced to the left, which brought Broadway; Gen.
Sandford gave the order then marched into Astor
lace in marching up Asor Place, and when about the
centre Of the theatre the head of column was ordered
across the street, faced to the right able
to cross more than twothirds of the street. In
quence Of the crowd the noise Of the people tre-
mendous no violence at this time that recollect--
The military on our right were enabled to the
street they faced on Broadway an order then
given for the people to dsperse they would fire
them at this time stones thrown, and several Of
our men, Of the 1st battalion were knocked down by
the stones should think at this time that about
half Of the first rank Of the first battalion so much
injured that they unable TO do duty person
gave order for the military to charge found this
impossible, and ordered them to fall back the crowd
was too close for the to bring down their muskets
the people than tried to take the mskets from the militia
ly then formed line on the sdewslk-an imperfect
one some then said to "why don't you fire? am
not certain, but think it was the Chief Of Police |
made remark that VIC had right to fire, unless we
thQ MAJ of tho cifv