The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-01


Riot ana Barains q me Houses Or PariIa-
mcMt.
Notwithstanding the great excitement which had
been manifested outside the Parliament House, after
tho Governor Generals assent had been given to the
Rebellion loss bill the House continued In session,
passing one or two measures through committee,
with more than usual quieiness, and apparently IN
perfect confidence. II soon became known, how
ever, that meeting had been called and the passing
Of carriage with bells accompanied by some per-
nentary rush to the windows. About half-pqst
o'clock, being told that the walls were chalked With
announcements that the meeting was 10 take place
a. O'clock a. the champdeMars, the writer left
At the Champ-de-Mars large number Of persona
Were assembled. The bank and stone steps going up
TO the guardhonse were crowded with PERSONS who
pressed towards ihe 'front.' and bore torches but be.
low the muster did not appear great the ground
they occupied seemed 10 indicate. They were for
the most part standing In groups at some little dis
lance apart, and IL was remarked that great num-
Der OF females accompanied the men who were pre-
sent. Al The moment the writer reached the ground,
some person appeared 10 be proposing list Of names
for committee, but the lights were exlingnished
Immediately, and smother voice addressed the Assem-.
bly,. There was then cry Of "to the Parliament
House." The writer Immediately proceeded there. and
In consequence Ofihe time necessary 10 enable the pro-
cessson to form, reached the House some three min
utes before the crowd The doors were at that time,
locked; but making use Of his privilege the writer
entered and passed immediately up stairs 10 the back
Of the Speakers chair meeting several clerks In the
way, who snsioasly Inquired, "are they coming, are
they comingT' Mr.. Price was In the news room al
the moment the writer passed the stairs Of the smok
Ing ROOM and there was only time TO say "lhey are
coming" when shower Of stones appeared 10 have
smashed every window In the house. The passage
was the only place which afforded shelter from the
stones that We're poured in on oil sides. The apart
ments on each side projected mat spot from inc ms
siles. and there . large number Of persons mn,e-
diateiy congrfgated We noticed the speaker Pr
Allan McNab, Col Gtgy, Mr.. Badgey, MIR. Bell,
Mr. Chanycan,. MIR. Papinean, Mr.. Drnmmond,
Madame 81. Julen ana her maid from me par, and
some olher members and employs Of The Assembly.
Az was confusion. some said they WIN tre me
ns Some desired % 90 up the Stairs % the smoking
room but the majority appeared resolved 70 await
The event and lace any persons who might. pass
inrongh inc Ciamper 10 lhe place where tney We're.
crowd sir Allan McNab lmmedaiely VOLUNTEERED
10 do 80, and entered the Assembly Chamberfo thai
purpose bni me vo'lies which were sun coming
throngh the windows made " evident tnai ne could
not pass the iength " me apartment wthont GER
tainiy OF being Knocked down. There was an I'M
mediate cry Tor him 70 return About this time, y
appears that some persons entered the House and
carried away the Mace and In al probaoiify there
would have been no difficulty in passing through as
they ret red und OF descending by the great stair,
case TO the front door, But those In the passage SIM
continued 70 suppose that the crowd We're without,
and would refuse TO allow them 10 pass. The only
~
Then some person opened the door Of the news room,
and raised the cry that the building was on iire
On looking through the glass door which opens
between the passage and the refreshmen lobby, This
was found 70 be the case. The awning was ~
flames, which was fast communicating TO the wooden
gallery. II was now time 10 make some eftori 10
escape mud TO risk broken head rather than Incur
the danger Of remaining longer. The writer accord
ingly descended the bock stairs TO the large lobby
below, where several clerks had assembled, ana had
determined 10 make rush al any odds. The truth
was, however, that no difficulty existed They had
closed the door which separates the lower lobby Of
the House Of Assembly from the main entrance hall
and great staircase and had thus like the persons In
the passage above remained In ignorance OF the en-
trance Of The men who CARED of the mace, and Of
the fact that they had left the front door OPEN. This
was Of course, discovered on entering the hull and
oil present passed into the streets.
The flames had already enveloped the whole Of thai
end Of the building, which II situated in McGil
street and crowd was drawn up on the footpuIh,
viewing the conllagraton, which III mp the entire
city 10 The Unitarian Church ut the top OF the Hay
Market Some engines were standing In the street,
drawn up across the roadway at The end Of StiPaul
street; but they were not playing, and II was said
that the crowd had forbidden them TO do SO. Mr..
Murray, Of the Montreal Office, had sriven inef-
fectually to get them 10 work. The wind was
blowing smart breeze, and the whole Of the ex-
tensiye building, In which there wos very large
quantity Of wood work, was soon In flames from end
4.