The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-16

a dense mob both sides OF them, VINO were asoaniis
them with all sorts of opprobnous epithets ana Ieque
volleys OF stones ordered Col Duryea 10 iom coz
umn OF division, for the purpose OF hrst clearing 'ne
ground IN the rear Of the theatre nsna,nS SIomny and
moved forward through the mob uhti soPped oy an ea
cavaton in the ground, which was not seem OWING 70
round this broken ground and cleared the OF the the
atre by sweeping the mob before US, without charge
they at each snd OF The al theatre
tending the street, and sent into the theatre for Mr.
Matsell and the Sheriff, who out to Mr.. Mat
sell furnished sufficient police TO replace those two lines
of the military and the whole then put in march
round Eighth street, and down Broadway by the
fank-the Sheriff, at my request, accompanying u.s. we
TO the theatre as could get The mob partially re-
treated towards the middle and opposite part OF the street.
and commenced an attack on the troops with paving
stones The pavement had been broken up in that neigh
borhood for the purpose Of laying waterppes and build
ing sewer, as was informed then ordered the regi
ment to be divided and form in two lines across the
street.-the right wing advancing towards the Bowery.
and the left toward Broadwaywh view OF driving the
mob each way from the front of the theatre During
showers OF stones and brickbais, and many of them
were seriously hurt number OF men me,
and General Hall. were struck at the time and some OF
them very dangerously injured After giving this order
advanced myself towards the middle OF the street, by
the side OF Captain Shumway, who led the first com
pany and Colonel Duryea who was by his side, until we
Sheriff was Just behind. At this time assaled
by volley OF stones, by which than twohirds in
Inc fr0nt rank were more or less lnluredhe Captain
the colonel. and myself being struck too eight put OF
the eleven men constituting the front rank
less injured AT this time pistol was fired by some
in the mob within very short distance of the troops, by
which Captain Shumway was wounded in the leg, and
as believed, General Hall in the face although did
hear I'LL afterwards Previously to THIS the crowd had
been repeatedly notified by Gen Hall and myself and by
other persons, whose voices did recognise, that they
must dispense. they would be fred upon was partly
knocEed down at this time, and when rose found three
Or four OF the front rank down likewise, and the head of
the column forced back towards the Opera House The
shower OF stones at this time being incessan orders
were then given by myself and repeated by Col Duryea
to charge bayonets the attempt made, but the mob
was SO close upon tine troops pressing upon Them that
there was room for the troops to CHARGE and Of
troops by this time forced back 10 the side walk
stated 10 the sheriff that impossible for 10
a an to the whG b.y % times on
re Afterwards the Sheriff gave the order to fire. Gen
Hail. who was short distance from me- exclaimed, ''fre
over their heads"
The ordeI to fire repeated by myself and Colonel
Duryee and the men fired the heads of the mob,
against the walls of Mrs. Langdon's house A shout
fidges-give 1t 10 them again and another voley of
stones came instantly The troops then ordered by
the colonel and myself TO fire again, Gen Hall saying
'Fire lows; and them for the first time the mob began
to give way The troops then moved forward and crossed
the street, driving the crowd before hem until the troops
got near to the of Lafayette Place The mob here
rallied at the corner Of Lafayette Place on one side and
at the corner OF the theatre and the broken ground
the opposite side, and advanced again with fresh show
hurt severely at this second attack, and orders were
gwen 10 the troops TO fire. one halt obliquely to the
lght and cne-haf obliquey to the left on those two
bodies This was done, and the crowd fell back into
lafayette Place, and beyond the broken ground behind
the theatre: There firing after this by the troops
put hs mob yet kept up constant attacks with stones and
the conflict about 2IO-onehalf in the line towards
Broadway and the other in the line towards the Bowery
twenty thousand. IT exceedingly dark-the lamps
having been put out, as was Informed and all could
see was dense mass of people before me. Previously
TO leaving Eighth street to go TO the front OF the theatre
with the troops, sent to the arsenal order up the light
artillery and detachment of the sixth regiment sup
port IT. They arrived on the ground after the firing had
ceased; one gun was stationed facing the Bowery and
the other facing Broadway-the infantry disposed each
end, and some at the of the thealre-and notice
given to the mob that if they did not dispense they
would be fired upon again and the artillery used if
cessary After this the mob gradually dispersed, and the
sfoning ceased upwards of fifty men, of this small at
ery detachment of two hundred and Ten men. dis
abled, and chiefly before any firing by the troops; do
not believe that the troops could be Withdrawn with
safety without the order to fire. entirely imposs
Bile Tor them to maintain their position without firing
have been upwards OF thirty hve years engaged in mill
ary duties have been out several occasions of mobs
but never bad that of Thursday, and
never before had occasion 10 give order TO fire In
conclusion he desired to state that could deplore
the event more than he does.
1.-THE jury has not yet closed it's proceedings
Ii met on Sunday and examined additional wne sses-
VIZ John v Westervelt (sherif of the city and coun
ty of New York; G. w. Matsell, chief of police, }
Frederick A. Talmadge, recorder,) General W. Hall,
(brgader general of the lat brigadc) Sylvester L. Wye
(pano forte maker,) s. w. Gaines, Counsellor at law
and I. J Bevln, (boatman.) The New York Herald OF
Monday has the following
After taking the above testimony, the day being far ad
vanced, and near o'clock the afternoon the
coroner found it impossible to conclude the evidence so
as TO give the case to the jury twenty witnesses
We're yet to be examined Therefore the coroner adj
Journed the investigation until ten O'Clock this FORE
noon. The following notice issued:
CoRoNER's OFFICE, May IA. 1919.
The witnesses to the death or wounding of persons at
the riot at the Asor Place Opera House, on Thursday
evening last, will attend at the corones Office this day
10 o'clock WILLIAM A. WALTERS, Coroner.
We understand that several witnesses to be exam
med to day, that will reflect materially the conduct OF
the police and military. The excitement appears be
on the increase The friends of the deceased parties
feel that much yet TO be done TO clear up the awful
responsibility taken in the destruction OF human life
The whole Of the evidence will possibly be given to the
jury to-day.
The dead bodies, number of them becoming very Of
fensve the compelled TO deposit them the
receiving vault designated for that purpose of
them could be buried yesterday in consequence OF the
inquest not being ended.
MORE DEATHS.