Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-05-17
Tuesday May Is.
From the N. Y. Cour. g. Enquirer.
GREAT RIOT,
BlOOdshed and Loss of Life.

outrageous in their incidents, and more bloody
in their results than any we have ever beer
called on to record.
The occurrences of Monday night we hav,
already mentioned. Mr.. Macready, an actol
of emincnce, gentleman of cultivated taste:
and unimpeached propricty Of personal anC
professional demeanor, was driven from the
stage by an organized gang of rowdes, with
every species of indisnity and insult which
brutal ferocity could suggest A large nun
Der of gentlemen, numbering among then
some Of our most eminent citizens, being un
willing that this demonstration should be re-
garded as characteristic Of this city or as al
evidence of the feelings entertained tow ards
Mr.. Macready by the great body of our citi
zcns, united in reques. that he would con-
tinue his engagement. He assented to this
request, in a letter which We published yester-
day, and was accordingly announced TO appear
last night in Macbeth.
During yesterday, reliable information reach
ed the city authorities, Of an organized con. pi-
racy, not only against Mr.. Macready, but
against the peace and good order of the city
Orders were at once issued for the presence OF
a force sufficient to protect private rights and
put down any riot that was likely to occur. -
At o'clock large detachmcn,s Of the police
reported themselves at the Opera House and
were stationed in various parts Of the building
under the orders of the Chief of Police in per-
son. Strong detachments from the fi'st'
Third and Seventh Ward Police force were
stationed outside the building-part to guard
the entrance and part to patrol the vicinity.
The writer Of this reached the ground at
half-past 7 o'clock, and found the whole area
in Astor Place in front Of the House occupied
by dense crowd, a large number of whom
Immediately in front OF the main door were
shouting and endeavoring to force an entrance
The doors were closed against everybody
the theatre being already full. The curtain
rose and the play commenced. Mr.. Mcready's 8
appearance was the signal for loud cries and
Kisses, which were overwhelmed, however, by
the applause with which he was greeted
The play went on amid considerable confusion
until near the close of the second act, when
The Police in attendance, by simultaneous
movement, s1hed, handcuiIed and carried of
ten or twelve Of the ringlcaders, after which
the play went on without interruption TO its
close, MIR. Marready being constantly greet
ed with the most hearty applause.
Outside, meantime, play of far different
kind was enacted. The crowd in attendance
increased rapidly and constantly. Asror Place
was dcnsely crowded from the Bowery to
broadway, and both :hese streets were filed
with an immense multitude of people
Eighth street also, above the Opera House
was crowded and on every side people were
assembled as spectators of the apprehended
tragedy. Finding it impossible to effect an
entranae or the Astor Place side of the house
we passed round TO the stage door in Eighth
street. The clamor on the As,or Place side
had scnsibly ircseased, and some stones were
at this time thrown at the windows. Reach
ing the stage door, we found that also closed
and guarded by a strong body of police. We
had been there but ten or fifteen minutes when
rush Of the mob was made from the Bowery
side, and number Of them began to gather
paving stones and hutl them at the windows
of the stage part of the house.
n nd ol IL,
door. We crossed the street and stood among
the rioters The sidewalk and part of the
street was filled with spectators. Those who
took an active part in storming the building,
were only fifty or sixty in number, and were
in good part boys. They took up stones from
the street, and men among tkem took large
flag stones and broke them in pieces, distribu-
them among the mob, who hurled them at the
windows in regular succession, beginning with
the Bowery end and going towards Broad
way. The blinds were all closed, but being
slight, were of course, easily smashed in.
This continued without interruption for some
fifteen minutes, during which time about one
broken in. Just then, some one on the inside
Of the building thrust through lower window
a hose-ppe and began to throw water upon
he mob. Thi. was received with shouts cf
derision, and a shower of stones was forth
with directed against the window from which
it came. The assault was also renewed upon
the upper windows which were nearly all
broken in. An attack was then made upon
the main door on the same side Heavy
stones were taken up from the pavement, and
half dozen or more persons would 60 togeth
er and hur them simultaneously apaips, ;,0
door Three cr four a!..,cnarres Of this sor,
ourst 10 10 door in, and call was made for
rush Ten or fifteen persons approached the
door, and just as they hurled their missile.
agains, it, bat,ering it almost completely down, ),
a side door opened and a large Police force
rushed out, sezing some Of the rioters and
dragging them inside, and then rushing out
again 10 good order aud forcing back the whole
crowd on either side.
The an,;,a ,n.ca IN E,ob,b .,,,a, a, (.o,,