Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-04-10
From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
Riot and Outrage.


Our city was disturbed on Sunday night by
an outrage of unusual character and violence.
The city papers of the previous day had con-
tanned a notice that ..the Rev. +. Leahey,
converted monk of La Trappe" would lee
ture at GARDENERS Hall, on Monday evening
following, TO gentlemen only, upon certain
practices and doctrines imputed to Catholic
priests. 1t was also announced that Mr.. Lea
hey would hold religious services in the Free
Congregational Church in the morning, and
IN the Methodist Church in the evening"
Beyond these advertisements, no allusion was
made to Mr.. Leahey, or his lectures, in any
paper except the Free Dcnocrat which took
occasion, unadvlsedly we think, to speak Of
both IN very strong terms of denunciation.-
This, however well intended. only served to
fan the flame which Mr.. Leahey's presence
here and notice had kinded.
On Sunday morning, as announced, Mr..
Leahey otficIdted In the Free Church mod
crate number of persons being present, and
no dlstu' bance, or interruption Of any sort,
occurring. st the close of the services he
gave notice that he would preach, in the eve
ming, at the Methodist Church. on the doc
trines of q" Repentance and Penance.'' A
very large audience, nearly one-third of whom
were females, assembled 10 hear him the
usual services We're commenced and cnntinu-
ed, without interruption, until Mr. Leahey
rose to speak. by way of preface 10 his dis
course he made few personal statements IN
answer, as he lntl'nated, to attacks which had
been made upon him, in the papers and else
where lie said that while on his way to
Sabbath School that afternoon he had been
attacked by number Of lrishmen who would
have killed him. Here voice from near The
door cried out ''Ihey t0ere right"
Some further noise was made. tho no vio-
lence was attempted, till Mr. Leahey announ-
ced his text. At this moment. there was
short struggle at the deor, followed bv some
yeils and d general rush, and Immediately af-
terward number OF men, mostly Irishmen,
armed with sticks and clubs, commenced stri-
KING right and left, inhicting some serious
mo haPPIiy no fatal Injuries. Most Of the
audience dispersed as rapidly as they could
make way thro the crowd many of the la
dies being lifted out Of the Sc. end story win
dows on Spring street. Meanwhile the riot
continued within the Church; pews and ben
ches were orn up and converted into clubs;
lamps were broken and windows smashed =
Ire long the Mayor and other City authorities
appeared on the ground, and attempted to still
the tumult. Sheriff White, as we hear (for
we were not presently acquitted himself man
lent their assistance To sustain the authorities
and restore order. This was finally accom-
pushed, and Mr.. Leahey, unframed, was es-
coTted from the Church to his lodgings at the
= ,. Hotel. 4 crowd followed him down,
but beyond throwing few stones, no furthr-
Their violence was attempted. Gradually the
city became quiet, tho groups of excited men,
at the different Hotels and places ofpublic re-
sort, continued, till late at night, 10 discuss
the outrage and TO condemn, with not unde-
served severity, those who had pro.aned sa-
cred edIhce, desecrated the Sabbath. and dis
graced The city by their unwarran,able intru-
sion and Incorporate violence in the Metho-
dist Church.
1t cannot be necessary, we trust, for US to
assure our readers that we utterly and unhes-
Lat ngiy condemn the outrage Of Sunday
night. Il IS not 10 be justified or defended
upon any pretence. w hatever may be tho't.
or said Of Mr.. Leahey and his lectures land
we admire neither the man, nor his mission)
the means employed to put him down and to
drive HIM from our city, are destructive of in
diV-dual right, dangerous to the public peace,
and ID direct conflict with the genius of our
Institutions They cannot and must not be
tolerated. They are hurtful, indeed, only to
those who use them, and to the cause in whose
behalf they We're so indiscree " emvloved.
" are far, however, from supposing that our
Catholic tellow-citizene, as d BODY, approve
Of tins gross outrage. 1t is only the misgui-
ded, the unrefecting and the ignorant who
can resort to such weapons for the defence of
Truth, or the overthrow Of Error We are
quite sure that all good citizens. v hatever be
their religious faith, must unite in condemna-
ton Of every such outrage, and we invoke
their uni ed efforts and influence 10 pat down
the fell spirit Of Discord and Disorder, and
to restore Peace, Harmony and Good Will to
our borders.