The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-03-11
BY THE MAILS.
The Late Riot at Cleveland.

of the civil authorities for hours set at
defiance.
The scene of the mob was the "Mcchan-
les Block,"a large four-story brick building,
owned by william Sladc, Jr. Esq, and
located right i'll the heart of the City-thc
three upper stories of which was occupied
by the Homeopathic College. The facts
are simply these: Several months since a
MIR. Johnson, OF brooklyn, Ga few miles
from the City, lost daughter whose body,
it was shortly after asccrtaind, had been
stolen from the grave. Johnson, there
upon, came to the City, saw the Professors
of both Colleges, who denied all know
ledge of the crime, c,made examinations, and
went away without any proof that they
were guilty of the crime.
Thus matters remained until some DAYS
slncc,whcn part ola human body was found
IN the cess-pool Of thcCollcgc nearly dccom-
posed. The Professors, upon being mott
tied of the fact denied all participation in
the act or knowledge of the person found.
and had the remains moved and buried, sup
posing them to he all that were there
Subsequently, however, Johnson had them
dlSntcrred, and tancicd he saw some res en-
blancc to the person of his daughter,
though, from their condition, a reasonable
degree Of certainty WAS impossible.
Last Monday, the 10Th, it was discover
eel that more remains were in the cess
pool and about noon the crowd began to
gather around the building, most of them
drawn together by curiosity. One or two
policemen Were stationed ut the door TO
prevent any entrance.
About 2 i. NJ, johnson, with an axe in
his hand, and accompanied by crowd of
twenty or thirty of the vericst looking
scoundrcls that have thus far cheated the
Pcnitcntiary out Of its due, came upon the
ground and demanded an entrance. This
WAS refused, the guard at the door now
being reinforced. He soon beat down the
door with his axe, and effected IN entrance
to the second story.
At the staircase lie. ing to the third and
fourth stories, and where all tie apparatus,
DC, of the College was deposited, the mob
was met by some of the Professors and
students who held them at bay.
The Mayor and Police finally persua-
ded johnson to go to the Office of the
Dean otthe College and arrange for a
full search and investigation the next day.
The mob were then persuaded to leave
the building, and the Professors and stu
dents were requested by the civil author
tiles to retire also, the assurance being
given that they would protect the building
and its contents.
At 4 u. NJ. the building was clear,
though the crowd still hung around
During the after noon but lirtle damage
was done, except breaking three or four
windows and the door, but the mob cyi-
IDENTITY felt its power,
Johnson went to the Deans Office and
made the arrangement proposed, but in
stead of conforming to it, returned to
the College together with the mob
about l2 2. NJ, and insisted that they
should search the bnilding then The
police force on duty being uttely inadequ-
ate to the defense, finally agreed that John
son and some of his friends should go
through the building and make an cx-
animation, the crowd to remain with
| ont.
They proceeded to the disscctng room,
where the remains Of several bodies were
found. They also found several limbs,
hands, feet, DC.
One of Johnson's friends seized n hand
and swore that it was the hand of mis-
daughter, and of this he was confident
from some marks that was upon it. a
physician present, one of the Committee
declared it to be the hand of a man.
Another hand was found, but no
marks were to be seen identifying
it as the hand of the girl. A foot
was also discovered, wi ich Johnson's friend
and ringleader of the mob declared was
the girls foot. The committee then de-
scended the stairs, and Johnson agreed to
say to mob that they should go awav,a, d
a more full investigation would be had
next day.
Instead Of saying this, however, he took
the hand, and, swinging it around, said,
This is my daughters hand" The mob
then became desperately furious, and fore
ing an entrance, commenced the work Of
destruction. The windows, nearly sixty,
were broken out the beds and furniture
of students destroyed the chemical appa-
ratus, collection of minerals, museum, val
liable anatomical models, &c- broken up
and thrown out of the windows and car
ried away.
For an hour or more the mob had en-
tire possession Of the building, and did not
retire until they had finished their work
Before leaving they set fire TO the build
ing, but it was soon extinguished.
The mob inside the building at no time
exceeded one hundred and fifty or two
hundred, and there were citizens enough
standing around to have crushed them at
single effort. ."
Thirty bayonets could at any time have
quelled the riot, and twenty in the build
ing at o o'clock could have guarded both
entrances effectually. The building WIS
damaged some S40o, and the College lost
in apparatus, DC. c.destroyed about a.. 600.