Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-01-18
The Great Kean Riot.

The Keau riot which occurre at the Bos-
ton Theatre, in 1925, was one of the most
thrilling and exciting events of that period
The audience who were in the second
tier of boxes found themselves in q mo st
trying situation. The fierce conflict with
brickbats, clubs, &c. at the stairs and doors,
effectually shut out their means of retreat,
and they were compelled to await in ankle
ty, and witness the increasing outrages, and
approach of the immense mob without, ex-
pecting every instant when the internal re-
sistence would be cloven down, and the
thronging rabble precipitate them, into the
pit, or MAIN them with deadly missiles, or
crush them to death in the lobbies The
sense of confinement, joined to the appre.
hension Of fire, &C. rendered their sensations
painful beyond description.
In this fearful juncture, the formidable
height of the windows, did not prevent them
from being used as mode Of escape. One
person swung himself out of window, and
upon thin, narrow board, made his descent
about twelve feet on the frail roof of small
tenement He was afterwards followed by
hundreds.
The rabble without, aided by friends
within. were finally enabled to take posses
sion, and had it all their own way-most of
the occupants of the boxes having made
their escape, by the windows or over the
stage. Windows, chandeliers, seats, box
doors, ETC., became objects of destruction;
but several citizens who took possession of
the stage, protected the scenery at the haz-
ard Of life and limb, from molestation and
perhaps from fire.
The pit was the scene of several severe
tussles, and though an awkard place for a
fight, several came to blows and were more
or less injured. During the riot Mr.. JUS
tice Whitman read the riot act twice, adj
vanced to the front of the stage, and at
tempted to address the rioters, but without
effect: as he was unable to carry int exc
cution the provisions of the law from the
small number of civil and police officers
collected. Those who were present, with
the Sheriff, aided by the citizens, exerted
themselves to prevent the rioters from en-
tering the house, and to arrest those who
were in it, but with little success; and
several in the discharge of this duty were
injured by the stones and other missiles
hurled from the darkness, but none mate
rally. few citizens with magistrate, in
execution of the law, proceeded to the
upper parts of the house, and Immediately
gang there engaged in the des-
truction; which was found to consist prin-
cipally of unknown strangers and mische-
vous boys
The theatre was injured about 81, OOO.-
Kean escaped from the theatre before the
riot reached its height, by passing through
Mrs. Powelrs house, in Theatre Alley,
which, adjoining the theatre, had door to
with it. We have heard that
Kean slept that night at the Lamb Tavern
and left the next day, but we believe the
most authentic account is that we have re-
ceived from Tim Divol, who for years drove
a hack for Niles, and who is now a sufferer
in the Hospital. He drove Kean from Kill
ner to Brighton, where the former took the
stage from Boston for Worcester.
F. TUCKER,
MERCHANT TAILOR,
UNDER NATIONAL HOTEL,
y in