The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-07-27

ten feet of tho Agency door, he saw him
discharge q pistol into tho Agency room
lanes II. Shackford testified that he was
standing on the balcony Of the U. s. Ho.
teI while they were firing from tho Agency
door. and believed them to have been pistol
shots fred by persons in tho crowd.
Reuol Shaw and Robert McAlmon also
Jaw tho fash Of q pistol from the crowd.
Alvin Leighton states, III heard tho report
Of thrco or four pistols fred from the crowd
an Congress street, between the City Agen.
cy and the Clapp block. They appeared
by the flashes TO have been fred ten OF
twelve feet from tho Agency" Samuel s.
Fell saws, that having stated in the hearing
of some Of the crowd that would expose
every one that knew who throw stones, or
participated in the mob. he was assailed by
several persons. who called him damned
nimp, and one drawing q pistol from his
pocket and holding II near his face, said
with an oath that "ho would take OF mo-"
.t / saw" no says. "the pistols distinctly"
These statements ore confirmed by the
testimony Of other credible witnesses, who
smoke of seeing flashes Of pistols in the
crowd and hearing reports. Some saw
flashes but did not hear reports. In addi-
ton TO theae facts, there were exhibited to
the committee about two bushels of stones
and brickbats, Of various sizes, which were
gathered in the Agency room on tho NOR
ming after the attack, one Of which weigh.
ed twenty five pounds; many others were oil
largo size. These are dead but speaking
witnesses, of the fury Of tho assailants.
The pork barrel and the piece Of plank
were found on the sidewalk the next NOR.
ming. 49,
We will now advert 10 The position OF The
protective force within tho Agency. The
whole number Of persons in tho Agency
room during tho evening, until the Rife
Guard, entered, did not exceed ten men,
including the marshal and his deputy Ring.
They were ordered by the Mayor, and by
two at least Of the Aldermen, 10 protect the
property Of the city at all hazards. They
maniully and patiently stood their ground
three hours, during the mingled assaults and
abuse Of the rioters, from eight to eleven
o'clock. They continually cautioned The
rioters about the door, 10 desist from any al
,emp,s to enter il, assuring them they were
armed and should fire upon any ono who
made such attempt. These repeated warn
ings were received in language like the fol-
loving -" Fire and be damned" "you
are pack Of damned towards, and dare
no, fire." The leader. who had rallied his
followers, and who had reached in TO with
draw the Der from the door, through the
breach they had made, and VINO is supposed
10 have been Robbins, cried out, "Now
make rush, now is The time, cut their
damned harselets." The Marshal standing
near the door, commanded him 10 I" leavc
that door in moment, or no would be shot,"
still perisis,;ng 10 raise the bar, both the
Marshal and deputy Marshal fred their
pistols, purposely eleya,ing Them, SO as not
TO hit any one, in the hope OF lettering
them from any further attempts upon the
door. This instead of producing the desired
effect, only exasperated the crowd the more
the leader then shouted, "blark cptridges,
God dam them, rush forward, the way is
clear" He had now removed the faslen-
ings from the door, no appeared 10 have the
bar IN his hand, and was pressing forward.
The Marshal and other members OF the po-
lice, believing from the exasperated condi.
ton Of tho rioters, some Of whom seemed
10 DO intoxicated, and their threatening
language, that no, only the property OF the
City, but their own lives, were In imminent
peril, renewed their fire directly through the
doorway. There wero but five or six OF the
police who were armed, and they discharg-
ed three or four volleys near together. The
second and third shots did execution, for the
cry was successfully raised, 4" man is
shot," "a man is killed." he is dead"
The iumult was hushed little, and then
renewed attack was made tho police
continuing their fire, as attempts were made
10 enter the door, until the Ride Guards ap.
peared, expecting every moment, as they
testified, that they would have been over.
powered by the superior force Of their as.
sailanis. And there is good reason 10 be-
lieve, tina, their apprehensions were no,
without foundation.
The Marshal, deputy Marshal, and other
members Of the police have testified that
they were under constant fear of serious in
jury to themselves from the missiles iha,
entered the room, and Of the loss OF life IL
they had been overcome. Several were
wounded. The subordina,es state that they
were ordered by tho Marshal 10 reserve
their fire, and 10 use their pistols only in
the event that any OF tho crowd should en-
Ter tho door. This order they obeyed, and
il was only when the danger became i'm
minent, that they resor,ed 10 their arms
This is confirmed by the unimpeachable
testimony OF persons nearest the scene, and
who perceived tho critical condition OF
affairs.
It is tho opinion Of the Committee, that
the mob had arrived ut point next to the
accomplishment Of their object, and had II
not been for the use of their firearms, at the
very moment the police applied them, tho
Agency would have been forced; tho lives
OF its defenders put in great jeopardy the
liquors have been destroyed or partly used
to inaame tho passions Of the rioters and
then, the extent to tho injury Of life and
property, in our fair city, no mortal caA con-
lecture.
Tho timely firing Of the police, and the
fortunate accession Of the Rifle Guards, when
the police force was nearly exhausted, and
could not much longer have maintained their
position, mos, happily avcrted a calamity,
which would probably have shrouded our
city in wo, and which 1t shocks human sens
Utility to contemplate. The death Of one
man, and he leader in the riotous assault,
no doubt saved tho lives Of many innocent
persons, the sacrifice Of much valuable prop
erty, and tho prostration Of law and order
before the wild passions Of On imbrutcd
mob.
That the police were entirely justifablc in
using their arms at the moment they did,
the committee entertain no doubt nor have
they any doub. that Robbins was killed by
shot from the police, before the appearance
of tho Rifle Guards. The weight Of testi-
mony strongly dependencies in that dircc-
ton. II was he who was in tho front rank
of the assailants; he is the person who was
actually entering tho door he was seen to
fall by Rich from the window over the agcn-
CIV door before the Rifle Guards went down
the cries Of ga man is shot" he Is Dead"
were heard inside and out Of tho agency, be.
D.ds IL okoraI tha ronu, and