The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-06-15
Mayor pow's Message on the Blot.
C,Ty or PoRrLASp, MAYoRs OrficE,
Siii VI lime @. 1855.


To the Board Of aldermen ;. - L., :,
Tn. undersigned deems it his duty 70
make n detailed but succint kepors 70 'ne
Roard of Aldermen, Of the events Oh June
OF II relation to which so many varying ae-
.o,nts are now in circulation throughout the
State and country. :,
.o.;e,s, 10 all observers, that an unusual
a,.;,suent existed among many persons IN
,hs c;tv. who are well known as enemies OF
.ss Maine Law. A large number OF such
nsr.on, were present ut the Police Court
~ while process was commenced TO
,,,o',u,e the seizure and destruction OF an
irnvo;ce of liquors which had been procured
srom New York by committee OF the Board
Of Mayor and Aldermen, by the authority
oftbat Board, for the supply OF the City
Agency, which the board had determined to
establish.
/, was not thought at the time tina, any
movement would be made by such persons
beyond an attemp, TO destroy these liquors
hy dne nrocess of law. But late in the
afternoon, intelligence was communicated
On the Mayor and Aldermen, that an extern
,ive combination had been formed, and ar'
ranyements had been made b assemble
mob for the purpose Of breaking into the
CITY Agency and destroying the liquors
therein contained. At the time oil tins
communication large numbers OF excited
persons were assembled around the City
Hall, in which the Agency Is located, dc
handing that the liquors should DO Drought
out.
The Mayor and Aldermen did not at that
time appreheud that any mob would or could
be raised in the city, which !. ~"s.d 10 DO
yond the power OF the ordinary police iorc-
10 auell, but early in the evening they tho
otherwise. The City Marshall with lew
policemen, some Of them with Ieyolyers and
some OF them without arms, was directed TO
enter the room and defend il to the last ex'
trerity; and the rest Of the police iOree
were directed TO do their utmost among the
mob, to dispense it, and to identify as many
rs possible, Of the active persons composing
IL. -,
The Mayor and several Of the Aldermen
being Mt the Mayors office in the evening
were warned by repeated and urgen' mes,
sages, that the mob was collecting IN great
force, exhibiting every appearance OF saw
age feroci.y. Messages were then sent TO
the commanding officers Of the Light Guards
and the Rifle Guards, and formal demand
was made upon them for their assistance,
which for n consideration in money, they
had agreed with preceding administration
TO rendsr, as an armed police, whenever they
should be called upon by the City Govern
ment for that purpose.
Those Companies were called together
hastily at their armcries, and were visited
there by the Mayor and some Of the Alder
men, and formal demand was made upon
them for their services and assistance In
ouelling the mob, as an armed police force.
or as citizens in arms, according to their
agreement with the City Government. The
Rifle Guards, FIRST visited, had neither am
munition nor caps ; and none suitable, alter
many Efforts and much delay, could be pro
cured in the city.
While the officers Of the Rifle Guards
were actually employed in the effort to pro-
cure the necessary munitions, the Mayor
and somo Of the Aldermen repaired to the
armory Of the Light Guards, situated in the
third story Of the City Hall. The members
of the Company were there assembled in
force. and an appeal was at once male to
the Captain, to form and march out without
delay. lie also was without cartridges, but
was told that the appearance OF his eom
pany in tull ranks and with determined front
and with bayonets would be sufficient The
Captain thought otherwise, and declined 20
expose his command to the fury ct the mob,
without cartridges. During all this time,
were heard from below, the ferocious sounds
OF the mob, the clatter Of stones and other
missiles, the rattle of broken glass and the
crash Of breaking blinds, shutters and doors,
After some delay cartridges were procur'
cured and the muskets were loaded, when
about twenty.lour men only fell into the
ranks with shouldercd arms. Again the
Captain protested against exposing 50 small
force TO the fur Of the mob he did no, feel
himself justified in 81 doing, but the reply
90 him was, that half of them would be suit
fcient il they were brave and true men
At the word, the men mnrehed Oui, with the
Captain and Aldermen Brooks and Carleton
and myself ut their head, hut some OF the
number fell out of the ranks on the way
down tho st,irs and through the crowd.
The Sheriff Of the County preceded US IN
the march, and stepping out into The crowd,
commanded the people in the name and BY
authority OF the State to dispense, assuring
them they would otherwise be fred upon.
But he was answered only by jeers and
savage brawls IRON the mos. Tue Sheriff
repeated his command several times, and ms
voice was distinctly heard at the corner Of
Preble street.
Alter the members OF the Light Guards
had taken up their position and laced TO the
front on Congress street. the crowd was
severaltimes commanded by the Mayor also
10 dispense, with the assurance that o,heI'
wise they would be fred upon. The only
reply were groans and bowls and showers
Of stones. By these we were pelled inces.
sanity, and several members OF The Guards
were struck and some OF them badly hurt.
while the missiles were falling around in
every direction, in their rebound from the
wall, Of the building. Again the Captain
protested against this exposure Of his men
10 the fury Of the mob, and feared some OF
them would be killed, II the order was not
given 10 fire. He was told lha, we all
shared the danger alike, and aher little
further delay, and another command 10 the
crowd 10 disperse, which was received as
all the others had been, the order was Civ
en- to the Captain 10 Ere by sections from
the LEFT. The order was repeated by the
commander, and while the arms were at
present, the Captain asked IL he should fire
The reply was, "wait little" II was
thought that the order 10 fire would ierriiy
the mob, bu, the shower Of missiles, con.
iinued as before, with every expression OF
rage.
As soon as the men recovered arms with.
GU, firing, they began TO drop off from the
len, two men. badly hurt, being carried oil
The ground where they lay, by their coT-
rades, until no, more than six or eigh, mus
keis remained. The Capt was assured,
p he had been before in the armoTy, that
we should be supported by the Rifle Guards
who Were every momen, expected. when
our numbers were so greatly reduced, we
filed oil around the east end OF the City
Hall, away from the mob, and marched