The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-06-23
WHOLE NO. 934,


dopted, entered On the CITY record, and ord
cred to be published as a true history Of tho
occurrences of that night -
City OF PORTLAND. MAYon's Orrcr
June 3, 1855.
oMe board ot -1ldermen -
The undersigned deems it his d.tv 20 max,
detailed but succinct Report to the Board
of Aldermen, Of the events of June ID, in r..
lation to which so many varying accounts ARE
now in circulation throughout the Stats and
country.
On the afternoon of that day, it became
manifest to all observers, that an unusu.l ex.
c'tement existed among many persons in tbe
| city, who are well known as enemies of th.
Name Law A large number of such per,oos
were present at the lo;i.e Court room. vb;la
process was commenced to procure The seiz-
urc and destruction of an invoice of Iiouor,
which had been procured from New York
10y a committee Of the Eoard of Mayor and
Aldermen, 10y the authority Of that Bosrd .
for the supply ofthe City Agency. which the
Board determined to establish.
1t was not thought at the time that .,r
movement would lie made by such persons
beyond an attempt to destroy these liuuon
hy due process Of Law. But late in tho sffer.
noon. intelligence was communicated to the
Mayor and Aldermen, that an extensive com.
b'nation had been formed, and that arranoc.
ments had been made to assemble mob for
the purpose ofbreak'ns into the City Agency
and destroying the liquor. therein contained.
:" the time OF this communication large num-
bcrs OF excifcd pcrons were assembled around
the City Hall, in which the Agency is loca-
ted, demanding that the liquors should bs
brought out.
lhe Mayor and Aldermen did not At that
time arprehend tha, any mob would or could
he rated in the city, which it would he be.
!ond the power of the ordinary police force
toIuc'l, but early in the evening they thought
otherwise. The CITY Marshal with few No.
hcemen. some of them with revolvers. and
some OF chem without arms. was directed 70
enter the room and defend it to the last OK.
trem''y' and the res. c: the police force werr
directed to do their utmost a,norc N. ,,,.,.
10 u'sperSe 1t, and TO identify as manv a. uo,.
''''' OF the active persons composing it.
The Mayor and several Of the AIa.r,,.,
being at the Mayors office in the eveu;,,.
were warned by repeated and urgent MESA.
ges, that the mob was collecting in cr.,,
force, exhibiting every appearance of ,sy...
ierocity Messages were then sent to ths
commanding officers of the Light Guards AMI
the Rifle Guards. aad formal demand VA.
made upon chem for their assistance. which
'or reconsideration a in money, they had agreed
with proceeding administration to ren,,.-.
as an armed police, whenever they should bs
called upon by the City Government for ,h.,
purpose.
those companies were called together has
tiiv at their armoric<. and were visited finer.
10y the Mayor and some of the Aldermen.
and formal demand was made upon them
Tor their services and assistance in uuellin.
the mob, as an armed police force, or as c;t;.
Aens IN arms. according TO their agreement
with the City Government. The Rife Cuan,..
first visited. had neither ammunirion nor ram.
and none suitable, after many efforts and
much de,ay. could be procured in the citv.
While the officers of the Rifle Guard, ver,,
actually employed in the effort to procure tho
necessary munitions. the Mayor and some Of
the Aldermen repaired to the armory of the
Light Guards. situated in the third story Of
the City Hall. The members of the comma.
ny were there assembled in force, and an an
peal was At onrc male to the captain, to for.s
and march without DELAY. lie also was with
out cartridges, but was told that the appear-
ancc OF his company in full ranks and with
determined front and with ba,onets would
DC sufficient. The captain thought otherwise,
and declined to expose his command IN ,ba
fury OF the mob without cartridges. During
all this time, were heard from below, the e.
iOcious sounds ofthe mob, the clatter Of stones
and other missiles, the rattle Of broken rla,,
and the crash OF breaking blinds, shutter,
and DOORS
After some delay cartridges we're procured
and the n,u>kets were loaded, when abo,s
twenty-:our men only fcl! into the ranks with
sh"u!lcred arms.-Asain the Captain prote,.
tel against exposing so small a force to thu
fury OF the mob: he did not feel himself inc.
titled in 50 doing, but the reply to him vas,
that halt Of them would be sufficient if they
were brave AMI true men. At the word. the
men marched out. with the Captain and Al
dcrmen brooks and Carleton and myself al
their head, but some o. the nu,aber f..,l ms,
OF the ranks On the way down the stairs and
through the crowd
| The Sheriff of the County proceeded us in
the march, and stepping out into the crowd.
commanded the people in the name and bv
authority Of the State to dispcrsc, assuring
them they would otherwise be fired upon.
But he was answered only by jcers and ssv-
age brawls from the mob. The Sheriff 70.
peated his command several times, and his
voice was distinctly heard at the corner Of
Preble street.
After the members Of the Light Guards
had taken up their position and faced to ths