The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-07
PRICE TWO CENTS

to have tremendous celebration in honor of laying
the Atlantic cable the first Of September, there
could never be more favorable opportunity al
fordcd them todestroy the buildings. 1t was also re-
marked by one Of the parties prescnt-a keeper Of
saloon at Tompkinsvc-that the h,emena pa
rade would bc the means Of taking very large
number of the citizens to the city, and that the fer
ry boat had agreed to make night trip on that
evening, leaving the city at IL o'clock. Whether
application had been made to the ferry company to
run boat on the above night it is not known. but
we have been informed that communication to
that effect was sent to the Superintendent signed
by several citizens, some Of them connected with
the work of burning the buildings.
Wednesday night, the lst Of September, was fully
agreed upon at the last named meeting for the work
to be carried out. Several propositions made
that they should disguise themselves, that il seen
BY any person connected with the Quarantine they
would not be known. This was OvcrrUlcd, many
of those present. being members of the fire depart
mcnt, claimed that if one of the buildings could be
successfully fired without the party being seen, they
could all then make their appearance, and in their
fire dress, would no doubt be looked upon as being
present only to aid in putting out the fire: but
whenever an opportunity offered they were to fire
the other buildings
This was agreed upon, but none of the engines
were to be worked unless of the buildings
side the Quarantine grounds took fire.
On Sunday night, August 70, another private
meeting was held at one Of the public houses, but
short distance from the Quarantine entrance. when
the final arrangements were perfected y commit
tee was appointed to procure quantity of turpcn-
tine. which was purchased at wholesale drug store
in Greenwich street on Monday last.
Any persons who We're likely to be opposed to
their movements, We're questioned during the pre-
vous week to their intention Of visiting the city
on the above night, and it was by this means they
became pretty well posted as to who were likely to
remain on the island on the night in question. 1t
also found that two three OF the doctors at
tachcd to the hospitals We're going up, and quite Il
number of those employed the grounds In fact.
every thing that could be thought of was carried
out SO as to perfect their arrangements. At seven
o'clock on Monday night it was known by them
every person who was in TOmpkinSvillc-So thor
oughly had they kept their spies at work.
\ person, whom, it is said, has some connection
with Castle Garden, urged the burning of the
buildings at an early hour so that they would be
pretty well destroyed before the boat arrived from
the city. 1t was thought that they would be cna-
bed to burn every building on Wednesday night
and intended to have fired the shantcs first as the
flames from them would be more likely to set fire to
the other buildings. 1t was anticipated that they
would not have to set fire to over two three
buildings as the remainder would catch from the
burning buildings. 1t was on this account that all
the buildings were not destroyed that night.
The work of firing the small poX hospital
done by three persons only, though there were over
fifty outside the walls, to that harm was
done them. 1t was reported that there We're over
five hundred who were engaged in the work, but
this is not so. There not above twenty in all
who concocted the thing and about fifty who were
made aware of the fact that evening, and requested
to be on hand. As it well known that over
two-thrds of the citizens of the island are opposed
to the present location Of the Quarantine the above
party knew well that they would soon have a large
force to aid them, but who, at the time. it
thought not best to trust until the work had com
menced. This proved to be the fact for when
many persons, who had no knowledge of the burn
ing of the buildings that night, discovered them on
fire. they armed themselves AID joined in the work
Half an hour after the fire broke out the ringlcad-
ers could command a force Of over six hundred
strong to aid them.
When it was found on the following morning
that only half the buildings had been consumed, Il
meeting of portion of the twenty again called
together shortly after daylight, at the public
house, and many doubted if they could ever get
party together again to finish the work. 1t was,
however, suggested by one Of the party (who was
arrested and held to bail by Justice Welsh that
meeting should be called that evening at Burns
Nautilus iIall) which is located directly opposite
the Quarantine entrance for a meeting Of the citi
Zens, with the prct"nce that it for making
arrangements to celebrate the destruction of the
buildings. This was agreed upon, and accordingly
bills were stuck up shortly after ten O'Clock that
morning around the steamboat landings, with the
following printed in large lcttcrs:-
"A meeting of the citizens of Richmond county
will be held at Nautilus Hail. Tompkinsvillc, this
evening Sept > at - o'clock, for the purpose OF
making arrangements to cclebcatc the burning Of
the shan les and hospitals at the Quarantine ground
last evening, and to transact such other business
NAV come before the meeting.
''Sept. :, 1910.
This was only done for the purpose of getting the
crowd together again. and then, with Il word from
two of the rngleaders, they could excite the
mob to such extent that the work could be re
sumcd that night. This accordingly done, the
facts of which have already published
The work of firing the buildings left to four
persons; but of them, it is said, failed to BE-
hand. They were each, informed, paid $500
that night, and have each written agreement that
if they should be arrested the party employing them
were to stand by them and deray all the expenses :;
and if arrested that night they to be rescued.
Two of the orgnators of the affair are said als1
to have backed out on the first night and came up
to the city, where they remained.
The report that arrangements were made to take
the sick to a safe and comfortable building is entire
lv untrue 1t was agreed that every effort should
be made to rescue them, and that no lives should be
lost at all hazards, but whom they all got out
they be carried only respectable distance
from the burning buildings and laid upon the
grass.
Another meeting was to be held on Sunday, but
we have been unable to lean what was done. Their
movements will no doubt be kept very secret.