The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-10
UNPLEASANT AFFAIR AT THE IN
PRIMARY.


The daily papers of the city contain accounts
of rough personal collision which took place
at the Infrmary, on Saturday last, between the
Rev. Mr.. O'Toole, of st. Patricks church, and
some of the students in the National Medical
College The medical institution is connected
with the Infirmary, and the two institutions oc-
cupy the same building. On Saturday last
while large number of students were standing
on the portco in front of the building, the rev.
erend gentleman, who had been on a visit to
the institution for some purpose, passed out
under the portico to the gate, and attempted to
mount his horse. 1t seems that the animal is
of high melted breed, and, without waiting for
his rider to reach the saddle, he moved off, and
thereby placed the reverend gentleman in the lu-
dcrous predicament Of sitting on the crupper.
This produced considerable merriment among
the students, and some of them are said to
have shouted, " Wo :" Jump off" &C., rather
in sport than with view to assist Mr.. O'Toole
out of his dilemma. This course on the part of
the young gentlemen was certainly not very
polite, but it is due to them to state, what we
learn on good authority, that very few Of them
knew Mr.. O'Toole, or had any idea of his pro-
fession. 1t seems that the circumstance caused
the reverend gentleman to lose the command
of his temper, and after he had been carried
some distance, perhaps without his consent, he
returned, and sitting upon his horse at the gate,
he INDUCED in the application of sundry often
sive epithets to the students, such as black
guard" " scoundrel," &c. This naturally pro
voked retaliation in kind, and Mr.. O'Toole, get
ting more enraged, dismounted, and went into
the house. He walked up to a gentleman, Mr..
King, of Alexandra county, (Va.,) and charged
him with being the guilty party, or the ring
leader This he denied, and attempted to sat
isfy Mr. O'Toole of his mistake. But the latter
would listen to no explanation, and denounced
him as a liar. At this point, Mr.. King became
excited and rushed at his assailant to strike
him; but any serious collision was prevented
by the bystanders, and Mr.. O'Toole was thrust
into the ladies' department by gentle violence,
in order to place him beyond the reach of the
enraged students.
We derive these particulars from eye-wit-
neSSeS, one OF lnem prOleSSlOHAl SehhsHi;ih Oh
eminence, who took entirely dispassionate
view of the matter, and whose interposition was
mainly instrumental in quelling the disturbance.
1t is due to Mr.. O'Toole to say that, if he lost
the command of his temper, he exhibited gal
liant spirit, and stood undaunted in the midst OF
his enemies while the Irish employees of the
establishment, male and female, rallied to his
support. 1t would be needless to say that
Young America was not wanting in pluck.
The unpleasant affair was purely accidental
in its origin, and we trust that it will be suf
fered to pass off without further notice. The
Rev. Mr. O'Toole found himself in one of those
ludicrous predicaments which never awaken
sympathy in crowd, as any one who has ever
lost his hat in gale Of wind has reason to
know. The best policy on such occasions is to
join in the general laugh, and by no means to
lose ones temper.