Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-07-28

WORKINGS OF TIE VIGILANCE CoMAITTRF.-
The Vigilance COMMITTEES whose transae
tions have been ehronicled in the Leader
made another descent on Thursday nigh
upon various houses upon Erie and Ohio
streets, known or supposed to be houses o.
ill-iame. About l o'clock Friday morning
the occupants Of the house, No. 1874 Ohio
street, Henry Adams and Mary Smith who
lived with him-were awakened by the
crushing in Of the front door and windows.
They sprang up and ran out. AS soon as
the girl got out Of doors she was seized and
tarred from head to foot, either outside or
inside Of her clothing. When she could
get away, she ran across some back wards
and lots, and in 50 doing sprained her ankle,
50 that she had to be afterwards car
ried to Plaeeof shelter. Her clothing was
covered with tar and some of it thrown
away. Adams ran out another way and saw
body of men, some with blaekened faces.
numbering from 80 to 40, as he thinks
He was first salVted with a dipper full Of
tar in his face. He got away with but little
difficulty and escaped further personal in
jury. The house was then entered and the
furniture broken up, the walls and elothing
tarred all over and the house thoroughly
ransaeked.
The party then proceed to the house of
Susan Boswell on Erie street, near Kinsman.
The outside ofthis house was all tarred over.
but the inside not broken up. aa 5
The house nearly opposite and the second
from No. 2's Engine House was next visited.
This was occupied by widow woman and
daughter. There was back entrance, up a
flight of stairs. The party covered these
stairs with tar and entered the house. The
furniture and quantity Of books were coy
cred and spoiled with tar.
"Heller's Row." on Ohio street. was nart
visited. This had been called upon two
nights before, and all the occupants who had
borne fearfully shOckingcharacter, had left
except Mrs. Ring in one corner, an old color
ed shoemaker named John Patton, who lived
all alone by himself, up stairs over one tene-
ment, and another eolored family, named
Croons, in the other corner, who were re-
spectacle and took in washing for a living.
Mrs. Ring was awakened by a stone crashing
through the window. She ran out and called
to them that she bad two sick children, and
asked them for Gods sake to let her get
them out. This they did, and did rot !
further molest this house.
Mr.. Patton was awakened BY a brick |
smashing thrnsBiseh nsie Jtirinpeda up and out upon
/ shed roof where he was not seen by the
mob. They threw his bench out to the
ground and all of his things, scattering tar
about plentifully.
They then broke into the house of the
other eOlored family, tarred the house, furni-
ture and clothing, and drove tho people out.
Il is most probable that the Vigilance
did not know that these col
ored persons were any better than those
who had occupied the lower floors. Of the |
Row, and so visited evils upon them in |
common with others. They should certain |
ly never be suffered TO thus indiscriminately |
tear houses open and clean them out without |
knowing before hand that they are offensive |
Ii Is said that the landlord Of t his Row has |
been repeatedly requested to clear disreputa-
bic characters out of these tenements, but has
refused or neglected to move in the mstter.