The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-06-28
Conduct of the Milwaukee
Banks---Terrible Riot in that city
Sacking of Mitchell's and the State
Banks--Outrageous Proceedings.

Sack1ng OF M1tchelPs and the State
Banks--0utrageous Proceedings.
The Milwaukee Banks, on Saturday last,
threw out the bills of the following Banks,
viz Bank of Columbus, Bank of Green
Bay, Bank of Portage, City Bank of Ke-
nosha, Dodge County Bank, E. r. HINcK-
LEY & Cos Bank, Lacrosse County Bank,
Northern Bank, Waupun Bank, and Wis
consin Pinery Bank. This action of the
Bankers was most unjustifable, and gross
outrage upon the people, inasmuch as they
had pledged themselves to keep those
bills current until December next under
all circumstances Our citizens were led
to believe in their honor, and this forfeit
of all manly principle has resulted in the
ruin of many persons who were least able
to suffer. But notwithstanding we COM
denim this paIpable violation of right and
Justice by the Bankers of Milwaukee, we
are far from upholding the course taken
by the sufferers in this transaction, the
particulars of which we proceed to give as
published in the papers of that city.
The action of the banks on Saturday
created great excitement among the citi>
zens of the city, principally among the
poorer class, which was kept in check un-
til Monday. On that morning a number
of German citizens, of the Second and
Ninth Wards, feeling themselves agrieved,
were called together, and were temporari-
ly organized into something like meeting.
A procession Of about three hundred la
boring men was formed, which was aug
mented at every street, and they marched
by band of music. The crowd here
drew up, and made demand that the dis
credited money should be made good
The gentlemen in the Bank assured them
that il should be done, and the crowd pro-
ceeded direct to MITcHELL's BANK, on the
corner of East Water and Michigan streets,
and, surrounding that institution, COM
menced to shout and yell in terrific man.
mer Mayor BRowN and Mr.. MITCHELL
were on the steps leading to the entrance,
when the crowd attempted to force its way
up. The Mayor attempted to address them,
and Mr.. MrrcHELLir in vain appealed to them
to hear him a n oment; but the infuriated
mob pushed up the steps, impelled by those
behind. The Mayor and other gentlemen
we're forced to retire, as the men in the
rear and middle commenced to fling stones
and bilets Of wood at the windows and
doorway.
At first few small stores were flung,
but soon larger ones would crash through
the sash and inner blinds, and then the
paving stones in the street were torn up
and leveled at the building. The crowd
broke in the doors and wrenched off the
shutters, tore out the sashes, and smashed
with indiscriminate fury every article OF
furniture in the Bank. All the blanks,
checks, memoranda, &c, were torn and
flung into the street, and the stove and
counters broken to pieces. Fortunately,
everything of value was locked safely in
the vault, which defed their utmost eff
forts.
After completing the destruction at
M1TCHELL's Bank, the mob turned its at
tention to the State Bank, on the opposite
corner. Stones were flung at the windows
and doors, and an entrance effected in the
same way. At this time, the Montgomery
Guards appeared with their muskets, and
the crowd Immediately moved up Michi-
gan street and closed about the soldiers,
hooting and screaming at them. The
company reached East Water street,where
they halted, the crowd pressing close upon
them. They soon after turned, and
arched back to Main street, the crowd
tollOWlDg. 1nls InONeuueHI uau no oluei
effect than to drive away the mob from the
State Bank to the Newhall House, which
they also commenced TO stone, breaking in
several of the windows. The mob then
returned to the State Bank, and having
torn out the furniture and fixtures of the
Bank and the Banking Office of Mr.. MAR
TIN, below, they pulled them up under the
marble structure, and Sc. fire to them.
At this time the fire bells were rung,
and two engines appeared on the ground,
simultaneously with the Zouave soldiers.
Some fifty special policemen were sworn
in, and Gen. King and other prominent
citizens Immediately set to work to arrest
the ring-leaders. In less than hour thirty
three of the most conspicuous in the dis
turbance were lodged in Jail. In the af-
terncon the city was comparatively quiet,
and the military and police had possession
of the streets.
Such scene is lasting disgrace to
Milwaukee, and these poor deluded viola.