Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-23


upon customers, supplying them with such
arms as they desired Most of those purchased
were valuable and Of the most approved style.
Yesterday large crowd of persons, unable to
obtain muskets, proceeded to the stores and
supplied themselves (forcibly in some instan-
ces) with arms. A crowd Of two or three hun
dred first proceeded to the establishment Of
Messrs. Merrill, Thomas Co., manufacturers
and importers of firearms, and demanded of
the senior partner, who was In the store, that he
should distribute them indiscriminately. Mr.
NJ addressed them, and said he was willing to
give them supply, but would not do so with
out order prevailed. A committee was then
appointed, who assisted in handing out the
arms to these who desired them. About $50
muskets and patent rifles were distributed,
and great number of pistols; in fact nearly
all which the store contained. They also took
considerable ammunition, and before leaving,
gave three cheers for the firm. Soon after.
guard of the Maryland Guard and the Inde-
pendent Greys were stationed in front of the
place to protect it.
Another crowd made a similar demand upon
Messrs. Loney & Co., Hanover street, and took
40 patent rifles, being all which the firm had
The hardware establishment of Messrs. Duer,
Norris x Co., on sthe same street, was next
called upon, and the party received an access
sion to their arms Of nine double and eight sim
gle -barreled guns. At Messrs. King & Hoff-
celVed about dozen muskets, some of which
were thrown from an upper window. A party
forced their way into the warehouse of Mr. T.
Unriauo, on German ST., and received the as
surance that there was not single musket in
the house; at the same time they were invited
to look through the building, and then left
without doing any injury. Soon as these move
ments were known, squads of police were sta
toned at the places visited, who were armed
and ordered to defend the stores against any
further visits. Sergeant Meredith and Police
men Zellers and Mccain were present when the
demand was made upon Messrs. Loney CO.,
and but for their presence great disorder must
have occurred.
The establishment of Mr.. Leonard W. Pas
sano, importer and dealer in fancy goods and
cutlery, No. 81 Marsh Market Space. was also
invaded by mob, who broke open the door
with the handle of pump and sacked the
place OF every weapon it possessed. Several
OF those who first effected an entrance exerted
themselves with effect to keep out the mass of
the mob, throwing the pistols promiscuously
amongst them, thus saving perhaps the re-
mainder of Mr.. Psssano's stock at the expense
of bis limited supply of firearms.
Two twelve-pounders, with large quantity
OF cannon balls were yesterday taken posses
sion of by Captain Kenney, with a posse of
policemen OF the eastern district, and removed
from Messrs. Mohler d CRAFTS wharf near the
io"Si onV VA hhu streol, 10 headquarters at
the old City Hall. A small quantity of cannon
balls at the foundery of Anton Weiskittel, on
Alice Anna street, near Wolfe, was also seized
Mr.. W. had just commenced Oh Saturday to
I'LL an order for large quantity to be deliv-
cred at Fort McHenry.
On Saturday, fourteen csrbines, FIVE swords,
and number of trappings, formerly belonging
to the Mounted Carbineers, of this city, were
seized by the police at the house of a man
named Smith, on West Baltimore street, and
removed to the Office of the Marshal of Police.
About ii O'Clock in the morning, a large
crowd proceeded to the gun warehouse of
Messrs. Poultney & Trimblo, and tearing off a
shutter Of the doorway broke large sash, and
entering handed out an immense quantity of
arms, consisting of patent rifles, fowling pieces
and revolVers. The members of the firm are
unable to compute the value of the arms; to
do this it will be necessary to take the stock
on hand.
Yesterday afternoon the gun store of j. n.
McCOmas, on Pratt street, near Gay, was en-
tered by number Of persons, and a large
quantity of muskets and small arms taken
therefrom. The store of A. Jung, on Gay
street, near Orange alley, was also entered,
but no arms were taken