St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-07-04
Riot in Milwaukee.

A formidable riot broke ont in Mil
waukcc on the oath ult The riot APP
pears to have grown out Of the action
Of two Of the banks of that city in
discrediting ten Of the Wisconsin
banks which they had previously
pledged themselves to sustain. The
two banks that took this action were
the State Bank and Mitchclrs Bank,
and the banks which they threw out
were, the Bank of Columbus, Bank of
Green Bay, Bank of Portage, f. r.
llincklcy 81 Co.'S Bank of Grant Co.,
City Bank Of kenosha, Dodge County
Bank, Lacrosse County Bank, North
crn Bank, Waupun Bank, Wisconsin
Pincry Bank.
The Indignation on the part of the
people, especially the Germans, in ref
crence to the throwing out process be-
came so intense that it finally culmi-
mated in the collection of mob of
thousands of persons in front of, first,
Mitchell's Bank, and next, the State
Bank. The Mayor and Chief of Police
were for time powerlcss. Mr. Mitch
ell, with uncovered head, in vain APP
pealed to the crowd to hear him but
for moment. The mob rushed into
the bank, destroying all around them,
doors, windows, shutters, and all arti-
cles of furniture were demolished.
Fortunately the money and important
papers were locked in the safe, which
was strong enough to defy their as
saults. Next, the mob rushed to the
State Bank, which they treated in the
same manner. Billcts of wood, paw
ing stones and other missiles were fu-
riously thrown at the heads of the
bank officers, and at the doors, win.
dows, &c. The military appeared, but
were hootcd and .jeered at. A fire
was started near the basement of the
State Bank building with the rubbish
torn from the bank. The fire bells
rang and freUen rushed to the scene
All were now panic stricken. But
soon the more staid citizens rallied
and the Milwaukee Zouaves appeared
At the instigation of Gen. King the
work of making arrests began, and
soon some fifty or sixty of the chief
rioters were safely in the lookup and
the mob were dispersed.
Threats were made to attack the
Jail and release the prisoners. De-
spatches were then sent to Madison
and Racine for military companies
which were promptly obeycd. The
rioters sent into the country to bring
in the farmers. They stole cannon
from the La Crosse Railroad depot
intending to make a second attack the
next day, but the prompt appearance
of two military companies from Ra-
cine, and two from Madison, and the
placing Of two 6-pounders SO as to
command the approaches to the banks,
deferred the rioters from renewing
their ruinous work. They sent a
committee to the Mayor demanding
the prisoners. He replied that when
they had killed all the decent men in
the city they could have them. 1t was
suspected an attempt would be made
to libcrate them that night, and every
citizen that could obtain a gun, armed
himself to meet the bloody work.
The attack was not made and the
city assumed its wonted quietness.
Strange to say, no lives were lost.
The following were among the wound
ed: Alex. Mitchell, struck with a
stone, and slightly injured c. IL.
Larkcn, Jr., paying teller in Mtchcll's
bank, badly bruised by stone Judge
Starkweather, knocked down and
trampled on, badly hurt Brown,
knocked down with stone, injured
slightly ; Mr.. Hayden, book keeper at
State Bank, considerably bruised j.
b. Martin, struck in the breast by a
stone, and escaping through the crowd,
took boat and went down the river
J. 7. Woolly, considerably hurt by
stones. One of the rioters was badly
cut in the shoulder by Lieut.. Olwin,
whom he assaulted !; another had bis
hand nearly cut off, and third wound
ed in the leg by bayonet thrusts.