Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-11-22
Several Houses sacked. Lives Threat
ened, and Persons Injured.

We have had a conversation with MIR.
| Pors, the Draft Commissioner who was
| driven by a mob from Port Washington,
| Ozaukee county, and gather the following
| particulars OF the rebellion against the
| drsfb in shat place. According to all the
| stories which We have heard, it was one
o the most brutal and disgraceiul riots
with which our State has been diseraced
| in long while. E.cr-r.--
+ Mr.. Pors had always been Democrat,
and had just been el-cted District Attor-
ney by the people of the county, meeting
with no opposition of any consequence
| On this account be thought it might be
sale for him to undertake the duties of
/ Draft Commissioner, and he accepted the
appointment On Sunday evening he was
we'll acquainted with the fact that there
was an organization TO resist the draft,
and he was even threatened that his life
would be endangered in case he should
commence the draft. He had determined,
however, to carry it out, since he had
commenced it, inasmuch as his honor was
involved, and besides he had felt it was
his duty to attend 80 it.
Accordingly the next morning Cast
Monday he repaired to the Court House,
and was followed by a crowd of men, wo
men and children. He had spoken to
Sheriff Bossler to have him assist him,
aud he got q table upon which they placed
The box tor drafting. Mr.. Pors then spoke
to them in mild manner, requesting them
| to stand back little and they could all
see that the draft was conducted properly.
| At this there was rush forward. Many
of them were armed with clubs, many had
huge stones 10 thei: hands, and others had
various implements. The first thing they
| did was to demolish the draft box with a
| club, then they seized hold of Mr.. Pors, or
rather trampled upon him. the women
| vieing with the men in the british as
sault. They began to trip him up, and at
the same time drag him forward, so that
they soon got him to the outer steps,
which are quite high from the ground,
and down these he was precipitated, but
| in what manner he could not tell, it was
| done so hurriedly. .-.
ALI this time he demonstrated with
the crowd in as friendly, and at the same
time firm manner as possible, but 1t was
of no avail. The Sheriff had warded off
a good many Flows from him, and now
urged him to fly for his life. Some one
else cried out 70 'Run!" Rum" At
this he started towards the post Office,
aud on his way shower of stones was
hurled after him, one of them str king
him on the side of the head. just above
the temple This partially knocked him
! down, but ho scrambled up again, and
| soon he was struck on the back of the
head with another stone, but he soon
reached the post Office, and was admitted
| inside, after which the shutters were
closed, and Mr. Pors were sent down
cellar. 80 .. ....
The mob meantime came up and de
handed admittaDce, but the postofice
clerk would not open the doors, and told
them upon his honor, that Mr.. Pors was
not inside. The mob were fairly raving
about this time and began to talk about
threats, and actually supposed his last hour
had come. In his own language, as he
told it to US, Il tell You says he, 81 said
my last prayer in that cellar, knowing, as
do the ferocity and brutality of 3 mob"
Soon the mob returned to the Court
House, and began to tear up the enroll
mans lists. While they had thus been d.
verted, Mr.. Pors was carried off in buggy,
| there being only one msn in the place
who was willing to take the responsibility
of driving through the streets with Mr..
Pors. The two took by way direction,
and came right down the lake shore to
this city. Before they had got far how.
ever, the buggy broke down, and they
had to stop to repair it, MIR. Pors being
meanwhile entirely exhausted from the
wounds he had received, good deal of
| blood having flowed from them.
| The mob now came back to the post
| office, and were admitted, when they
looked ali through the building, and salts
flying themselves that Mr. Pors was gone,
they went to the grisl mill of Mr.. Tom
lnson, an American, whom the rioters
| charged with being an Abolitlonst.
He is most worthy citizen, however,
and had a fine mill, which cost him sew
eral thousand dollars. This they damaged
to a great extent, and stole more or less
money out of it, A German had warned
him that the mob would Kill him, and so
he concealed himself in the mill, and final
~ got away from it in such a manner as
to escape from the place. Mr.. B. 9.
Hoyt, al American Republican, and a
Free Mason, was also OF the mill with Mr.
Tominson, ard he c'nceaed himself be-
| hid a warehouse, where he remained
some time, and finally he also escaped
I troln the place, and came TO this city yes
terday. Mr.. Vail, banker, an American
Republican, and Free Mason, who had
also been threatened, catne here with Mr..
Hoyt, bringing all the bank specie i'll a
basket with him, and 10 his pockets.
After the mob left the mill they started
towards Mr.. Pors' residence, and on the
way stopped at the residence OF b. G.
Hoyt, and began to boot and halloo. Mrs.
Hoyt went to the gate and inquired what
they wanted, to which they replied that
they wanted her husband. She told them
that be was not at home, and after while
they started on. Mr. Pors lived about
three quarters of mile from the Post
Office, in a very fine house formerly own
ed by Mr.. Ramsey, the Bank Comptroller.
Before they reached this residence, Mrs.
Pors had taken Der Child and gone to q
neighbours. The mob began their work OF
devastation upon the house as soon as
they reached it, Grst tearing down the
yard fence, then breaking down the fruit
trees, and then sacking the inside of the
house.
They destroyed everything of any value.
They broke down tue doors ald smashed
in the windows. They demolished valna-
bic furniture, including piano. They
shattered mirrors and pictures. They de-
stroyed carpets and silk dresses. They
took jewelry and mementos that belonged
to Mrs. Pors, which were priced for their
associations as well as for their value
Among these was an elegant fan, sent TO