Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-03-19
FEAnFuL RIOT I'm DETROIT.


The Mob Attempts 10 Lynch a Negro PTs
Crood- One Nan Killed and .Sereroi
Wounded = Biooti,hirsty Assault on vegro
H,ases-7he Inmates Bentea to Insensi
6aay-.Scpcrgi Reported Kiiled-7Ie CiD
Set on Fire IN Ticenty PLpces- The MI
tury CaRed Quito QUeH the Riot.
The Detroit Free Press coutains a long
account of the recent fearful riot in that
city, from which we geai The following
facts:
A negro named Faulkner was on trial for
q revolving outrage against the person OF q
little white girl. The case had caused much
excitement, which eliminated on Friday
when the case terminated by verdict OF
guilty. The prisoner was Immediately sen
fenced to suffer the full penalty OF the law
imprisonment for life. A vast crowd had
been gathering around the City Hall al day,
resolved TINT Faulkner should suffer death,
be the verdict what it might. Every negro
who showed himself in the streets, was
kicked and cuffed, and oftentines worse
used. Even women and children being
Sometimes abused in the most shameful and
Outrageous manner.
deliver the prisoner safe to tho jlilor, the
Detroit Provost Guard had been ordered to
escort him to the Jail.
Everything being prepared for vigorous
defense, Faulkner was led down by the Off
GERS into the street. As the mob got sight
of their intended victim, the yes, groans
and hisses were almost deafening and moth.
ing but the fixed bayonets of the soldiers
h.y ta1 IA
upon and tearing him in pieces; and it was
with great difficulty that they were kept
back, The throng Of people which followed
the prisoner to the jail was immense, aud
could only be estimated by thousands.
II was not until they had neared the Jail
that the riot commenced in earnest. Not
withstanding the array of flashing bayonets,
and the danger Of being shot down in the
attempt, large number of the rioters sim
ultaneously rushed for the prisoner, and
came very near rescuing him. But he was
got into the prison unharmed, without a
single sacrifice.
The guard fired into the crowd, wounding
several and killing man named Charles
LANCER. The guard afterward returned to
the barracks, and the excited crowd, balfled
in their attempts on the prisoner, sought
other channels to give vent to their malice.
The first house where a negro family re-
sided, one end of which was used as cooper
shop, situated on Beaubien street, was as
uulted with bricks, paving stones, and
clubs. About dozen negroes were Mt work
in the shop or stopping in the house at the
time. The most OF them were armed, and
fred several shots into the crowd from the
windows. taking effect in several instances,
but not fatally injuring any one, as lar as
could be asoertained.
As each shot from the negro hovcl rever.
bersted through the vicinity, the fendish,
ness of the mob became more manifest, and
their desperation more dreadful The fire.
arms in possession of the negroes deferred
them from entering for it would have been
almost certain death for any man to attempt
il. Any missile that could be obtained was
hurled at the rendezvous of the negroes,
the windows and doors burst open, and
everything destroyed that could be seen by
those outside. Finally, finding that they
could not be forced out of their hiding place
in any other manner, the match of the in.
cendiary was placed at one end of the build.
ing, and in very short time the flames
epread 10 as to envelop almost the entire
building. The scene at this time was one
that utterly buffles description. With the
building perfect sheet of ivid fame, and
outside crowd of bloodthirsty rioters, some
Of whom were standing at the doors with
revolvers in their hands, waiting for their
victims to appear it was a truly pitiable
and sickening sight. The poor wretchcs in.
side were almost frantic with fright, unde
cided whether to remain and die by means
Of the devouring element, or suffer the al.
nost certain terrible fate which awaited
them at the hands Of the merciless crowd.
There was no more mercy extended to the
suffering creatures than would have been
shown to rattlesnake. No tears could
move, no supplications assuage the awful
frenzy and demoniacal spirit of revenge
which had taken possession of that mass OF
people. One colored woman made her mp.
pearance at the door with a little child in
her arms, and appealed to the mob for
percy. The monstrous fact must be told,
that her fearful appeals were met with a
shower Of bricks, stones and clubs, driving
herself and the babe in her arms back into
che burning building. AT this junclure,
ono man, moved to mercy at this cowardly
and inhuman act, rushed to her assistance,
bravely and nobly protecting her person
from the violence which threatened her. =
But the negroes found no such protection.
They were driven gradually to the windows
aud DOORS where they were murderously
assailed with every species Of weapons, in,
cluding axes, spades, and clubs, and every.
thing which could be used as means of
attack. The frightened creatures were al.
most as insane with terror rs their persecu
tors were with madness. As they came out
they were beaten aud bruised in u terrible
manner, their shrieks and groans only ex-
citing the mob to further exertions in their
brutal work. Several Of them were knocked
down with axes aud left for dead, but who
afterwards recovered only to be again set
upon and cruelty beaten to insensibility.
The scenes which followed wore of sim.
liar nature. Old men, eighty years of age,
were not in the least respected, but knocked
down with the same 6endsh vindictivcnoss
which characterized all the other proceed
ings Of the day. Alter the first building
had been reduced to ashes, the appetite for
arson had only been whetted, and not at al
sppeased. As night approached, they grew
bolder, and did not seruple TO commit the
worst crimes upon the calendar with perfect
impunity. The houses on Lafayette street
between Beaubien and ST. Antoine, were
literally sacked of their contents, and the
furniture pilad in the middla of tta atroa,