Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-07-23
The New York Riots.


of the awfullest scenes Of riot, blood
and carnage ever recorded. The ini-
tiation of the Draft OH Saturday, the
18th inst, appears to have been made
the pretext for giving loose rein to
all that is vicious and vile in that
wicked and corrupt city. The worst
element of society-the depraved
wrctches in community who live by
criminality and who are the greatest
enemies Of public security and good
order-appear to have been the lead
ers and component parts Of the mob.
1t is this reckless and ruffianly ele-
ment that the Fernando Wood class
of political demagogues are trying to
mould into party for their selfishly
ambitious political purposes-and
herein is the secret of their boldness
the stimulating cause, in fact, of all
this disgraceful and outrageous dis
tnrbance in the great metropolis Of
the nation. Pity it is that they can
not be made terrible examples of.
Mobs are the worst enemies that a
free people has to dread. A mob is a
crazy monster.
1t appears that the Government did
not anticipate any trouble until the
drawing was over and notice was
served on the drafted parties, at which
time proper force would be detailed
to protect the Government officers.
The abettors of the riot knew this
and improved their opportunity, while
the military were absent in Penn
sylvania and Maryland.
1t is asserted that there is abundant
proof that the whole affair was con-
cocted on Sunday by few wire pull
lers, who after they saw the ball fairly
in motion prudently kept in the back.
ground. Proof of this is found in the
fact that as early as 8 o'clock on Mon
day some laborers employed by two
or three railroad companies, and in
the iron founderies on the eastern side
of the city, formed in procession in
the Twen.y-second ward, and visited
the different workshops in the upper
wards, where large numbers were en-
ployed, and compelled them, by threats
in some instances, to cease their work.
As the crowd augmented, their shouts
and disorderly demonstrations became
more formidable. The number of men
who thus started out in their career
of violence and blood continued to in
crease until il amounted to thousands.
The building where the draft was to
take place, at the corner of Third Av-
enue and Forty-sixth street, was be-
sieged, and when the drawing COM
menced the rufiians entered, driving
out the officers and demolishing every
thing. The books and papers were
thrown into the street and torn to
fragments. The building was set on
fire and demoniac yell sent up as the
flames advanced, notwithstanding wo-
men and children were known to occu.
py the upper rooms. The fire spread
to the adjoining buildings and the en-
tire block was consumed. Snperin-
tendent Kennedy, Provost Marshal
vandcrpoel and other Government
officers were beaten and bruised till
their lives were despaired of. All the
while thieving, robbery and plumber
were going on.
The armory building in Twenty-first
street, where were manufactured rifles
and carbines for the Government, was
attacked by about 1000 people. The
doors were burst open by means Of
heavy sledges, and the crowd made
rush to enter the building. Those
in charge of the building, acting under
instructions, fired upon those entering,
and four or FIVE were wounded. One
man, named Michael Vaney, was shot
through the heart. and died immedi-
ately. The shooting of Vaney, who
was one of the ringleaders of the par
ty making the attack, was the signal
for general onslaught upon the ar
mory.
The inmates were all finally driven
out, the rioters entered with torches,
and soon the building was developed
in flames.
The orphan asylum for colored chill
dren was visited by the mob obout 4
o'clock. This institution is situated
on Fifth avenue, and the building,
with its grounds and gardens adjoin-
ing, extended from Forty-third to For
ty-fourth street. Hundreds, and per-
haps thousands Of the rioters, the ma
jority of whom were women and chill
dren, entered the premises, and in the
most excited and violent manner they
ransackcd and plundered the building
from cellar to garnet.
After the entire building had been
ransacked, and every article deemed
worth carrying away had been taken
and this included even the little
garments for the orphans, which were
contributed by the benevolent ladies
of the city-the premises were fired
on the first floor. and there is now
scarcely one brick left upon another
of the entire structure.
Among the most cowardly features
of the riot, and one which indicated it's
political animUs and the cunningly de.
vised cue that had been given to the
rioters by the instigators of the ont
break, was the causeless and inhuman
treatment of the negroes Of the city.
1t seemed to be an understood thing
throughout the city that the negroes
should be attacked wherever found,
whether they offered any provocation
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