Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-02-17

DAVENPORT. Feb. ld. 90,


Editor Democrat aud Nsns
la your issue Of the 10th inst. noticed an
article In reference 10 the row ut Metropol
tan Hall on Saturday evening last. 1t con-
tanned several errors. which bsg leave to
correct. ~ they ars calculated to DO great IN.
justice 10 the soldi.,s ard ryren A. / was
psesiIg the Hall on tias night | was hailed
ty several soldi.ie Who kas~ me- ard "a they
were somewhat excited. inquired the cause.
They informed ne tia, they had j"st been ny
and rendered nen.y ior tickets 10 admit them
to the lecture, ard were informed that soldiers
OF the Union Brigade conid not 70 In. Ihis
statement lie sustained by ia9on.ihle wit,
nssses. Some thirty oi them collected to-
getber ard determined that they would 90 in
ptec.ably il they could. and ficbly If they
must
knowing them to 10 msn of determined
characters. follow ed them up into the Hall
to zee the ie,uh and il possible. prevent the
row.
one Of the ro iccn IN aseur.d them that u they
would Keep y. ace for fifteen n ninItes tie would
make sITabgeHents TO admit them. They
quietly waited ior the time appointed, but
soon after became convinced that 1t WIS only
dotge TO Isc.iy them. Seeing that they
could not be held longer. l went to the door
keeper and told him that he had better lass
the men up. as It wonld he the only means to
prevent iew. lie etiil persisted IN say ing
that they should not so up. then obtained
permission TO 90 up aud re II some arrange
menls could not bs made to have the men ad-
uitted, when the crowd rushed alter me- The
gas heh's were eatlngLishsd imms diaiely and
the hall door c.casd in ny face, wkch open
ed, when was met ty d.xsp or more 10.
licemsnIw i;h ehairs. clubs aud mrces Which
they houished above my head with great
gus.o. In. luckily fer them they did not hit
me. Willie ! was endsGvaiing TO pacify the
men and convince the public that thsy would
not disturb the meeting il allowed quietly to
enter, several Of the co~nrdly curs got behind
me aud attempted to force me out Of the door,
in which they partially succeeded. About thi.
time the Tain whistsd up with the brskes
the polls. men "subsdsd' ard the soldiers
walked in and quietly seated themselves and
order was les ored il the hall.
Here, from your statement, the reader
would i1ier that wac Captain Of tie | and,
which was not the case. My ccmrg vas nc.
cijentai These men belong TO the l2,h and
l4th Infantry, while | belong TO the ~
Your article charges them with having made |
threats that they would stop the lecture, " hich |
| believe 10 he viliul and malicious false
hood. manufactured by some tender footed |
SEQ -sh, as was With them from the time they
lsft the street until they ENTERED the lecture
70 IN, and no declarations 10 that sh-ct could
have escaped my notice. AZ fer the array OF
shot guns anc revolvera, | saw none. but
learned that the police and some Others in the
oom did have such weapons. would beg
leave to inform those .,ender-footed gentlemen
.hat We have seen and heard "a much of flood
and thunder as any Of them. and hope that
they 10 net think that~e were in the least
alarmed They msy thsIk their stsrs tha,
they neither shot any one, or broke any cheirs
over people, heads, fer Lad IL been done some |
Of them night have got hurt.
NJ. J.. BENTos.
1t L.. Co. Il, 8th Iowa.