Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-20
cath. The excitement among all classes,

III their attempt 70 rescue the criminal theI
a sought other channels to give vent t,
10 their malice.
- The first house where negro famil,
IL resided, one end Of which was used as
y cooper shop, situated on Beauben street
[. was assaulted with bricks, paving stones
q and clubs. About dozen negroes were
IS at work in the shop or stopping in the
A house at the time. The most Of them
q were armed, and fred several shots into
Z the crowd from the windows, taking eff
n feet in several instances, but not fatally
If injuring any one, as far as could be as
certained.
AS each shot from the negro hovel
reverberated through the vicinity, the
, fiendshness of the mob became more
manifest, and their desperation mere
dreadful. The firearms in possession of
the negroes deferred them from entering,
for it would have been almost certain
death for any man to attempt it. ANY
missile that could be obtained was hurled
at the rendezvous of the regroes, the
windows and doors burst open, and every
thing destroyed which 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 incendiary was placed at one end
of the building, and in a very short time
The flames spread so as TO envelop al
! most the entire building.
The scene at this time was one that
utterly battles description. With the
building a perfect sheet of livid flame,
and outside a crowd Of blood thirsty
rioters, some of whom were standing at
the doors with reyolvers in their hands, /.
waiting for their victims to appear, il
was a truly pitiable and sickenng sight |
The poor wretches inside were almost +
frantic with fright, undecided whether
to remain and die by means Of the de-
vouring element, Or suffer the almost GER
tain terrible fate which awaited them at
the hands of the merciless crowd. There
was no more mercy extended to the suf-
feriDg creatures than would have been
shown to a n tIlesnake. No tears could
move, no supplications assuags the awful
frenzy and demoniacal spirit of revenge
which had taken possession Of that mass
of people.
One colored woman made her appear
ance at the door With a etill IN her arms
and appealed to the mob for mercy
The monstrous fact must be told-her .
fearful appeals were met with a shower
of bricks, stones and clubs, driving her.
self and the babe in her arms back in-
to the burning building AT this time.
one man moved to mercy at this COW.
ardly and inhuman act, rushed to her as.
'istance, bravely and nobIy protecting
her person from the violence which SO !
threatened her.
But the negroes found no such pro.
ection. They we're driven gradually to P
he windows and doors where they were st
nurderously assailed with every species
f weapons, including axes, spades and
lubs, and everything which could be g
sed as means of attack.
As they came out they were beaten 'O
nd bruised in a terrible manner, their "
bricks and sroans only exciting the mob eo
} further exertions in their brutal work. "'
everal of them were knocked down WI
it'll axes and left for dead, but who af- uo
rwards recovered, only to be again set II, u.
pom and beaten to insensibiity.
The scenes which followed were of
milar nature. Old men, 80 years of
,e, were not in the least respected, but .e'
rocked down with the same fiendish "0
which characterized all sh'
other proceedings of the day. After .w'
e first buildings had been reduced to oa'
hes, the appetite for arson had not at 81"
been appeased.
As night approached they grew bold d"
and did not scruple to commit the oon
rst crimes upon the calendar with per- S'al
t impunity. The houses on Lafayette ano
eet were literally sacked of their con- ZEN
IT'S, and the furniture piled in the mid '',''
of the street and burned. ""'
Among the articles constituting the "u'
fires, large number of musical in rue
lments could be discovered-violins, %
e viols, banjos, guitars, &c. Feather r
Is were ripped open and the contents D.,
tered over the streets, and every :.
'g valuable totally destroyed. Then. n
satisfied with having destroyed eve- 100
Vestige of furniture, the torch was ap-
d TO the buildings, and nearly the -
lie of the entire block on both sides
he street was soon leveled to the -.
IND. The steamers we're on the spot D.,