The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-07-24

surrounded, roughly handled, and his
pockets rifled. If any one attempted to
escape, or undue trepidation was manifest
ed, the unfortunate object was generally
struck senseless and brutally kicked and
beaten. Several citizens were so treated
within an interval of few minutes,
while the ruffians were proceeding a few
blocks down from Twentieth street.
THE CONTRABANDs.
The colOred folks in the Twentieth ward
suffered very severely. Numberless were
the atrocities perpetrated on them. They
were hunted from their houses by the
score. When caught they were hung up
to lamp posts or beaten, jumped on, kick
ed and struck with iron bars and heavy
wooden clubs. At one time during YES
terday there were between fifty and sixty
of these people in the arsenal. Many of
them were horribly manned and dsfgured.
No respect had been paid to either sex,
age or condition. One woman was burn
ed out of her house who had only been
confined ON Tuesday. The poor creature
and her helpless little one were cared for
as well as possible by DR.. Gilbert. Many
affecting scenes took place between diff
ferent members of the same family who
had given each other up as lost, and met
unexpectedly in the arsenal. One poor
fellow had been obliged to run for his life,
and in about an hour his wife arrived in
deep distress; but when she saw her cold
man" alive and all right, except ghastly
wound on the head, her Joy was bound
less, and could find no better vent than by
fin rripn hor hou -,
neck. In the evening these unfortunate
creatures were removed from the arsenal
to place of security provided for them
by Commissary General Farrell.
DEPARTURE OF WHITE RESIDENTS FROM THE
CITY.
1t need not be supposed that the fear,
consequent upon our troubles, is confined
exclusively to the negro element. On the
contrary, there has been great exodus
OF the whites, particularly the more
wealthy, who seem to labor under an ap-
prehension that the destruction of proper
ty is to be general. On Monday evening,
the emigration to Westchester county,
fhat being the more convenient refugee,
was very large. Numbers went in carria-
ges, and so great was the demand for con-
veyances, that at five o'clock in the after
noon it was found impossible to procure
vehicles for the use of the city authorities
and the Governors aids.
On Tuesday, every steamboat leaving
the city, was densely packed. Ma
ny people were obliged to sleep upon the
cabin floors, although willing and able to
pay almost anything for state rooms, or
even berths. The railroad lines did an
immense business. One train of twenty
cars left in the afternoon, and on some
routes it was impossible to accommodate
the applicants for passage.
THE BODY OF COL. O'BRIEN.
1t is now ascertained that the body of
Col. O'Brien is at the dead house. His
murderers after beating him in the most
merciless manner with stones, bars of iron,
bludgeons, and slung shots, stabbed him
in several parts of the body and then
dragged him through the cutters by
cord around his neck, and then threw him
into an alley way and stood guard over
him. His body was at length removed
and conveyed by two priests to the dead
house at Bellevue Hospital. He was al
most naked and terribly mangled
YORK STREET SACkED-IHE NEGROES LEAN-
ING IN MULTITUDEs-A CHILD KILLED.
The poor negroes, or what is left of
them, are hourly leaving the city. They
complain that they are hardly allowed
even the privilege of escaping. Every
where throughout the city they are driven
about like sheep, and numbers are killed,
of whom no account will ever be learned.
There is but one quarter where these un-
fortunates live which has remained un-
harmed-Sullivan street in the Eighth
ward. This anomaly is explained by the
fact that they have wisely locked them
selves within their houses, and thus kept
public attention from being attracted to
them. Some few who have ventured upon
the streets, in order to procure the neces-
saries of life, have been stoned, but none
have been killed.
The prominent negro locality has been
almost demolished, and upwards of two
hundred blacks thrown homeless upon the
streets This was in York street, small
thoroughfare running block from West
Broadway near Canal street. The crowd
appeared On Wednesday evening with
carts, and driving the negroes into their
J W 1SIiiONC eill tiiC Iul III
ture which seemed Of value Several pi-
amos We're stolen, sofas, chairs and tables
were appropriated. No police appeared,
as they had nearly all been detailed for
duty at the central Office, few only stay
ing behind, in order to protect the station
house. 1t is estimated that several thou
sand dollars worth Of property was thus
stolen. OF course the negroes offered no
resistance. They stood passively by, beg
ging the people not to harm them, as they
were helpless The leaders said that if
they kept quiet all would be right. One
of them, however, in attempting to escape,
was severely beaten, if not killed, it being
said that he was en- his way to the police
headquarters.
This was the rumor, probably, that led
the subsequent scenes. About midnight
se@eral.persors assembled at the corner of
York street and West Broadway, and
commenced to denource the negroes in
bitter terms. a large crowd now assem-
bled, and it was not long before the attack
commenced. Bricks, stones, and every
convenient missile were thrown at the
windows. Several thousands had now
gathered, and the excitement became in
tense. Excited orators made speeches
+bo +lx, I