Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-03-19


that respect.
The work of destruction then progressed
with fearful rnpidity. No sooner was one
| building burned than another was set on
| fire, some OF them being several blocks
apart. ,,s5
The notorious Patton alley was totally de-
stroycd, as also were several buildings in
that vicinity.
II was impossible last night to ascertain
the number of buildings destroyed, but it is
safe to say they will aggregate not less than
forty or fifty. 4 ~
At about nine o'clock in the evening a
barn was discovered on fire in the alley back
Of the City Hotel. 1t was thought that
the fire was the work Of an incendiary,
though for what reason it is impossible to
say. The building in which the fire origi.
mated was totally consumed, and another
building adjacent injured to considerable
extent.
The barn of G. p. Crosby, on Larned
street, between Hastings and Rivard, was
also destroyed by fire. How the fire origi-
mated is not known. The opinion, however,
prevails that it was purely accidental.
About o clock the fumes OF the confla
grafton Illuminated the entire city, and ap
pearhnces seemed to indicate that the prin.
cipal portion of the Third Ward was on fire
and would be totally destroyed. In short
time the mob, which had previously been
operating on Beaubicn street, moved down
nearer to the center of the city, and set on
fire a nest of old houses and sheds on Brush,
between Congress and Tort streets. This
caused the greatest alarm, for fear that the
blocks of stores surrounding the market
would become ignited from sparks, which
were constantly being blown upon their
roofs. The houses destroyed here were oc
cupied by poor white people, who are by
this misfortune left entirely destitute.
An hour or 80 previous to this, the author
tiles, becoming alarmed, and feeling salts
fled that no force that could be mustered in
Detroit would be sufficiently powerful to
qucll the riot, or stop the outrages of the
rioters, telcgraphed to the commander of
the 9th Infantry, in camp at Ypsianti, re-
questing him to forward battalion of his
men, by special train, to assist in dispensing
the mob. About this time dispatch was
received, stating that the request Of the
city officials had been complied with, and
that five companies were on the way. This
news, together with the appearance Of sew
eral squads of armed men in various parts
of the city, had no influence in overawing
the crowd, but rather tended to increase
their rage and activity.
The fire bells Low sounded an alarm for
the First Ward, and couple of steam en-.
gines started for the place indicated, follow
ed by large portion of the mob The
alarm was found to have been caused by the
burning of barn in an alley between Fort
and Lafayette streets. 1t was entirely con.
sumed, and the engines, after putting out
the embers, returned as rapidly as possible
to the point Of their previous labors, in the
vicinity of the market. Before reaching it,
however, the alarm bells signalled another
fire, in the Sixth Ward, aud the fremcn
hastened to the spot at once, arriving in
time to find good sized frame building, on
the corner of John X street and Miami ave
nue., in blaze, and partially consumed.
Great alarm and distress prevailed every.
where, as these fires successfully burst forth,
and in some localities the citizens armed
themselves and turned out to protect their
families and property. .la
After the last fire had been extinguished,
the rioters suddenly dispersed, completely
worn out and dspirited by their abors.
Of the negroes there are all sorts Of ru-
mors. Ii is believed that several were kill.
ed, but as far as known nothing is positive
concerning the matter. Our reporter saw a
large number in AN insenible condition in the
cutters and alleys, but none entirely dead.
A large number, however, were very scri-
ously injured, and it is probable that many
OF them will never recover.
The colored population Of the city, fright.
encd aud distracted, hurried from the mob
scattering in every direction, a large mum
Der going over the river to Canada, while
many actually fed to the woods with their
wives and little ones. They were perfectly
panic.stricken, and run hther and thither
with recklessness which rendered them
totally unfit TO take proper care Of them
selves Those who did not leave the city
huddled themselves together in the kitchens
and out houses of the buildings adjoining
the places where tho riotous proceedings
were had
Toward evening it became apparent that
unless some extraordinary measures were
taken at once, great disasters would result
to the city. Il. b. Phelps, acting Mayor
Immediately established his headquarters
at the Mayors Office and issued an order
calling out the military. The Twenty-sev
eRth Regiment, at Ypsianti, was telegraph
ed for, the regulars at the Fort were sent
for and all the independent military com
panies in the city were called out.
With commendable promptness at
O'Clock, detachment of the Twenty seventh
consisting of Companies A, b, q, 4, anC
G., numbering about four hundred men
under command of Colonel Fox and Lieu
tenant. Colonel Richardson, arrived ant
reported at headquarters. They wert
Immediately sent to the scene Of the rio
to disperse the crowd. About o clock the
Light Guard were upon tho street, fifty
strong, aud rendered efficient service patrol
ling the streets in the region where the
fires were occurring, and where the Gro wd,
were the most dense. The Lyon Guard
were also on hand, and had the importan
task of holding the Jail and premises secure
against invasion. Company A, OF the Scot
Guard, were out In force, and prevented
the destruction of much valuable property
in the upper portion Of the city. A com
pany of fifty regulars from Fort Wayne
with two brass pieces, did much towarl
dispensing the crowd.
Gradually the excitement died away, thu
fires became less numerous, and the crowds
began to disperse. BY eleven o'clock al
was again quiet, and the streets were desert
ed. The Mayor deeming it important t,
Iuasas .NN.aI 4 - A -.