The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-14
me bloody Riot NJ DesrOit-A Fiendish
aud UnFelenling Mob.

me BIoody Riot NJ Detroit-A Fiendish
aud UnFelenling Mob.
From the Detroit Free Press, 7th
Yesterday was the bloodiest day that ever
dawned upon Detroit The feeling of revenge
and hatred which had been engendered bv the
late outrage on the person of little orphan
girl eliminated in the most brutal and bloody
riot that ever disgraced any community
Early In the morning the symptoms of the riot
began to manifest themselves, growing stronge.
as the DAY progressed, until the final eruption
ana latal and disastrous consequences which
resulted. 1t seemed as though the minds of
the mea who constituted the vast crowd which
assembled IN aud around the City Hall in the
forenoon were bent on murderous mischief
iney were resolved that the negro Faulkner
snouid forfeit his life at their hands, be his
Verdict and sentence what it might
Al about haf-past twelve, after the adjourn.
ment OF the Court, the clouds which portended
the coming storm began to gather. The mob
nest lnaugnrated the day by petty prosecutions
y. sny negroes who CHANGED to come in the vi,
cinlty OF the City Hall. Any of that unfortu-
na.e race who happened along we're subjected
to Kicks, cuffs and blows, and were liable to he
butchered upon the streets. Even women and
cnlidren We're not exempt, several of them being
abused In a most shameful and outrageous
manner sa
These proceedings continued without inter-
ruptlon until the re>assemblng of the court.
when all who could obtain ingress into the
hall did SO, and the street became compara-
lively quiet. But it was a quiet that nurtured
rather than diminished the fierce passions of
the enraged and uncomfortable men who had
set themselves up in defiance of the Law
Even IN the very halls of justice there were
grave apprehensions that violence would be
committed s,s z4,ft,...z
In order to quell The disturbance, and to
deliver the prisoner safe to the TAILOR. the De.
troit Provost Guard had been ordered to ca.
cort him to the jail. Their arrival in front Of
the City Hall was greeted by threats of def
ance from the crowd, who became more excited
as the prospect of gratifying their blood thirsty
vengeance upon the negro became less favor.
able. The Guard formed in line upon Monroe
Avenue, and, everything being prepared for
q vigorous defense, Faulkner was led down by
the officers into the street. As the mob got
sight of their intended victim, the yells, groans
and Kisses were almost deafening, and nothing
but the fixed bayoDets of the soldiers could
have prevented them from rushing upon and
tearing him to pieces. And it was with great
difficulty they were kept back. The throng
of people which followed the prisoner to the
jail was immense, and could only be estimated
by thousands.
1t was not until they had neared the Jail that
the riot commenced 10 earnest. Notwithstand-
the array of flashing bayonets, and the dan
ger of being shot down in the attempt large
number OF the rioters simultaneously rushed
for the prisoner, and came very near rescuing
him. But he was got into the prison enclosure
unharmed, without single sacrifice. After this
was accomplished, without orders from any
reliable authority, number of random shots
were fired promiscuously into the crowd by
the Provost Guard, several Of them taking ef-
feet, and one man, Charles LANCER, being in
stantly killed, shot through the heart.
The Provost Guard after this display hurts
ed back to the barracks, leaving the crowd to
dispense at their leisure. .,sgE ~ts
The cry of death and vengeance ran through
the crowd like an electric shock. The sight of
the bleeding corpse of the deadman, and the
groans of q half dozen who were wounded kin
died anew the flames of characterization and
frenzy. The Germaus especially were madden
ed beyond description, because their country
man, had been sacrificed, as they thought and
expressed it, to protect negro who was de-
serving of torture and death. The excitement
among all classes, however was intense. Being
bathed in their attempt to rescue the criminal
they sought other channels to give vent to their
malice.
The first house where negro family resided,
one end OF which was used as cooper shop,
situated on Beaubien street, was assaulted
with bricks, paving stones and clubs. About
q dozen negroes were at work in the shop or
stopping in the house at the time. The most
Of them we're armed and fred several shots
into the crowd from the windows, taking effect
in several instances, but not fatally iDjuring
any one, as far as could be ascertained.
As each shot from the negro hovel reverber.
ated through the vicinity, the fendishness of
the mob became more manifest AMI their des-
peration more dreadful The firearms in pos.
session Of the negroes deferred them from en-.
tering, for it would have been almost certain
death for any man to attempt it. Any missile
that could be obtained was hurled at the rem.
devious of the negroes, the windows and doors
burst open, and everything destroyed which
could be seen by those outside. Finally find.
ing 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 very short time the flames
spread so as to almost envelope the entire
building. The scene at that time was one that
utterly oaneS description. Win the Dullolng
a perfect sheet of iivid fame, and outside Q
crowd of blood thirsty rioters; some of whom
were standing at the doors with revolvers in
their hands, waiting for their victims to sp-
pear, it was truly pitiful and sickening sight.
The poor wretches inside were almost frantic
with fright, undecided whether to remain and
die by means of the devouring element, or suf-
fer the almost terrible fate which awaited them
at the hands of the merciless crowd There
was no more mercy extended to the suffering
creatures than would have been shown to q rat
tie snake. No tears could move, no supplica.
ton assuage the awful frenzy and demoniacal
spirit Of revenge which had taken possession of
that mass of people. One colored woman made
her appearance at the door with Q little child 10
her arms, and appealed to the mob for mercy
The monstrous fact must be told, her fearful ap.
peals were met with shower of bricks, stones
and clubs, driving herself and the baby in her
arms back into the burning building. At this
juncture one man, moved 70 mercy at this cow
ardly and inhuman act, rushed to her assistance
bravely and nobly protecting her person from
the violence which threatened her, But the ne.
groes found no such protection. They were
driven gradually to the windows and doors,
where thew were murderously assaulted with ey.