The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-04-03

venge which nau tdASH pVosCSoAoA " suso
mass of people. One colored woman made
her appearance at the door with little child
in her arms, appealed to the mob Tor mercy. !
The monstrous fact must be told, her fearful
appeals we're met with shower OF bricks,
stones and clubs, driving herself and the
babe in her arms back into the burning build
ing.
! AT this iuncture one man, moved to mercy |
at this cowardly and inhuman act, rushed to
her assistance bravely and nObly protecting
her person from the violence which threaten
ed her. But the negroes found no such pro-
lection. They were driven gradually to the
windows and doors, whore they were murder
ously assaulted with every species Of weapons,
including axes, spades and clubs, and every
thing which could besused as a means Of at
tack. The frightened creatures were almost
as insane. from fright as their prosecutors
were with madness. AS they came out they
were beaten and bruised in a terrible man
ner, their shrieks and groans enly melted the
mob to further exertions in their brutal work. :
Several of them were knocked down with
axes and left fcr dead, but who afterwards re-.
covered only to be again set upon and cruelty
beaten to insensibility. s q s.
The scenes which followed were Of SINH
lar nature. Old men, eighty years Of age,
were not ID the least respected, but knocked
| down with the same fendish vindictiveness
| which characterized all the other proceedings
| Of the day. After the first building had been
reduced to ashes, the appetite for arson had
only been whetted, and not at all appeased.
AS night approached they grew holder, and
did not scrnple to commit the worst crimes
upon the calander with perfect impunity.
/ The houses on Layfayette street between
i Bourbon and ST. Antoine, were literally sack
| ed Of their contents, and the furniture piled
1 in the middle Of the street and burnt. Among
the articles constituting the bonfire, large
number Of musical instruments couH be dis
. coveredAbass viols, violins, banjos, guitars,
/ accordeons, and almost every musical instru-
ment in existence.
Feather beds were ripped open and the con-
tents scattered over the street, and everything
valuable totally destroyed; and then, not sat
listed with having destroyed the furniture, the
torch was applied to the buildings. and near
1 lv the whole of the entire block ON both sides
of the street, was soon leveled to dhe ground.
The steamers were upon the spot promptly,
4 but would only be permitted to throw water
on the houses of the white men, to prevent
the canfagration from becoming general
The mob threatened that the engines would
ue torn to pieces If. they attempted to play
upon any other buildings than those designat-
ed. AS there was no doubt that these threats
would be summarily executed if necessity
compelled that course, it was deemed proper
to cater to the wishes Of the mob in that re
spect. sta gss
The work of destruction. then progressed
with fearful rapidly. No sooner was on.
building burned than another was set on fire
some of them being several blocks apart.
il 1t was impossible last night to ascertain
Iitbe number Of buildings destroyed. but it il
, safe to say they will aggregate not less THAI
forty or fftys