The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-03-12

a
ed them at the hands of the merciIrss
crowd. There was no more mercy OK.
tended to the suffering creatures than
would have been shown to . rattle
snake. No tears could move, no sup
pllcaiion assuage the awful frenzy and
demoniacal spirit of revenge which had
taken possession of that mass OF peo'
pie. One colorcd woman made her
appearance at the door with little
child in her arms, and appealed 10 the
mob for mercy. The monstrons fact
must be told, her fearful appeals were
met with shower of bricks, stones
and clubs, driving herself and the baby
la her arms back into the burning build
ing. AT this juncture one man, moved
To mercy at this cowardly and inhuman
act. rushed TO her assistance. bravely
and nobly protected her person from
the violence which threatened her.
But the negroes found no such proteo-
ton. They were driven gradually 10
the windows and doors, where they
were assaileI with species of weapons,
including spades and clubs, and every.
thing that could Js used As a means of
attack. The frightened creatures were
almost insane with fright as their per-
srcutors were with madness. As they
came out they were beaten and bruised
in terrible manner, their rhripks al d
groans only exciting the mob To further
exeriions in their brutal work. Sew
eral of them were knocked down with
axes and lett for dead, but who after
wards received only TO be again set
upon aud cruelty beaten to insensibil-
ny.
The scenes which followed were of a
similar nature. Old men, eighty years
of age, were not in the least respected,
but knocked down with the same vim
dictiveness 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 boldcr,
and did not seruple 10 commit the orst
crimes upon the calander with perfect
IMMUNITY. The houses on Lafayette
street, between Beaubien and St. An.
tome, were literally sacked of their con-
tents, and the furniture piled iu the
middle Of the street and burned.
Among the articles constituting the
bonfires, large number Of musical
instruments could be discovcred-base
viols, victims, banjos, guitars. accord
cons, and almost every musical instru-
ment in existence. Feather beds were
ripped open and the contents scattered
over the streets, and everything totally
destroyed. Then, not satisfied with
having destroyed every vestige of fur
mturr, the torch was applied TO the
building, and nearly the whole Of the
entire block, on both sides of the street
was soon levelled TO the ground. The
steamers were upon tie spot promptly,
but would only be permitted tn throw
water on the houses Of white men, to
prevent the conflagraiion from becnm-
ing general. The mob threatened that
the engine would be- tern to pieces it
they attempted To play upon any other
buildings than those designated. As
there was no room for doubt that these
threats would be summarily executed,
if necessity compelled that course, il
was deemed proper to cater TO the
wishes at the mob in that respect.
The work of destruction then pro-
dressed with fearful rapidity. n"
sooner was one bnilding burned than
another was set OH fire, some of them
being several blocks apart.
The notorious Patton alley was ep-
tircl destroyed, as also were several
buildings i'll that vicinity.
1t WAS impossible last night to as
certain the number of buildings de-
stroyed, but it is safe Ia say that they
will aggregate not less than forty or
fifty.
At abont nine o'clock in the evening
a barn was discovered ON fire in the
alley back of the City Hotel. II 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 originated was totally
consumed, and another, building ada
cent injured to a considerable extent.
The barn of &. p. Crosby OH Larned
street, between Hastings and RIvard,
was also DESTROYED Ivy fire. How the
fire originated is not known. The
opinion, however, prevails that it was
purely accidental.
About Z o'clock the flames of the
cnnhagra,inn illuminated the entire
city, and appearances seemed to indi
cate that the principal portion of the
Third Ward was OH fire and would he
totally destroyed. In short time the
mob, whicl, had previously been oper
ating on Beanbien street, moved down
nearer To the center of the city, and
set OH fire nest of old houses and
sheds on Brush, between Congress
and Fort streets. This caused the
greatest alarm, for fear that the valua-
bile blocks of stores surrounding the
market would become ignited from
sparks, which were constantly being
blown upon their roofs. The houses
destroyed here were occupied by poor
white people. who are by this misfor
tune left entirely destitute. In one of
them resided a widow woman who sup.
ported six children by her own nnaide.i
labors. She barely saved herself and
family alive, but lost every vestige Of
her properly including four dollars in
mnnev-all cha had Mr. Gies fh.