East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-07-26
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
R sasa 81! Ma Hss s silSsr

count of terrible tragedy enacted by
the 9th Iowa regiment, while passing
through that city.
The regiment arrived in this city
yesterday morning, on its return to
Iowa, and halted at the depot Of the
Galena division of the Chicago and
Northwestern Railway on Wells street,
to await the departure Of the train
which was to bear them to the con-
fines of their own State. While here,
some Of the men scattered around the
depot and the buildings adjacent, and
six or seven wandered into the saloon
of Tein ich NJ h ing, No. 81 North
Wells street, two doors above Kinzio,
and called for liquor. This the sa-
loon keeper gave them, and all but
one left the saloon without paying for
that which had been furnished them.
The keeper of the saloon demanded
payment, and an alteration ensued,
during which a pistol was fred, and
Edward Keogh fell dying upon the
floor. He lived but five minutes af-
ter being shot. Instantly commo-
ton ensued difficult to describe. The
keeper of the saloon rushed out, cry
ing murder, and calling for the police,
while the soldiers were endeavoriLg
to resusc.tite their murdered compan-
ion, and if possible, to preserve his
life. g1e .ara 11. o.,a ,
En- passent We may here speak Of a
point in the affair which neither our
own investigation nor the Coroner's
inquest has made sufficiently clear
1t is by no means definitely determin-
ed as to who fred the fatal shot. The
testimony of the saloon keeper is,
that the revolver was aimed at him by
one of the soldiers, but, the ball mis-
sing him, struck the deceased in the
head, while the soldiers themselves
claim that Mehring fred the weapon,
and is guilty of the death of their
comrade. damf. bnn
The cries Of Mehring and the noise
of the fracas brought to the spot off,
Ger Mahon, Of the Third Precinct Po-
lice, who Immediately arrested Meh-
ring, and hurried him to the North
Market Station. 1t was well indeed
that he used all possible DISPATCH
No sooner had the news of the ARRAY
and the death of their comrade reach
ed the members of the regiment at
the railroad station near at hand, than
they gathered together to the number
Of two hundred, and armed with mus
kets, clubs and sledge hammers which
they picked up, proceeded to the So
loon, which they attacked, breaking
in the windows and doors, and demol-
ishing every article of furniture with
in its walls. Not thing was left un-
touched, and in almost as brief time
as it requires to write it the work Of
destruction was complete. They then
ransacked the house below and above
in which Mehring resided, the inmates,
including the wife of tho proprietor,
barely escaping with their lives. Not
an article was left unmolested tables,
chairs, beds, stoves, and all furniture
were recklessly broken, and the club
bed muskets of the soldiers made fear
full havoc with all which came in their
way.
Captain Gund, Of the Sd precinct
police. now arrival npon tho ground.
in company with men under his COM
maud, and at last succeeded in stop
ping tho destruction Of property, and
gaining possession of the premises.
The work:of demolition, however, was
complete. Everything within was q
wreck, and the broken fragments lay
scattered about the room.
Ceasing from this work, the SOL
diers now turned upon the officers,
and demanded that the saloon keepers
should be given up to them, threaten
ing violence if their demand was not
complied with. Some bystanders 9th
or maliciously or indiscretely told
them Mohring had been taken to the
North Market station, and over one
hundred started with the avowed pur-
pose of taking him from the hands of
the officers, and hanging him. Cap
tain Gund had arrived there before
them and met them at the foot Of the
entrance, having previously ordered
the prisoner to be taken away. Here
an exciting scene occurred. Pistols
were drawn upon the officers, bayo-
nets presented, and with loud oaths
and yells they were told that they
would be instantly killed if they did
not deliver up the prisoner. In vain
the Captain protested he did not know
where the man had been taken, and
cries of Hang him if he don't tell, "
resounded on every side. Large num-
bers of soldiers carried loaded mus
kets, and for ten or fifteen minutes
the police stood in emminent danger
Of instant death at the hands of the
Infatuated comrades of the deceased
man. .r T..riyf tf ... ,,.f
! Anticipating some such demonstra-
ton, the police had spirited Mehring
away to safe quarters, and finally, the
soldiers were invited to search the
building, which they did in the most
thorough manner. The officers OF
tuo icBineHt cithcr hau ~ VhdOi
over the men, or did not exercise it.
Major Abernethy, Of that regiment,
| came to the Police Station after the
search mad been made, and informed
the soldiers that their comrades were
embarked and the train would leave
4 without them unless they Immediate
ly went to the depot. Upon this the
soldiers suddenly withdrew. afsTo
Quiet was finally restored and a
guard stationed about the place where
the riot commenced. The body OF
Keogh was conveyed to the North
Market, and in the afternoon the pris-
oner was returned TO the police sta
ton. The affair was one of the most
terrible that has transpired in our
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