The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-23
THE KILLING OF L0VEJOH AT
ALTON.
HOW HIS PAPER WAS CONDUCTED,
IndiScreet Action Of LOvejoy and His
Friends.

en- titled An interesting chapter OF history"
in which a singularly distorted account ap-
pears of the death of Rev. Elijah Z. Lovejoy,
at Alton. L have seen great multitude OF
versions of that depiorable event, but never
vet one which even Appropriated the truth.
was an eye witness OF the afalr, and OF
| most of the events which Immediately pre-
ceded it. In 1887, the office OF Mr.. Love
iov's paper the ST. Louis Obserper-was
visited by mob. and his press and msteri
ais destroyed. He removed to Alton soon
afterwards, aud continued the publication
| there of his paper under the title of The
! Alton Observer" Alton at that time was
| pretending to rivPl St. Louis, depending
| principally on southern pro-slayery infu-
ence for success. Her apparent prosperity
was great aud most Of her prominent citi-
| zens were sanguiue of making her the me-
tropolis of the west. Mr.. Lovejoy's advent
was therefore looked upon almost as a calam
| ity A meeting of the citizens was called to
! discuss the matter and Mr.. Lovejoy was in
| vited to be present. At that meeting he ex-
pressed his intention Of conducting purely
religious journal, without discussing the
subject of slavery at all, although no pledge
| or assurance was given that ne would not
| do 80. This was not very satisfactory 10 the
| people of Alton, who did not want MIR. Love
! 10Y there on any terms and considered his
n
| was violating no law, and drew his support
| not from the citizens of Alton, but from a
/ distant source there was no means OF COM
pelling his departure without VIOLENCE, which
! the occasion was not yet ripe tor. For some
time his paper was published quietly, and
| being confined exclusively TO the topics per
| tanning to q religious journal, the excitement
| began 10 die away. Then it was that Rev.
| Edward Beecher, president of the Jackson
] -.a,t or,A
! put up ut the house of Mr.. LoveiOy- I'm
mediately great change was percepnble in
| the character Of the Observer. Strong anti
! slavery principles were advanced, and many
personalities were INDUCED in, casting odiun
not only on prominent citizens. but even on
! the fe male members of their families. True,
| no names were mentioned, but the parties
were sufficiently indicated to render them
J unm istakable. Under the renewed excite
ment, a company of persons disguied as In
| dams visited Mr.. LOvejoy's establishment
one dark night and broke up his press and
scattered his types in the muddy street
/ Up to this time the popular feeling in
| Alton was almost unanimously opposed to
Mr.. Lovejoy. But there were many citizens
| who were not prepared to 60 TO such lengths.
and who were consistent believers in the
righ of free speech and tree press. These
| gradually rallied around Mr.. Lovejoy, and
be soon had a considerable party to support
! him subscription was taken up and
new press and types purchased. Many pro-
/ slavery persons contributed to it, who were
adverse 10 Mr., Loveioy, but still more ad-
! verse to mob law and illegal violence. The
press arrived, at Alton in the evening on q
| steamer, and the same, or another party OF
! persons similarly disguised, went on board
! and destroyed the new press before 1t was
landed. A popular ferment was the conse-
! quence of this act soon 1t was known,
and u civil war very nearly resulted. Ar
Engagements were Immediately made to pro-
cure third press, and this time ruse was
practiced TO secure Its safe landing. 1t was
known that the agents of the mob were
! watching all ascending boats. so the press
was sent boat which did not stop ut
Alton, and was landed at a point higher up,
! from whence it was shipped to Alton on Q
! descending boat. Ii was deposited 10 n ware
/ house occupied by Godfrey. Gilman & Co,
fronting on Water street, and running back
! to Short street. The rear OF it was nearly
opposite the lower corner of the penitentary
! wall Ii was a large and strong stone build
! ing three stories high In front, and two stor
! les high in the rear. 1t stood in the middle
of block, with a vacant lot on each side. |
! have been thus particular in describing it,
because it cuts a considerable figure in what
follows, which could not be so well under
stood without. The press, type. aud all the
materials necessary for the issue of
the Observer remained secreted there for
| some days. In the meantime, q number Of
persons friendly to Mr. Loveioy and his cause
Il think about the minimum necessary for a
military company-orgauized under the state
militia Law, drew arms from the state arsenal,
aud used the third story OF the before men
| toned warehouse for drill room, where they
met regularly every evening. So soon as
they had acquired the necessary skill in COM
pany evolutions to give them confidence, they
began to parade the streets under arms, and
| procla med that their object was to support
and defend tho publication Of the ObSerrer.
| The arrival of the new press and material
| was also made known and many taunts were
| thrown out TO the adverse party, such as
"come with your mob, We are ready for
you, &c. It requires but very slight knowl-
| edge of human nature to enable any one to
foretell the consequence of this course. The
publication of the Observer being resumed
under such circumstances, and a military
guard standing over the press while 1t was
printed, the mob, or rather the parties in
whose interest the mob acted. determined to
have the press at all hazards. No violence
TO Mr.. Lovejoy's person was at any time con-
templated. Several numbers of the paper
had been issued, when on a concerted oc.
cassion a mob to the number of several
hundreds assembled in the rear of the
warehouse for the purpose of forcing
entrance and destroying the press
1t was known that the military guard was
inside under arms, but very few persons of
the mob we're armed. By far the larger por-
tion were there as spectators from curiosity.
1t was an exceedingly bright and calm moon
light night, in the fall of the year, the moon
boing full and shining fair ON the front of the