The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-23
All the mob were assem- bled in

the rear the front being purposely kept clear
that the persons inside might have an unmo-
Tested exit in case they wished to retire. IL
was supposed that they would be frightened
away if they had a chance in which case the |
mob would have quietly gone in and destroy. |
ed the press and retired without further vio- |
lsnce. Such was the programme, bat the
event was quite different. A large number
of persons who aided and abetted the mob,
but who did not wish to take any active part
in the proceedings unless in an emergency,
were congregated in a ravine short distance
from the scene of action. In case they were
needed, a pistol was to be fred at a given
point as a signal for them to come on. That
portion of the mob which was assembled in
the rear of the warehouse demanded the sur
render of the press which was refused. An
Intellectual attempt was made to force the
doors, but they were too strongly barricaded.
Many other means of entrance were tried
with little effect. Up to this time there was
no noise or excitement, and so quietly were
the proceedings conducted that but few cIt-
zens who were not informed beforehand were
aware that anything of the kind was in prog
ress. The mob having tried and Jailed in all
the measures previously discussed or agreed
on for affecting an entrance, concluded to call
in the services of the reserves before adopt
ing any moro violent measures. The pistol
was fired as a signal from the point agreed
on, a building in progress in the neighbor.
haod known a. Townsend's warehouse. In
medately Mr.. Loyejoy raised a window in
the second story OF the rear and fred on the
mob, lodging five slugs in the breast of
spectator named Bishop, causing his death in
q brief period lie was about leaving the
city, and had his baggage on the landing in
front of the warehouse waiting for a boat.
The assembling of the mob attracted his at.
tention, and he went around from curiosity
to see what was going on, and arrived Just in
time to receive his death at the hands of Mr..
Loveioy. Then arose a howl for vengeance
and the death of Mr., Lovejoy was resolved
on by the active participants of the mob.
The building proving so much stronger
than was anticipated. a hurried debate was
held as to the best mode of effeoting an en-
trance and it was decided to get rome state
cannon from the penitentiary adjacent and
batter down the walls. Two or three cannon
were brought down, as well rs balls and pow
der, but on attempting to load it was discov-
cred that the balls were for guns OF q larger
caliber. This plan was then abandoned, and
a long ladder WAS set up against the ewes on
the north side of the house on the vacant lot,
and a man went up with brands to set fire to
the roof No persons had yet assembled in
assigned, and as soon as the persons inside
discovered what was going on, they sailed
out at the front entrance and commenced
firing at the man on the ladder
Hon. Judge krum, of St. Louis, was at
this time mayor of Alton, and when the FIR
ing began was standing on the elevated
ground on the corner Of the penitentiary wall
oppos tie the vacant lot when the ladder was
put up. He had been passing around among
the mob, using his personal as well as official
influence to persuade them to disperse, but
without effect. lie had no force at his com
mand able to preserve the peace, so he had
nothing to do but remain q silent spectator,
or to retire The first shot that fired
passed directly over his head. and | think
through his hat at least it was reported
at the time. | stood close by, and finding
the position rather unsafe, went around the
square to the front. where there was pile Of
scantlipg on the vacant lot on a line with the
front entrance. From behind this scantling
thought - have a safe point for observa
ton. On arriving there ! found noted
young man of the city-noted both for his
good and bad parts-with q gun in his hands.
He told me he was waiting there to kill Love-
JOY. Whilst / was trying to persuade him
from this purpose, Mr.. Loveioy-who was
one of the persons firing at the men on the
ladder-came out the building with a double
barTeled gun in his hands. lie was not ten
steps distant from US He raised his gun
and fired one barrel, and the cap of the other
barrel snapped. He turned around to the
moonlight TO adjust another cap on the tube
pre- senting a full front towards the young
man who was in wait for hiru. / was struck
with the singular determination of his coun-
tsnance, and Its resemblance To that of the
portraits of Martin Luther. Before he got
the cap adjusted, the young man beside me
raised his gun aud, before l could prevent
him, fired, and sent an ounce ball directly
through Mr.. Lovejoy's heart. The blood
spouted out In a torrent, and Mr.. LoveiOy
fell backwards exclaiming, "Oh. my God !!
| am killed." Astopishment, despair and
agony were equally mingled in his tones
He had been go long persuaded by bis friends
that he was q peculiar instrument in the
hands of God, and was invulnersble, that he
had come almost If not quite to believe it.
As soon as he was killed the rest of the party
inside fled, and the mob then destroyed the
press and retired.
/ knew Mr. Lovejoy intimately. He was
my next door neighbor. and in all the rels-
tions of life, as far as / could judge, he was
most exemplary. He was a man of consider
able erudition and of charming conversation
al powers, aud, with the exception of a few
rutians, had not Il personal enemy in the city
On the contrary, individually, he was almost
universally admired and esteemed. 1t may
prove interesting to know that the young man
who killed him was himself killed in the most
bsrbarous manner, a short time afterwards,
in q fracas in the bar room of the st. Charles
hotel. at New Orleans, aud that the man who
fired the roof died in the Ohio penitentiary,
where he was sentenced for seventeen years
for highway robbery in Cincinnati.