The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-08-30
About O'Clock. afternoon, a procession o

About o'clock, afternoon, procession OF
| say from so to 100 colored men marched lip
| Burgundy street and across Canal street to-
/ wards the Convention, carrying an American
flag. These men had about one pistol to eve
| ry ten men and canes and clubs in addition
While crossing Canal street a row occurred
There were many spectators on the streets, and
| their manner and tone towards the procession
was untriendly. shot was fired, by whom
| am not able TO state, but believe it to have
been by policeman, or some colored man in
the procession. On their arrival in front of the
Institute there was some throwing of brickbats
by both sides. The police who had been held
well IN hand were vigorously marched to the
scene of disorder. The procession then enter
ed in the Institute with the flag, about six or
eight remaining outside. A row occurred be-
tween policeman and one of these colored
men, and a shot was again fired by one of the
parties, which led to an indiscriminate fire on
the building through the windows, by the po-
licemen. This had been going on for a short
time, when q white flag was displayed from
the windows of the Institute, whereupon the
Hring ceased, and the police rushed into the
building.
From the testimony of wounded men and.
others who were inside the building, the poLcA
men opened an indiscriminate fire upon the au-
dience until they had emptied their revolvers,
when they retired, and those inside barricaded
the doors. The door was broken, and the fir
ing again commenced, when many of the col
ored and white people escaped through the
door or were passed out by the policemen in
SIDE, but as they came out the policemen, who
formed circle nearest the building, fired up
on them, and they were again fired upon by
the citizens that formed the outer circle. Many
of these were wounded and taken prisoners,
and those not wounded were fired upon by
their captors and by citizens The wounded
were stabbed while lying upon the ground, and
their heads beaten with brickbats. In the yard
of the building, whittier some of the colOred
men had escaped and partially secreted them
selves they were fired upon and killed or
wounded by policemen. Some men were kill
ed and wounded several squares from the scene.
Members of the Convention were wounded
while in their hands as prisoners-some of
| them mortally.
The immediate cause of this terrible affair
was the assemblage Of this Convention. The
real cause was the bitter antagonistic feeling
which has been growing in the community
since the advent Of the present Mayor, who, in
the organization of the police force, selected
many desperate men, and some of them known
murderers. People Of clear views were over
awed by want of confidence in the Mayor and
fear of the ''thugs," many of which he had Sc
lected for his police force. have frequently
been spoken to by prominent citizens on this
subject, and have heard them express fear and
want of confidence in Mayor Munroe ever since
the intimation of this last Convention move
ment.
l must condemn the course of several of the
city papers for supporting, by their articles,
the bitter feeling of bad men. AS to the mer-
CHESS manner in which the Convention was
broken up, l feel obliged to confess strong re-
pugnance.
1t is uselss to attempt to disguise the hostil-
ity that exists on the part of great many here
towards Northern men. This unfortunate event
has so precipitated matters that it is now test
of what shall be the status of Northern men
whether they can live here without being in
constant dread or not whether they can be
protected in life and property, and have justice
in the courts. If this matter is permitted to
pass over without thorough and determined
prosecution of those engaged in it, we may
Hook out for frequent scenes of the same kind
not only here, but in other places.
No steps have as yet been taken by the civil
authorities to arrest the citizens who were en-
petrated such cruelties. The members of the
Convention have been indicted by the Grand
Jury, and many of them arrested and held to
bail. As to whether the civil authorities can
mete out ample justice to the guilty parties,
on both sides, [ must say it is my opinion, I'M
equlYocally, they cannot. Judge Abel, whose
course have closely watched for nearly a
year, now consider one of the most dangerous
men that we have here to the peace and quiet
of the city. The leading men of the Conven-
ton, King, Cutler, Hahn and others, have
been political agitators, and are bad men.
regret to say that the course of Governor
Wells has been vacillating, and that during the
late trouble he has shown very little of the
man.
(Signed) P. H. SHERIDAN
Major General Commanding