The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-07-24
GOV. HOFFMAN AND THE RIOT.
A Defense From a Member OF His
Stan.


UTICA, July go,
Gen. McQuade, of Gov. HolImAn's staff
writes letter to the Utica ObSerrer rela
tive TO the charge made by the New Yorl
Tribune He says unquAlitledly that Gov
Hoffman did not learn through him OF
Monday, July 10th, that Mayor Hall in
tended to suppress the Orange procession
"The only grain of truth" says the Gen
eral, sin the mass Of ialsehOOds Is the iaGt
that Gov Hoffman was in New York or
Monday for n short time. l accompanied
the Governor from Newport, and reached
New York by steamer On Monday
morning, the 10th inst, the Governor
had Rn engagement in Albany which he
wished 10 fulfill, and to this end was de
slrous of taking the 8 A. NJ. train on The
Hudson Railroad. He telegraphed from
Albany for u carriage to be In waiting to
convey him to the railroad station as soon
as the boat arrived In New York. The
boat as usual on Monday morning was
about an hour late. AS soon as the boat
reached the dock We went ashore, the
carriage was in waiting and we entered,
intending to reach the 8 o'clock train II
possible. As it was questionable whether
the train could be reached In time, the
Governor desired breakfast in New York,
and to take the last train at 10 o'clock for
Albany. We went TO the Clarendon HO-
tel, where the Governor remained and |
was driven to the Gilsey House, directing
the COachmRn to return Ut 10 o'clock to
take the Governor 10 the railroad. did
not see the Governor again until af-
ter his return from Albany on the
next evening. While conversing on
our way to Clarendon, the proposed Or
ange procession was discussed. Whatever
people may say now, alter the affair Is
over, believe there were few who antiCl.
pated any serious riot on the 18th, until
Monday morning,when the people learned
that Archbishop Dey had found sufficient
cause for alarm to warn his flock not To
mOlest the Orange procession. Even then
the public supposed that his admonitiOn
and those OF his priests would prove et.
iectual in restraining violence, the people
forgetting that rioters and rufflans arc not
ha6itual Church.goers. | soy this, be-
cause | did not myself Apprehend danger.
told the Governor that did not believe
few families would have Influence
enough with their countrymen to induce
them to molest the procession; that | was
confident there would be no serious dis
turbanCG. The Governor requested me
to learn what | could about the matter
and telegraph him at Albany. The same
evening, about eleven o'clock, | went to
the office of Superintendent Kelso. He
was Closeted with tho Commissioners and
| waited for him some time, lie saw that q
serious riot was threatened from coils.
ion Of the Orange procession and so!called
target companies on the other side, who
were drilling to parade on the same day
with the Orangemen. l asked what
measures had been taken to suppress any
disturbances, and he said that the police
and military were both prepared. He
said, however, he was not at liberty to
communicate any particulars to me, that
Gen. ShalCr had charge Of the military.
then called upon Gen. Shaler, who said
that proper military force had been pro.
vlded to preserve the peace, but that or
ders would not be issued until noon the
next day. I told him that l wanted 10
telegraph the Governor and he asked me
to sec Mayor Hail. About three o'clock
went to the Mayors office, which was
closed. ! made inquiry Of various Off.
GERS, but none of them seemed to know
where tho Mayor could be found. left
the building, intending to return TO my
hotel and communicate 10 the Governor
what ! had learned from Superintendent
Kelso and Gen. Shaler, when l CHANGED
to meet gentleman Of my acquaintance,
Mr.. W. Davis, who, upon learning that !
WIS desirous Of seeing the Mayor, said
that he was acquainted with one Of the
messengers who could probably tell me
where | could find him. ! returned with
Mr.. Davis and with the aid Of the City Hall
officials; found the Mayor and conversed
with him o short time about tho pro.
cessiOn; he substantlated what had been
said by Superintendent Kelso and General
Shaler; the proper precautions had been
taken to preserve peace, although he said
tho affair threatened To be very serious.
1 left the Mayor about $3.50 or 4 o'clock
and telegraphed 10 the Governor that !
thought everything was right, but would
write. l wrote TO him, giving in detail
everything that had learned from the
Mayor Superintendent Of Police and
Gen. Shaler. The Tribune asks If the
Governor did not communicate with
Mayor Hail through the Albany Cover:
nor? | went to Albany at 1880 A. NJ; ]
saw the Mayor at Q p. NJ. same day.
have given here every particular OF my
connection with this affair / think the
question OF the Tff5une Is answered fully
and / am ready TO answer any other
reasonable question that II may put.
(Sitned) JAS. MCQUADE.