The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-07-20
Oranqe Demonstration and Riot in New
York.


societies of this country, England and Ireland.
This is Protestant organization, and dates its
origin from the battle of the Boyne, which was
fought in 1850 between the Irish under James
II of England, and the English, Dutch and
Anglo-Irish troops of William of Orange ON
the other side. 1t was closely contested, and
both sides fought with the greatest bravery,
but the Irish were defeated chiefly through the
bad management Of King James, who fled
from the field before the contest was decided.
Other battles followed, and after years strug-
gle, the independence of Ireland was lost on
the 18th of July, 1851. Nearly two hundred
years have elapsed, during which time the
Irish have had several conflicts with the Eng
lish nation, but never afterward under the au-
thority Of an organized government.
Such is a condensed statement of the histor-
ical meaning attached to the Orange societies.
They represent the anti-Catholic element of
Ireland, and their lodges in the last few years
have celebrated the triumphs of their ancestors
by public demonstrations, in the principal
cities of this country. 1t is unnecessary to
say that these demonstrations are looked upon
with decided dislike and aversion by the great
masses of the Irish population in this country,
as the vast majority of them are Catholics and
sympathizers with the Fenian movement. This
feeling of antipathy and dislike has grown
very rapidly, and when it was announced that
the Orangemen would parade this year, loud
and frequent threats were made by the Ferian
element, especially in New York city, that the
demonstration would be forcibly prevented.
This was the condition of affairs in New York
city; and for some days previous to the 18th
of July, the newspapers were filled with the
various phases Of this unhappy and fruitless
controversy. At length, the excitement and
probable consequences Of riot and bloodshed
induced the Mayor of New York, A. Oakley
Hall, to forbid the parade of the Orangemen.
This order was promulgated by Superintendent
Kelso, of the Police Department, and no soon
er than signed, it was virulently assailed by
the newspapers and loudly denounced by the
people generally. 1t was an interference with
the right of peaceable citizens to assemble, and
!, it was q prescription of their religious creed.
The excitement grew more intense after tile
promulgation of this order, and it was appa-
rent that there was deep-seated hostility
awakened to Mayor Hall and his administra-
ton. The clamor was raised for protection to
the Orange societies. and the freedom of reli-
gious opinion. In this emergency, Gov. Hof-
man appeared upon the scene, and obtained a
revocation of the untimely order against the
parade, and then issued his proclamation as
Governor, assuring protection to the fullest ex-
tent possible by the military and police au-
thorities Preparations were at once made to
preserve the peace and prevent any riotous
conduct. This was the condition of affairs on
Wednesday morning. The narrative of that
days bloody experience is briefly told in the
following summary of the New York World: ::
|: The Orange societies of New York celebra-
ted the 18th of July under the protection! OF
the entire military and police force of the city.
The day was one as crowded with incident and
excitement as any since that on which the
news of the firing on Sumter reached us, just
ten years ago. The police 1,5OO strong, as
sembled at headquarters at o'clock a. m.
The several regiments of the National Guard
which had been called out were on duty at
their respective armories by o'clock. Gov.
Hoffman and Mayor Hall went to the Police
Headquarters early and remained there during
the day. An order was issued by the Mayor
at noon closing all the liquor shops. The po-
lice received definite intelligence previous to
this that the Orangemen would parade, and
that the procession would move from the cor
ner of Eighth avenue and Twenty eighth
street. A heavy detachment of police and
several regiments were at once despatched to
the spot. Rioting had commenced as early as
alry and infantry dispersed mob which was
| threatening to burn the house of Henry A.
Heiser, ESQ. At o'clock the Irish laborers
on the boulevards left off work and attacked
the Italian and German laborers. beating them
badly. The rioters fed upon the approach OF
the military. Collisions between the police
and the mob took place in various parts of the
city, notably in front of the Fenian headquar-
ters the Hibernian Hall, and opposite Grace
Church in Broadway.
The procession began moving at 2:S0 o'clock.
The Orangemen, though few in numbers, were
escorted by heavy detachment of police and
the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Twenty-second,
and Eighty-fourth regiments. Along Eight,
avenue they were assaulted by bricks and
stones, and finally near the corner of Twenty
sixth street, shot was fired by rioter. Then
followed the tragedy of the day. The military
fred several volleys into the crowd, which
scattered and fled in every direction, leaving
the dead and dying in the streets. The pro-
cession did not pause, however, but kept on its
march down the avenue, through Twenty-third
street and Fifth avenue to Fourteenth street,
and thence to Cooper Institute, where the
Orangcmen disbanded. There were many hos
tile demonstrations made, but no serious con-
Aict took place after leaving Eighth avenue.
The Orangemen were frequently cheered by
the citizens on the route. There was an at
tempt to mob the house of an Orangeman in
Twentieth street last night, but the police dis
persed the rioters. Otherwise the city was