Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-14
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
Full Particulars of Yesterdays
Riot.
The Action of Governor Hoffman
Bitterly Denounced.
The City Quiet at 8 y. NJ.

persons say that brick thrown among the
ranks of the 9th regiment from a house-top
preciptatcd the conflict and another version
is that several stones were thrown and shots
fired by the mob, and that then the S4th reg
iment fired an irregular volly into them.
Some persons of intelligence and military
knowledge, speak very disparagingly of the
want of steadiness displayed by the troops,
with honorable exceptions. One gentleman
who served during the late war, and is perfect
ly disinterested as to the question of issue,
when he saw the conduct of the men under
fire, expressed his belief that regiment of
one thousand men properly led, would have
swept the whole column like chaff before the
wind. In the vicinity of Grand Opera
House groups of men might be seen during
the morning, eagerly discussing the bloody
preston among those who witnessed the af-
fray, is that very few of the real rioters were
shot, but that the chief sufferers were inno-
cent lockers on. The women in the tene-
ment neighborhood of the l4th ward are
quarrelously sorrowful over the accounts of
the casualties. All of them have magnit1ed
the mortality list. some saying that three
hundred were killed and 800 wounded, and
others much more. AT half-past / o'clock
the prisoners were marched down Broadway
under Capt. Mcdonald of the 8th precinct,
precincts, Capt. Irving and detectives
Crowds rushed out of the streets to see the
captives, and there were some fears enter
tanned of an attempt to rescue, therefore the
detectives were scattered along the sidewalks
in skirmishing order. The prisoners pre-
sented very woe-begone appearance, and
were severely bruised an battered with clubs
yesterday, which was very evident.
All parts of the city are quiet to-day, and
police do not apprehend further disturbances.
The riot of yesterday is the chief topic of
conversation, and the conduct of the police
and military is highly praised by all respect
able citizens, while the killing of some inno-
cent persons by the fire of the troops is great
| ly regretted No blame is attached to the
| latter on account of the occurrence, which
from the nature of the case was perhaps I'M
avoidable. The action of Governor Hoff-
man continues to be bitterly denounced
among the lrish some OF whom assert that
he might never live to see another Orange
mans procession. No policemen were killed
The report that one was shot dead was I'M
founded, all the police injured were removed
to their homes where they are in fair way
of recovery. Four of the wounded died to-
day, including Benz F. Erskine, and Charles
Pettee All of the regiments of military have
been rellved from duty, except small detach-
mentS left to guard the armories, and small
force composed of a part of the Sd cavelry,
and one company of the list regiment are
stationed at the boulevard. This afternoon
a gang of quarrymen, numbering probably
fifty, turned out from the first avenue and
started towards the upper part of the city
with the intention of inducing the laborers
employed on street Improvements to knock
off. The latter had, however, seen the folly
of their doings Wednesday, and refused point
blank to follow the advice given by those
who wished to engender another broil. All
workmen employed upon the boulevards and
parks, who left the public works yesterday
in disobedience of positive orders, are being
dismissed to-day, and Germans and Italians
engaged in their stead. Notwithstanding the
exciting rumors that the riot was renewed
to-day among the boulevard workmen, and
that the 9TH regiment was ordered out to dis
perse the mob. No dispatches reporting a
disturbance were received at the police head
quarters during the afternoon. At the tombs
each rioters case was separately examined
and when the party had committed no over
act, and no weapon found upon him he was
discharged; in all other cases, where weap-
ons were found upon the prisoner the party
was committed for examination. Stephen
Meany, one of the editors of the Irish Ameri-
can, appeard in behalf of the prisoners. He
remarked that most of these men were igne-
rant and poor, that for IA week past they have
been melted by certain class to create this
riot, and when they got into trouble their
leaders deserted them, SO under the circum-
stances he felt it was his duty to offer his
services. Most of the prisoners who were
discharged were severely repremanded by
the justice, who cautioned them not hereafter
to listen to their so-called leaders who evil
IDENTIFY cared nothing about them, and only
used them for their own purposes; hot one
he said was present their to-day, but if so
many pickpockets had been arrested the court
would have been attended by any number of
counsel. Iti reported that the grand jury
will at once find indictments against the
. parties now under arrest as rioters, and no
time will be lost in bringing them to trial.
Eighth avenue, the point where the troops
fired on the mob yesterday afternoon, was
visited by thousands of persons to-day. anx-
ious to view the scene of carnage. Almost
every house the east side of the street
from 23d to 9th street, bore the marks of
the terrible discharge of musketry. One
house had all the windows shattered and the
blinds riddled with bullets. The streets
were clotted with blood. But few persons
being in the neighborhood of the attack were
killed Many store-keepers admit that they
received sufficient intimation of the design of
the troops, and hid themselves till the strife
ceased. They also assert that the order given
"shut your windows" was given in a loud
ringing tone by many officers of the 9th and
S4th regiments, and say that general obedi-
cnce to the command would have saved a
great deal of trouble.
The action of the S4th regiment in firing
on the mob is creating great excitement
among thousands of Irish citizens, owing to
the mischievous report that the regiment is
differed by Orangemen, and that they shot
men and women unnecessarily. This report
is intensifying feeling on the part of the
lrishmen against the Orangemen, but on the
other hand the members OF the S4th are ready
to prove that they only fred upon the mob
when some persons had discharged pistols
into their ranks. A person who witnessed
the affair, says that Capt, Douglass of the
S4th regiment was knock down with brick.
When he recovered he was distinctly heard
to give the order fire, which resulted in the
terrible slaughter. Men had been hit and
stoned along the route without once retaliat-
ing, until the command was given them, and
then only the first shot was fired. The 9th
also received similar directions and the fusi-