Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-14

embOdy the Great Us of the great dFamatists."
In the fall OF 1913, Maeready came TO New York
and played at the pera house to crowded
and fashionable audiences. The New York of
that day was very different from the pres
ent metropolis. 1t was the day of small
things. Union square was far up town,
the Aston house was the hotel, there was a large
population below Canal street, political affairs
were managed in the engine houses of the fire
men. the Bowery was the gathering place of a
class that has passed away, then typifed under
The names Of Nose and Sykesy. 4 fght in
those times was a fair stand up and "let the best
man win" Pistols and knife carrying were IN
heard of. The heroes of the day were Tom
Heyer, Bill Pool and Boss Harrington, men who
compare with the present New York rough as
Miltiades with the modern Greean brgand
With this class of people the Astor Place opera
house was an exceedingly unpopular institution;
it was aristocratic, uu-Amcricau, and rather
expensive for men who had not at that time
been instructed in the art of living in coarse
luxury upon public plumber.
Macready's drst appearance was in Macbeth;
at the close OF the performance he was called be-
fore the curtain, and in a short speech he most
iniudieiously quoted Forests well known
words. saying he Hoped he had proved that he
was not 100 old and effete' to please the pub
lie, Though this made great stir and abundant
matter iorthe lower class Of newspapers, Mae
ready s engagement passed off without disturb
ance, and he spent the winter in travelling west
and south. During this interval the partzans
of Forrest were not idle, and 50 much feeling
was fomented that it began 10 be felt that Mac
ready would be insulted upon his next appear
ance, even ifhe was not driven from the New York
stage. On the Ith of May, 1S49, Macready re
/ appeared at the Aston Place theater as Macbeth.
| Mr.. Forrest, in the worst taste, selected the
same night and part to commence his perform
| ances at The Broadway tbeater, then under the
| management Of Marshall. This was a noble
thcater, standing just above Pearl street, oppo'
site the open yard Of the hospital. The authori-
| ties of the city had no fear OF RIOT, and there
was no extra force Of police at the opera house,
but when Macready came on it was found the
house was in possession OF a stormy crowd of
men, who shouted, stamped and threw missiles
such as potatoes, upon the stage, so that the
audience had to be dismissed. Tie
next day the inevitable 'leadurg citizens"
were ont in card 10 the public
aud a etter 10 Macready, begging him not 10 he
| driven from New York by a brutal mob, and
pledgiug protection Consequently the tenth
| OF May was fixed for another appearance. The
next move on the part Of the Forrest partizans
was TO pacard the city with bills pufportng to
emanate nom British residents, Offering their
support, and calling upon the crews Of the
BRUSH vessels in the harbor 10 rally to the
assistance Of their distinguished eOuntryman
against American rufiilns. Next IN order were
imprisoned appeals TO Americans not 10 allow
themselves TO be brow beaten ON their own soil
| by foreigners This excellent device was the
work Of the notorious Med Buntliue," as was
acterward proved upon his trial. The authori-
ties made great preparation to preserve peace
The windows of the Opera house were strongly
barrcadcd the seventh regiment was under
arms at Centre market, and a brigade of cavalry
was stationed in "the park At night there
was great crowd in Astor place and the BJwery.
| When the doors opened the theatre rapidly
| filed with men, there being but one woman
| visible in the building. Upon the appearance
OF Macready a stOIm Of shouts and Kisses arose
and at the same time the mob outside tearing
up the cobble pavement assaulted the house.
Chief of Police Matsell and a pawerlul force
seized the rioters in the theatre and restored
order, Outside, the mob grew so violent that
the troops were brought up to clear
the street, which they did at the point of the
| bayonet, pressing the furious mass back to the
8owery. Showers of heavy stones and bricks
fell upon the soldiers, and many were disabled,
until exasperated they demanded the order to
FIRE upon the mob Sheriff Westeryet and Re
| colder Tamadge attempted TO address the peo-
| pie ana warned them that they would be fired
upon, but the warning was UNDECIDED. There
was no copy OF the riot act at hand and the
officers in command were unwilling to wait I'M
til one could be obtained, so volley was fred
over the heads Of the mob; a hoarse shout Of
| rage was the response and the rioters
| rushed upon the troops and were re-
ceived with leveled bayonets by the ex-
posed line, and close-quartels fire
from the second line. They did not retreat until
their ammunition Of stones was exhausted when
they fell back TO the Bowery, where they made
fresh stand and held their ground until TWEEN
wounded. 4 more determined mob never
brayed lire; they stood like veteran soldiers,
and charged with paving stones and brawny
butcherboy fists right into the line Of bayonets.
Macready took ship TO England; Forrest wisely
kept out OF hearing. Pabhe meetings we're
held on both sides. At one in the park, the
notorious Isaiah Ryuders stigmatized the
sheriff and recorder as murderers aud mpored
his hearers with suggestive solicituie not TO
burn the aristocrats opera house Asor place
was for time guarded by troops, but the rioters
had received a sufficient lesson, and there was
no renewal Of violence. Forrest was justly
blamed, though be could not have anticipated
any such result. The ooera house languished
after that. 1t was mnrderhaunled place, and
after a few dull seasons it was sold 10 the Mer-
camille library, which previously occupied little
rooms in Beekman street, neat the park.
!