The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-01-06

In the account of the disturbances the Roch-
ester Democrat of Wednesday, thus describes
the events of Tuesday evening, including the
firing of the military upon the mob:
=. AT o'clock, the police and deputy sheriffs
who had up to this time guarded the approaches
to the Jail were relieved by the militia Sheriff
Campbell had made requisition on Brig Gen.
Clark, for one or more companies of the Fifty
fourth Regiment, and company G, Capt. Lauer,
and company D, Capt. Schwartz, were detailed
for that duty. In the course of the evening"
companies E, B and A, were ordered out and
reached the scene A guard was stationed at
the eastern extremity of Court-street bridge,
preventing any approach to the jail from that
direction. AT that point, however, the crowd
was small, and no demonstration was made
On the west side of the river the militia occu-
pied the bridge over the the race the only other
avenue of approach. The bridge, the lumber
yard, and the lane leading to the jail, were pa
trolled, and no one allowed to pass without the
countersign. The Sheriff had left the disposal
of the militia to Col. Wescott, who was in COM
mand during the night, Capt. Lauer's COM
pany occupied the end of the bridge nearest the
mob For long time nothing more serious
occurred than shouting, and most of this was
done by parcel of boys, who were nearest the
bridge. Cries of 'sGive me the nigger,' and
Hang the villain" were freely made. About
8 o'clock the crowd began to turn their atten-
ton more directly to the militia, and the troops
were tainted with various epithets. The abuse
came principally as far as our reporter could
discover, from the rabble of boys in front
Some of the crowd grew holder, and finally
several stones were thrown, and a number of
men belonging to companies q and d were
struck The militia became greatly excited
and repeatedly asked their officers to be allowed
to charge. Capt Leaur says he told his men to
hold their position, but in no case to fire. In
the meantime several brickbats were hurled by
the crowd. One of the Sheriff's deputies was
in, no md q of
ceived hurts of a trifiing character. No serious
injuries were received by any one with the ex-
ception of one of the guards on the bridge, who
received a serious cut on the face, being struck
by stone. During this time, also, some one
fired five shots from revolver in succession
Whether these shots were aimed at the troops
or not is not known. One of the patrolmen on
the lane leading to the Jail, states that he heard
the whistle of a bullet which passed, as he
Judged some ten feet above his head. Some
three or more shots were fired afterwards, none
of them, however, taking effect At 3-4
o'clock, our reporter passed through the crowd.
Men, part of whom were only spectators were
standing all along Exchange street, from the
swing bridge, to a point above Court street.
The crowd were standing in knots On Court
street, and along the walks, and number were
perched on lumber piles in the open space run
ming from the corner of Exchange street to the
bridge across the race. There were, besides,
many gathered on this lot, and at some distance
from the troops. The whole number of persons
in the vicinity was about 1000. None of the
the crowd were within twenty feet of the troops
and those Immediately in front were boys. As
our reporter passed through these, two of the
soldiers levelled their guns in quick succession,
and fired over the crowd. This had no effect on
the mob, who hooted and jeered at the troops
with new vigor. AT this time nothing was be-
ing thrown, nor were the rioters making any
thing but wordy demonstration. We may
remark that every soldier was provided with
thirty rounds of ball cartridge, as is usual when
called out in an emergency. But the crowd
supposed the militia were furnished with blank
cartridges, and SO far from being intimidated
by shots, maintained the same threatening Ian
guage and kept up desultory fire of stones
and brickbats. The guard at the bridge were
becoming extremely restless, and asked their
officers either to order charge or direct fall
ing back from the position. 1t was then that
Col. Wescott, as we are informed, ordered Capt
Lauer with his Company to disperse the mob.
The men advanced at a steady pace, but find
ing the crowd did not yield, called for reinforce
ments, and Company ID, Capt. Schwartz came
up on a run'and formed on the right of the
line The mob slowly fell back, and at this
instant a member of Company d discharged
his musket.
THE FIRING.
The first shot was Immediately followed by
scattering volley from both companies. A lieu
tenant of company G states that the immedi-
ate cause of the firing was wound received by
private Faber of Company ID, who was struck
by brick and disabled The mob fell back
rapidly after the firing. TWAS then discovered
by persons in the crowd and carried across the
street. AS near as we can learn the soldiers
did not fire directly ahead, but aimed toward
the edge of the crowd and those shot fell near
the north and south corners of Exchange st.
After the firing the companies who had made
the charge, some forty men in all, fell back to
the bridge.
THE KILLED AND THE WOUNDED.
AS far as aScertained, seven persons in all |
were struck by the balls Of these, two died
in few minutes two are dangerously if not
fatally wounded, and the rest more or less Sc
riously The first victim whom our reporter
found was John Either, whose business as
freight deliverer has made him known to the |
whole community. He fell at the south corner
of Court and Exchange streets, and was car |
ried across the street into Mrs. Johnson's sa-
loon. The ball had entered the left breast just |
above the heart. AS he was laid upon the floor |
the bullet fell from the wound, having penetra-
ted through the body He lived but few mo-
ments. Mr.. Filter had walked to the locality
with two or three companions simply as spec
tator He leaves widow and seven children, |
ranging from one to fourteen years of age His
age was about forty-two years
Henry Merlau was also shot down by the |
fatal fire of the militia. He was standing on |
Exchange street, in front of Warfield & Co.'S
OIL store, at the moment, or, as some assert, was
passing that store on his way home from work
and therefore not at all involved in the riot
He was taken into Hugh Devitt's saloon, where
Dr. Langworthy attended him. The bullet
struck him in front, piercing the stomach He
also died in a few minutes after removal to the
saloon. He was cabinet maker by trade, and
a young man, twenty years of age. In the
same saloon was also taken John Hilrecht, shot
through the calf of the right leg He was at
tended by DR.. Langworthy. He is a laborer,
and about thirty-fve years of age. He stated
that he was walking along Exchange street
CHI nd ha1 limo TO do with f1,a riof
There is nothing to prevent his recovery.
Louis Hamp and Elias Swanton were wound
and carried to Dr. Elys office, on Fitzhugh