The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-31

THE VICTIMS or THE RIOT ON THE both
INST INVESTIGATION BEFonE THE JURY OF
INouEsr-TEsTIMoNY OF THE OFFICER OF
THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
BALTIMORE, Nd, July 80. 1871
Tho Jury Of Inquest inquirng into the causes which
led to the death tho victims OF the riot in this
city on the evening oil Friday. tho 10th inst. when
the Sixth regm ent fired into the mob assembled to-
day and entered upon the examination OF witnesses.
The first witness Mrs. Annie $. Mabbitt She
swore that on the evening Of the riot she several
members Of the sixth regiment knocked down by tho
mob; this was before the soldiers fred; she tho
disturbance from her window; saw pool OF blood on
her sidewalk and was told that It the blood Of
Mr.. Byrnc who had been shot and killed.
TESTIMONY COLONEL PErERs.
Colonel Clarence Peters testified that he colonel
In command OF the Sixth regiment at the time Of tho
rotng; on the 10th OF July ordered report to
General herbert; General Herbert ordered him to hold
his command In readiness TO turn out ut a moments
notice; the alarm was 10 DO sounded from the fire.
alarm and was to DO 15l he called meeting Of his of
Acers and told them Of the signal on Friday afternoon
received telegram ut his Office from General Herbert
to- have his regiment assemble at tho arnory
as possible; he subsequently, received writ
ten order from General Herbert to have his
regiment at the armory Immediately; subsequent
order from tho samo directed him to have two
full companies Camden station ut eight O'Clock that
evening marching order; witness asked PERMISSION
10 accompany his regiment to Cumberland, whittier
they ordecd but tho General would not grant the
permission, saying that his services were needed IA
this city, General Herbert, Mt halI-past SIX O'Clock
sent to Inquire how many men he had ut tho armory,
and no replied that no had twenty-five men and SIX
officers: a quarter Of an hour later the alarm was
sounded and the men began TO assemble; tho men
formed intoicompanes and ammunition furnished
ATTACK on THE REGIMENT
Meanw hle largo crowd had assembled In front OF
tho armoy and IN order was given Tor the soldiers to
march from the armory; thcv reached the hall lead
ting the street, and Us tho doors were opened the
soldiers greeted with voey OF stones and other
missiles, and several OF the soldiers were driven 0ack
into the armory; several shots were fired from the
hallway by the soldiers, but not until they were stoned
BY the mob; he gave orders for firing to cease and
had given none for it 10 Begin in fact, he gave
orders TO ire at any time; the whole affair was sur
prise 10 HIM, he had expected nothing Of the kind
he was on the third floor Of the building when the
stoning began; he saw many brfckbats thrown and
heard number OF pistol shots fred by the mob; the
soldiers were driven back up the stairway several
times by tho mob which numbered thousands Cap
tain Duy's company the last TO leave the armory
thew fred only two three Shots and those without
orders; there was not shot fred from the windows
Of the armory and ammunition was furnished only 10
those troops which haa oecn Ordered 10 Camden sta
two that there were no shots fired bv the soldiers
|. from the armory; he accompanied the regiment
part OF the way, and was stoned, but not injured;
several members Of the regiment were seriously in
jured and four Of them brought into the armory badly
hurt at the time of the frat attack the soldiers
first emerging into tue street. before gun 1red
no said two OF his men fell IRON injuries received
from stones thrown by the mob; he considered mis-
men in great danger, but gave them orders TO stop
firing thinking that II he could get his men into the
street in q solid column that they would be able to
dispense the mob without killing any OF them; the
stones thrown by the mob the stairs half way
DANGER THE ARMoRY.
Almost every window in the armory was smashed;
tho armory is i've stories high time did no hear
any one on the sidewalk call TO the soldiers IN the
armory not TO re the only orders be gave to his men
were TO report TO General Herbert at Camden station
Captain Taper was In command Of the detachment
which was to proceed to- Camden station;
Captain DuGy's company was dcmorazed aud
became detached from tue rest Of the command they
we're badly stoned, but soon recovered themselves
aud MARCHED Off In good order; they stoned all
subordinate officers TO hrc he might have told his
soldiers TO 90 out and asht IKE men, but
remark: the only remarks which he recollcctcd
making his were to encourage them to do their
duty; none Of the soldiers were demorazcd whilo In
the armory; II a similar contingency were to arise
again he should not hesitate TO order his mon to fire.
CAPTAIN TApPRR's EVIDENCE
Captain W. H. Taper, of Company !, Sixth regiment
testified that be ordered by Colonel Peters TO pro-
coed TO camden station with his company; he gave
each of his men fifteen rounds OF Cartridge bis ranks
we're filed up forty men, and when they attempted
TO leave tho armory they were stoned by the mob;
they went down tho stairway at trail arms In two
ranks; ss soon as the doors were opened voley Of
stones and other missiles poured in perfect
shower on the soldiers, some OF whom were on the
Stairway and some on the lanang; be was on tho
landing, and some shots were Hired over bis head by
some Of his who were on the stairs; he succeeded
In reaching the street, where he reformed his CON-
mapd ana gave the order several times to his to
charge bayonets; heard the firing by his mon and
ordered to cease but ut no time dd he give tho order
10 fire and did not even give tho order 10 load
The Captain gave detailed account Of the way that
he manDuvercd his men, and SAID that the attack by
the mob ncessant until they had reached Light
street. and only at this point 1t ceased He tried to
stop the firing, intending to use the bayonet only and
recoectcd say Ing to his mon, "For Gods sake quit
fring;n heard the report of several pistol shots
from the crowd which was in the Of
his men, The soldiers were formed in line CON-
pletcly across the street: had difficulty from Light
street until they reached Camden and Eutaw Streets
at which point several stones were thrown He
started wit thirty eight men In mis- company from the
armory and had thirty two men when ho reached The
Camden station.
said That he had heard threats by the mob that not
mau of the regiment should leave the armory alive;
the firing of ms men da not seem TO deter the mob,
he frequently appealed TO by some OF his men 10
allow them to wheel and lre on the mob which was
them ia the roar, but be did not give the
order TO that effect the men could load the guns With
out removing them from their shoulders; several OF
his men were hit with stones and two OF them
shot: tho crowd front of the soldiers large,
but the crowd in the rear cons sted OF between 1000
and s 600 people no believed honestly that If his men
Ind not fired would not have been able to retain
CAPTAIN FALLoN's TESTIMONY.
Captain j. o. Faon, Of Company +, testified that he
received orders from Colonel Peters 10 be ut the armory
with his mcn and alter forming them marched down
Immediately IN rear OF captain lapperS
company; no saw Captain Tappers company. when
they got about two-thirds Of tho way down the
stairs, attacked by the mob with yolley
Of stones. pistol shots, sci the soldiers
wero driven back mo the armory, and
then they loaded their guns; he thcn attempted TO
reach tho street, and found when he got there that
Captain Tappers company was already there, but only
oue-h of his with him. the rest having
been driven back the ,fmory by the mob; he gave
orders to tire; out OF detail OF thrty-six men lie
had only eighteen when no reached Camden station;
Several OF his were severely hurt by the mob on
~
Tor dead; sergeant OF his company received pistol
shot wound IN the head; the crowd which followed
them was immense, and numbered on Front, between
Fayctte and Baltimore streets, inly three thousand
persons; noticed many women and children In The
crowd In front of tho armory; before the doors
opened pistol shots were fired aud stones were thrown
az The arnory; II the soldiers had not hred indis-
criminatey they might possibly have reached Camden
station he did not regard the men as dcmoralized,
and thought that the hr'ng was strictly IN sedeicnco
TESTIMONY OF CITIZENS.
Charles Russell officer at the Penitentiary, tcsti-
hed that he he alarm bells ringing; there
large crowd IN front of the armory; he managed TO
make his way through and reach his residence he
H. hnt crlxu ~