The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-26
A suRGING MASS.

ndlI an HOur CH6 SGIeeLS approaching ~
were blocked up with a surging mass of
humanity, numbering fully five thousand.
Four policemen stood at the door of the
armory for the purpose of preventing the
entrance of any but members of the reg
iment. These the crowd openly defied
with boots, Kisses and curses, coupled
with every manner of abuse. When a
man in soldiers uniform appeared or
attempted to make his way through the
crowd he was set upon, beaten, and in
one or two cases thrown over the bridge
into the stream below. Some seeing
what awaited them, and being unarmed,
returned to their homes. The crowd
commenced hurting missiles at the build
ing, and the whiz of an occasional bullet
was heard amid the din caused by their
shrieks and howls.
RETREAT OF THE GUARDS.
1t becoming evident that the guard at
the door were only endangered by the
stones thrown at them they we're ordered
inside and the doors, which were of heavy
plate glass, were closed. The retreat of
| the guard was hailed by the mob as an
1 indication that the military were intimi-
dated, and shower of bricks and stones
were hurled at their retreating forms, and
the doors, and windows shattered and an
officer badly injured.
The crowd in the street meanwhile was
constantly increasing and becoming every
moment more and more furious. The
Captain of the police of that district
next appeared upon the scene and ex-
pressed his inability to do anything with
the force at his command to quell the
riot.
PREPARING FOR THE FRAY.
Inside the armory all was busy with
quiet preparation. The companies were
being formed and each man furnished
/ with twenty rounds of ammunition. The
members appeared calm and collected,
Notwithstanding the assaults made upon
the. outside. At fifteen minutes past
eight p. M, the preparations being COM
pleted, the order was given for Company
I to leave the armory, the police having
been previously notified to open the doors
and then stand aside. The door was
only wide enough to admit of the passage
of two men at once, and on their appear
ance perfect shower of missiles fell upon
them, followed by the more deadly con-
tents of revolvers and other small arms.
The utmost confusion ensued. The mi
litia seemed paralyzed, but, regaining
their composure, marched out into the
street. AS they formed in line the first
rank drew up their rifles and poured a
deadly volley into the mass of humanity
in front of them, which scattered the
crowd temporarily in every direction.
THE MOB RALLY.
| a few moments delay on the part of
the troops enabled the mob to return to
the field from the alleys and cellars where
they had taken refuge, and second at
tack was made, not only with bricks and
stones, but with numerous small arms.
This was repulsed, as had been the for
mer. The houses in the neighborhood
were pierced with bullets, and the win
dows for square shattered the street
was strewn with debris, and the dead and
wounded were weltering in blood. The
troops had moved but few yards from
the armory aud the crowd was constantly
augmented by people hurrying to the
spot in search offriends whom they feared
might be in the melee. Leaving the armory
the soldiers marched up Gay to Baltimore
street, followed by the bowling mob. On
turning into Baltimore street they were
again attacked. 1t was nearly nine
o'clock and the streets were thronged
with people in the pursuit of legitimate
business. These were swayed aside by
the throng surrounding the troops, and
every moment or two flash of musketry
and the rattling of yolley added to the
wild tumult of the scene.
DESPERATE FIGHTING.
Between Gay and Calvert, on Balti-
more street, in which location all the
newspaper Offices are situated, the troops
actually fought their way step by step,
and the battle did not cease until the
depot had been reached.
ACTION OF THE FIFTH REGIMENT.
The Fifth regiment, which is the crack
corps of the city, assembled at their
armory at the same hour as the Sixth,
and left for the depot at about seven
o'clock. The route of the Fifth lay in a
direct line south, through Eutaw street, a
distance of about one mile to the depot.
On leaving the armory they were greeted
with cheers and rounds of applause from
an immense crowd of the better portion
of the citizens. They numbered 250
men, each of whom were, like the Sixth,
provided with twenty rounds of car
tridges. All along the route they met
with demonstrations of approval from
the people who thronged the sidewalks.
On their arrival at Camden Station the
! tone and humor of the crowd took de-
cided change, and they were hooted and
ieered by several hundred men who had
congregated in that neighborhood. No
l notice was taken of it until the rear COM
Epanies fled into the depot, when they
E1were attacked by the mob with stones,
bricks and bludgeons, and many of them
seriously injured. A squad Ct police,
who went to their relief, were also rough
i ly handled and driven back by the riot
ers ard several of them knocked down
and severely beaten. Several muskets
were also taken from the PROSTATE guards
men, which were, however, recaptured in
a gallant charge made by one Of the
companies with fixed bayonets. The
extra ammunition for the regiment had
been carried into the armory and placed
in front of the ticket Office. An attempt
was made by the rioters to capture this.
but they were twice repulsed.
| Upon the march of the Fifth regiment
to the depot, it was also attacked and
several Of its members more or less
seriously injured. Upon the occurrence
of these events the Governor counter.
manded his, order ordering these regi:
n1euts to Cumberland, and they remained
in the city of Baltimore to secure its
peace.
BLOODY RIOT IN PITTsBURG LAST SAT-
URDAY.
The iremen and brakemen who are
:. resisting the reduction of ten per cent
| Of