Connecticut western news., 1878-04-11
A FEMALE RIOT.
An Exciting Time m Richmond During
 the War.

 paper reporter that when Harper's Ferry was captured at the beginning of the war, all the available machinery for the of arms was taken to Rich mond. Hundreds of workmen and their WIves and daughters had been employed in the arsenals and machine shops, and they followed the machinery to the capl- | tai in search of employment. They got | it. For time they were regularly paid in good money, and everything moved smoothly. But as the currency depre- ciated they began to suffer. The money received by the workrnen would not SUD- port their families. As the war pro- gressed Confederate notes became al- most valueless. Grant had his hand on the throat of the Confederacy at Peters burg. The wages of the workmen would not purchase food for their families. They protested, but in vain. They were too patriotic to organize revolution. Their women, however, formed 8 secret society based on Communistic princi- ples. They seem to have held that their husbands were working for the Confed- eracy, and that the Confederacy was the only safety of the grocers and shop keepers. Without clothing and pro- visions their husbands and sons must stop work. This would cut off necessary munitions and supplies, the Government would fall, and all be involved in one common ruin. To avoid this general division of food and clothing must be made. The wives and daughters of la- borers and mechanics throughout the capital generally joined in the move ment
 While standing in Main street one morning the Major witnessed an extra ordinary scene. Hundreds of women suddenly appeared. The broad avenue was filled with them. They came filing in from the cross streets by platoons, and began to sack the stores. Hollow eyed and gaunt with hunger, nobody dared resist them. A crowd of men hung upon the outskirts, offering no in- reference, and expressing no sympathy for the shopkeepers. The women took | the stores in line one after the other. They proceeded systematically. The goods were piled upon wagons drawn by horses driven by female sympathizers. Not word was spoken. The work was done with terrible earnestness. When the mob entered a grocery certain per- centage of them piled the goods upon the outstretched arms of others, and they were borne to the streets and dumped into the wagons. The women had it all their own way. Neither sol diers nor police were in sight. Mean while the crowd increased. Other women heard what was going on, and Aocked tc Main street for share of the plumber Not 8 man joined them, and for long time no one made an effort to stop them. | At last Congressman Baldwin of Vir- ginia jumped upon dry goods box, and made an impassioned appeal for law and order. He might as we'll have talked tc the wind. No one paid the least atten. tion to him. The women went on with their sacking, and the bystanders drown. ed Baldwin's voice with their whoops and cheers. ...
 While was gazing at the scene, , said the Major, "I saw Captain of an Alabama cavalry regiment, with whom had slight acquaintance. We were both in uniform. We agreed that some. thing ought to be done to restore order and stop the robbery. At his sugges tion we stationed ourselves at the dool of store already overrun. In few seconds virago tried to pass us. I car see her now Her cheeks and lips were red, but she had pinched, starved look and an eye like hawk. She carried il her arm half dozen bars of yellow soap a piece of dress silk, a long box of stock ings, and some raisins and herrings. said
 "' Madam, beg your pardon; bu you are forgetting yourself. These goods are not yours. You have not pait for them, and you will not be permitted to leave this store with them
 "She looked at me, said the Major Gin wild way, as though endeavorine to comprehend what I had said, and the1 went to the counter and threw down thu goods. As she came back she deliber ately took me by the arm and slung m, from her with such force that I wen spinning around like top, and strucl the front of the building so hard that i took the breath out of me. She the1 quietly gathered up her load from the counter and walked out. The Alabama captain looked at me and laughed, bu kept his hands in his pockets, and sait nothing. told him thought we were out of place, and he nodded. We con cluded after that to remain simple spec tators.
 "And so the spoliation continued At last rumor ran through the street The Governor is coming It proved true. Down the hill came Gov. Leicher accompanied by his staff and a few friends. He ascended cart, and made speech, which had as much effect as sucl speeches usually do have. The mob O. women kept steadily at work, and tht Governor pumped himself dry without producing the least effect. The crowd or the outskirts opened respectfully fol him to pass out, and the dealers moane6 more pitifully than ever. The wome1 pitched in with renewed v1gor, anc shawls, sugar, poplins, bottles of pickles ribbons, washing soda, muslins and bagl of hominy were pitched into the wagons at the doors. Then a second rumo1 spread over the crowd The PresidenI