The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-21
An OAB-rIME NEW YORK RIOT.


How Redy-Snatch1nS ana Il Medical
students Joke Led to an Attack Upon
Hospt,at-The Tragic Result.
A correspondent in New York paper
writes as follows:
About the middle of April, 1888: there
was climax of feeling in NV York
against me iical students who for year
past had been rather reckless in BODY
snatching. So long as they dissected the
remains of slaves, Or the untortunates that
came from Potter's field, no one much
cared. Bnt grave under the protection OF
Trinity parish even, and several in the
Greenwich street burial ground, much
used by the Methodists,5 had been de-
spoiled. There was much talk and indig~
nation about the outroges. OF course
you remember the New York
hospital that fronted Yves Pearl on
Broadway. In my fathers time it occu-
pied the block TO Duane street and from
lis rear windows was to be had an almost
uninterrupted view of green fields and
the river. The medical school Of ,Colu1n-
bia'--not long before called Kings Col
lege-was attached to that hospital.
The college buildings remained until
about twenty years ago fronting on
Park place, and of course college and
hospital were contiguous The front of
the hospital was said to be quite fine in
appearance; its grounds were finely laid
out with walks, strawberries and trees, and
at the back there was an open space that
the boys Of the period would play in. A
young Bob Sawyer or Ben AlleL while
dissecting one April atternoon-I think
the 13th-had opened window for the
sake of the river breeze, and from thence
out OF mere joke held up an amputated arm
10 the boys. One of them and observe the
curious and appalling condolences fate
sometimes prepares, even as in the case
tie two Harrisons, father and son-more
inquisitive than the resi-, palled a light
ladder which was lying near and erected
it against the hospital wall, so as to
climb up for a better view. The saw
boncs,' still jocular, said Sonny, don't
:, that look like mothers -anm?' 1t was
rhoughtlessly said, but. curious enough,
within few months the boys mother
had died. Full of this remark and
thinking upon what no doubt he had
heard OF 'resurrections' the boy dropped
from the ladder and went off to find his
father, who was then engaged in laying
brick on house in Fulton street. The
fatAer dropped bis tools and went up to
the graveyard that believe, was some
where near the Lispenard meadows, and,
oddly, upon digging, the body was not
to be found. t%.tsI Til .EGtsi5 i
it took but brief time in the little
city to bruit about the whole affair." The
worhmen engaged with the father and
Infatuated widower soon raised a small
mob. The story vas passed about as son
and fa:her told it, and in an hour hospital
grounds and the hospital itself we're filled
with unthinking and enraged rioters, who
not content with driving out the affmg ht-
cd students and keepers, practically rat
tied the bones and Quilted the museums
and laboratories. Intelligence was in
stantly sent to Mayor James Duane, Re
co:der Richard Varick aud Sheriff Rob
crt BOYD, and between them they raised
posse comitatus and went to the scene;
Of riot The poor mason declared that;
he recognized parts Of the remains Of his.
wife. Whether in his excitement he did
or not could never be verified; but there
was no doubt that, his wife had been
.dissected. = ~..' 81 .-*5 ~
The presence of the authorities for a
time allayed the disorder, but two Of the
ssldents had been roughly handled and
were in danger Of being killed. NV father
was then living with his own father |
IN Dey street, and was engaged in home |
study when the news came. He immedi.
ately repaired to the college and found |
that the authorities there were naturally|
excited also, and that some of the medi- |
Gals had been already locked up for safe
keeping in the Jail that stood in the park.
It was the general impression that more,
bother must come Of it; therefore, think
ing discretion the better part of valor,
my father goes to the foot of Liberty
street-where boats were kept, and was
soon taken across to Jersey, where every
day he got word as to what went on.
The evening of the riot was d fine
spring one, and there was no need of any
extra newspapers in those days By tea
time, backwards, east, west, north and
outwards were full of the outrage. It
was Down with the hospital, : Death to
the grave-stealers,' etc. Even women
Joined in the cry. The feeling was
rampant also with many in better classes.
George Clinton was then governor
Alexander Hamilton was sort Of general
peacemaker, as was John, Jay. There was /
y y the evening consultation Of citizens
and authorities at the house. Of the smaiyor:.f
who, ! believe, then lived some where at
the foot OF Chambers street. To use the
medical Phrase, they prognosed the affair