Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-27
Attempted REMOVAL OF GUNS AND
Ammunition FROM THE
BANGOR ARSENAL!
The Exasperated Citizens Stop
the Teams and the Arms
and Ammunition are
Returned TO The
Arsenal


Earth, good will toward men," was ever COM
| mitted than the employment of its quiet hours
| by alleged agents of the Governor of the
| State of Maine to steathily drag through our
| peaceful streets quantities OF guns and ammu-
milton from the State Arsenal, to be taken to
Augusta to overawe and intimidate the pco-
pie. in order that f. +. Pillsbury may organ
ize fraudulent Legislature in contempt of
the most sacred rights of the citizens of
Maine
This outrageous affront to our people, and
exasperating Indictment to disorder, led to
events of so serious a character yesterday
that we are forced to employ portion of our
intended holiday rest in order to present TO
all our citizens the facts of this last brutal
manifestation of the purpose to set ups revo-
lutionary usurpation in this State by turning
the peoples bullets and bayonets against the
people.
Rumors of Mischief
During the early part of Christmas Day,
rumors and reports that rapidly increased in
number and drectness indicating seine Sc
cret but organized movement on foot at the
State Arsenal, caused great deal of feeling
in the community, and as the reports gained
wider circulation during the afternoon a
strong feeling of excitement prevailed. 1t
was ascertained that one or two hacks and
other teams containing several mysterious
people had driven into the Arsenal enclosure
during the day and that during the afternoon
the Arsenal windows were opened and men
were at work inside.
Citizens DESTROYS of Averting Trouble.
This remarkable proceeding on a quiet
Christmas Day famed the public excitement
to such extent, that about 3 80 o'clock p. NJ.
Hon. J. s. Wheelwright, chairman, and
Messrs. Lysander Strickland, Charles G..
Storms, c. A. Boutelle and A. b. Farnham,
members of the Citizens Committee, accom-
panied His Honor, Mayor Brown, to the Pc
nobscot Exchange, where Adjutant-Genera
Leavitt was said to be stopping, for the pur-
pose of representing to him that movement
of warlike material through our streets dur
ing period of so much public excitement
might easily precipitate very serious trouble
beyond the control of any municipal force at
command At the hotel they learned that
the Adjutant- General was not in town, but
could obtain no information as to who was di-
recting the operations, so it was decided to
drive in a coach
Direct to the Arsenal.
On arriving there the gate was found locked
nd tta hu;l al xrb f1a
showed that heavy teams had been passing
and from persons in the vicinity
it was learned that two teams loaded with
guns and ammunition had been taken from the
Arsenal but few moments previous to be
carried to the Maine Central Depot
A Team Load Of Guns and Thirty.fo
Thousand Rounds of Ball Cartridge
stopped at kenduskeag Bridge by the
Excited POpulace,-COOl and JudiciOus
Action of Mayor Brown.
Driving directly back to the city, where
they arrived about half-past four, the carriage
containing the Mayor and the gentlemen
named, found it impossible to proceed beyond
Kenduskeag Bridge on account of a great
tbrong of people completely filling the street
and surrounding two teams, drawn each by
two horses that had been stopped at the East
end of the Bridge. Mayor Brown immedi-
ately alighted and finding most intense ex-
citement prevailing among the great crowd
composed of respectable citizens who were
determined not to permit the guns and ammu-
milton to be carried any farther, he at once
a.
who was in charge of the property. At first
there was no satisfactory answer, the driver
saying he had been engaged to go to the Ar
senal for load by Mr.. Thayer, landlord of
the Penobscot Exchange. Some one then
said that clerk from Augusta had superin-
tended the removal of guns. etc, and in a
moment or two young man appeared who
said his name was French that he was clerk
in the Adjutant Generals office at Augusta
and was acting under the orders of Governor
Garcelon.
The Clerk Orders the Arms, etc., Back
to the Arsenal.
At this time the excitement on the street
was rapidly increasing. and Mayor Brown
said to the clerk that he had no wish to inter-
fere with any authority of the Governor of
the State, but in view of the infamed public
feeling he could not, with any force at his
comman., guarantee the safety of the prop
erty if the attempt to go forward against the
protest Of the throng was persisted in, and
that he, Mr.. French, must assume all the re-
sponsibiity of consequences that might fol-
low the further provoking of collision with
the excited people. MIR. French seemed
greatly impressed by the gravity of the stu
alton and concluded that the arms and ammu-
milton had better be carried back to the Ar
senal. AS soon as the orders to this effect
were given and the teams started back the
crowd good-naturediy gave three cheers and
almost Immediately began to disperse. As
the crowd had been gathered at the East end
of Kenduskeag Bridge, almost directly in
front of the Wing Office where a large body
fingered, Mr. Boutelle, who had arrived on
the scene with the Mayor, spoke to the peo-