Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-02-16
ATTEMPT AT A CAPTURE.
Squire McMullen's Heelers Attend Fourth
Ward Political GatherinS and Gail
Mysterious speaker TO the stand
to Talk Againsr Candidate
O'OOnnpll

Squire McMullen's Heelers Attend a Fourth
speaHer tn ,s a"s stana Sa
to Talk asnnmSst; aSs,nss Candidate
Philadelphia Times.
Apublic meeting under the auspices of
the Reformers and Independents Of the
Fourth ward, held in the Odd Fellows
hall, at Tenth and South streets, within
two squares Of Squire McMullen's saloon,
last night, was the scene Of considerable
excitement at one stage Of the proceed
ings, growing out Of an attempt by num-
Der of McMulien men, who, apparently
by pcearranged agreement, occupied seats
in different parts Of the audience. to cap
ture the meeting. The affair had been
widely advertised as 4 mass meeting of
the colored people of the Fourth ward
ward opposed to tie reelection of Squire
McMulen and rs such several promi-
nent colored speakers had been en-
gagged, principal among whom was
Robert Purvis. When the meeting
handful OF colored people present, while
the hall was pretty we'll packed with
white citizens. made up largely of respect
able workingmen and business men in the
interest Of McMuliens opposing candidate,
John O'Donnel! The president and other
officers Of the meeting were colored, Ben
.jamin +. Jackson being chosen to the
former position, while seated on the stage
as vice presidents were William Thomas,
Jonathan Miller, Frederick Mickens. p. p.
Brown. Isaac Williams, William Minton,
and Joseph Ripley. Mr.. Blankenburg
appeared and made the opening speech.
On the front seat were noticed q number Of
young men, sandwiched in between the
more staid members of the audience, who
were recognized rs hcelerS and strikers of
Squire McMulen. Presently Robert
Purv;s arrived and Mr.. Blankenburg clos
ing his speech yielded the floor to him and
hurried away to make speeches elsewhere.
Mr.. Purvis being introduced was re-
ceived with great applause and at once
proceeded to make an eloquent speech in
tho interest ofthe Reform ticket, at the
same time expressing himself as somew hat
taken back by finding it not colOred mas s
meeting, as he expected, he having pre-
pared himself with Il view of speaking to
colored people. BY an admirable turn,
however he brought down the house in
declaring that in tho rights Of humanity
there was but one race. so he would speak
to his white audience rs he would have
spoken to his co!ored audience. He spoke
of the faithluness Of the colOred people in
the past, where property was left under
their care and protection by whites, and
expressed the hope that they would
sustain their past record in the in
terest of law and order on election day by
voting against the opposing candidate of
John O'Donnell, who, though he had
never seen him, stood as the living iEcar-
nation Of all that was lawless and Vulgar
and bad. He paid Il high tribute to
Mayor King, who, though :: Democrat,
was the first Philadelphia mayor to put
colored men Oh the police force. With
Mayor King the colored people of the city
had found that recognition which they
could not wiring out of the heart OF his
predecessor, though 4 Republican. He
urged all the coiOred men present to vote
the ticket of the committee of one hun
dred, who had elected Mayor King Rob-
ert Jones, another coiored speaker, follow
ed in 4 speech to the same effect, at the
close of which the MciIullcn men began
to show their hands,
Loud calls from different parts OF the
audience rose for "Barrett Barrett -
Nobody knew such a man. Presently, 4
| long, lank, black man, in an ulster and
| carrying heavy cane, emerged from the
rear of the hall, and coming rapidly for.
| waed from 20 one knew where mounted
the platform. and, bowling blandly to the
president and vice president, turned to the
audience and was received by the friends
| of McMullcn with tremendous pounding
| on the floor and cheers. The president.
in his confusion, not knowing what better
to do, introduced the mysterious Bar
ratt as the next speaker. Great
cheers from the McMul!en men
throughout the hall followed this.
Robert Jones jumped up and told the
chairman that if Mr.. Barrett was to be
the next speaker then he knew what was
meant by the term "capturing meet
ing Mr.. Barrest paid no attention, but
began to speak. The president was thuh-
derstruck and consulted with Mr.. Purvis
ard others. They confirmed Mr.. Jones.
He laid his hand Oh Mr.. Barrett's shoulder
and asked him to sit down. Mr.. Barrett
appealed to the audience that they were
trying to run the meeting on "Seventh
street gas Office principles The friends
of NIcAIuilen checred, while the peaceable
part Of the audience began to get their
hats and look for way to get out Some
whispered to the president to send for po.
licemen. Purvis advised the president to
let Barrett go on. The latter meantime was
getting in some good words for Squire
McMullen, who, he said, was better Re-
publican than John O'DolnelI, and there
fore, the right man for tho colored people
| to vote for. which was vigorously applaud
ed by the friends of the squire. After
about five minutes of such talk
he retired as mysteriously as he
came. Meantime, the state of affairs in
side having been communicated to the
police, within ten minutes about a dozen
stalwart officers came down Tenth street
to the hall where they arrived just as the
| meeti NJ was breaking up and the crowd
dispensing, which it did quietly.