Connecticut western news., 1883-12-19
AN OLD FEUD RECALLED.
THE ASTOR PLACE RIOT IN NEW
 YORK CITY.
The Order to Fire on the Mob and How it
 was Given to the Soldiers


 military authorities were somewhat to blame in precipitatin' bloodshed at the l Astor Place riot, but the truth is that | they not only were not to blame at all, but deserved commendation for their self control. Findin' matters gettin' worse instead of better by the comin' of the soldiers. Recorder Talmadge showed that he had frst-class nerve by comin' boldly forward, facin' the howl in, cursin' mob, and maxim speech in favor of law and order, saying to the mob: "Depart-return to your homes; | delay not let this street be cleared at once, or the soldiers here-your own brothers-the armed citizens of New York will fire upon you, as sure as there is God above us.
 But the mob only went on worse than before. They set up an awful yell; then they groaned at Talmadge, and fired stones at him, one of which hit him on the breast, though not woundin him seriously. Then Talmadge turned to General Hall, who was in charge of 8 battalion, and said: "General, you will have to fire on 'em after all"
 ''Where is the Mayor?" asked Gen. Hall. "He alone should give the order to fre."
 But the Mayor, Woodruff, was in the New York Hotel.
 Then Hall asked for the Sheriff. Westervelt. Westervelt stepped up. but was non-committal, and wanted the general to take the responsibility, which was natural enough. But Hall didn't see it yet.
 l Then General Sanford and Colonel Duryea came up to Hall and Talmadge and said that this sort of thing wouldn't be endured by the National Guard any longer. They were bein' shot at and stoned and wounded by the mob, and were not allowed even to protect 'em- selves in return.
 "What do you say now, MT. Sheriff ?" asked General Hall, who was deter mined, if he could, to get his orders be- fore he gave 'em.
 ''Your duty is only too plain, MT. Sheriff, " remarked Recorder Talmadge. "You cannot do otherwise than give the order and fre."
 The sheriff said nothin' for a moment. turned on his heel as if to go, then sud denly turnin' back, he went up to Gen. eral Sanford and said: "Do as you think right, General
 This might have seemed enough to the sheriff, but it wasn't enough to san- ford. He, like Hall, wanted to get a definite order from somebody. So San- ford looked the sheriff full in the face and asked him plump and plain: ssDo you give me the order to fre?" And then Sheriff Westerve1t said these de- | cisive words which settled the life and death of large number of people: ssI do, sir. Then Sanford turned to Matsell, who was standin' near him, headin' the police. as fat and round as watermelon. but as cool as cucumber. ''Matsell," said Sanford, "call in your policemen. We shall have to employ bullets in half minute"
 Sayin' this, while Matsen called in his police, Sanford and Duryea went round once more and for the last time trvin' to pacify the mob and disperse lem. But the mob didn't care a continental.
 'Fire and be hanged" "Fire if you dare" ''To--with your guns," ''You talk, but you dare not shoot, were some of the exclamations heard on all sides.
 One fellow in the crowd took up big stone and held it in front of him. s'Fire into this, y he cried, and then he hurled the stone right against the soldiers, woundin' one of 'em severely, at which the mob set up a laugh. Another chap tore open the bosom of his shirt and struck his bare breast vio- lently with his clenched hands. ssFire into this," he cried, hittin' his breast once more. ''Shoot me here and take the life out of free born American citi- zen for 8 British actor, if you dare.''
 The crowd around went madder than ever at this speech, and 8 chap hard by, regular rough, took up pavin' stone, | and with yell hurled the stone full | against the sword arm of General San ford, disablin' it for the time. This seemed to act on the mob like the first taste of blood on the tiger, and others began 'frin' missiles at Sanford, but missin' him in their haste.
 It was again doubted whether the military and the police together could quell the mob. One man prophesied ge neral uprisin' throughout the entire city of New York.
 It was really, as Col. Duryea after ward remarked, speakin' of it, Gan awful moment"
 But it was only moment. The first order to the soldiers to fire on the mob was given by General Hall. i Gle arly and distinctly he spoke the ter rible word, ''fre p It was heard plainly along the whole line of soldiery, amid all the cussin' and clamorin' of the mob.
 But only one musket responded to the order, and some of the mob laughed in mockery.
 Then General Sanford took up the word. "Fire Fire" he called out twice, at the top of his lungs.
 A number of muskets this time obeyed the command; but the frin' did not be- come general.
 Then Colonel Duryea took up the word. "Fire, Guards Fire P he called out.
 And the Guards fired, in earnest.