Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-04-03
exploding of tornednes.

tors office, and in a short time the
whole Office was ablaZe. The flames
were, of course, fed by the splendid fuel.
The hundreds of immense volumes of
records burned very rapidly. From the
Commissioners office the flames soon
burned through the ceiling, and, heat
ing the paved floor i'm the corridor
above, caused the stones to crack and
fall through to the floor below
WITH LOUD CRASHES.
The fire, however, could make slow
progress in the upper corridor, as there
is very little wood in that portion of the
building. The door and window frames
were burned out, and the flames crept
slowly along every particle wood, and
into the criminal court room. In the
mean time the Probate Court room
over the Sheriff's and Coroner's offices,
both of which had been completely gut
ted, had been reached. Once in this
room the piles of records in volumes
and papers in pigeon-hole boxes fed the
flames, and they hissed and roared at a
fearful rate.
THIS DESTRUCTION,
as we'll as that in the Auditors office,
was frightful. In these offices were
stored the records of the county since
its formation, over one hundred years
ago, now all gone up in smoke and
never can be replaced.
In the meantime the flames had
worked through to the rear of the offices
on the first floor, and reached the open
spaces in the center of the building,
where the elevator shafts are built.
Once into these spaces they acted like
chimneys, and created draft that drew
the flames back through the rooms, and
made the destruction more complete.
For by this means the flames reached
the woodwork in the rear of the front
offices. Along this wood it worked its
way until the
CLERKS OFFICE WAS REACHED.
Here the destruction was frightful.
As with the Auditors office and Pro-
bate Court, the records in this office
were of incalculable value, and can not
by any means be replaced. In a very
short time the whole interior was a
mass of flames, and being continually
fed by the piles of papers and books.
In like manner the fire reached the Re-
corder's office, where, of course, were
stored the records of real and personal
property from the formation of the
county. The work Of the flames there
was also quickly done, and left
THE RECORDERS OFFICE
a mass of ruins.
While this was going on the crowd in
front continued the destruction of all
accessible glass and wood. They mount
ed the stairway and coming out on the
porch in front of the second story de-
molished all the windows there. And
while some of them were thus at work,
q rush was made around the south side
of the building to get at that portion of
it and fire it.
The work of the flames went on stead
J lily gaining headway upward and into
! the thied floor, where were all the court
, rooms and the law library. These, Of
course, suffered the same fate that all
other portions of the building did. The
law library was one of the finest in the
/ country, and will take years and many
thousands of dollars to replace it. In
deed, it is probable that there were
books on the shelves that cannot be re-
} placed, being long ago out Ofprint.
f CINCINNATI, o., March 31.-The
. backbone of the great uprising is be-
| lieved to be broken by the overwhelm-
ing presence of troops. All responsible
classes of citizens denounce the burning
of the court house as entirely wanton
and without shadow of excuse. But
there are many of the law and order cit
izens who declare that serious mistake
, was made in not turning over the worst
7 of the murderers to the crowd in the
first place, thus saving the terrible
slaughter of innocent people and the
destruction of property.
; An oppressive solemnity has pre-
r vailed since yesterday morning, and al
, though masses of people have been
drawn together at points of greatest ex-
!, citement, degree of comparative quiet
) has supervened. The troops are now
} masters of the situation, and any fur
{ ther demonstrations that may be made
will be put down with relentless hand
: A particularly strong guard has been
stationed to defend the Jail and what re-
, mains of the court house. A dead line,
r drawn by the militia at the bridge over
: the canal on Main street, was ignored
by Fred Smaltz, bar tender, about 8
) Yesterday morning. A soldier first
!, warned the intruder and then shot him
| dead.
/ The Fourteenth Regt. commanded by
/ Col. Freeman, is particularly praise
worthy for its efficient gallantry in
l clearing the streets in the vicinity of the
f Jail. The Fourth .Regt. and its com.
l mander are charged with cowardice and
are the subjects of much adverse criti
l cism.
: The law-abiding citizens organized as
auxiliary to the military and appoint
ed general committee to take such ac.
= ton as might be necessary. A careful
/ review of the uprising shows that the
A violent efforts of the mob primarily ex
3 erted to get possession of gang of mur
< derers, finally degenerated into pur.
: pose of revenge upon the soldiers and it
S was in pursuance of this spirit that the
0 court house was burned and Capt. Des
mond and number of the militia shot
Q The bloodiest affray ofSaturday nigh
f occurred ON South Court street, wher
the troops charged on the crowd. Five
1 men were shot and three killed in the
t first onslaught. Other volleys were
# fired and twelve men fell, six of whom
e were killed. Many persons were
! knocked down, trampled upon, an(
: variously injured in trying to get out o
< the way! There were many thrilling
e experiences and hair-breadth escapes
e of which space forbids particular men
J. ton.
= Gov. Hoadly has been on deck from
e the time the riot assumed serious pro
g portions and has been carrying into eff
n feet his declaration that he would sum
d mon all the troops of the State to quel