The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-04-08
News Journal. Sist ult.
Riot and Ruin
REIGN RAMPANT N OUR midst.
A Sunday Never to be For
gotten in Cincinnati's
| Annals.
Death and Destruction Re
sulting From the Bloody
Work Of Saturday
I- Night.
THOUSANDS OF MILITIAMEN HERE
AND ALI STATE REGIMENTS
ORDERED OUT.
lContents of the Recorders
Office Saved From the
Conhagration.
List of the Dead and Wounded

| COnf1agratlOn.
List of the Dead and Wounded
Growing Longer With Each
Tick of the Clock.
i It.can hardly be said hat riot has con
troll of the city, as the Jail, the bone oi
lcontention between the authorities and
the mob, is still in the hands of the sher.
liz and his forces. Riot is, however,
stalking abroad, and is about as near
controlling as it we'll can be without hav-
ling actual possession OF everything
Since daylight yesterday the city has
been in terrible state of excitement
Peaceful and law abiding citizens rightly
deplored the existing state OF afflirs, vet
were powerles' to remedy matters. A
small portion OF Saturday nights crowd
renamed on the scene during yesterday,
but the great mTority of the throng as
semtled re newcomers. attracted, no
doubt, bv curiosity Their presence in
such large numbers inspired courage and
confidence In the few who were bent on
mischief. True there was much to see,
but why, in the face of the mayors proc.
lamation and the terrible warnings Of
the night before, people who would un-
der no consideration sanction the work
OF the mob. should hamper the author
tiles and lend aid to the lawless throug,
is hard to understand. They were there
nevertheless, and can take upon them
selves part OF the blame. The mayors
order for the closing of saloons was
widely obeyed, though some of the lar
ger gardens and concert halls kept their
doors open all day, moved, perhaps, by
an unconquerable desire to make money.
The proprietors saw their opportunity,
and, of course, would not let it slip, re-
gardless of consequences.
With tine appearance of Sofs bright
rays yesterday morning came an inde-
scribahle scene of destruction and hor-
ror. The neighborhood of the county
buildings presented the appearance of a
military camp in hostile country, or q
besieged town just recovering from an
attack, and awaiting ani preparing for
another. The latter, perhaps, was the
true state of affairs AS far as two
squares from the courthouse on the
north, south, and west, the streets we're
crowded with people. With great diff
Guilty an able bodied man could in the
course OF an hour work his way to the
front. Those in the rear were contin
ually pushing forward, and those in
front we're as anxious to get back, or at
least to get no closer to the barricade
than they were Across Court street,
half way between Walnut and Main
streets Main street at Ninth street and
just north of the canal, Sycamore street
at the intersections of North and South
Court streets, and Court street east of
the jail are blockades. These barricsdes
are constructed of barrels, kegs, lumber,
and overturned wagons, behind which
squads OF mili,iamen guarded the ap-
proaches About fifty feet in front OF
each barricade were stationed platoon
of policemen to warn all comers of the
penalty of getting any closer, and to
keep back the crowd without necessita-
ting any killing, if possible. No one
was allowed on the canal bridges at Syc-
amore and Main streets, 80 that all the
surging, pushing, noisy crowd could do
was to stand and look at the massive
ruins of the once handsome courthouse,
Within the camp so TO speak, inside OF
the barrie. des, were the evidences of
Saturday nights terrible doings. Occa-
sional pools of blood and flattered bull
let's with the marks on the walls Of the
houses called forcibly to mind the fright
ful scene of carnage and bloodsbed Of
the night before. OF the courthouse,
looking from Court street, all that re-
NAMED were the blackened walls o,
the sidewalk were the scorched remains
IF the incalculably valuable records of
the auditors office and the probate court.
The treasurer's, county commissioners,
board of control, coroner's. and sheriff 8
nffices were completely gutted. Nothing
II an inf1amable nature remained. In
the treasurer's Office the safe, Halls
patent, stood scoiched and blistered.-
The outside ixings and ornaments were
either entirely gone or damaged so that
It will require an expert to open it. In
side are valusbles and monev amount
ing to over quarter Of a million of dol
Jars, which, it is fair to presume, are un
tlisiul bed aud intact, as the safe is both
FIRE and burglar proof. The auditors
Office and the probate coat rooms pre-
sented a desolate appearance. The
woodwork was all charred, the walls
smoked and dripping with water, the
floor gone, and the records destroyed
The dome had fallen into room 5, the
one in which Berner was tried, and the
bright morning sky was visible from the
very spot he sat upon. The. prosecutors
and recorders offices, on the north side
OF the building, we're 10 fair condition
While there were, of course. evidences
Of the confagration, the records and
documents were not 80 badly injured.-
A small portion had been destroyed.
while some were scoi ched and partially
burned, but not so much so as 10 make
them total loss. The county clerk g
Office, at the southeast corner, is gone
Nothing remains but the walls, and they
are in tottering and unsafe condition.
The hoor had fallen in. leaving no brace
or support whatever. From the vaults
| in the various offices issued volumes of
smoke and steam, making it extremely