The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-02

pared to FIRE Some distance from the militia,
and further from the courthouse at each point
Of approach, was surging mob numbering
fully two thousand The individuals compris-
ing these crowds we're OF every description,
men, women and children. A large majority,
however, we're men, and very demonstrative
Any change OF position Of the militia WAS
greeted with yells and hootings. There was
constant pressure OF the crowd toward the bar
ricades, but line of policemen Immediately In
front OF the various throngs pressed them back
after clubbing them over the heads and arrest
ing the most aggressive. The various streets
between the barbados and Court-House
square were almost deserted and presented a
strange sight. Blue-uniformed militia men went
through various evolutions rs they were re-
lieved in squads for breakfast Stacks OF
knapsacks were scattered over the streets.
Here and there on the sidewalks were numer-
Gus blood-stains where some unfortunate bad
been killed or wounded. About the court
house ruins we're great piles of smoulderirg
and blackened public records rescued too late
from the burning building. The total loss to
the county by Saturday nights work at the
courthouse is estimated at over 81, 100000
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
a crowd of about one hundred men and boys
was collected on the north side OF the canal,
and the boys to amuse themselves, began
throwing stones in the water. Several stones
were thrown at the bridge and Main street
the south end of the bridge, commanded the
boys to desist. The boys, in return, called the
soldiers names, and began to advance towards
the bridge The soldiers cried out Halt"
and had scarcely given the command when a
voley Of firing followed. Fred Smaltz, twenty
two years Of age was shot in the side, and died
soon after Two or three other men were
wounded. Threats were rife that IL the state
concentrated its force in defence of the jail, the
city buildings and Third street, the business
portion of city, would suffer The 18th Spring
field battery arrived at the Grand Central
depot Sunday noon. Soon after 1t moved up
to Fourth street, where it was joined by the
fourth regiment, which had remained at the
depot since its repulse by the mob. AS they
moved along Fourth street, men, women and
children along the sidewalk Missed and jeered
them. The military and mob came together
early
SUNDAY EVENING
at the Court street market space, where the
battle was renewed, resulting in five killed and
twelve wounded. The mob then moved in the
direction of the city buildings on Eighth street,
and a regiment was Immediately sent across
from the Jail to guard that property, arriving
there before the rioters The latter halted and
made no immediate demonstrations, but main
tanned threatening attitude, and their leaders
held consultation. When they started tc-
ward the Jail again and joined their confreres
before that building, the third fight took place
at Ninth and Sycamore streets, where the mob
attempted to crush the barricade, but we're re-
pulsed Several of the ring Headers were cay
tured and taken to the Jail. Mr.. Briggs Swift,
one of the most prominent pork-packers OF the
city, was shot and instantly killed shortly af-
forwards in front of the Walnut street house,
and was carried home. Hunts hotel was at
this time also notified by the mob to close up,
which 1t did This was followed by the st.
James hotel on Fourth street, and other land
lords prepared to vacate il it became neces
| l,.If IL l..
among those identified with the mob that an
attack would at once be made simultaneously
on the city buildings and the Third street sta
ton, with view of drawing the military from
| the jail. This caused the greatest precaution
to be taken at once, and the forces at both the
places indicated were doubled. No attack was
made, however, and the mob appeared sud
denly to disappear, leading to the belief that
they were devising means for more formidable
operations later in the night. The city was
silent from that time until about half-past
eleven, when rumor gained currency that a
armed to the teeth, were en- route to re-
enforce the rioters and would arrive an
hour later. This information was COM
municated to the military commanders, who
| at once doubled their picket force and other
| wise prepared to meet the invaders should
they make their appearance. The mayors OF
| Covington and Newport also telegraphed that
| their police forces were doubled and patrolmen
stationed at the ferries and bridges, with orders
| to arrest every suspicious character who at
| tempted to CROSS over to the Ohio side Of the
| river Shortly after this the mob attacked
Music hall, broke into the rear and captured
| six cannon; but before they could remove them
| the military appeared and fired upon the riot
ers killing three and woundiDg several others.
| number OF prisoners were also secured. A
| fight also occurred at Walnut and Fourth streets
| at this time, but without serious consequences.
At midnight the mob again disappeared, and
the military left the Jail and patrolled the
streets in the heart of the city. At daybreak
after the mob had dispersed, the Calling gun
was dismanted, and removed into the Jail,
where 1t remained all day, until five o'clock
| when 1t was taken from its temporary resting.
place and restored to its position OF Saturday
night, at the gate of the jail, commanding the
| approaches by the streets from both moth and
south. The three brass six-pounders were now
planted on Sycamore street, in front of the Jail
| In the corridors of the Jail were rudely con
| structed beds, on which were lying the tired
| and WORKOUT policemen and soldiers, who
| were seeking rest after their exciting work o.
| Saturday night. The stacks of arms, the car
| tridges, and the black knapsacks OF the sol
diers, and the tramp of the sentries echoing OF
the iron corridors OF the jail mingled with thu
cries OF the rioters in the cells about, made NJ
q scene fit for the graphic pen OF Dickens
| Sunday afternoon the crowd of spectators OF
the south side of the barricade at Ninth ant
| Sycamore streets we're particularly aggres sive
and the police were kept busy driving then
back with their clubs About half-past fou
p. NJ. the situation at this barricade be
| came quite critical rs the mob seemed bent OF
breaking it down and attacking the troops, VIII
| were, however, prepared to receive them at al
instant's notice. The riDgleaders were at lengtl
compelled to desist and withdraw. At half
past five all preparations for the night defenc
had been concluded, the troops instructed b,
their commanders, ammunition served out, ant
all was in readiness for pitched battle.
MEASURES FOR PROTECTION
Plans for the protection of life and propert,
had been maturing. There had been grea
lack of head Mayor Stephens had been dan
gerously i'll with pneumonia, and on Sunda,
left his bed, at the risk of his life, to give di
rections He spent the whole night at hi
office, and at points where he could be of tn
most service. Sunday he was in great DANCE
of a relapse, but his plans took shape, anC
the virtual control of both the civil and mill
tary forces was put in the hands of eminent Cit
zens, with General j. d. Cox as leading ad
wiser. Sunday morning the mayor issued
formal call for a meeting Of citizens to devils
means OF protecting the city from the ravage
of the mob. A list Of one hundred name
was selected, and a majority Of them were nc
titled at once. OF those notified the create
number responded to the call Immediately
meeting at the mayors office. The governo
was requested to concentrate at Cincinnati al
the available military force OF the state, an
Governor Hoadley Immediately ordered Ohio
seventeen regiments TO report Immediately a
gious outbreaks, owing to the unprecedente
| TOD tars