The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-01
WEARY OF BLOOD.
Frenzy, Wearied with Destruction,
Takes a Rest.
Cincinnati Breathes Freely After Ihrea
Nights Riot.
The Furious Mob Uses the Fire.
Brand as Weapon.
Destruction of the Court House with
Many of the Records.
List of the Dead and Wounded as far
as Known.
Graphic Account of the Battle Saturday
Night---Sunday Nights Work.
Action of the Mayor and
Citizens---Incidents
and Scenes.

OOuFb street approach TO Jne court mouse, Was
fired into by one of the mob from an alley
between Main and Walnut on Court street.
The troops answered the challenge by a few
shots, which were followed by a velley and
several shots from the Gatling stationed
there The number of injured at this hour
cannot he ascertained The firing now con-
tinues at intervals in all directions.
Almost Immediately the military were in
formed that the city building9oh Eighth street
were threatened, and a regiment wasa at once
marched across from the vicinity of the jail
to guard the exposed places The mob fol-
lowed but made no attack, AMI shortly re-
turned to the Jail. A rumor was also cur
rent that the rioters had started for the
newspaper offices, but this proved untrue,
though creating quite scara among the
representatives of the press
KILLING OF BRIGGS SWIFT.
The next fight occurred at the corner of
Sycamore AMI Ninth streets, when the riot
eIs attempted TO tear down the barlicade. bat
were beaten back by the police and military,
the latter advancing at a swift charge. Sew
eral of the mob were also captured ami
jailed While this was going on Mr. Briggs
Swift, Il prominent pork merchant, was shot
and instantly killed while standing in front
of the Walnut Street house. He was taken
home
The proprietols of Hunts hotel also re-
ceived notice from the mob to close up, which
they did, and were shortly afterward fol
lowed by the st James hotel Other hotels
also made preparations to vacate should the
rioters return TO their immediate neighbor-
hood Matters now began to look more seri-
l. =
OF a few hours before property devastation
would begin.
At 1879 the statement passed from lin to
lip of those identified with the mob that an
attack will be made either on the city build
ings or On Third street, with a view of drawing
the militia away from the jail The gre1test
precaution against danger was at once taken,
and the military force doubled at both the
points indicated.
A correspondent started ont and carefully
made his way to the scene, and also as far
toward the jail as it was safe to go He found
everything quiet, almost painfully So The
mob had withdrawn and were nowhere
to be SEEM while only small knots of men
were observed talking in an undertone,
and who would disperse when any one
drew near them. But the silence
was broken at IL O'Clock when the report
came that 2,700 kentuckians, armed to the
teeth, We're ell route and would shortly arrive
to reinforce the mob This information
startled the people and it was feared that
Mr.. HalStead's predictions would prove only
too true. A telegram from the mayors of
Covington and Newport also said that they
had doubled their police forces and stationed
patrolmen at the bridges ami ferries with
orders to arrest all suspicious characters, and
that they would endeavor to prevent the
crossing of any body of men to the Ohio side
of the river.
ATTACK ON MUSIC HALL.
About this time the mob appeared in force
in the rear of Music hall, and, breaking into
the armory captured six cannon, and were
placing them on wheels when the military
appeared, fired several volleys and dispersed
them with the loss of three killed, several
wounded, and a number of prisoners.
A fight also took place at Fonrth and Wal
nut streets
MIDNIGHT The military have left the
Jail aud are patroling the streets and all is
quiet, the mob having disappeared
A crowd was breaking into a pawn-shop
on Central avenue and stealing pistols A
Y,
and arrested a number of thieves without
bloodshed.
Col. S. H. Church sent the following dis
patch to James McCrea, manager of the Pan
Handle railroad:
1915 A. M.-The mob have taken possession
of the roofs and houses in the vicinity Of
Court and Walnut streets, and are firing
down on the militia in line in front of the
court house. The crowd has almost entirely
fallen back from Court street. leaving it
clear to Vine. Two men were car
ried into the drug store at Court and
Walnut, seriously, if not mortally, wounded
One Of these was Emil Pfeizer, tailor, who
rooms above The Valksblatt Office He was
shot while crossing the street on his way
home. Cooper, of New Richmond, Ohio, was
the other. He was shot viii lie on his way to
take boat home from the theatre The
militia seem to be getting entirely democrat
lied in their firing The Calling gun on
Court street, in charge of companies A AMI B
| OF the Fourteenth regiment, from Columbus, is
being used. There are IL many as
$500 or 5000 soldiers now in the city, sta.
toned at various points, and it is evident the
backbone of the mob is broken
Undoubtedly the presence of this large
force has brought the fearful riot to an end
Worn out though they are, the police are
quickly resuming control of the streets, and
are breaking up wherever found the little
bands of marauding thieves. The police re-
| port everybody going home and the city per-
| fectly quiet. Among the men in Jail for
| participating in the riot is peggy" Warren,
Il member of the last legislature of Ohio He
| issaid to have been among the most active in
counseling the robbing of gun stores,
LATER.
| CINCINNATI, March 81, Ga MAT this
hour at military headq uarters it is believed
| that there will be no renewal of hostilities
| by the mob, and the riot is substantially at
an end
Alta o'clock this morning, as a citizen was
crossing West Court street he was called on
by the militia to halt, and, not obeying, wa
dangerously wodnded His name was not
| learned.
Lieut.. Wright, froI the barrcades at the
| county building, sent a message ut 6 O'clock
that all was quiet except now ami then 4
random shot
The rioters made their last rally few
minutes after midnight They had at that
time become much reduced in number:
| and, while still threatening, We're less
| aggressive The state troops are
here in forcs and have full possession
and are in overwhelming numbers
| and more are coming There is no p0ssibi
| ty that any lawless combination can defeat
them The panicly feeli .g has in a great
measure departe |.
MATTERS REMAIN QUIET
Noon Everything is quiet, and confidence
is felt that the mob will not make any dem
| onstration tonight. Trains this forenoon
| continued to bring in militia from tine various
towns throughout the state. Measures are
being taken TO secure quarters for the hold
ing of courts and for the offices of the burned.
out officials.
Tom Campbell, the celebrated criminal
lawyer who defended Berner, and whose life
is threatened, says he will never undertake
another criminal case.