Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-02-07
DEATH OF PAT O'NEIL.
A THRILLING CHAPTER IN THE
HISTORY Of YALE UNIVERSITY.

The Great Riot of 1854, in Which the
Students Were Attacked by Crowd of
Town Boys-Cannon Brought Out, but
Disabled by the Police Officers.
On Thursday evening, March 16, 1864,
q party of Yale college students visited
HOman's atheneum, at the corner of
| Chapel and Church steeets. While there
they became involved in an alteration
with some men of the town. After the
performance the students were assaulted
by large number of the town boys
and roughly handled. The following
evening, March II, about fifty of the
students went to the same theatre in a
body. During the performance no diff
Guilty occurred, but outside about 1,500
town boys had assembled. A note was
passed around among the students ac-
quainting them with the situation. A
false alarm of fire was raised outside,
which served to augment the number of
the rioters When the performance was
over the students remained in the theatre.
Presently they formed in line, two by
two, and, proceeding TO the door, were
met met by Maj Bissell. He told them
to proceed quietly to the college. The
students in line crossed over to the south
side of Chapel street and proceeded
toward the college. The mob followed.
When Trinity church was reached a
volley of stones and brickbats were
hurled by the mob. Several of the
students were struck and knocked in
sensible.
A MOB OF OVER 500.
Proceeding short distance farther
the college men received second volley.
Directly after this portion of the mob,
which had hitherto occupied the street,
made rush for the sidewalk. Immedi-
ately four or five pistol shots were
heard, fired, it was afterward asserted,
by the students. Within two minutes
of this time a cry arose that a man had
been shot. Maj. Bissell observed man
near him fall to the ground. He raised
the body from the ground with the as
sistance of the bystanders. Upon exam
ination at the police station, where it
was taken, the body proved to be that of
Patrick O'Neil. He had received two
stabs from large dirk knife, and lived
but few moments after the wounds had
been inflicted upon him. He was one of
the ringleaders Of the mob upon both
Thursday and Friday evenings.
When the mob learned of his death it
became frenzied. About 500 or 600 men
rushed for the arsenal, broke into it and
dragged out two cannon. They loaded
these to the muzzle with powder, stones
and brickbats and dragged them to the
city green. Another portion of the
rioters broke into the churches and rang
general alarm of fire, which brought
immense numbers of the people to the
scene. While at the corner of Chapel
and Church streets Maj. Bissell mounted
an ordnance carriage and addressed the
mob, ordering it to disperse. The rioters
replied that they respected the chief of
police, but must have blood for blood.
Maj. Bissen remained on the gun as the
mob dragged it toward the college. While
on the way up the street the rioters, in
their eagerness to get at their student
enemies, failed to keep a close watch
upon Maj. Bissell's movements. Before
the college campus was reached both
cannon had been spiked by the police,
under the leadership of Maj. Bissell,
without the crowd being aware of it.
The police, during the transaction of
these events, had surrounded the
churches and prevented the further ring
ing of bells.
The MA1OR RESIORES ORDER.
At 1:30 o'clock on Saturday morning
the cannon were brought into position
and trained to bear on South college,
where the students had intrenched them
selves. When it was discovered that the
guns were useless an attack was made
upon the building with paving stones
and brickbats, The structure was badly
damaged The students lay low and
made no response. Cries of Bring out
the murderer resounded in every direc-
ton. At this juncture the mayor of the
city arrived and addressed the infuriated
crowd. He pleaded long and earnestly
for the cause of order, and promised that
the city authorities would Immediately
take the matter in hand and bring the
or perpetrators of the crime
to justice. His words proved effective,
and the crowd began slowly and sullenly
to disperse. By 3 O'Clock Maj. Bissen
was able to convey the cannon to the
Jail, and by 4 o'clock the city was quiet.
A court of inquiry was held on March
20, 1854. No witness from the town was
when he was stabbed to be able to testify |
ity of the perpetrator of the act. The |
uy Hudliy CdHe W liie COHcluSlOH, DIS
in their verdict, that Patrick
)'Neil came to his death Friday evening,
he 18th Of March, A. D. 1854, from
wounds received by him at the hanos of
ome person or persons to us unknown
he said Patrick O'Neil being at the time
in, and leading, aiding and
betting q riot"
Investigation was not pursued further,
nasmuch as O'Neil belonged to the low
st class of society, and no one seemed
o care very much for him. Public sem
iment seems TO have been with the
tudents. s.-New York Times.