The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1889-12-07
Death of Fat O'NcaI.

| U,
q party of Yale college students visite,
Homan's atheneum, at the corner @
Chapel and Church steeets. While ther
they became involved in an altercatioI
with some men of the town. After tn
performance the students were ASSAULTED
by large number of tho town bow
and roughly handled. The sollowins
evening, March II, about fifty of TIM
students went to the same theatre in
| body. During the performance no diff
| Guilty occurred, but outside about 1,5O(
town boys had assembled. A note wa:
| 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 a short distance farther
the college men received a second volley
Directly after this portion of the mob,
which had hitherto occupied the street.
made q 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 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 ONeil. He had received two
stabs from large dirk knife, and lived
but a 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 todisperse. The rioters
replied that they respected the chief of
police, but must have blood for blood.
Maj. Bissell remained on the gun as the
mob dragged it toward the college. While
r-4,.1
their cagerncss to, get at their student
enemies. failed to keep a close watch
upon Maj. Bissell's movements. Before
cannon had been spiked by the police.
under the leadership Of NIai. 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 MAYOR RESTORES 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-
lion. At this juncture the mayor of the
,ity arrived and addressed the infuriated
crowd. He pleaded long and earnestly
'or the cause of order, and promised that
he city authorities would Immediately
AXE the matter in hand and bring the
or perpetrators of the crime
% justice. His words proved effective,
md the crowd began slowly and sullenly
% disperse. By o'clock Maj. Bissell
vas able to convey the cannon to the
all. and by o'clock the city was quiet.
A court of inquiry was held on March
70, 1854. No witness from the town was
,alled who was near enough to O'Neil
when he was stabbed to be able to testify
lnything of value concerning the iden-
ity of the perpetrator of the act. The
ury finally came to the conclusion, as
in their verdict, that Patrick
)'Nel came to his death Friday evening,
he 18th of March, A. D. 1854, from
Wounds received by him at the hands of
ome person or persons to us unknown
he said Patrick O'Neil being at the time
in, and leading, aiding and |
betting 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
imcnt seems to have been with the |
tudents. Now Vc~', Times.