Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-16
HIGH OLD TIME,
The Rist at the Temperance Ark, In AIIs-
ghsny, Mag 10. 1S43.

The Riet nc the Temperance Ark, In AlIs-
Ehsny, May 10. 1S43.
Frank Johnston and his celebrated brass
band, having performed successfully for
several evenings before Q Pittsburg audience,
were Invited by some oi the leading "Wash.
ingtonians" Of Allegheny 10 give q series
Of concerts In the ARK" With their
accustomed generosity, they readily COM
piled. These concerts were TO inure TO the
benefit Of the temperance cause. On Tues
day evening they gave their first concert;
and on this occasion large crowd Of men
and boys gathered about the doors and
windows, and by their riotous conduct did
all In their power to mar the entertainment
Of the evening, and convert the "harmony
OF sweet sounds" into terrible discords.
Notwithstanding these outside demonstra-
tions, the music went on, failing, however,
by It's soothing influence to calm the savages
without.
Although the authorities did everything
in their power to suppress the tunult, yet
the ringleaders of the atrocious outrage upon
these peaceful and unoffending colored cit
izens were permitted to escape the penalty
OF broken law.
After the close of the entertainment, and
while the members of the band were on their
way to their lodging, they were set upon by
the mob and ruthlessly assaulted with such
missiles az the assailants could lay their
hands upon, together with rotten eggs pre-
viously provided for the occasion. Frank
Johnston, the leader. was slightly wounded,
and three or four of his band seriously hurt
about the head, so much so thas they were
confined to their rooms for several days on
account of the injuries received.
1t was happy thing for all, especially
for the ringleaders of the mob, that there
were no lives taken; for they hurled their
missiles with murderous recklessness, if NOT
with murderous intent. And when the fact
is taken into consideration, that this gentle
manly band gave no provocation for the as
sault, but on the contrary were devoting
their time and talents for the promotion Of q
good cause, the outrage appears all the more
aggravatIng, and il was regarded by all law
abiding citizens with indignation.
Frank Johnston was then considered one
of the best cornet players In the United
States; he and his company having made
the tour Of Europe, performed before
crowned heads, and having given concerts
in all the principal cities OF the South and
Southwest, were highly appreciated, where
ever they performed, for their gentlemanlY
manners, and artistic delineaton Of charac-
ter of the Southern negro; and the first in
suit received was on the occasion Of their
visit to Allegheny.
Active measures were imme lately adopted
to bring the authors Of the outrage to JUS
tice. There were two arrests made, who
proved, during the trial Of the case, that
they were culpable only In being present
among the rioters, apparently taking no ac-
tive part In the assault. In consideration
oil this fact, O verdict Of not guilty was rem
dered, and that the defendants pay the costs
OF prosecution. In view Of the latter, o mo-
tion was made for new trial, which never
came up for argument
BY Invitation Of the citizens, Mr.. John
ston and his company gave another concert
at the Ark on the following Saturday even
ing; and the performance on that occasion
passed of without disturbance or Interrupt
tion.