The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-18
THE MEETING AT CLAY STATUE.

only once, and that was at the arsenal,
where double-barre ed shot-guns, Win
chester rifles and pistols were banded out
to responsible and respectable citizens in
the party. The starting of the crowd had
an electric effect on the city. Soon the
STREETS were alive with people, running
from all directions and joining the main
body, which moved sullen down RAM
part 10 the Jail. near Congo. square. Doors
and windows were thrown open, and men,
women and children crowded on the gal
leries TO encourage those who were taking
part and to witness the scenes. When
the main crowd from Canal-st. reached
the prison there had already collected
there dense throng, all eager to take a
hand in whatever might happen. When
the vanguard of armed citizens reached
the prison, which is many squares from
Canal-st., the grim old building was sur
rounded on all sides.
Sheriff Villere. when he heard that q
movement was on foot to take the priso-
ners, armed his deputies and then started
on hunt for Mayor Shakespeare. The
Italian consul and Acknowledgement Rog-
ers joined in the pursuit, but his honor
does not reach his office until noon and
he was not to be found at any OF his regu-
lar haunts. The governor had not heard
OF the uprising and had no time 10 act,
and the police force was too small to offer
much resistance to the army of the
avengers.
Police Brushed Aside.
Superintendent Caster had ordered on
an extra detail of officers to be sent to the
Jail and this small crowd kept the side
walks around the old building clear un-
til the great multitude, swelling all the
time like mighty, roaring stream, surged
around the door and crowded the little
band of blue coats away. Capt Lem Davis
was on guard at the main entrance with a
scant force of deputies. They we're swept
away like chaff before the wind and in an
instant the little ante-room leading into
the prison was jammed with eager, ex-
cited men.
Meanwhile the prisoners were stricken
with terror, for they could hear distinctly
the shouts OF the people without, madly
demanding their blood. Innocent and
guilty alike were frightened out OF their
senses. and the prisoners who were
charged with crimes other than completely
in the murder the chief also shared in the
general Generalization. Some OF the
brayer among the representatives OF the
Malta wanted to die fighting for their
lives and they pleaded for W apons with
which TO defend themselves, and when
they could not find these they sought hid
ing places. The deputies, thinking to de-
ceive the crowd by a ruse, transferred the
nineteen men TO the female department
and there the miserable Sicilians trern-
bled in terror until the moment when the
doors would yield to the angry throng on
the outside.
Breaking Down the Doors.
Capt Davis refused the request to open
the prison and the crowd began the work
OF battering in the Jail doors. Around on
Orleans-st. there was a heavy wooden
door which had been closely barred in an
ticipation of the coming OF the avengine
mass. This the crowd selected as their
best chance of getting in. Neiehboring
houses readily supplied axes and batter
ing-rams and willing hands went to work
to force an opening. This did not prove
difficult task to the trembling but de-
termined tbrong. Soon there was crash,
the door gave way and in an instant armed
citizens were pouring through the small
opening, while n mighty shout went up
from 10000 throais in glad acclaim There
was more resistance for the intruders,
however, but it too was soon overcome
with the huge billet Of wood which stout