Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-14

ana as innocent OF the attack at the other
end OF Pratt street as we were.
PAVEMENT TORN UP.
Being informed, soon after hearing OF
this murder, OF the fight that had taken
place at the other end OF the town. we left
Camden station, and going UP Pratt
street about three quarters of a mile came
20 a place where the citizens mad torn up
the pavement for about 80 yards. Here
we found a large crowd in a terrible state
OF excitement and exasperation--yelling
and hooting, and some of them in their
shirt sleeves covered with blood. The
printing establishment OF the baltimore
American was near the place, and IL ap-
peared from their demonstrations that the
enraged people would have torn the build
ing down. because the American had
taken the northern side of the sectional
question. We now heard that the two
rear companies OF the Massachusetts, regi-
ment. which were some distance behind
the other companies. had been attacked
by the citizens with paving stones and
other weapons; that the soldiers had fired
in return as they proceeded at double
quick towards Camden station to oyertake
their companions. They had, as It ap-
pears, just gotten on the train when we
reached the depot
CONFLICTING STATEMENTS.
Colonel Il. Il. Jones, In command OF the
Sixth Massachusetts In his report saye
that four companies were attacked, and
that when these soldiers entered the cars
at Camden Station he caused the blinds
on tho train TO be closed TO avoid giving
offence to the people OF BaltImore-but
that the stones flew thick and fast into
the train 0hrough the closed blinds. we
suppose). But Mr.. G.. w. Brown, Mayor
Of the city, says that after Marshal Kane
had placed himself with fifty policemen
between the soldiers and the mob, which
was long before the assaulted companies
reached Camden Station, the attack viz
tually ceased. and the soldiers then passed
on to the station without serious moles-
tation. This corresponds with what was
seen by our party after we reached the
statiOn-not a blind was closed, nor was
there. as far as we observed, any APP
pearance OF any portion Of the train
having been struck by stones. The crowd
then at the depot was small and orderly,
and there was nothing that we perceived
that threatened the soldiers with insult,
or even suggested that there had been
a difficulty in another part Of the town,
until after the murder of Davis.
The first companies OF the regiment
in question were taken through Baltimore
on cars; but the citizens having torn up
the railroad track. the rear companies
had 10 proceed through the city on foot.
on these the attack was made, and the
soldiers. instead OF facing TO the rear
and firing by platoons, after warning to
the rioters Gas they would have done, had
they been properly disciplined and officer
ed, and which would have repealed the
attack at once, fired wildly. without
aim, over their shoulders, while running
in column, shooting alike rioters and in
nocent bystanders: and the latter suffered
most. This course necessarily invited
attack The rioters rushed upon the
soldiers, and snatching their arms from
them by force, the confusion and uproar
became furious. The street and It's vi
entity were filed with yels and cries
for the distance OF nearly half a mile,
and the din of the conflict increased In
violence until Marshal Kane arrived with
his policemen and checked the attack.
CONTRARY TO FACTS.
Colonel Jones also says that after the
train left Camden Station, "a voley or
stones" was thrown at the train, which
provoked some OF the soldiers 10 deliver
the fire that killed Mr.. Davis. This ~
entirely contrary TO the facts. for our
party were I'm a position to see down the
railroad below the point where Mr.. Davis
was standing, and we saw nothing Dut
few groups OF quiet spectators such as an
occasion of this kind-the passage or
troops through a city-would ordinarily
attract. Colonel Jones further states
that Mr.. Davis himself threw stone into
the car occupied by the soldiers,
fact, he says, he can prove
by reliable witnesses. Nevertheless,
I'm his report he condemns, though
mildly, the soldier who fired on Davis,
In spite OF the alleged provocation, which
is a virtual admission that no provoca-
ton existed. And he wholly falls TO state
who his witnesses are-soldlers or citizens
But we saw a gentleman, OF Baltimore
at Camden Depot, Immediately after the
occurrence, who was with Mr.. Davis
when he was shot, and he said II was
an unprovoked and cold-blooded murder
And such no doubt, was the fact. More
over. our party had thrown no stones,
nor made any demonstration or any KIND
hostile or otherwise-and were totally
ignorant of the existence. at that time or
previously. OF any trouble between the
soldiers and the citizens. Then why
shouId guns be levelled at us with muir
derous intent, just before Mr. Davis was
shot? Colonel Jones is evidently trying 10
find excuses for his men Tor the murder
Of Davis but he has failed TO do So In
this whole affair four OF the soldiers were
killed and thirty-six wounded; OF the
citizens twelve were killed and about
fifty wounded. Reports OF Colonel Jones'
Mavor Brown, and others. official records,
volume H.. pages Z to II. Also Browns
baltimore and the 18th OF April, 1901 }.
TIE FIRST BLOOD SHED.
This was the first blood shed in the
war. and the day was the 10th OF April
The anniversary OF the battle of Lex
ington. in 1918. when the first blood was
shed in the Revolutionary war. IL IN
spired the pen of Mr.. James X. Randall
one OF Maryland's sons, then living In
Louisiana, who wrote the beautiful song,
commencing:
'The despot's heel is on thy shore,
Maryland!
His torch Is at thy temple door.
Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore,
That fecked the streets OF Baltimore,
And be the battle queen Of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!
This ode, set TO music by Miss Cary
of baltimore. became at once war
,,,ng in Confederate camps. and hlled
with patriotic devotion the sons ana
daughters OF the South.
The news of the unprovoked ana cow
ardly murder of n prominent merchant
and gentleman of Baltimore, as Mr.
Davis was. spread rapidly through the
citv and greatly increased and intensi-
ded the excited condition already exist
ing IN consequence OF the previous ron
connter between the mob and the sol
diers at the other end or PFatt street.
Tn less than an hour every gun-store was
strlnned OF its weapons. and all people
who could procure them were under arms.
ha