The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-07
Shooting Of Sailor Caused
Olney'S Lane Riots.
Mob Was Not Subdued Until
Four Men Were Killed.
What Makes the Sky Look Blue
Trees Turned Into Newspapers.

Last week militia company that had
been called out to protect negro prisoner
confined in the Jail at Urbana o., from a
mob that had assembled for the purpose
of lynohing him. was forced 60 fire on the
angry crowd and two men were killed.
PROBABLY only comparatively few of those
who read the Urbana story are aware thot
were in Providence, nearly sixty-six years
ago In what are known as the Olney s
Lane Riots, five men lost their lives, four
of them being shot by the militia company
that had been called out TO protect property
and preservesthe peace. The shooting tcoG
place at the foot of Smith street near
where IL now crosses Canal street The
Olney's Lane Riots began in section OF
the CITY occupied by whites and negroes
of the lowest class. In this slum, houses
of Ill fame predominated and fights and
disgraceful orgies were OF frequent occur
renee. Respectable residents In the neigh,
borhood were the victims Of series OF
outrages of which they complained Co the
proper Authorities, but without securing
any relief. At length respectable citizens
were prepared to regard with approval any
method, however lawless, of stamping out
the nuisance and disgrace. Sailors ashore
from the shipping in the harbor generally
paid visit to Olney's Lane, ana IL was
through party of seamen that the riot
was precipitated.
On the 22d of September, 1881, party OF
five sailors started up the lane, accom-
panied by considerable crowd OF noisy
persons. They were all singing and
shouting and from some OF the houses
occupied by colored people gun was dis
charged and stones thrown. When they
heard the gun the main body OF the crowd
started down the lane again. but the ilve
sailors continued their course eastward.
AS they drew near a blacksmith shop an
other report of gun was heard and Will
liam Henry, one of the sailors, put his
hand to his face and said he was shot.
Two other sailors, George Erickson and
William Hull went toward house occu-
pied by negroes, probably with the inten-
tion Of inhicting punishment for the
wounding of their companion. coiored
man on the steps OF tho house presented "a
gun and ordered the sailors 60 keep their
distance. They in turn said they would
take his gun from him, but they did not
attempt to do so. Indeed, they started TO
walk farther to the east in the lane. The
negro told them to clear out or he would
fire. The sailors dared him to shoot.
de did fire and Erickson fell dead in his
tracks. As soon as the large crowd at the
foot OF the lane heard what had happened
1t made rush into the lane and began
TO tear down the houses Throughout the
day following there was great excitement.
The sheriff of the county, with other
officers was in the lane early In the even
ing and as the mob seemed bent on vio-
lence it was ordered 10 disperse. As
this order was not obeyed arrests were
made, hut the prisoners were rescued from
their captors.
On the morning of the 23d Of Septem-
Der the mob was In possession of the
northern part OF the town, and II was
feared an attack would be made on th.
jail. The sheriff called on Governor
Arnold for military aid. and the governor
ordered the Light Dragons, the Artillery,
the Cadets, the Volunteers and the First
Infantry 10 be under arms at q O'CLOCK in
the evening. That night the mob APP
peared only in small force and did but
little damage. so the military companies
were dismissed. The following night,
however the mob assembled IN great
force and began the wrecking of houses in
Showdown under the brow of Smiths
Hill. The First Infantry was again called
ont and marched to the scene OF distur-
bance. The governor aud tho sheriff no
nonstrated, but all 10 no purpose. Even
the announcement that the muskets were
loaded and would be used had only tho
effect of drawing out "a volley Of stones.
The crowd continued TO assail the mill
tary with stones and any other missiles
hat could bc secured. The militia was
ordered to withdraw, and as IL marched
iuwas pursued by the mob which seemed
TO think IL had won victory, and there.
fore became all the more violent in it's
attacks AT the foot of Smith Hill the
militia was halted and faced about The
volleys of stones continued and poace
Officer William :. Patten called on the
crowd TO depart TO their homes. The mob
listened In silence but the answer was a
shower OF stones.
Then the sheriff succeeded in making
himself heard He declared that the
crowd must disperse or in five minutes it
would be fired on. Fire and be -"
was the answer Of the mob. The attack
on the militia was renewed and many OF
the soldiers were injured. At last the
sheriff ordered Captain Shaw 60 fro. Tho
captain was humane man, and when
he had given the order ''rendy" ke asked
the sheriff IL he should fire. Yes" was
the reply and the orders "aim, fire, "
were followed by a sharp rattle of mus
kerry. There were four dead on the
ground and many were wounded, but the
mob was mastered at last and I'm silence
it dispersed never again 20 semble.
Another fact that Is not generally known
Is that these riots really led to the ndon.
tion of the city form of government bv
the people of Providence. Only yoar
before they had been granted "a city char.
ter by tho General Assembly, but thry
voted 1t down. After the Olney's Lane
Riots a special town meeting was called
aud that on sunday, too. and at that
meeting memorial To the General As.
senbiy was prepared and passed asking
for city charter. This was dolo bccauso
the people had discovered that "a town
form of government was not strong
enough 20 deal with the lawless element.
Tho charter was granted in duo time by
the General Assembly, and was promptly
accepted by vote of the people, who carly
in the following year organized under IL,
ana thus Providence was driven into
throwing off the town form OF goyernmeu;
by a series OF riots that cost 1.-Two lives.
Why Is the sky blue Is n question that
T. frequently asked. IL Is not that the
gus TINT we coll air in itself Il blue. As
far as we know 10 is quite transparent and
absolutely colorless No; the blue comes
from the reflected light Air Is never