The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-15
ANNIVERSARY OF A RIOT.


Baltimore American.
April 10 will be the forty-second anniver-
sary Of the attack made by citizens of Bal
timore upon the Sixth Massachusetts, Regi-
ment while that command was passing
through this city. During the trouble be-
tween these Union troops and the Southern
sympathizers four of the soldiers were
killed and thirty-six wounded, while twelve
citizens were shot to death and a large
number injured. In May, 1898, the Sixth
Massachusetts, Regiment again passed
through Baltimore. that time upon its way
to the front in the Spanish-American war,
and instead of receiving bullets, rocks and
eggs, they were greeted with flowers, cheers
and good things to eat, all highly appre-
ciated by the soldiers at the time.
The original bloody passage of the COM
mand through Baltimore is still vividly re-
membered by many persons who were spec
tators of or participants in the trouble.
Previously to the receipt of the news of the
fall of Fort Sumter, on April IL, 1861, there
was but little excitement in this city beyond
personal encounters. but on April Is the
passage OF some six hundred troopers from
Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, gave rise
to the first demonstration. The route OF
ton of Howard and Cathedral streets, TO
Mount Clare depot lined with an ex-
cited crowd, which hooted the soldiery, but
refrained from violence.
About IL o'clock on the morning of April
Is train of thirty-hve cars arrived at
the depot of the Philadelphia Railroad with
1000. soldiers of the Sixth Massachusetts
Regiment, the First and Fourth Pennsyl-
vania and the Washington Brigade, of
Philadelphia, on board. Six rounds OF ball
cartridges per man had been furnished the
Massachusetts men in apprehension Of
trouble, and the memorable trip TO Cam
den Station was begun: The first car;
drawn by horses-then the means OF all
railroad transit through Baltimore, started
off cir he
howled and hooted and the soldiers threw
themselves fiat on the car floors. The nine
cars reached Camden Station in safety
Washington train, but the tenth car had
gone but a short distance on its route
AT Pratt and Gay streets a carload of
sand was dumped on the track and stones
were piled on top. and in several places
were brought from adjacent docks and
likewise put across the tracks. and the
crowd kept the police from removing them
until the arrival OF Mayor Brown, when,
account of what followed is to the effect
that paving stones were thrown through
the windows Of the car and those that
followed. while, according to another story.
the mob did not throw a stone at that
time, the drivers merely turning the horses
and drawing the cars back TO the railroad
station from which they had come.
Some 22O soldiers were thus cut of from
their comrades and the crowds on the
street, which had been singing Dixie" and
cheering for JEFF Davis and Confederate
flag-a palmetto tree on a blue background
carried by one of the mob. kept these
troops from marching. Time after time
the soldiers tried to march, only to be
blocked, until at last the police cleared
passage. AS the soldiers marched along
President street the turbulence increased
On Fawn street, according to one story
numbers, two men being knocked down and
badly injured. while others contend that
not stone was thrown by the mob. which
street was reached and the active trouble
precipitated by one of the soldiers acct
dentaIly discharging his gun
Thinking that one Of the crowd had fired
the shot. the soldiers Immediately opened
fire on the mob about them, and more spec
tators than active participants were hurt
Missiles flew In every direction. and citizens
hurried at double quick toward Camden
Station, firing wildly behind them.
ficer. Coming from Camden Station, where
he had been, with Marshal Kane, holding
crowd in check. The mayors presence
had an effect for short he,ns GTs tae fs
point At South street several citizens
fell wounded killed Near Light street
soldier was fatally wounded, and boy
lying on a vessel In the dock was killed.
the same time on the sidewalks. Between
Light and Charles streets Marshal Kane
troops, they forced the crowd back with
drawn revolvers, and the column passed
on to Camden Station without serious mo-
lestation.
At the station there was more rioting and
confusion, but no serious trouble occurred
Police Commissioners Davis objected to the
soldiers sticking their guns out of the car
windows and the blinds were closed. The
train pulled out for Washington about 1
o clock amid the groans and jeers of the
crowd. On the outskirts of the city shots
were fired from the car windows and an
other citizen was killed. The band OF the
regiment and some Pennsylvania troops,
who were unarmed, were panic-stricken at
the President-street Station, but were final
ly returned by the railroad to Philadelphia
The second visit of the Sixth Massachu-
sets was as joyful as its first visit was
tragic. Escorted by the local militia. not
as guard, but as an honor, the Northern
troops passed through Baltimore in May.
1895 on their way TO join the troops gath
cred at Tampa for service in Cuba. They
received a magnificent demonstration at
Mount Royal Station, and, marching
through the city to Camden Station by way
of Charles street, Mount Vernon place, Ca
thedral street. Liberty street and Howard
street they reached Camden Station, where
another demonstration was given. All along
the line of march flowers were thrown from
windows at the troops, and gifts OF boxes
of dainties and trinkets of every sort were
made to the marching soldiers. At Camden
Station each soldier received luncheon in
a box and a commemorative medal, and left
Baltimore with many hurrahs and the band
playing Dixie