New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-24
Foreign Resorts.
DRAFT RIOT DAYS.
Il ViUid Recollection of Some Of the
Experiences of Those Stirring Times.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Edwin A StudweIrs letter. printed in To-
days issue of The Tribune. reminds me of the days
of Horace Greeley and the draft riots of 1865 Per
NIT to say that. in my Judgment, you Gld/well
to publish that letter. Test forget"
Well do I remember those cruel, crucial days al
though I only IN my earlier teens at the time.
They wers days that stirred mems souls. and as
l think Of them they STIR me to this wriuhs'
AS I reCollect no loyal Unonist was safe IN TINS
town during that tragic week in July. The home or
every lover of "Old Glory" was marked for outrage
and demolition The city seemed 10 be given over
10 copperheads cutthroaJs. meters and lcoters ana
they were busy days for the police department
The entire force was fully engaged. Not d single
man then thought of any platoon. two. three or
five. They all at It, and at 1t all the time.
I believe 1t would be so now with cur present force
II occasion arose, I hope and pray 1t never Will
The hero Of the day, so lar as the police vera
concerned, was our energetic, fearless lighting
chief. John a. Kennedy. doubt whether ne or his
men got much sleep that week. II they got any
they must have slept their arms-a niShtstlck
and a big revolver. Chief Kennedy was a model
officer an intrepid leader. and he handled his men
like soldier from the front. seem to see him
now as he charges the mob. With club IN air ne
s Fqs the he Ese5 whe i e that at foe Turks on
housetop Is hidden behind window openings or
carts on the cobblestones. Kennedy seems to be
everywhere. alert. stouthearted.
The picture photographed on memory's plate is
horrible still. AS l ventured on the streets WIi3t
me- vet as slf think them over again From the lamp
post in front of the adjoining 9r2perty hangs the
iifeless form of cOlored man There are ScNeral
COIored cCrpses in the gutter; The shops ere smut
except for the passing Of an occasional s9lt$ry,
terrified pedestrian hurrying TO some fancle0 pace
of safety from the fury of the hour,
Now all this Mr.. Greeley knew Nay. as an cd
ace" as the youngsters of that day used 70 loving
" call him. In It all. as indeed. on the cther
hand the rioters had It in for him with a ven
Yet he was protected under God. Mr. Studwell's
letter tells how. But the 'bodyguard' Of which ne
speaks at one time during that momentous week
was not in evidence. It seems for moment 20
have been withdrawn. ] say this not 70 rrleCt ~
the slightest degree the credit due these men Ior
what thew did: and let that be emphasized But l
wildly recall the incident which am now ABOUT 70
relate. Mr. Greeley lived IN house IN Ne VEST -SIl
street, near Ninth avenue. then called Lanartlne
Place The house still stands, and l otten louhss
across the back yards from my room ana ulnk o.
the great editor who occupied a part o. u, IT
town, marked for 4Sstrittisi 60. -
one evening about dusk elderly looking man
Grcpped from the fence back or our var - came INTO
our house and asked shield him from danger.
kent I-, here in this room where J am row
writing this narrative until he became cain and
collected. and then after having thanked my ldte-
tty the way. good old-tine War Democrat Tor
Protecting him. passed out or our basement dooI
Do l ned TO explain? Hardly. Suffice It 70 say
in a word-for I fear I have been too prohX already
that -he mob had reached Mr.. Greeley s house.
He took to the rear Of the lot mounted the fence
and made his way the best he could On me fence
until he reached our ward, where he dropped INTO a
place Of safety for the time being DO You WONDER,
Mr. Editor that Tor this history. well as for
other things. cherish the name Of The EoqnGer OF
The TribUre'2 tESeN' ~ w -A1rrND - y
No. BIS West Goth street New York, Feb i, lso'-