Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-01
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
mud BOSTON .DRAFT RIOTS

The rebellion was rending the land and another call for troops for the Northern army reached Boston in 1883. Every patriotic citizen who believed in the justness of the cause of the North was giving all that he had. and now the less patriotic men were needed to fill the gaps rent by the cruel hand of war. Unwilling | to go of their own accord, drafting must | be resorted to, and for this purpose "con- l script men" were sent to all the houses in | the city to get the names of able-bodied l men, About moo non the 14th of July. 1883. slight and frail looking "conscript man" was canvassing the tenement houses around the gas house, back of Endicott street, in the famous "North-end". which was ,then thiehly populated with Irish- l He met decided opposition in one ten-
 ment which he entered. Here an irate
 women was ironing. and when he made | known his errand and inquired the names of her male relatives, she furiously de- i nounced him, threw a hatiron at his head l and drove him from the house. As he ran rapidly down the stairs she leaned far out of s.he window and called to her
 husoand to "pfotect himself from the draft"
 quickly gathering more of his kind. all of whom were just leaving ths :ssE
 
 violent demonstration, and anger quickly flaming to a white heat, they started to vent their spite and take ven-
 geance on the 'consorlpt man" and talk
 ing up the chase rapidly closed in on him. At the corner of Endicott and Cause
 way streets stood bar room. and. the frightened ''eonscript man" lodged into this, the infuriated mob at his heels. The
 saloonkeeper. recognizing the danger ! AA aTSA a the na1aad
 through, hustling him out a second door.
 across the street and into a grocery store
 on the further corner. Here the grocery man hid him in the cellar. The bowling { mob learning of his whereabouts yelled Lets burn him out" and attempted to set fire to the store. The man was secretly removed. The 2 riot call was sent in and eight o6icers responded. They were not able to handle 2 a mob of several hundred riotersrwho be- : gan to batter and kick the officers Some ? women braver than the men. went to the rescue of the officers ,and the mob .surgec
 1 on, and as they had no arms started fol v the gun stores to break into them for sup { piles.
 4 The riot was gaining such proportions s that the mayor sent to Fort Warren fol I troops who were brought to the Cooper . street afTnory prepared for serious work ,- The mob sowing in numbers and intensit, O as evening came on. turned their atten q ti6n to the arrnory where the soldier I2 were stationed. They dug up bricks iron
 the sidewalk broke the windows of thu Iarmory and called the soldiers towards
 To repei the attack the troops fired blanl
 icartridges, but they had no. effect, and
 in fact. added fuel to flame.
 Il The women came out in large numbers
 some of them holding up their babies ant
 daring the soldiers to fire upon them :. Finally gaining courage. the rioters = crowded up against the doors sf the arm = ory and tried to hreak them open. The, 'a Major Cabot who commanded. decided ol
 deterrrined stand. He ordered th
 tcannon drawn up to the doors ana gav ,- the order to fire right through them. Tn If shot was A telling one Dead and wound .b ed lay on every side, but this quelle' Id the riot The crowd sorrowfu1ly gather ,s ed up their dead and dying. immediatel ,e dispersing and going their way No on s. every knew how many rioters were killed ii. but during the next few days there wer UT many funerals. The city of Boston pre- h. l,sented Major Cabot with sword for bi .t4 courage and findelity in quelling the rioi 10 (Monday-How Lincoln Was Protecte se During the Civil War(