Year: 1863

Tho fer0Clty OF the new yOrk klot4H0-8IUa
tality of the Military.


No single incident in the New York riots better
illustrates the erocy of the rioters than tho death
Of Col. OBrien, of the 11th N. Y, who was in
command of the military at tho point where the
deadliest conflict between the troops and people
took place This officer was in command of q body
of infantry and two howitzera. In front of him,
on Second aveaue, the streets was densely packed
with men, women and children. He gave the order
to the cannoniers to fire, and volley of canister
was sent into the crowd, followed by rapid FIRE
from the MIME rifles of the infantry. A number
Of the mob fell dead in their tracks including three
or four women, who were looking on. One woman
and the child she held in her arms were both killed
by the artillery. The Herald in its account SAYS:


After several rounds had 5een fred the people
began to disperse, and the police proceeded to
another part Of the city. Cox OBriea and his com.
mand, however, remained. The Colonel dSmount-
ed from his horse and walked into drug store
Had the commander of this military force taken his
departure at this time there is little doubt that his
life would have been saved. But fatality had de.
stined him for its victim and he was doomed mau
Colonel O'Brien stayed in the drug store for some
few minutes; it is thought that be went in to get
some refreshments. The crowd were around the
door at this time. There wss scarcely word
spoken, but the lowering glances of one thousand
men looked down in their yengeful spirit upon him
as he stood in the door, He then drew his sword,
and, with revolver in the other hand walked out
on the sidewalk in the very centre of the crowd
He was Immediately surrounded, and one of the
men came behind, and, striking him heavy blow
on the back of the head, staggered him. The crowd
then Immediately surrounded and beat him 10 .
most shocking manner. After having been terribly
beaten his almost insnmate body was taken up in
the strong arms Of the crowd and hurried to the
first lamppost where it was strung up by . rope.
After few minutes the body was taken down, he
being still alive, and thrown like so much rubbish
in the street.


The body lay in the middle of the street, within
few yards of the corner of 34th St Nature shud.
ders at the appalling scenes which here took place.
The body was mutilated in such manner that it
was utterly impossible to recognize it The head
was nearly one mass Of gore, while the clothes we're
also saturated with the crimson fluid of life. A
crowd of some three hundred persons wounded the
prostrate figure. These men looked upon the ter
rlble sight with the greatest coolness and some
| smiled st the gay object. Our reporter walked
| leisurely among the crowd which surrounded the
body, and in company with the rest gazcd upon the
.extended mass Of flesh which was once the corpu.
lent form of COL Il. F. O'Bren. Notwithstanding
the fearful process which the soldier had gone
through, be was yet breathing With evident strength
The eyes were closed, but there was very appa.
rent twitching Of the eyelids while the lips were
"" a"u @Saiu eonSuiSeo, aS II III tue most intense
agony.


After lying for somewhat of an hour 10 this posi-.
ton several Of the crowd took hold of the body by
the legs, and dragged it from side to side Of th,
street. This operation was gone through with
several times, when the crowd again left the body
lying in its original position Hsd Col O'Brien
been man of weak constitution, be would certainly
have ceased to exist long enough before this time
lie was however, through life, a man of grea,
natural strength, and this fact probably kept hin
| person. The crowd remarked this, and watched
his every slightest movement with the most intense
anxiety. Now and then the head would be raised
from the ground, while an application of foot from
one of the crowd would dash the already mangleo
mass again to the earth. This conduct was carried
on for some time and when our reporter left the
body was still lying in the street. the last spark
existence having taken fight