"Down with the Codfish Aristocracy!"- How America Acquired an Armed Police

"What rhubarb, senna or what purgative drug will scour these English hence?"

"Account of the terrific and fatal riot at the New-York Astor Place Opera House, on the night of May 10th, 1849; with the quarrels of Forrest and Macready, including all the causes which led to that awful tragedy! 

Wherein an infuriated mob was quelled by the public authorities and military, with its mournful termination in the sudden death or mutilation of more than fifty citizens, with full and authentic particulars"

" LET JUSTICE BE DONE THOUGH THE HEAVENS FALL !' 

SEYMOUR DURST 







NEW- YORK: 

PUBLISHED BY H. M. RANNEY. 
1849. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S49, 

BY H. M. RANNEY, 

In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the 

Southern District of New York. 



THE RIOT. 



CHAPTER FIRST. 

THE NIGHT OF THE lOTH OF MAY. 

On the night of the 10th of May, 1849, the Empire City, the great metropolis of the Union, was the scene of one of those horrors of civilization, which for a time make the great heart of humnity stop in its beatings. In the darkness of night, thousands of citizens were gathered in a central square of the most aristocratic quarter of New York — gathered around one of its most conspicuous and magnificent edifices, the Astor Place Opera House. 

This Opera House was built expressly for the performance of the Italian Opera, but has been used at intervals for the legitimate drama, for vaudevilles, and for balls and concerts. It is fitted up and decorated with taste and magnificence, and in the opera seasons has been attended by the most wealthy and fashionable people, who have made extravagant displays of luxurious adornment. While the private boxes were taken by the season, by those who wished to enjoy the music, liked the display, and could afford the expenditure, the other seats were let at a dollar admission, and the upper tier or amphitheatre was reserved for people of humbler means or more modest pretensions, at twenty-five cents a ticket. 

Around this edifice, we say, a vast crowd was gathered. On the stage the English actor Macready was trying to play the part of Macbeth, in which he was interrupted by hisses and hootings, and encouraged by the cheers of a large audience, who had crowded the house to sustain him. On the outside a mob was gathering, trying to force an entrance into the house, and throwing volleys of stones at the barricaded windows. In the house the police were arresting those who made the disturbance — outside they were driven back by volleys of paving stones. 

In the midst of this scene of clamor and outrage, was heard the clatter of a troop of horse approaching the scene. " The military — the military are coming !" was the exclamation of the crowd. Further on was heard the quick tramp of companies of infantry, and there was seen the gleam of bayonets. A cry of rage burst from the mob. The appearance of an armed force seemed to inspire them with a sudden fury. They ceased storming the Opera House, and turned their volleys against the horsemen. Amid piercing yells and execrations, men were knocked from their horses, the untrained animals were frightened, and the force was speedily routed, and could not afterwards be rallied to perform any efficient service. 

Now came the turn of the infantry. They marched down the sidewalk in a solid column ; but had no sooner taken up a position for the protection of the house, than they were assailed with volleys of missals. Soldiers were knocked down and carried off wounded. Officers were disabled. An attempt to charge with the bayonet was frustrated by the dense crowd seizing the muskets, and attempting to wrest them from the hands of the soldiers. At last the awful word was given to fire — there was a gleam of sulphurous light, a sharp quick rattle, and here and there in the crowd a man sank upon the pavement with a deep groan or a death rattle. Then caaie a more furious attack, and a wild yell of vengeance ! Then the rattle of another death-dealing volley, far more fatal than the first. The ground was covered with killed and wounded — the pavement was stained with blood. A panic seized the multitude, which broke and scattered in every direction. In the darkness of the night yells of rage, screams of agony, and dying groans were mingled together. Groups of men took up the wounded and the dead, and conveyed them to the neighboring apothecary shops, station-houses, and the hospital. 

The horrors of that night can never be described. We looked over the scene that misty midnight. The military, resting from their work of death, in siern silence were grimly guarding the Opera House. Its interior was a rendezvous and a hospital for the wounded military and police. Here and there around the building, and at the corners of the streets were crowds of men talking in deep and earnest tones of indignation. There were little processions moving off with the dead or mutilated bodies of their friends and relations. A husband, uttering frenzied curses, followed his mortally wounded wife to the hospital. An aged mother found her only son, the sole 
support of her declining years, in the agonies of death. Many a wife sat watching at home, in terror and alarm for her absent husband. It was an evening of dread — and it became anight of horror, which on the morrow, when the awful tragedy became more widely known, settled down upon the city like a funeral pall. 

The result of that night's work was the death of twenty-two victims, either shot dead upon the spot or mortally wounded, so that they died within a few days; and the wounding of some thirty more, many of whom will be maimed for life. Into the causes which led to a result so fatal, and all the circumstances attending it, it will now be our duty to inquire. 



I 
CHAPTER SECOND. 

FORRKST AND MACREADY. 

Mr. Edwin Forrest, the American Tragedian, was born, some 
fortv-five years ago, in the city of Philadelphia. He was born in 
humble life, and worked his way up from poverty and obscurity to 
wealth and fame, by the power of genius. When a boy, he made 
his first histrionic, efforts in an amateur company; afterwards, lie 
made a professional tour at the west. 

After various adventures, young Forrest found himself in the city 
of New-York, in the year 1826, when Gilfert was about to open 
the Bowery Theatre. He wanted a star of powerful attraction, and 
his experienced eye fell on Forrest. He was engaged — puffed in 
all the papers as the Native Tragedian — the patriotism of New- 
Yorkers was appealed to — Forrest used his mental gifts and great 
personal advantages with discretion and effect, and became a star 
of the first magnitude ; so that, in a short time, he demanded and 
received two hundred dollars a night for his performances; and, 
with energy and temperate habits, has been able to accumulate an 
ample fortune. 

After his first successes — determined to shine alone as a star of 
the first magnitude — he offered a prize of five hundred dollars for 
the best tragedy — suiting his powers as the hero; and the result 
was, Mr. Stone's " Metamora," Soon after, he secured the " Gladi- 
ator," written by Dr. Bird. These have been his most successful 
performances, and in them he has had no competitor, nor is it likely 
that he would find an equal. 

Mr. William C. Macready is an English actor of great eminence. 
He was born in the city of Cork, (Ireland,) and must now be nearly 
seventy years old. In the early part of his theatrical career, he 
was most distinguished in such parts as " Virginius," " William Tell," 
" Pierre," " Car win," &c. ; but of late, he has given his chief atten- 
tion to the plays of Shakspeare — in which he has shown himself a 
thorough artist. 

In 1827 — one year after the successful commencement of Mr. 
Forrest's career as a star of the first magnitude — Mr. Macready 
visited the United States. In a fit of petulance, in which such act- 
ors are too apt to indulge, Mr. Macready came near fomenting a dis- 
turbance in Baltimore, which, but for his adroit management, might 
have caused him then to have been driven from the American stage. 
In playing "William Tell," the property-man had forgotten to fur- 
nish the arrow to be broken ; and Macready was obliged to break 
one of his shooting arrows. In his anger at the offending party, 
he said — "I can't get such an arrow in your country, sir!" or, as it 
was reported — " I can't get wood to make such an arrow in your 
country !" This was construed into an insult to the country. Anonyrnous letters were sent to the newspapers ; but, as these were sent to Mr. M., he had an opportunity to make an explanation, and avoid a row. 

Macready and Forrest were starring through the country, playing 
alternate engagements — but not, so far as we know, developing any 
very decided feelings of rivalry. Their roles of characters, and 
spheres of action, were quite apart ; and when they met each other, 
their intercourse — as it was many years afterward — was of the most 
gentlemanly character. 

About the year 1835, Mr. Forrest went to Europe, and spent 
some time in travelling on the continent ; after which, he returned 
to America for a short time ; and then went back to England, to 
fulfil professional engagements — in which he was so highly success- 
ful, that on his return, he was honored with a public dinner in Phila- 
delphia ; and about this time, he was tendered a nomination to 
Congress by the Democracy of New- York — before whom he deliver- 
ed a Fourth of July oration. 

In 1844, Mr. Macready visited the United States. He and Mr. 
Forrest had become intimate in England ; and here, Mr. F. tendered 
him the courtesies due to so distinguished a professional brother ; 
but it so happened, that in most of the cities where Macready was 
engaged, there were more theatres than one — and, of consequence, 
rival managers. Where one of these had secured Mr. Macready, 
the other was anxious to get the best talent to be found to run 
against him ; and there was no one so available as Mr. Forrest — 
who is not the man to refuse a profitable engagement, nor did any 
rule of courtesy require that he should do so. 

The result was, that the constant rivalry of Forrest, though carried 
on in the most friendly manner, could not fail to injure the success 
of Macready. A certain degree of partizanship was everywhere 
excited — for Forrest was everywhere placarded as the " American 
Tragedian," — and the tour of Mr. Macready was comparatively a 
failure. A sensitive man could not but feel this ; and whether he 
made any complaint or not, his friends saw what the difficulty was, 
and felt not a little chagrined about it; and when Mr. Forrest made 
his next and last professional visit to England, this feeling among 
the friends of Macready, in the theatrical press and the play-going 
public, found its vent. The opposition to him was, from the first, 
marked and fatal ; and, so far as the metropolis was concerned, his 
tour was a failure. It was only in the provinces — away from Lon- 
don influence — that he met with any degree of success. 

There was no need of Mr. Macready taking any active part in this 
matter ; and there is no proof that he did so, but much to the con- 
trary ; but Mr. Forrest hastily and indignantly, and, we doubt not, 
sincerely, charged it upon Mr. Mac-ready ; and one night, when the 
latter was playing in "Hamlet," at the Theatre in Edinburgh, Mr. 
Forrest, who was seated in a private box, had the bad taste, as well 
as bad feeling, to hiss a portion of his performance in the most 
marked and offensive manner. 

The following letter from Mr. Forrest gives his own account of this affair, which differs somewhat from the statements of Mr. Macready's friends, as will be seen hereafter. 

To the Editor of the London Times, 

— Sir, — 

Having seen in your jonrnal of 
the 12th instant, an article headed " Professional Jealousy," a part of which ori- 
ginally appeared in The Scotsman published in Edinburgh, 1 beg Leave, through 
the medium of your, columns, to state, that at the time of its publication, 1 ad- 
dressed a letter* to the Editor of The Scotsman upon the subject, which, as I 
then was in Dumfries, I sent to a friend in Edinburgh, requesting him to obtain 
its insertion; but as I was informed, The Scotsman refused to receive any com- 
munication upon the subject. I need say nothing of the injustice of this refusal 
Here then I was disposed to let the matter rest, as upon more mature reflection, 
I did not deem it worth further attention ; but now, as the matter has assumed 
" a questionable shape" by the appearance of the article in your journal, I feel 
called upon, although reluctantly, to answer it. 

There are two legitimate modes of evincing approbation and disapprobation 
in the theatre — one expressive of approbation, by the clapping of hands, and 
the other by hisses to mark dissent; and as well-timed and hearty applause, is 
the just meed of the actor who deserves well, so also is hissing, a salutary and 
wholesome corrective of the abuses of the stage; and it was against one of these 
abuses that my dissent was expressed, and not, as was stated, " with a view of 
expressing his (my) disapproval of the manner in which Mr. Macready gave 
effect to a particular passage." The truth is, Mr. Macready thought fit to in- 
troduce a fancy dance into his performance of " Hamlet," winch I thought, and 
still think, a desecration of the scene, and at which I evinced that disapprobation, 
for which the pseudo-critic is pleased to term me an " offender," and this w T as 
the only time during the performanoe that I did so, although the writer evident- 
ly seeks, in the article alluded to, to convey a different impression. It must be 
observed also, that I was by no means " solitary" in this expression of opinion. 

That a man may manifest his pleasure or displeasure after the recognised 
mode, according to the best of his judgment, actuated by proper motives, and 
for justifiable ends, is a right, which, until now, I have never once heard ques- 
tioned, and I contend, that right extends equally to an actor, in his capacity as 
a spectator, as to any other man ; besides, from the nature of his studies, he is 
much more competent to judge of a theatrical performance than any soidisant 
critic, who has never himself been an actor. The writer of the article in The 
Scotsman, who has most unwarrantably singled me out for public animadversion, 
has carefully omitted to notice the fact, that I warmly applauded several points 
of Mr. Macready's performance ; and more than once I regretted -(hat the au- 
dience did not second me in so doing. As to the pitiful charge of professional 
jealousy preferred against me, I dismiss it with the contempt it merits, confi- 
dently relying upon all those of the profession with whom I have been associ- 
ated, for a refutation of tins slander. 

Yours, respectfully, 
Edwin Forrest. 

March, 1846. . —Times, 4th of April. 



CHAPTER THIRD. 

THE QUARREL RECOMMENCED IN AMERICA. 

Mr. Forrest, chagrined by his failure in England, and madden- 
ed at what he imagined to be the malign influence of Macready, re- 
turned to the United States after a vain attempt to secure an en- 
gagement in Paris, in which he supposed the same influence had 



10 

defeated him. He had publicly hissed Macready in Edinburgh, had 
avowed the act, and given his reasons. His friends here felt much 
as the friends of Mr. Macready hud felt in England ; and when the 
latter last year came on another professional visit to the United 
States, he found that a bitter feeling had been raised against him, 
which found its first expression, so far as we know, in the follow- 
ing article, that appeared in the Boston Mail on the morning of Mr. 
Macreadv's appearance at the Howard Athemeum, Boston, Mon- 
day, Oct. 30th, 1848. 

[Boston Mail, Oct. 30th, 1848.] 

Jlore about Macready — His abuse of Forrest in Europe — Endeavors to put him 
down in Paris, London and Edinburgh — His Intrigue with Bulwer to prevent 
Forrest pi aying m Buhner's l ) ieccs — His Abuse of Americans. 

Mr. Macready has at length arrived, and next to the grand water celebration, 

will create such excitement, as will emphatically mark the present epoch in 
time's calendar. He plays this evening at the Howard Athenaauin, and refuses 
to show himself for less than one dollar a ticket. Ibis was his price in New 
York, and with ihe exception of the first night, resulted in a " beggarly account 
of empty boxes." A -Ve repeat -what Ave said in a former article, thai 
the enterprising manager of the National Theatre, deserves immortal honors for 
not acceding to the dictatorial terms of this actor autocrat. Although Macready 
saw fit on his opening night in New York, on being called out by 'Some friends, 
to slur a " certain penny paper," that had " dared" to express an opinion regard- 
ing his talents and conduct, we shall jiot by any means give him the retort 
churlish ; we only pity his ignorance of the institutions of this country, and hope 
for his own credit's sake that he will not, when he gets home, write a black book- 
about American manners, Are, a la Trollope and others, but if he does, that he 
will spare us in the production of his brain. The reader will no doul 
what fault we find with Mr. Macready. Has lie not the same right ns other 
men have, to do as he pleases \ We answer yes. lie has a right to come to 
this country in the exercise of his profession ; he has a right to demand a dollar 
from every person who witnesses his acting, and if managers of Theatn 
willing to accede to his arbitrary proposals, he has certainly a right to make 
them. We complain not of any of these. Our charges against Macready are 
based upon more important grounds, It is his conduct in his own country in 
relation to Mr. Forrest, that we are about investigating; his inhospitality, his 
crushing influence, his vindictive opposition, <nt<J Iiis steadfast determination to 
ruin the prospects of that ; in England, thai wo bring to his door. 

Let him deny them if lie can. Every true American takes a pride in that 
which represents liis country's interests, industry, and enterprise, and from the 
smallest commodity gathered from his soil to the Loftiesi Labors of his genius, 
his ambition goes with it, and the strong arm of his power will protect it in 

every clime. Mr. Edwin Forrest is titled the American Tragedian — he is justly 
entitled to that honor — he has acquired it by his own labors; from a poor boy 
in a circus, lie has arisen to I 8 a man of fame and wealth, all of which ! 
lastingly gained by enterprise and talent, and secured both by economy and 

TKMlM.l: 

Every American-born man is willing thai Mr. Forresl should wear this title, 

and when he vbiied England they were anxiously interested in his success. 

Macready had previously been in this country, and played engagements in 

every city, and made a fortune. He was extolled by the press, and treated as 

a gentleman by the citizens of everj place he visited, but instead of returning 

this kindness, lie acted openly toward- Mr. !•'< -i i .-t as his determined fee. We 

speak by card, and write upon the very best information, viz., the highest autho- 
rity. In Paris Mr. Macready and Mr. Forrest met. The latter was anxious to 



11 

appear on the French boards ; but Macready threw obstacles in the way, and 
this was the first time that the (wo parties were enemies. Mr. Mitchell, the 
enterprising lessee of St. James Theatre in London, took an English company of 

actors to the French capital, with Mr. Macready at the head of the list. Mac- 
ready was to he the hero — the great attraction of Paris, lie failed, however, 
to draw money to the treasury, and Mr. Mitchell lost a large sum by the specu- 
lation, or rather would have lost it, if Louis Philippe had not made him most 
liberal presents. Mr. Forrest had letters of introduction to Mr. Mitchell from 
his friends in London, but Macready was jealous, lest Forrest should prove to 
be the great star, and he cautioned Mitchell not to allow Forrest to appear. 
The result was that Mr. Mitchell refused to see Mr. Forrest. 

The parties returned to London. The hypocrisy of Macready is apparent in 
his note of invitation to Mr. Forrest to dine with him. The latter, knowing the 
intrigue that had been carried on in Paris between Macready and Mitchell, re- 
fused, as every high-minded man should, to dine with him. This is a very diffe- 
rent version to that recently given by some of Macready's friends — if friends he 
have — that Forrest was offended because he was not invited to dine ; as if such 
a man as Mr. Forrest could take offence at such a trifle, when at the same time 
he was invited to dine with many of the leading nobility of England, but espe- 
cially of Scotland, where he passed several months as their guest. 

The next mean act towards Forrest, brought about through the influence of 
Macready, was when Mr. F. appeared at the Princess's Theatre in London. 
Mac had been endeavoring for a long time" to effect an engagement with some 
London manager, but was unsuccessful. The success of Forrest stung him, and 
he resolved to " put him down." It was said at the time that he or his friends 
actually hired men to visit the theatre, and hiss Forrest off the stage, and For- 
rest was consequently received with a shower of hisses before he was heard. 
This mean conduct was followed up by the press, by which Forrest was most 
outrageously assailed, and not Forrest alone, but Ins country, which is proud 
to own him as one of her sons. 

Forrest and Macready next met in Edinburgh, and from this city were sent 
forth the grossest calumnies against Forrest. Macready was playing at the 
Theatre Royal in Hamlet — Forrest was present. During the beginning of the 
piece Mr. Forrest applauded several times, and, as we are informed by an eye- 
witness, he started the applause when some brilliant effect had been given to a 
passage, so that the whole house followed him. But now comes Forrest's great 
sin — that giant sin which Mac will never forgive — the sin of hissing Macready 
for dancing and throwing up his handkerchief across the stage in the Pas de 
Mouchoir. 

Mi\ F. not only hissed, but the whole house hissed, and yet Macready dared to 
write to London, that Forrest had singly and alone attempted to hiss him from 
the stage. 

To show that Mr. Forrest was not alone in this matter, we are able to state 
that two weeks afterwards Hamlet was repeated, when the whole house again 
liissed Macready's dance across the stage. 

Out of this simple incident Macready contrived to create a great deal of sym- 
pathy for himself. He is, or was, part proprietor of the London Examiner ; or 
if not sole owner, he possesses the body and soul of its theatrical critic, Foster, 
who does all kinds of dirty work for his master. Macready gave the cue to Fos- 
ter, and Forrest was denounced by the Examiner and other papers, in which 
Foster or Mac had any influence. A false coloring was put on this affair, and 
Mac appeared to the world as a persecuted man, whereas Forrest was the one 
who met with persecution at every corner — in Paris, in London, in Edinburgh, 
and in London a second time. 

But Macready's persecution did not stop here. Forrest wished to appear hi 
London, in Bulwer's Lady of Lyons and Richelieu. To do this, permission must 
be obtained of the author. Forrest addressed a note to Bulwer, asking his terms 
for the plays. After a long delay, Bulwer replied, that he should charge For- 
rest £2 per night for the use of them, and he must play 40 nights ! Such terms 
for plays, that had in a great measure lost their interest, compelled Forrest to 
reject them. It was ascertained that Macready and Bulwer had been much to- 



12 

gether, and that the former had prevailed on the latter not to allow Forrest the 
use of his compositions. 

Forrest could not entertain any jealous feelings towards Mac, for he drew 
crowded houses during his engagement at the Princess's Theatre, whereas Mac- 
ready had very slim audiences ; and on one occasion we know that our own 
charming actress, Mrs. Barrett, on one of the off-nights, at the time Mac was 
playing, actually chew more money to the treasury than Macready. 

We have now given a plain statement of facts, and such as cannot be contro- 
verted. It proves that actors, like Macready, Anderson, and others, find it very 1 
hard scratching in their own country, and much better pickings here. It is to be 
hoped, however, that we Americans will finally become awakened to the mer- 
cenary motives of such artistes, and when we have any surplus of dollars to 
spend, that we will be generous and just to our own home genius. 

Here is displayed the feeling of the friends of Mr. Forrest, and to 
a great extent of Mr. Forrest himself, for the writer of this article 
asserts that its statements are made on the "very highest authority." 
On his part Mr. Macready unwisely alluded to this article in one of 
his before-the-curtain speeches, speaking contemptuously of the at- 
tacks of a certain penny paper. But the Bostonians are a quiet peo- 
ple, and Macready and Forrest played through their engagements 
without any popular demonstration. At New York Macready play- 
ed at the Opera House, and Forrest at the Broadway Theatre. 
There were rumors of a disturbance, but they amounted to nothing. 
Both engagements were finished in peace, and both actors went to 
fulfil engagements at the rival theatres in Philadelphia. 

Now Forrest had made some pretence of retiring from the stage — 
he had built him a splendid castle on the banks of the Hudson, and 
had achieved a splendid fortune — but here he was, following up 
Macready step by step, and making no concealment of his enmity. 
His friends were doubtless busy, especially in Philadelphia, his birth 
place. The two actors made mouths and speeches at each other. 
One night Macready alluded to the ungenerous treatment he had 
received from a rival actor. This brought Forrest out in the follow- 
ing 

CARD. 

Mr. Macready, in his speech, lagt night, to the audience assembled at the Arch 
Street Theatre, made allusion, I understand, to "an American actor'' who had 
the temerity, on one occasion, " open/;/ to hiss him." This is true, and by the 
way, the only truth which I have been enabled to gather from the whole scope 
of liis address. ]hit why say " an American actor?" Why not openly charge 
me witli the act? for I did it, and publicly avowed it in the Times newspaper 
of London, and at the same time asserted my righl to do so. 

On the occasion alluded to, Mr. Macready introduced a fancy dance into his 

performance of Hamlet, which I designated as &peu de mouehoir, and which I 

: for [ thought it a desecration of the scene, and the audience thought so 

too, for in a lew nights afterwards, when Mr. Macready repeated the part of 
Hamlet, with the same " turn foolery," the intelligenl audience ni Bdinbuigfe 
greeted it with a universal hiss. 

Mr. Macready is slated to have said last, right, "thai np to the time of this act 
on my part, he had "never entertained towards me a reeling of unkindnets." I 
unhesitatingly pronounce this to be a wilful and unblushing falsehood. I moHt 
solemnly aver and do believe, thai Mr. Macready, instigated by his narrow anvi 

ous mind, and his selfish fears, did tecretlff— not open/;/ — suborn several writoi 



13 

for the English press, to write me down. Among them was one Forster, a 
" toady" of the eminent tragedian — one who is ever ready to do his dirty work ; 
and this Forster, at the bidding of lus patron, attacked me in print even before I 
appeared upon the London boards, and continued his abuse at every opportuni- 
ty afterwards. 

I assert, also, and solemnly believe, that Mr. Macready connived, when lus 
friends went to the theatre in London to hiss me, and did hiss me, with the pur- 
pose of driving me from the stage — and all tliis happened many months before 
the affair at Edinburgh, to which Mr. Macready refers, and in relation to which 
he jesuitically remarks, that " until that act, he never entertained towards me a 
feeling of unkindness." Bah ! Mr. Macready has no feeling of kindness for any 
actor who is likely, by his talent, to stand in his way. His whole course as 
manager and as actor proves this — there is nothing in him but self — self — self — 
and his own countrymen, the English actors, know this well. Mr. Macready lias 
a very lively imagination, and often draws upon it for his facts. He said in a 
speech at New York, that there, also, there was an " organized opposition" to 
him, which is likewise false. There was no opposition manifested towards him 
there — for I was in the city at the time, and was careful to watch every move- 
ment with regard to such a matter. Many of my friends called upon me when 
Mr. Macready was announced to perform, and proposed to drive him from the 
stage for his conduct towards me in London. My advice was, do nothing — let 
the superannuated driveller alone — to oppose him would be but to make him of 
some importance. My friends agreed with me it was, at least, the most dignified 
course to pursue, and it was immediately adopted. With regard to " an organ- 
ized opposition to him" in Boston, this is, I believe, equally false, but perhaps in 
charity to the poor old man, I should impute these " chimeras dire," rather to 
the disturbed state of his guilty conscience, than to any desire on his part wilful- 
ly to misrepresent. 

Edwin Forrest. 

Philadelphia, Nov. 21, 1848. 

This violent and vindictive, but characteristic manifesto, as may 
be supposed, did not help Mr. Forrest's cause very materially, with 
quiet and well-judging people, but it probably found sympathy 
among heated partizans, and those who supposed the honor and 
glory of the country was at stake. Mr. Macready appears to have 
made up his mind at once to sue Forrest for a libel, and accordingly 
he issued the following : — 

CARD 

TO THE PUBLIC OF PHILADELPHIA. 

In a card published in the Public Ledger and other morning papers of this 
day, Mr. Forrest having avowed himself the author of the statements, which Mr. 
Macready has solemnly pledged his honor to be without the least foundation, 
Mr. Macready cannot be wanting in self-respect so far as to bandy words upon 
the subject, but as the circulation of such statements is manifestly calculated to 
prejudice Mr. Macready in the opinion of the American Public, and affect both 
nis professional interests and his estimation in society, Mr. Macready respectful- 
ly requests the public to suspend their judgment upon the question, until the 
decision of a Legal Tribunal, before which he will immediately take measures to 
bring it, and before which he will prove lus veracity, hitherto unquestioned, shall 
place the truth beyond doubt. 

Reluctant as he is to notice further Mr. Forrest's Card, Mr. Macready has to 
.observe, that when Mr. Forrest appeared at the Princess's Theatre in London, 
he himself was absent some hundred miles from that city, and was ignorant of 
his engagement until after it had begun ; that not one single notice on Mr. 
Foirest's acting appeared in the Examiner during that engagement (as its 



14 

files will prove,) Mr. Forster, the distinguished Editor, whom Mr. Macready has 
the honor to calL his friend, having been confined to his bed with a rheumatic 
fever during the whole period, and some weeks before and after. 

For the other aspersions npon Mr. Macready, published in the Boston Mail, 
and now, as it is understood, avowed by Mr. Forrest, Mr. Macready will without 
delay appeal for legal redress. 

Jones's Hotel, Hov. 22d, 1848. 

Immediately after publishing the above, Mr. Macready committed 
to Lis counsel, Messrs. Reed cv; Meredith, of Philadelphia, authority 
to commence such legal proceedings as they might deem advisable : 
and, preparatory thereto, he obtained from England the documenta- 
ry evidence. 

As regards the charge of suborning the English press, it will be 
sufficient here to refer to the Times, Globe, Observer, Spectator, 
Morning Chronicle, Morning Post, Weekly Dispatch, Britannia, evrc, 
&c, of dates Dec. 13, 14, 15, 16, &c, which have indignantly and 
emphatically denied the charge ; many of which denials have already 
been republished in the American newspapers. 

It appears, however, that when Mr. Macready came to consult his 
legal advisers, two eminent Philadelphia lawyers, they wisely advised 
him to let the matter drop, and be satisfied with his reputation. So 
Macready went South, and was feted and feasted in New Orleans to 
his heart's content, but to the grievous discontent of Mr. Forrest and 
his numerous admirers. 

In the meantime, Macready had written to England for evidence to 
prove that the statements in Mr. Forrest's Philadelphia card were 
libelous ; and when he decided to give up his law suit, he caused 
these documents to be printed in a pamphlet, which hoAvever, he 
soon withdrew from public circulation. There were letters from 
Edinburgh to prove that Mr. Forrest was alone in hissing the "fancy 
dance" in Hamlet; letters from* the proprietor and theatrical critic 
of the London Examiner, to show that Macready had not influenced 
any criticisms on Forrest in that paper; from Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, 
asserting that he had offered his plays to Mr. Forrest for a fair consid- 
eration, and had not withheld them at the request of Mr. Macready, 
with other equally pertinent documents. Hut what avail were these? 
The friends of Forresi felt sure? that he had been shamefully treated 
in England, by the friends of Macready ; and whether he was a party 
to the matter or not, they meant to hold him responsible, and there- 
fore it was determined that lie should never play another engage- 
ment in New Fork, and that determination was enforced, but oh I at 
what a fearful sacrifice. 



15 



CHAPTER FOURTH, 

THE PLOT THICKENS THE ENGAGEMENT AT THE OPERA. HOUSE — > 

MAOREADI DRIVEN FROM THE STAGE. 

It must not be supposed that this was the first manifestation of 
patriotic indignation on the part of the friends of Mr. Forre! . 
account of his treatment in England. It was a deep and v 
feeling, and was ready to burst out on any fitting occasion. It 
threatened Mr. Anderson, and in Philadelphia an effort was made to 
drive him from the stage ; but a better feeling prevailed. Anderson 
was not charged witli any ill-will to Mr. Forrest, and the opposition 
to him was abandoned : yet there were not wanting persons who 
contended that every English actor ought to be driven from the 
American stage, in revenge for the insult offered by England to this 
country, in the person of Edwin Forrest. 

But when Macready, who was charged by Forrest himself with 
being the head and front of this offending, came to the United States, 
the flame of hatred was ready to burst forth, and the only wonder 
is, that it remained pent up so long. On his return from the South, 
Messrs. Niblo and Hackett, who had taken the Opera House for that 
purpose, announced that Mr. Macready would open an engagement 
on Monday night, May 7th. Mr. Forrest was playing at the Broad way 
Theatre. Previous to the commencement of this engagement, Mr. 
Macready gave a reading of a play of Shakspeare before the teachers 
of the public schools of New York and Brooklyn. 

The announcement of this engagement was the signal for an out- 
break of long-smothered indignation. It was determined that Mr. 
Forrest should be avenged, and that Macready should not be permitted 
to play before a New York audience. There was a combination of 
exciting causes — the feeling against England and Englishmen, handed 
down to us from the Revolution, and kept fresh by the insults and 
abuse of British writers on American manners — the injury committed 
against Forrest, with Macready as its presumed cause, and this was 
increased by the fact of Macready playing at the aristocratic, kid- 
glove Opera House. Far be it from us to justify these feelings — it 
is our duty simply to state the fact of their existence. 

The public and magistrates have been accustomed to look upon 
theatrical disturbances, rows, and riots, as different in their character 
from all others. The stage is presumed to be a correction of the 
manners and morals of the public, and on the other hand the public 
has been left to correct, in its own energetic way, the manners and 
morals of the stage ; and magistrates, looking upon it as a matter 
betw r een the actors and the audience, have generally refused to 
interfere, unless there was a prospect of a violent breach of the 
peace, when they have usually ordered the house to be closed. In 
these theatrical disturbances, performances have been hissed, plays 
damned, and actors and actresses driven from the stage, with 



J6 

whatever degree of force has been necessary for their rejection. This, 
has been the practice in the United States, as well as in Europe, and 
no actor, in any free country, has thought of acting with a posse of 
police at his back ; much less, a file of soldiers, or a piece of artillery, 
to defend his rights. 

On the announcement of Mr. Macready's engagement at the Opera 
House, it was determined that there should be a pretty forcible 
expression of opinion on the part of those who were indignant at the 
treatment of Mr. Forrest in England, and were willing, for any reason, 
to revenge it on Mr. Macready. There was, doubtless, some organi- 
zation of forces, to bring about this result, and one person, the well- 
known Capt. Rvnders, admits that he purchased and distributed 
among his friends fifty tickets, with the understanding that those Avho 
used them were to assist in hissing Macready from the stage. Other 
sums of money were given, and when the night arrived, it was esti- 
mated, by the Chief of Police, that not less than five hundred persons 
were engaged in the disturbance. 

The night came — the house was crowded, and there was an ominous 
looking gallery. The curtain rose, and some of the actors, who were 
popular favorites, were received with obstreperous applause ; but 
when Macready appeared upon the stage, in the character of Macbeth, 
he was assailed by a storm of hisses, yells, and a clamor that defies 
description. He stood his ground firmly, and the play went on, but 
not a word could be heard by the audience. It was in dumb show. 
The clamor rose higher and higher, and as hisses and threats, cat-calls 
and yells, were not enough to drive the obnoxious actor from the 
stage, less legitimate means were resorted to. Rotten eggs were 
thrown, pennies, and other missues ; and soon, still more outrageous 
demonstrations were made, and chairs were thrown from the upper 
part of the house, so as to peril life. 

The Chief of Police was present, with a number of policemen ; 
but the rioters boldly defied the authorities, and no arrests were 
attempted. It is said, in excuse, that the rioters were in overpow- 
ering numbers, that they were prepared to resist and rescue, and that 
they had even prepared papers of gunpowder to throw into the 
magnificent chandelier. A large portion of the audience consisted 
of ladies, whose lives might have been endangered, and there was 
nothing to do but to stop the performance. The curtain went down ; 
cheers were given for Forrest, and groans for Macready, and the 
crowd dispersed. 

Mr. Macready supposed that his engagement was terminated. 
He had no idea of ever making a second appearance; but his friends 
and the enemies of Forrest insisted upon a different course. 1 1 « - was 
assured that the public would sustain him, and the managers did not 
wish to lose the profits of his engagement. Mr. Hacketl is a personal 
enemy of Forrest, and he was determined to play Macready against 
him at all hazards. Finally, a number of influential citizens, men of 
wealth and standing, with Washington Irving at their head, wrote a 
forma] request to Mr, Macready that he should play out his engage- 
ment! and pledging themselves that the public should sustain him; 



17 

and it was determined and announced that he should appear on 
Thursday evening, May 10th. 

This announcement, as may be supposed, excited the indignation 
of those who had driven him from the stage. It was a combination 
of the aristocracy against the people, and in support of English 
arrogance, and it was determined that Macready should not play, and 
that he and his supporters should be put down at all hazards. The 
lessees of the Theatre were informed that the re-opening of the 
Theatre with Mr. Macready, would be the signal for riot ; the magis- 
trates of the city were informed of it, and were implored to avert 
the calamity by refusing to allow the house to be opened — for as the 
city authorities have the right to regulate Theatres, and to make 
them pay five hundred dollars a year for a license, it was presumed 
that they had also the right to close them. So thought the Mayor, 
and so he wished to act ; but the lessees insisted upon their legal 
rights, and demanded the protection of the authorities, and the fatal 
decision was made which made New York, a few hours afterward, 
one wide scene of horror. 



CHAPTER FIFTH. 



THE COMBAT DEEPENS. 



The announcement that Mr. Macready would appear at the Opera 
House in Macbeth on Thursday evening produced a varied excitement 
throughout the community. Those who thought the city disgraced 
by the scenes of Monday night were anxious to have that disgrace 
atoned for by his successful re-appearance, while those who sympa- 
thized with the mob that drove him from the stage, looked upon his 
re-appearance as a new insult, and the manner in which it was 
brought about was as irritating to them as the act itself. 

A riot was anticipated by all who were acquainted with the cir- 
cumstances, except, perhaps the object of popular indignation. Mr. 
Macready was assured that there would be no difficulty, and he 
seems to have believed it — but those who so assured him well un- 
derstood that those who had triumphantly driven him from the stage 
on Monday were not likely to submit quietly to his re-appearance. 

Thursday morning, the leaders on both sides were active. The 
friends of Forrest Avere gathering their forces, and distributing tick- 
ets for the night's performance, while the lessees of the Opera 
House applied to the mayor and other authorities of New York for 
protection. Inflammatory handbills had been posted upon the 
walls of the city, calculated to increase the excitement. In the may- 
or's office, the recorder, the chief of police, the sheriff, major-gene- 
ral Sandford, and brigadier-general Hall, were assembled to consult 



18 

on the means of protecting the Opera House, and enabling Mr. 
Macready to play Macbeth. 

The mayor, Mr. Woodhull, advised Niblo and Hackett to close the 
house, and to avoid a riot, and the probable destruction of property 
and life ; but these gentlemen were determined to stand upon their 
rights, and the city authorities decided, after consulting together, to 
sustain them,, if necessary, with all the force at their disposal. Mr. 
Matsell, the chief of police, was asked if the civil force at his dis- 
posal would be sufficient for the preservation of the peace, and 
though he had nine hundred salaried policemen at his disposal, and 
the power of calling in specials at discretion, he gave it as his opinion 
that this force was not sufficient. It was thought necessary to call 
out the military. 

It has been boldly questioned whether all these extraordinary 
preparations would have been made to protect the legal rights of 
humble citizens. Rich and influential men had invited Mr. Mac- 
ready to play at the aristocratic Opera House. Suppose it had 
been some third-rate actor at the Chatham ; suppose the request for 
him to play had come from the patrons of that establishment. The 
abstract question of right would have been the same ; but.there are 
many who would doubt whether the city authorities would have 
taken the extraordinary measure of calling out the military — and 
this was probably the first time such a thing was ever done under 
any but the most despotic governments. 

The fact of the chief of police declaring that his force was not 
sufficient to preserve the peace — the fact that general Sandford was 
ordered to call out a military force sufficient for the emergency, 
proves that the nature and extent of the approaching riot was well 
understood by the authorities, and still no means were used to pre- 
vent it. It seems to have been their policy to let it gather, and come 
to a head, when, one would suppose, it might easily have been scat- 
tered. Had the police arrested a few of the leaders, and kept a 
close watch on the rioters — had they taken possession of the vicinity 
of the Opera House in force, and prevented the gathering of a 
crowd around it, it seems probable that the peace of the city, and 
the rights of Mr. Macready might have been maintained at a tri- 
fling sacrifice. But a different course was decided upon, and the 
preparations of the military and police were made accordingly. The 
chief detached two hundred policemen, to be stationed inside the 
Opera House. He also placed a detachment in the stable of Mr. 
Langdon, on the opposite side of Astor Place, and another body in 
a yard near by. General Sandford ordered out companies from se- 
veral regiments, as will be more particularly stated hereafter. 

And now the news spread all over the city that there was to be a 
riot. The warning out of large bodies of military, was alone suffi- 
cient to excite curiosity ; and yet, in all this excitement and antici- 
pation of outrage, the mayor issued no warning proclamation. There 
was no one to toil hot-headed and misguided men, that it would be 
at the peril of their lives, it' they disturbed the peace. It is evident 
that they thought they had a right to prevent Macready from playing. 



19 

They were doing no more by him than the English had done by 
Forrest, and they looked upon it as a piece of retributive justice. 

It must not be forgotten, that New York, for many years, has been 
a very quiet city. For ten years, there had not been one serious 
riot. The principles of law and order are habitually acknowledged, 
and have seldom been violated. While Philadelphia has been, for 
years, the scene of the most disgraceful outrages, New York has not 
known a more serious disturbance than could be controlled by a few 
policemen. But in this case, every body rushed into a fatal riot, 
witli a mad precipitation. The calling out of the military sent 
thousands to the scene of conflict, who would not otherwise have 
gone, swelled the crowd, encouraged the rioters, and contributed to 
the fatal result. 

It is easy to say, people had no business there ; they ought to 
have kept away. It would be hard to show that those who were 
outside the house had not as good a right to gratify their curiosity 
as those within. But, right or wrong, we know very well what 
people will do in such a case. Let it be given out that there is to 
be a disturbance at any place, and that the military have been called 
out to put it down, and the consequence will be a gathering crowd, 
and, if there is the slightest seeming cause, a formidable riot. It 
seems that all the means used on the tenth of May, to preserve the 
peace, only helped to bring about the terrible catastrophe. 

Mr. Forrest has been charged with actively fomenting these dis- 
turbances. Such a charge was made in the Courier & Enquirer, 
but it was promptly retracted, under threat of prosecution for libel, 
from Mr. Sedgwick, Forrest's legal counsel. It does not appear that 
he moved at all in the matter. He stood passive, and let the affair 
shape itself as it might, as there is reason to suppose Mr. Macready 
had done, in England. On the night of the riot, Forrest played to a 
full house at the Broadway Theatre. 

It would seem, after the publication of the card, signed by Wash- 
ington Irving, Charles King, and about fifty others, denouncing the 
outrages of Monday night, and pledging themselves to sustain 
Macready, that the contest took on a new character. Macready was 
a subordinate personage, and he was to be put down less on his own 
account, than to spite his aristocratic supporters. The question 
became not only a national, but a social one. It was the rich against 
the poor — the aristocracy against the people ; and this hatred of 
wealth and privilege is increasing over the world, and ready to burst 
out whenever there is the slightest occasion. The rich and well-bred 
are too apt to despise the poor and ignorant, and they must not think 
it strange if they are hated in return. 



20 

CHAPTER SIXTH. 

THE SCENES OF THE FATAL NIG-HT. 

As the- hour for the opening of the Opera House approached, ex- 
cited crowds began to gather from all parts of the city. Hundreds 
of men were seen walking rapidly up Broadway. There was a great 
rush for tickets, and at an early hour the house was declared full, 
and the sale of tickets suspended. Among the audience in the 
house were seven ladies. The police were at their stations, and the 
doors and windows were strongly barricaded. 

It should here be stated that the Opera House is situated midway 
between Broadway and the Bowery, one side fronting on Eighth 
Street, the other on Astor Place. The end toward Broadway is 
covered by buildings, but there is an open space to the Bowerv. 

While the crowd was Catherine; outside, and endeavoring to force 
an entrance, in which they were prevented by the police, the curtain 
rose, and the mock tragedy commenced. Mr. Clark, an American 
actor, was vociferously applauded in the part of Macduff. The en- 
trance of Mr. Macready in the third scene was the signal for a storm 
of cheers, groans, hisses, and yells: The whole audience rose, and 
the greatest part, who were friendly to Macready, cheered and 
waved their hats and handkerchiefs ; but when these cheers were 
spent, the noise had not subsided. A large body in the parquette, 
and another in the amphitheatre hissed and groaned, and the con- 
test was kept up until a placard was displayed on the stage, on 
which was written — " The friends of order will remain quiet." The 
friends of disorder, however, kept up their noise through the first 
act, when the recorder and chief of police decided to quell the tu- 
mult ; and in a few moments the noisiest of the rioters were arrested, 
and conveyed to a room in the basement, and the play went on in 
comparative quietness. 

But by the time the tumult was suppressed in the house, it had 
gained its height on the outside. A vast crowd numbering ten or 
fifteen thousand, had gathered around the building, chiefly in Astor 
Place, and by the time the arrests were made in the house, and pro- 
bably in consequence of some communication between the rioters in 
the theatre and their friends outside, the house began to be assailed 
with largq paving stones, of which, owing to the digging of a sewer 
near by, there was a large supply. The stones crashed against the 
windows, and in Borne instances broke through the barricades. After 
the tragedy was over, the farce commenced, but it was brought to 
an end by the firing of the military : and the alarmed and excited 
audience left the theatre by the entrance in Eighth Street, under the 
cover ,pf the military, while Mr. Macready got away in the disguise 

of an officer; and mounting a horse, escorted i»y a party of his 

friends, he left the city, and the aexl day took the cars for Boston, 
whence a fe v days afterward he sailed to Europe. Before leaving 



21 

he expressed the deepest regret that he had not refused to appear 
again, in accordance with his first intention. 

From the testimony of the actors and spectators of the terrible 
scenes which occurred that night, we have selected four accounts — 
that of Sidney H. Stewart, Esq. Clerk of the Police, a man of 
observation and experience in that department ; that of Major 
Gexeral Sandford, the Commander-in-Chief of the military ; that 
of Stephen W. Gaines, Esq. and Thomas J. Belvin, Esq. disinter- 
ested spectators. From the sworn testimony of these four witnesses, 
may be gathered a pretty correct idea of the action of the public 
authorities, the police, the military, the rioters, and the spectators. 

TESTIMONY OF SIDNEY H. STEWART. 

Sidxey H. Stewart, Clerk of the Police, states -what he saw and heard before 
the arrival of the military : " I left the Tombs that evening in company with 
Justice McGrath, and arrived at the Astor Theatre about 7 o'clock ; soon after 
the doors were opened, the audience were assembling ; on entering the house, I 
found the theatre rilled with people and a large body of the police ; most of the 
police magistrates were there ; Judge Edmonds was there also ; the under- 
standing with the magistrates, Judge Edmonds, and the Chief of Police, and 
Recorder, was that no arrests should be made in the house, unless some overt 
act was committed, tending absolutely to a breach of the peace ; the usual indul- 
gence was to be allowed as to the hissing and applauding ; that rule was observed. 
In the course of the evening, demonstrations were made by several in the par- 
quette, by shaking their fists at Macready, threatening him with violence, by 
twelve or fifteen persons, certainly not to exceed twenty ; an application was 
made at this time to the Chief of Police to arrest them, and remove them from 
the house ; he delayed the order for some time, and finally sent for the Recorder 
to consult with him on the propriety of making arrests ; after a consultation, it 
was concluded to make the arrests, which was done; in less than five minutes 
they were taken into custody, and order comparatively restored ; about this time 
a great deal of hissing was heard in the amphitheatre, and loud applauding ; the 
plav was still going on ; several arrests were made in the amphitheatre, by order 
of the Chief of Police and Recorder ; about this time, the first breach of peace 
on the house was a large paving stone which came through the window into the 
house ; the house continued to be assailed from those without ; an alarm was 
given that a fire was below under the dress circle ; it was soon extinguished ; 
large stones were thrown at the doors on Eighth street, smashing in the panels, 
and doing other damage ; the police were ordered into Eighth street, say fifteen 
men ; on my going into the street, I saw a large concourse of people, but those 
near the door of the theatre were mostly boys, who were apparently throwing 
stones ; several of them were arrested by the police and brought in; I cannot 
say how many were aiding in the disturbance, but certainly a very small propor- 
tion to the crowd collected ; the policemen arrested some six or ten of them, and 
the attack on the door in Eighth street ceased ; the attack then, after these arrests, 
was made with more violence on the front of the theatre in Astor-place ; a very 
large crowd was collected, yet I could pass in and out with ease, comparatively ; 
this crowd did not appear to be very turbulent ; a very large number appeared 
to be citizens looking on, and not aiding in the disturbance ; the majority of those 
throwing stones were boys from the ages of 1 2 to 18 years ; several of the 
policemen at this time complained of being struck with stones and badly hurt ; 
the policemen kept making arrests, and bringing them in ; I cannot say how 
many ; the crowd appeared to be increasing and more dense ; the mob appeared 
to be determined to accomplish some particular act ; there seemed to be a strong 
determination, although they only threw stones ; the force of policemen on 
Astor-place amounted to from fifty to seventy-five ; the mob then continued to 
throw stones ; the militarv then came." 



22 

TESTIMONY OF MAJOR-GENERAL SANDFORD. 

1 am Major General commanding the military forces of this county. On 
Thursday last, I received a message from the Mayor, requesting me to come to 
his office. I went there, and found the magistrates named by the Mayor assem- 
bled. The Mayor informed me of the object of my being sent for. The Mayor 
has stated correctly my reply, when I was asked in relation to the expediency 
of issuing an order to call out the Military. After it was decided to issue the 
order, it was understood by the Magistrates present, that the effort should be 
lust made by the civil authority to preserve the peace, and that the Military 
should not be called out until that effort failed. I left the Mayor's office after 
this mid er standing, and then received this order : 

Mayor's Office, City Hall, May 10, 1849. 
Having reason to apprehend a serious riot this evening, which will require 
more force to preserve the peace than is possessed by the police, Major General 
Sandford is requested to hold a sufficient military force in readiness to meet the 
apprehended emergency. C. S. WOODHULL, Mayor. 

After receiving this order, I ordered one Regiment — the 7th — of Infantry to 
assemble at the Artillery drill rooms, and one troop of Light Artillery with two 
6 pound field pieces, to muster at the Arsenal. I directed a small detachment of 
Infantry to protect the pieces. The regiment, when assembled, on account of the 
shortness of the notice, consisted of but little over two hundred men. The 
regiment is known to the citizens by the title of the National Guard. I went 
myself, in the evening, to the Artillery drill rooms, and informed the Magistrate 
that I would remain there to await orders. I understood there was to be a large 
Police force at the Theatre. Many of the Magistrates thought this force would 
be sufficient without the military. The regiment was under the command of 
Col. Duryea. There are eight Captains in the regiment. I cannot say they 
were all present. Capts. Shumway, Underlull, Pond and Price, were present. 
We remained there until a verbal message came to me from the sheriff the purport 
of which was, that a mob had attacked the house and driven in the Police force, 
and were assailing the building ; this was between Sand 9 o'clock, as well as I 
can remember. On receiving this notice, I immediately ordered the Regiment 
to get ready for marching, and to distribute their ammunition, which consisted of 
one thousand rounds of ball cartridges , I sent at the same time an order to the 
Arsenal yard for the horse belonging to the Regiment to come up immediately 
to the drill rooms, and march with us to the grounds. The horsemen carried only 
their sabres ; the troops were put on the march, and moved rapidly up Broadway 
to Astor-place; the field pieces were Left at the Arsenal ; no order was given to 
the artillery. I Was not aware, until L got to the ground, of the extent of the 
mob; 1 thought the force 1 had with me, in connection with the Police force, 
would be sufficient to preserve the peace. Before getting on the ground, I 
mounted my horse, and took charge of the cavalry, directing the tnfantry to 

follow close after us. The horsemen, on entering Astor-place. were formed ten 

ahead, and advanced in that order until wegol nearly opposite the corner of the 
Opera Souse; at this place, we were assailed with a shower of stones and bride 

bats, by which almost every man was hurt, and the hoises rendered almost 

unmanageable ; the men pushed rapidly through Aster place, ami through the 
whole distance were assailed with a shower oi stones; the infantry followed 

them. The mob extended from Astor-place to the Bowery; the mounted men, 

being COnspicUOUfl mark-, received inOSl of the stone-, and were driven off the 
ground. I dismounted, returned through the mob, and took charge of the 

Infantry. 'I: • ere halted in Line across the open space beyond the theatre, 
with a dense mob on both Bides of then, who were assailing them with all 
of opprobrious epithets, and trequenl volleys of .-tone-. 1 ordered CoL Duryea 
to form a column of division for the purpose of clearing the ground in the rear 
of the theatre, intending after* aid (<• go to the front. The columns were formed 
promptly, and moved forward through die mob, until stopped hv an excavation 
m the ground, which 1 had not previously seen, on aoooun rknes of the 



2S 

night. We filed around tins broken ground, and cleared tin* rear of the thcatte 
the mob retreating before us as we advanced Two bodies of troops were 

stationed at each end of the theatre, extending across the street I then Kent in 
for the Sheriff and One!' of Police. Mr. Matsell furnished sufficient of the 
police to take the place of the two lines of military, and the whole were then 
put under march ; passed through Eighth-st to Broadway, and around into Astor- 
place, the Sheriff at my request accompanied us. We moved down Astor-place 
until we got a little past the centre! of the theatre. The mob partially retreated 
to the middle and opposite side of the street ; they commenced an attack on the 
military by throwing paving stones. The paving in this vicinity had been taken 
up for the purpose, as I was informed, of laying down water pipes and building 
a sewer. I ordered the regiment to be divided and to form in two lines across 
the street ; the right wing advanced toward the Bowery, and the left toward 
Broadway, with the view of driving the mob each way from the front of the 
theatre ; during this period, the men were constantly assailed with showers of 
stones and brickbats, and many were seriously hurt ; a number of men near by 
and Gen. Hall were struck with stones, and dangerously injured. After giving 
this order, I advanced toward the middle of the street to Captain Shumway, who 
led the first company, with Col. Duryea by his side, being outside myself next the 
mob ; the Sheriff was behind me ; at this time, we were assailed by a volley of 
stones, by which about eight out of eleven of the first platoon were more or less 
injured. Myself, Col. Dur*a, and Capt. Shumway were injured. At this time, 
a pistol was fired by some man in the mob, by which Capt. Shumway was 
wounded in the leg, and, as I believe, Gen. Hall in the face. Previous to this, the 
crowd had been repeatedly notified by Gen. Hall and myself, and by other persons 
whose voices I did not recognise, that they must disperse or they would be fired 
upon. I was at this time partly knocked down, and When I arose, I found three 
or four of the front rank partly down, and the head of the column forced back 
tow r ard the Opera House, the shower of stones at this time being incessant ; orders 
were then given by myself and repeated by Col. Duryea, to charge bayonet ; the 
attempt was made, but the crowd was so close upon the troops that there was 
no room for the troops to charge, and some of the men had their muskets seized 
by the crow T d ; the troops by this time were forced back to the sidewalk; I stated 
to the Sheriff that it was impossible to maintain our position without firing. I 
several times called out to the crowd that they must fall back or we would fire ; 
after this the Sheriff gave the order to fire. Gen. Hall, who was a short distance 
from me, made an exclamation to fire over their heads ; the order to fire was 
repeated by myself and Col. Duryea, and the men fired once over the heads of 
the crowd, against Mrs. Langdon's house. A shout then came from the mob, 
" They have only blank eartridges, give it to them again," and another volley of 
stones came instantly ; the, troops were then ordered to fire again; I think the 
order was given by myself and Gen. Hall ; Gen. Hall said, " fire low ;" then, for 
the first time, the mob began to give way ; the troops then moved forward, crossing 
the street, and chiving the crowd before them until the troops got near the corner 
of Lafayette-place. The mob here rallied at the corner of Lafayette-place, on 
one side, and at the corner of the theatre and the broken ground, on the other 
side, and advanced, throwing volleys of stones ; several of the troops were hurt 
severely, and orders were given for the troops to fire — one half obliquely to the 
right, the other half to the left upon these two bodies of men ; this was done, and 
the crowd fell back into Lafayette-place, and the broken ground behind the 
theatre. There was no firing after tliis ; the mob kept a constant attack upoii 
the troops for some time with stones and brickbat s. The whole number of military 
engaged in the conflict was 210, one-half of the line toward Broadway, and the 
other toward Bowery ; the mob has been variously estimated from ten to twenty 
thousand. Previously to leaving Eighth-st. to go around to the front of the 
theatre with the troops, I sent up the Light Artillery and the portions of the 
Sixth Regiment that was to support it They arrived after the firing had ceased 
One gun was placed toward the Bowery, and the other toward Broadway. The 
Infantry w T ere stationed, and the mob were again told that unless they left, they 
would be fired upon, and the Artillery used, if necessary. The mob dispersed, 
and the firing ceased. Upwards of 50 men of this small detachment of 2 10 men, 



24 

were injured, chiefly before the firing commenced. I do not believe tnat the 
troops could have withdrawn in safety when the order was given to fire, and that 
they could not liave maintained their position without firing. During a period of 
thirty-five years of military service, 1 have never seen a mob so violent as the 
one on that evening. I never before had occasion to give the order to fire. 

TESTIMONY OF STEPHEN W. GAINES. 

Stephens "W. Gaines, sworn, says : — I am a counsellor at law, residing at No. 
180 East Broadway ; on Thursday evening last, I was at the corner of Astor- 
place and Lafayette-place ; I stood upon a pile of boards ; I stood there from 
half-past eight o'clock until after the last discharge of musketry ; from the place 
where I stood, I had a fair view of the Opera House ; when I first got there, 
the space between us and the theatre was filled with people, but not densely 
crowded at that time ; I saw persons throwing stones at the principal entrance, 
and at the windows of the Opera House ; they were nearly in front of the Opera 
House ; sometimes a single stone, and at other times a volley ; about fifty feet 
in front of the house was the principal scene of action ; the street toward the 
Bowery was filled with people; there were no stones tin-own from the quarter 
where I stood, and there were so few actually stoning the house, that it was a 
surprise to those witnessing it why the police did not stop it ; the first I saw of 
the military was the horse, and then followed the infantry ; they came from 
Broadway, passed the Opera House in Astor-place, and took their stand near the 
4th avenue ; I saw no opposition ; in about half an hour I saw the horse troops 
pass up Astor-place, towards Broadway ; I should have left upon the arrival of 
the military,. but so many coming upon the sidewalk, I could not get out; within 
a short time after, the infantry passed up in front of the house ; I saw the fire 
from the discharge of the muskets as it left the barrels, as the lamps were out ; 
some of them were fired perpendicular, some on an inclined plane towards the 
house of Mrs. Langdon, and others horizontally; this was the first discharge ; we 
had no intimation of firing where I stood, until I saw the flash ; several other 
volleys were discharged immediately ; previous to firing the last volley, the 
street was nearly cleared ; most of the people had left the enclosure where I 
was ; there were, perhaps, half a dozen on the sidewalk in front of where I was ; 
I was still standing on the board, when the last discharge took place up Astor- 
place towards the Bowery ; between me and the soldiers the space was clear ; 
there was a small number of persons on the corner opposite Mrs. Langdon's 
house ; they were out of the range of the fire ; tins fire was nearly in the range 
of where 1 was standing ; I stepped back a pace or two, to bring myself out of 
the direct line ; immediately another discharge took place, that being part of 
the previous discharge; upon the discharge, a man fell upon the sidewalk in 
front of us ; there were but a few persons near him at the ume ; after he fell, he 
remained on the ground half a minute, some supposed he was nhawnyifag being 
shot ; on picking him up, a wound was discovered in his back, by the blood 
running ; we took the wounded man down to the drug store corner Fourth and 
Wooster street ; on examining the body, we found a wound in the lower part of 

fail stomach; his name was Henry otten, residing at the corner of Hester and 

Orchard streets ; lie was standing on the sidewalk at the time he was shot, takiug 
no part in the disturbance ; alter leaving him, I learned tluit others had been 
shot ; 1 have been informed that he has since died. 

TESTIMONY OF THOMAS J. BELY1.W 

Thomas J. Bi Lvnr, residing at No. LS8 King street, boatman : — On Thursday 
evening last, 1 was at the disturbance at the Aster place Opera House; 1 stood 
on the corner of Laiayette-place, by Mrs. Langdon's house; when L got there, 
about half-past dx o'clock, I an» I ioi of half-grown boys throwing stones at the 
\ "i Opera House; 1 passed on the opposite corner, and was talking to two 
Philadelphians ; they were saying how trifling this was to some of their riots; 
L stayed there until the hone soldiers came, and then the infantry ; then there 



25 

was a rush with the boys, and we started buck, and then returned again to see 
how the military operated; I was standing on tin- corner of Mrs. Langdbn's 
house when the first firing took place; when the military left, the boys went 
back and commenced throwing stones again; I stood there when the first discharge 

took place ; a man fell ; I laughed, and so did others, as we thought that it. was 
only blank cartridges to scare them; I heard a man say, "mj God, look at this; 

he's shot ;" this was at the first discharge of musketry; \ heard no notice given 
to disperse; they might have done so; alter this I started and ran down to the 
church on the corner of 4th street, and there I stood ; I don't know how long I 
stood there, I was so frightened ; I stood there until I heard another banging of 
muskets, and then I started and ran home as quick as I could ; I should not have 
gone there, if I had known they were going to use lead ; I went to see what 
was going on, like many others; I don't know how long I stood at the church 
before I heard the second firing; I was glad to get there ; I jumped over several 
people in making my way to the church. 

It is to be observed that the above accounts vary according to the 
position of the witnesses. Mr. Stewart confines his attention chiefly 
to the operations of the police ; Gen. Sandford to those of the mili- 
tary ; while others may be supposed to represent the views and 
feelings of the mere spectators. 

On the examination of Mr. Stewart, he was asked, if, in his opinion, 
the riot could have been prevented or suppressed by the action of 
the police, without calling on the military. Though loth to give an 
opinion, which might be construed into a censure of the authorities, 
he stated his belief that the whole affair might have been differently 
managed. 

The scene which followed the firing of the military, beggars all 
description. The wounded, the dying, and the dead, were scattered 
in every direction. There were groans of agony, cries for help, and 
oaths of vengeance. The dead and the wounded were borne to the 
drug stores at the corners of Eighth street and Broadway, and Third 
Avenue, and others in the vicinity, and surgeons were summoned to 
attend them. Some were conveyed by the police to the Fifteenth 
Ward Station House, and a few carried to the City Hospital. Some 
of the dead and wounded were laid out upon the billiard tables of 
Vauxhall Saloon, a large crowd gathered around, and speeches were 
made by excited orators. 

Had none but those actively engaged in the riot been shot by the 
military, these details would have been sufficiently melancholy. But 
even then, we are to consider that the men who composed the mob, 
may have acted, under ordinary circumstances, like honest and 
respectable citizens. A mob is composed of the same men in a state 
of temporary insanity, and they should be treated accordingly. Sober 
and quiet citizens, acting under such a temporary excitement, have 
committed the greatest outrages. They should be restrained, but 
not sacrificed, unless under the most imperative necessity. 

But in this case, very few of the active rioters were injured — the 
greater part of the killed and wounded being either spectators, or 
persons passing by the scene. Thus, Bridget Fagan was walking 
with her husband along; the Bowery, shot through the leo*. and died 
at the Hospitals Mr. Stuart, an old retired merchant, was severely 



26 

wounded in the neck, while standing in the Bowery ; and Mr. Collins 
was shot dead while getting out of a car of the Harlem Rail Road-. 
Wm. C. Russell, a lawyer, had his arm shattered while passing 
around the corner of the Bowery. Mr. Livingston, standing in S*. 
Mark's place, two blocks off, was severely wounded. There were 
many more such cases. 

Of those who were shot down in the immediate vicinity of the 
Opera House, the greater portion were taking no part in the affair. 
Mr. George W. Gedney, a broker in Wall street, who had a wife, to 
whom he had been married but little more than a year, and one child, 
was shot instantly dead, as he was standing inside the railing by the 
Langdon mansion. At the first volley, a ball pierced his brain. His 
wife knew he had gone to see the riot, and she had had a presen- 
timent of some disaster. She sat watching and waiting for her 
husband, for it was the first time he had been out at night, without 
her, since their marriage. She waited until four o'clock in the 
morning in an agony of terror, when, unable to endure the suspense 
any longer, she rushed into the street, went to the house of one of 
her husband's friends, roused him from his slumber, and begged him 
to go and seek for her husband. The man went, and found poor 
Gedney a cold corpse. Mrs. Gedney was sitting at the window 
when he returned, and motioned for him to come to her, but he shook 
his head mournfully, and passed by in silence. She knew that her 
beloved husband was no more. Her neighbor, who had not the 
courage to tell her the awful tidings, sent his wife to comfort her. 
This is but one of many such cases of domestic affliction, produced 
by the events of that night of terror. 



CHAPTER SEVENTH. 

THE DAY AFTER THE RIOT POPULAR EXCITEMENT CORONER'S IN- 
QUEST LIST OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED. 

The morning of the eleventh of May was one of sad excitement 
in the city of New York. The extent of the calamity, the number 
of the dead and wounded, made a deep and solemn impression. 
Public opinion was \<t\ much divided. The more excitable breathed 
threats of vengeance, and the military were kept under arms during 
that and the succeeding day. A meeting was called in the Park, of 
"Citizens opposed t<< the destruction of Human Life." Several 
thousands assembled, and resolutions were passed, thoroughly con- 
demning the authorities For not exhausting the civil power before 
calling out the military, and characterizing the sacrifice of life as 
" the mosl wanton, unprovoked and murderous outrage ever perpe- 
trated in the civilized world ;*' and calling upon the Grand Jury to 
mdicl the Mayor, Recorder and SiherifF, for ordering the military to 
fire on the i itizens, Exciting and inflammatory speeches were made 



27 

by Edward Strahan, Isaiah Ryndcrs, and Mike Walsh, but the meet- 
ing separated without disturbance. 

That night, all eyes were turned toward the Opera House, for 
though it had been closed by the lessees, and though Mac, ready was 
in Boston, it had been given out that it should be destroyed. The 
most efficient measures had been taken by the authorities, and a 
proclamation issued by the Mayor. Gen. Sandford called out four 
troops of horse artillery, one squadron of cavalry, four regiments of 
infantry, including the fifth brigade, and a detachment of the veteran 
artillery, with a 24 pound howitzer. The artillery was planted so a*s 
to sweep the streets around the building, and the infantry and cavalry 
stationed at a convenient distance. The artillery was furnished with 
grape, and the infantry with ball cartridge. 

At dark, ^n immense crowd filled the streets around the Opera 
House, but the military took possession of the ground, dispersed the 
mob, and barricaded the approach^ to the scene. The mob, most 
violent at first in Broadway, having been driven from that position, 
made an attack upon the troops in the Bowery, and severely injured 
several of the soldiers ; but the police, aided by the military, arrested 
or dispersed the offenders. At about 9 o'clock, the mob erected a 
barricade across 9th street, near the Bowery, to defend themselves 
from the cavalry, but it was stormed by the police. At one time, 
the attack upon the City Guard was so severe, that they were ordered 
to load, and the Recorder proclaimed that another shower of stones 
would bring one of lead in return ; but fortunately the volleys ceased. 
Bonfires were kindled, but these only made the leaders of the riot 
conspicuous, and aided the police to arrest them. About thirty 
arrests were made, the mob driven off in all directions, and at mid- 
night order was restored. Half this efficiency the previous night, 
would have saved all bloodshed. Order was restored, and though it 
was reported that a large number of persons had come from Phila- 
delphia, expressly to take part in a riot, the peace of the city was 
not again disturbed. 

On Saturday morning, the Coroner assembled a jury, who pro- 
ceeded in carriages, to view the bodies of those who were killed. 
After viewing them, and witnessing a surgical examination of each, 
the inquest was continued at the Hall of the Court of Sessions. The 
Mayor, Recorder, Sheriff, Chief of Police, and several military officers 
and citizens were examined. We have given some of the most 
important of the testimony. 

The Jury retired at half-past six o'clock, on Sunday evening, and 
after being out a short time, returned the following verdict : 

"We believe that Geo. A. Curtis, John McDonald, TTios. Aylwood, George Lin* 
coin, Timothy Burns, Henry Otten, George W. Brown, Wni. Butler, George W. 
Taylor, Owen Burns, Thos. Belman, Neil Gray Mellis, Asa F. Collins, Wm. Har- 
raer, Thos. Keirnan, Mathew Cahill, Geo. N. Gedney, came to their deaths by 
gun shot wounds, from balls fired by the Military during the riot before the 
Opera House, on Thursday evening, 10th May inst., by order of the civil author- 
ities of the city of New York ; and that the circumstances existing at the time 
iustified the authorities in giving the order to fire upon the mob. "We further 



28 

Relieve that if a larger number of the Police had been ordered out, the necessity 
of a resort to the use of Military might have been avoided. 

New Yoek, May 14, 1849. JAMES H. PERKINS, Foreman. 

O. H. WILSON, WM. BANTA-, 

LEONARD H. HEGAR, J. C. BALDWLN, 

JAMES CROPSY, LEANDER M. SAMMIS, 

SAMUEL RAYNOR, EDWARD C. ROBINSON, 

JOSEPH B. BREWSTER, WM. S. SMITH, 

GEO. W. DAWSON, THOS. S. MILLER, 
WILLIAM BALLAGH. 

Five other persons, in a few days afterwards, died of their wounds. 
The following is believed to be a complete list of all the killed and 
wounded : 



LIST OF THE KILLED. 

GEORGE A. CURTIS, 
Aged 22 years, born in Chautauque Co., printer ; shot through the lungs. 

JOHN Mc'DONALD, 
Aged fifteen years, born in L-eland, shot through the breast. 

GEORGE LINCOLN, 
Aged 35 years, appeared to be a sailor ; shot in the abdomen. 

THOMAS AYLWOOD, 
Aged 19, bom in Halifax, a clerk ; shot in the thigh : died after amputation of 
the limb. 

TIMOTHY BURNS, 

16 years, a printer ; shot through the right lung. 

HENRY OTTEN, 
22 years ; grocer; shot through the breast. He died in the 15 fh Ward station- 
house, in presence of his aged mother. 

GEORGE W. BROWN, 
From Boston ; clerk ; bull passed through left lung. 

WILLIAM BUTLER, 
24 years ; ship joiner ; shot through the head. 

GEORGE W. TAYLOR, 
21 years; house carpenter ; shot through the head. 

OWEN BURNS, 
24 years - r born in Ireland ; a cartman ; shot through the head. 
THOMAS BELMAN, 

17 years ; born in Ireland ; laborer ; shot through the neck. 

NEIL GRAY MKLLIS, 
27 years ; the musket-ball passed directly through the heart ; left a wife and one 
child. The deceased was a nephew to ex-Alderman Neil Gray of the 10th 
Ward. 

A -A P. COLLINS, 
45 years ; born in this State; business a house agent The deceased received a 
ball in the neck, as he was descending from the railroad car. 
WILLIAM BARMER, 
16 years; a butcher; was brought to the Bellevue Hospital early on Friday 
morning, having received a ball in the abdomen; he lingered until four 
o'clock in the afternoon, "when death relieved his earthly Buffering. He was 
a native of Si Johr/s, Now Brunswick 



THOMAS KEIRNAN, 
21 years ; born in Ireland ; a waiter ; sh<j£ in the right cheek, the ball passing 
into the brain. 

MATHEW CAHILL, 
26 years ; born in Ireland ; laborer ; widower ; shot through the right breast ; 
one cliild. 

TIMOTHY McGUINN, 
19 years; laborer. The deceased was residing with his mother, in the rear of 
No. 107 West Tliirteenth-street, and died soon after being brought home. 
' GEORGE W. GEDNKV, 
34 years ; born in New- York ; a broker ; resided at No. 82 Seventh-street Tlie 
deceased received a musket-ball directly through the brain. 
JOHN DALZELL, 
Was wounded in the hip, and died after amputation of the lup joint. 

ROBERT MACLEURGEON, 
Aged 20, a native of New York, received a wound while passing through Lafay- 
ette Place ; and died at his mother's residence on Monday. 
JOHN McKINSLEY, 
Shot through the lungs, died on Sunday night. 

HENRY BURGUIST, 
Known as " Harry Bluff," lived at 410 Pearl-street. Ball grazed the neck, 
>vent into the right shoulder, coming out behind the right arm. Died of 
ns wounds at the hospital. 

BRIDGET FAGAN, 
Irish ; 30 years old ; shot in the leg, just below the knee. She was two blocks 
off, walking with her husband on their way home, and fell into his arms. 
Died after amputation. 

Thus TWENTY-THREE PERSONS were either killed on the 
spot, or died of their wounds shortly after. 



LIST 0E THE WOUNDED. 

The following list is probably incomplete, as many who were not 
seriously wounded have not been publicly reported : 

Edward McCormtck, 135 First Avenue ; 19 years old ; worked at 200 Mulber- 
ry-street. Shot through the side. 

Conrad Becker, 27 Hudson-street ; worked for Mahoney and Thompson, Up- 
holsterers, Chatham-street. Ball went through the right thigh. 

George N. Kay, 28 years of age ; merchant ; boarded at 107 Chambers-street 
Ball in the right breast, going entirely through. 

Frederick Gillespie, a boy ; shot through the foot. 

A Son of J. Irwin, 243 Tenth-street ; ball through his leg. 

B. M. Seixas, jr., 

Matthew Carhart, residence First Av., corner of Twelfth-st. ; shot through the 
breast and neck. 

Mr. Stewart, of the late firm of Coley, Stewart, and Co., Mobile, retired mer- 
chant ; while standing in the Bowery was 6hot in the neck. 

Mr. Philip Livingston, a young man, who was standing in St. Mark's Place, 
was badly wounded, he shot entering the fore arm, and coming out near the 
thumb. 



30 

Lieut. J. Bnow>- ; son of Prof. Brown ; residence 42 Crosby -street ; was shot as 
he came out of the Amphitheatre door. 

Deacon A. M. Collins ; of the Allen-street Church ; was also shot. 

"William Selleck ; 23 years of age; residence 227 Seventh-street; dangerously 
■svounded by a shot ; a spectator. 

A young Philadelphia ; name not ascertained ; badly shot through the thigh. 

Mr. Braisted ; of the firm of Secor & Co. ; spectator ; shot through the knees. 

\Vm. C. 1!u.-sj:i.l, Esq.; a lawyer of Wall-street; left his residence in Fourth- 
avenue, about half-past 10, and while passing the corner of Lafayette-place, 
had his left arm shattered by a ball. 

Mr. Marshall Lefferts ; of the firm of Messrs. Geo. B. Moorewood <fe Co. 14 
and 16 Beaver-street ; while on duty as an officer, was knocked from his 
horse by a stone, and seriously wounded. 

One of the National Guards had liis jaw-bone broken by a paving-stone. 

Lorexzo D. Snell, of Philadelphia; 49 Bayard-street; was shot through the 
thigh. 

Mrs. Brexxav, house-keeper for Mr. Kernachan, corner of Second-avenue and 
Ninth-street; while passing up the Bowery, on her way home, leaning upon 
the arm of a man. was struck by a ball in her left thigh, which passed tlirough 
the fleshy part of this and the right thigh, without injuring the large vessels 
or the bones. 

STErUEN Kehoe. 

Mr. Vaxderpool ; was wounded with a ball at the corner of the eye. 

A boy, by the name of Stone. 

An instance of heroism is related of one of the wounded, who, 
when the surgeon was about to examine his case, said, " Nevermind 
me now, but look round and see if there is not some one who needs 
you more than I do I" The speech was worthy of Sir Philip Sid- 
ney. The lives of such men ought not to be lightly sacrificed. 

Of the military and police, a large number were wounded, some 
of them severely, by paving stones. Capt. Shumway received a 
flesh wound with a pistol shot. 

The military performed their duty, generally, with commendable 
coolness. Some, it is said, laid down their arms, rather than fire, 
and others fired into the air ; but on the whole, they did quite suffi- 
cient execution, especially on those who were not actively engaged 
in the riot. 



CHAPTER NINTH. 

WHERE LIES THE BLAME ? 

The dead are Bleeping in their quiet graves. Day by day, time 
brings its consolations to the afflicted ; but has society no lesson to 
learn from the horrors of which sre have given ai full a description 
as could be given, by Looking at the mere surface of things? We 
shown ili»' causes which produced this dreadful sacrifice of 
human life — this massacre of innocent and unofiendinar citizens, for 



31 

many of the killed were truly such. Let us endeavor to turn the 
terrible lesson to some useful account. 

Those who were actively engaged in the scenes we have described, 
experience different feelings in regard to it. The mob was made up 
mainly of well-meaning, but ignorant, rash, and misguided men. 
The best feelings of our nature, when they are perverted, may pro- 
duce the worst consequences. In this case, a feeling of patriotism, 
and a sense of justice, were the ruling motives of those who violated 
the laws, broke the peace of the community, defied the constituted 
authorities, and caused the death of twenty- three human beings. 
They acted in all good conscience, but an unenlightened or misguided 
conscience is no security against wrong. Some of the worst deeds 
that were ever committed, were done " in all good conscience." Thus 
Christ was crucified by a Jewish mob, and said, " Father, forgive 
them, they know not what they do." Thus, in all ages, the worst 
acts have been committed from the best of motives. 

The authorities are probably satisfied with having maintained law 
and order, though at a terrible sacrifice, and the press has almost 
unanimously sustained them. But it should be remembered that 
almost all men are liable to temporary excitements. Mobs are affected 
with a kind of insanity. The madness of a crowd seems to be infec- 
tious. These rioters may, in their calm moments, be good and quiet 
citizens. We have seen some of the most sober and moral commu- 
nities excited into a fury of passion. At any rate, they are brethren, 
and should be dealt with in love and kindness. 

But law and order must be maintained ; very true — it must be 
done at all hazards, but it should be done prudently, and with the 
least possible sacrifice. Humanity has its claims as w r ell as law ; and 
it may not be necessary to the maintenance of public order, that 
ignorant and misguided men, laboring under a temporary madness 
should be shot down like dogs, if they can be controlled by means 
more gentle. t 

The military acted naturally, under the circumstances. They 
were placed in an ugly position by the authorities, suffered severely 
for it, and obeyed their orders. No doubt, they regretted the fatal 
necessity. Some idea of the probable feelings of those who fired 
the fatal volleys, may be judged of from the fact that a brother of 
Mr. Gedney, who w r as shot dead at the first fire, was a member of 
one of the companies that fired the volleys. All men are brethren — 
hut here w T as brother against brother, in a sense that the most unfeel- 
ing can appreciate. 

A distinguished clergyman of this city, preaching on the subject 
of the riot, says of Macready and his right to act — " Though he had 
been the meanest of his kind, he should have been protected here to 
the conclusion of his announced engagement, if an army of ten thou- 
sand men had been required to wait upon his movements, and a ship 
of war chartered to convey him to his native land. We have done 
something to vindicate order and law, and we ought to have done 
more." 



32 

A zeal for the rights of Mr. Macready and his friends, and for the 
cause of law and order is commendable — but it must not be forgot- 
ten that other rights must have been violated, or this riot could 
never have taken place. Those ignorant men had a right to educa- 
tion, and to such conditions of cultivation, as would have made them 
intelligent men and good citizens. They would never have raised 
their hands against society, had society done its duty to them. Be- 
fore they committed this wrong, they had been most deeply wronged 
themselves ; and it would be better to provide ten thousand school- 
masters to instruct people, than ten thousand soldiers to prevent the 
result of their ignorance. 

Men can be zealous and indignant about the rigts of play actors, 
or their patrons — and we have no disposition to deny their rights, 
or to interfere with the lawful exercise of them — but they forget in 
how many ways the rights of our brethren are violated, and not a 
word is said in their behalf. Give every man the natural and social 
rights that belong to him and we should have few crimes and out- 
rages to complain of, and law and order could be maintained with- 
out standing armies or ships of war. 

When we go deep into the investigation of social wron^a, we shall 
find that society brings upon itself the very evils it attempts to sub- 
due. Society, by an unjust distribution of the avails of industry, en- 
ables a few men to become rich, and consigns a great mass to hope- 
less poverty, with all its deprivations and degradations. This pover- 
ty produces ignorance, the sense of injustice, grovelling tastes, and 
a loss of all high ambition. The only wonder is that under such cir- 
cumstances of wrong and outrage, men are so forbearing, 30 honest, 
and so orderly. The only wonder is that more crimes are not com- 
mitted against both property and life. Thousands of poor people 
know that they are robbed and plundered every day of their lives — 
they feel bitterly the hardships and injustice of their lot ; but how 
calmly do they wait God's justice to set them right! How few of 
them comparatively attempt to right their own wrongs, and to sieze 
upon a portion of what society withholds from them ! 

This terrible tragedy is a lesson to us all. None can escape its 
warning. We are all responsible, all guilty ; for we make a part of 
a society that has permitted thousands of its members to grow up 
in poverty and ignorance, and exposed to the temptations of vice and 
crime. This mob is but a symptom of our social condition, and it 
points out a disease to which we should lose no time in applying a 
proper remedy. 



THE END.