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 presentiment 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 INQUEST—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 very
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 to the destruction
of Human Life.” Several thousands assembled, and resolutions were
passed, thoroughly condemning the authorities for not exhausting the
civil power before calling out the military, and characterizing the
sacrifice of life as “the most wanton, unprovoked and murderous outrage
ever perpetrated in the civilized world;” and calling upon the Grand
Jury to indict the Mayor, Recorder and Sheriff, for ordering the
military to fire on the citizens. Exciting and inflammatory speeches
were made by Edward Strahan, Isaiah Rynders, and Mike Walsh, but the
meeting separated without disturbance.
That night, all eyes were turned toward the Opera House, for though
it had been closed by the lessees, and though Macready 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 as 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, an immense crowd filled the streets around the Opera House,
but the military took possession of the ground, dispersed the mob, and
barricaded the approaches 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 midnight 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 Philadelphia, 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 proceeded 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, Thos. Aylwood,
George Lincoln, Timothy Burns, Henry Otten, George W. Brown,
Wm. Butler, George W. Taylor, Owen Burns, Thos. Belman, Neil
Gray Mellis, Asa F. Collins, Wm. Harmer, 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 authorities of the city of New York;
and that the circumstances existing at the time justified
the authorities in giving the order to fire upon the mob. We
further believe 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 YORK, May 14, 1849. JAMES H. PERKINS, Foreman.
O. H. WILSON, WM. BANTA,
LEONARD H. HEGAR, J. C. BALDWIN,
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 McDONALD,
Aged fifteen years, born in Ireland, shot through the breast.
GEORGE LINCOLN,
Aged 35 years, appeared to be a sailor; shot in the abdomen.
THOMAS AYLWOOD,
Aged 19, born 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
15th Ward Station-House, in presence of his aged mother.
GEORGE W. BROWN,
From Boston; clerk; ball 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; born in Ireland; a cartman; shot through the head.
THOMAS BELMAN,
17 years; born in Ireland; laborer; shot through the neck.
NEIL GRAY MELLIS,
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.
ASA F. 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 HARMER,
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 suffering. He was a native of
St. John’s, New Brunswick.
THOMAS KEIRNAN,
21 years; born in Ireland; a waiter; shot 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 child.
TIMOTHY McGUINN,
19 years; laborer. The deceased was residing with his mother,
in the rear of No. 107 West Thirteenth-street, and died soon
after being brought home.
GEORGE W. GEDNEY,
34 years; born in New York; a broker; resided at No. 82
Seventh-street. The deceased received a musket-ball directly
through the brain.
JOHN DALZELL,
Was wounded in the hip, and died after amputation of the hip
joint.
ROBERT MACLEURGEON,
Aged 20, a native of New York, received a wound while passing
through Lafayette-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, went into the right shoulder, coming out
behind the right arm. Died of his 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 OF THE WOUNDED.
The following list is probably incomplete, as many who were not
seriously wounded have not been publicly reported:
EDWARD MCCORMICK, 135 First Avenue; 19 years old; worked at
200 Mulberry-street. Shot through the side.
CONRAD BECKER, 27 Hudson-street; worked for Mahoney and
Thompson, Upholsterers, 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 merchant; while standing in the Bowery was shot in the neck.
Mr. PHILLIP LIVINGSTON, a young man, who was standing in St. Mark’s
Place, was badly wounded, the shot entering the fore arm,
and coming out near the thumb.
Lieut. J. BROWN; 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 wounded by a shot; a spectator.
A young Philadelphian; name not ascertained; badly shot
through the thigh.
Mr. BRAISTED; of the firm of Secor & Co.; spectator; shot
through the knees.
WM. C. RUSSELL, 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 & 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 his jaw-bone broken by a
paving-stone.
LORENZO D. SNELL, of Philadelphia; 49 Bayard-street; was shot
through the thigh.
Mrs. BRENNAN, 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 through the fleshy
part of this and the right thigh, without injuring the large
vessels or the bones.
STEPHEN KEHOE.
Mr. VANDERPOOL; 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, “Never mind me now, but
look round and see if there is not some one who needs you more than I
do!” The speech was worthy of Sir Philip Sidney. 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 sufficient
execution, especially on those who were not actively engaged in the
riot.
CHAPTER NINTH.
WHERE LIES THE BLAME?
The dead are sleeping 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 we have given as full a description as could
be given, by looking at the mere surface of things? We have shown the
causes which produced this dreadful sacrifice of human life—this
massacre of innocent and unoffending citizens, for 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 produce 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 infectious. These
rioters may, in their calm moments, be good and quiet citizens. We have
seen some of the most sober and moral communities 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 well 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.
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 was
shot dead at the first fire, was a member of one of the companies that
fired the volleys. All men are brethren—but here was brother against
brother, in a sense that the most unfeeling 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 thousand
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.”
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 forgotten
that other rights must have been violated, or this riot could never
have taken place. Those ignorant men had a right to education, 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. Before they committed this
wrong, they had been most deeply wronged themselves; and it would be
better to provide ten thousand schoolmasters to instruct people, than
ten thousand soldiers to prevent the result of their ignorance.
Men can be zealous and indignant about the rights 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 outrages to complain of, and
law and order could be maintained without standing armies or ships of
war.
When we go deep into the investigation of social wrongs, we shall
find that society brings upon itself the very evils it attempts to
subdue. Society, by an unjust distribution of the avails of industry,
enables a few men to become rich, and consigns a great mass to
hopeless poverty, with all its deprivations and degradations. This
poverty produces ignorance, the sense of injustice, grovelling tastes,
and a loss of all high ambition. The only wonder is that under such
circumstances of wrong and outrage, men are so forbearing, so honest,
and so orderly. The only wonder is that more crimes are not committed
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 seize 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.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES.
1. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical
errors.
2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.
3. There is no “CHAPTER EIGHTH” in the original book.