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Old 11-06-2006, 08:08 AM   #19
SFL Cat
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: South Florida
The Republic
July 1857

NATIONAL NEWS


TERRIBLE RIOTS IN NEW YORK

Bloody Fights between the Rival Gangs -- Several Killed; 100s Wounded


The Fourth is always a great day in New York City. It is always the noisiest of the year. Saturday, owing to several riots, will be remembered as noisier than any previous Fourth for several years.

The trouble began Friday (3 July) evening and continued through the Fourth of July weekend. The riots, which occurred primarily in the Sixth ward, resulted in the deaths of nearly a dozen men. A large number also were seriously wounded. The trouble appears to have originated with the revival of an old feud between rival gangs. The Dead Rabbits, Plug Uglies and other minor gangs from the Five Points banded together to do battle with their arch rivals, the Bowery boys. The Dead Rabbits, consisting chiefly of Irishmen, began the riot on Friday evening. Armed with knives and pistols, they attacked Metropolitan Policemen who were on duty near the Bowery Theatre. On Saturday morning, the same mob overran the saloon No. 40 Bowery, which was rumored to be the headquarters of the Bowery boys. They ransacked the interior and broke out the windows. With great exertions on the part of the police, and private citizens who aided the police, this difficulty was temporarily quelled, but not until nearly a dozen persons had been more or less injured by bludgeons and pistol-balls. New violence between the gangs broke out later in the day. The Metropolitans tried to intervene but were beaten off. The bloodshed continued unabated spreading to Mulberry, Elizabeth and Baxter Streets. While this was going on and the police were distracted, other gangs found this to be a golden opportunity to loot and pillage the neighborhoods. Shopkeepers, pedestrians, and residents were all fair game. The pedestrians were most vulnerable. The storeowners and residents barricaded themselves in their buildings employing shotguns, pistols, brick-bats or any other weapon to protect themselves. It was total anarchy run rampant. During this outbreak, six rioters were killed and seventy or eighty wounded. The fight was ended about nightfall about the time that three regiments of National Guard were called out to maintain order. Comparative quiet reigned the remainder of the night. A large number of rioters were captured by the police.

On Sunday there was not much fighting until near seven o'clock, when a riot broke out in Centre and Anthony Streets, in which sticks, stones, bricks from chimneys of the houses, and guns and pistols were freely used. Nine men were seriously wounded, and taken to the City Hospital. Finally, the military was marched up and down through the Ward, and the rioters dispersed. There were also lesser riots in the Seventh and Thirteenth wards of the city. At midnight all was quiet, and only one regiment was to remain under arms until morning. Since then there has been no fresh outbreak. The disturbance is ascribed partly to the turbulence of the Irish, but mostly to the inefficiency of the new Metropolitan police force.

Police Controversy

Democrat and Tammany Society member Fernando Wood was elected Mayor of New York City in 1855 and was re-elected earlier this year. While in office the Municipal Police Force (established in 1853 by the New York State Legislature) came under major accusations of corruption. Mayor Wood was held responsible for this deterioration in the integrity of the force. Because of Wood's involvement, Albany shortened his second term in office from two years to one and then created the Metropolitan Police Force. This force was intended to replace Wood's Municipal Police. In May 1857 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Metropolitan Force and ordered Wood's Municipal police to disband. Wood refused and was backed by Municipal Force Superintendent George W. Matsell, 15 captains, and over 800 patrolmen.

The arrest of Mayor Wood was ordered. Captain Walling of the Metropolitan Police was sent to arrest the Mayor but was promptly thrown out of the Mayor's office. Wood occupied City Hall protected by 300 of his Municipals. Later that day 50 Metropolitan Police descended on City Hall with night sticks in hand to carry out the arrest order. The Municipals ran into the street and the two factions fought each other. The Metropolitans retreated. 52 policemen were injured, one crippled for life. The Metropolitan Police Board then called in the National Guard who surrounded City Hall. The Mayor finally submitted to arrest but soon returned to office released on minimal bail.

This feud continued throughout the summer. Mayor Wood continued to resist and brought his case before the New York State Court of Appeals. The Municipals were confined to operate within the city limits, whereas the Metropolitans had jurisdiction over the entire city and several outlying communities, including Williamsburg and Brooklyn. It became a constant rivalry between the two groups. When one force would arrest someone, the other would let them go. It was not unusual for rival policemen to club each other to determine who would get the right to arrest a suspect. Finally on July 2nd, the Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the Supreme Court and with the State Militia supporting the Legislature; Mayor Wood had no choice but to disband the Municipals. Some of the men were accepted into the ranks of the Metropolitans.

All this turmoil and infighting made it easy for the gangs to run wild through the streets and led to the gang riots on the Fourth of July weekend.

It was only the appearance of the military in the streets, with fixed bayonets and ball cartridge, that had any salutary effect and stilled the trouble. The rioters, who were valiant enough in a mere brick-bat battle, and who were even ready to dare the danger of chance shots, lacked the courage to face a trained and systematic enemy, and their courage completely failed them at the prospect of a well-directed volley. Bayonets and balls have proved in this instance powerful peace arguments, although neither have been brought into very active discussion.

There is sure to be a public outcry over the utter chaos that gripped parts of the city. The number of dead will never be known. Gang members buried many of their dead in secret.

WORLD NEWS

Massacres in India


The Republic has learned of shocking atrocities committed by rebelling Sepoys against British soldiers and civilians, including women and children. These incidents happened during May and June, when the rebellion was in its earliest stage.

In Dehli and Meerut, thousands of Sepoys revolted and killed hundreds of white soldiers, their wives and children, often with the active assistance of formally loyal Indian servants. All of Delhi is now in the hands of the Sepoys.

The massacres and riots spread throughout north-central India over the following weeks, with isolated white detachments being slaughtered. One such massacre was staged in the tiny kingdom of Jhansi in June. The territory of Jhansi had been annexed by the British four years earlier when the local king had died, and now his widow took her revenge: all the whites in the kingdom were lined up in three rows and stabbed and clubbed to death, the women last of all so that they could watch their men and children being killed.

In the Oudh city of Cawnpore, some 1000 British soldiers, their wives and children took refuge from the Sepoys and Indian mobs in a fortified magazine in the city near the Ganges River, hoping to hold out for a relief column they had been promised from other British outposts. The Sepoys laid siege to the Cawnpore magazine for 20 days. Without any water, the defenders could not hold on, and on 25 June 1857, they surrendered. The survivors, now only numbering around 400, were promised safe conduct out of the city by Nana Sahib, an Indian noble who had led the revolt in Cawnpore. The survivors were taken to the Ganges, where a number of boats had been drawn up to carry them away. It was, however, a ruse: when the British boarded the riverboats, their pilots set fire to the boats and fled. The Sepoys then opened fire on the survivors. Only a single boat with four men escaped. The survivors, which included about 70 women and 120 children, were taken prisoner and are being held somewhere in the city.

On The Front -- My India Journal
by Republic Correspondent T. Sawyer


25 June -- Arrived in Calcutta on the steamer Cherokee. The city is amazing -- exotic beyond belief. The weather is also as advertised -- monstrous. The midday heat is stifling. I visit the East India Company's Government Department located in the Writer's Building, a sprawling four-story brick structure in the heart of the city. I present my credentials to a company official who seems somewhat surprised that a Yank reporter would risk his neck to cover this event. He directs me to the city's military garrison at Barrackpore about 15 miles north of Calcutta -- the place where Mangal Panday, a native soldier, reportedly sparked the rebellion. I arrive by train and make my way to the garrison's headquarters. Here I meet with Sir Henry Havelock, who has just assumed command of the force assembled for the relief of Cawnpore. Sir Henry curtly tells me he doesn't like the idea of his men being distracted on the battlefield by having to look after the welfare of a Yank reporter. I assure him that as a veteran of the Mexican-American War, I can more than pull my weight in a fight and will do so happily if my life depends upon it. Havelock grudgingly relents. He introduces me to and assigns me to accompany Captain Ian Bond, who in three days time will be leading a column of the 1st Madras to reinforce the efforts of Colonel Neill. The Colonel, who left Calcutta along the Grand Trunk Road on 25 May is attempting to pacify Allahabad. Capture of the city is vital, as it will serve as the strategic launching point for British forces pushing forward to Cawnpore and Lucknow. Bond, a Scot, is a pleasant enough fellow, and he offers me a cot in his room for the night.

26 June -- A morning of preparation. Bond is overseeing the fitting of his company for our march to join Colonel Neill. We finish before the midday heat. It is supposed to be well into Monsoon Season, but I have yet to see any rain. "Bloody unusual," Bond comments, "it usually rains every day at this time of year."

Bond introduces me to the Enfield Rifle. I familiarize myself with the weapon, load a round, select a target and fire. My bullet finds its mark - the Enfield is amazingly accurate at long range! Impressed with my marksmanship, Bond challenges me to friendly target contest. A group of nearly a dozen curious officers gather 'round as we compete. Luckily, life on the American frontier and my stint in the army have made me a fair shot. I win the contest and receive warm applause from the watching officers. "Lucky shot," I proclaim truthfully.

Bond is jovial in defeat He laughs, slaps me on the back and says, "looks like I'll be buying this modest fellow drinks at the Aukland tonight."

That afternoon I travel with Bond and a group of his fellow officers to Calcutta. As evening approaches, they take me to the Aukland Hotel located on the road running parallel to the British India Street and the Old Court House Street. It is a handsome and commodious building, four stories high and I'm told it's the finest hotel in the Capital of India. The Aukland hums with life through all its hundred rooms. Doors slam merrily, and all the nations of the earth run up and down the staircases. This alone is refreshing, because the passers bump you and ask you to stand aside. Fancy finding any place outside London where Englishmen are crowded together to this extent! Fancy sitting down seventy strong to table d'hote and with a deafening clatter of knives and forks! Fancy finding a real bar where drinks may be obtained! It is interesting to note that while Indian policemen patrol most of the other areas of that part of Calcutta, British policemen are stationed outside the Aukland.

We retire to a sitting area close to the bar. As promised, the night's libations are provided by Bond. I bore Bond and his fellows with my stories from the Mexican-American war. I was with General Winfield Scott's army that took Veracruz and Mexico City -- which effectively ended the conflict.

Bond, who has been stationed in India for nearly twenty years, tells of his exploits in the Anglo-Afghan War. He was a member of the British force from India that sacked Kabul in '41. Several of Bond's junior officers offer their own accounts from the recent Crimean War against Russia. Despite Russia's setback in that conflict, most of the Brits with me suspect the old Bear is somehow behind the current unrest in India.

I am surprised to learn that there have been several uprisings in India. Bond tells me there have been at least half a dozen during the past hundred years. All have been small, poorly organized and quickly put down. In fact, despite the reports of widespread violence and unrest, the Brits seem confident that this insurrection also will be swiftly crushed and order restored.

As the evening progresses, several of the younger men excuse themselves and retire to rooms upstairs where I'm told opium and prostitutes await. I want nothing to do with either, so I remain with Bond and a few of the older officers. "I detest the stuff" Bond says of the opium, "I've seen addiction to the devilish stuff ruin many promising careers."

As we continue to drink, Bond becomes more vocal with his opinions. He doesn't think too highly of most of the East India Company's top-ranking military officers in-country. "Many are past their prime," he says, "most simply are incompetent."

He is especially critical of Major-General William Hewitt, the commanding officer of Meerut -- the place where the revolt began in earnest. Bond tells me that Meerut was the single-most evenly balanced station in India in terms of the numbers of British and Indian soldiers. In addition, the British had 12 field guns and the sepoys had no artillery. He argues that if Hewitt had pursued and cut down the rebel sepoys between Meerut and Delhi, the rebellion would be over. Instead the sepoys spread the rebellion to Delhi and fortified their position there. I find that I can't disagree with his assessment. We drink and talk through the night and into the early hours of the morning.

27 June -- We take the first morning train back to Barrackpore. We are to begin our march the next morning. It is a good thing, too. The night of drinking has taken its toll on all of us. We are like walking dead men. When I reach Bond's room about midday, I fall onto my cot exhausted. Despite the miserable heat, I sleep soundly. I wake in time for dinner, eat, and then fall asleep again for the rest of the evening.

28 June -- We are up and on the march along the Grand Trunk Road before dawn. Just my luck that India's monsoon season takes this opportunity to introduce itself to me. The rain comes down in sheets, turning the road into a muddy quagmire. On horseback, Bond makes his way over to me with a smile and says, "this is more like it."

It rains off and on throughout the day. Breaks in rainfall provide little relief due to the stifling heat and humidity and the swarming insects. Against such elements, I estimate we'll be lucky to make 20 miles per day.
We set up camp as evening approaches. I am soaked to the bone -- sore and weary from the march. The incessant rain makes it impossible to start fires, so dinner consists of cold provisions. I begin to remember why I chose not to make the military a life-long career.

30 June -- It has rained every day since we left Barrackpore, but none of the storms have been as severe as the one we experienced during the first day of the march. With Providence's help, we should reach Colonel Neill's position in less than a week's time.

2 July -- Some excitement. A native soldier on sentry duty disappeared during the night. A search of the area failed to locate him. It is not known whether he was taken by a predatory animal, kidnapped by rebels, or simply deserted his post. Upon our departure from Barrackpore, I took note that the Europeans in our column were clearly outnumbered by Indian soldiers. Although I privately have harbored some misgivings and concern about the loyalty of these troops, the British haven't seemed to give it a second thought. Hopefully if things get rough, we won't have to deal with a revolt within our ranks.

3 July -- We encounter a messenger with escort sent forward by Colonel Neill. From them we learn of the tragedy at Cawnpore, where surrendered British soldiers and their families were cruelly massacred. When we break for camp that evening, the mood among the Brits is somber. I think they are beginning to realize that this won't be a simple affair. I also see something else in their eyes -- a desire for vengeance.

Last edited by SFL Cat : 11-14-2006 at 02:45 PM.
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