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[436] as the police fired upon the mob they dispersed in great haste, evidently thinking danger was at hand.

Shortly after the scene just described had occurred, a large force of police arrived, and immediately following was the company from Fort Independence. The light dragoons completed the column. The arrival of this formidable force was greeted by the enthusiastic applause of the assembled multitude. Their advent completely squelched any demonstration on the part of the mob. The police shortly afterward began to clear the square and the vicinity of Faneuil Hall. Military were placed at each avenue. In Faneuil Hall Square two cannon, well charged, were made ready for service in case of necessity. We are glad to state that this extremity did not occur. About eleven o'clock a rain set in, and most of the crowd dispersed.

While these things were progressing, a much more serious affair took place at and in the vicinity of the armory in Cooper street, the headquarters of Jones's battery. About half-past 8 o'clock the armory was surrounded by a crowd which was unmistakably bent on mischief. It commenced by the throwing of stones, bricks, and other missiles. This was followed by a forcible entrance into the armory. The company were driven back from the doors. Lieutenant Sawin was seized, taken out, thrown down, and frightfully beaten. Captain Jones, finding matters had reached a crisis, and all warnings having failed, and finding, moreover, that the mob was likely to prevail, ordered one of his field-pieces, loaded with canister, to be discharged. This was followed, as might be naturally supposed, with fatal results. At least three persons were killed outright, and some estimate as many as ten, though of the latter number we have no definite information. A man whose name is not known, about thirty years old, was shot in eleven places. The body presented a frightful appearance. One arm was nearly shot away. His head and body were perforated in every direction. The body was taken to Police Station No. One. An elderly man named William Currier, seventy-two years old, father of Officer Currier of Station One, was shot dead in the armory by one of the mob. He was in the armory looking after his son. A boy named John Norton,ten years old, living at No. 166 Endicott street, was shot through the heart, and died immediately. Michael Geffey, a lad of about the same age, was shot in the bowels. His wounds are of a hopeless nature, and he was not expected to survive the night. A boy named Patrick Reynolds, living in Bolton Place, leading from Hanover street, was shot in the hip, the large bones of which were fractured. He was taken to the hospital, and is not expected to live. A woman was shot in the breast, and was carried off among the crowd; as were also some half-dozen others. The precise extent of the injuries could not be ascertained amid the confusion and terror of the hour. After this terrible but just punishment, the mob dispersed. No further acts of violence were perpetrated during the evening.

A large crowd assembled in Kingston street, about eight o'clock, but we do not hear that any special riotous acts were committed. The alarm by telegraph appeared to attract them downtown. The entire police force of the city was on duty — each man being armed, besides the usual equipments, with a six-barrelled revolver. The South-Boston police reported itself ready for duty in Court square, in twenty-eight minutes after the alarm was given. The management of the police throughout was very efficient.

Besides the regulars from Fort Warren, Companies B, C, and D, from Fort Warren, came up to the city, and were put on duty during the evening. A company of heavy artillery from Readville also reached the city at ten o'clock. All these companies were on duty during the night, well posted for active service. The dragoons patrolled the city all night, visiting such portions as might be supposed to harbor disorderly characters.



Boston courier account.

Boston, July 15, 1863.
A riot took place in this city last night which, but for the promptness of the measures taken to suppress it, would have probably proved as disastrous as that in New-York. The outbreak was apparently sudden, and with the fatal consequences, it is not unreasonable to believe that a repetition of it will not be made.

Wesley Hill and David Howe were engaged in distributing notifications to drafted men about noon. A notice had been left at a shop in Prince street, for a man who was not present, and Mr. Howe, stopping to talk with a woman in relation to the matter, was struck by her. An attempt was made to arrest the woman, when a gathering crowd hearing who the officers were, made an assault upon Howe, beating him severely. He was rescued from the mob by officer Wilkins, and carried into a store, corner of Prince and Causeway streets. When it was supposed the crowd had dispersed, they proceeded toward the Merrimac House, where Howe boarded, when they were again assailed, and Howe was separated from the officer and further beaten. Dr. Hall was called to dress the wounds of Howe, and found five or six cuts about his head, his eyes swelled, and face severely bruised. Meanwhile Mr. Hill, escaping from the mob, reported the difficulty at the office of the Provost-Marshal.

A force of police officers was sent to the scene of the disturbance, and in the attempt to quell it Officer Ostrander was severely injured in the head. Curtis Trask, of the Second Station, was cut with a knife immediately under one of his eyes, cut through his clothes on his right side, and was severely bruised in his back. For a time there were fears that other riotous acts would be committed, but nothing further occurred beyond the gathering of crowds of people in and near the First station-house. These crowds


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