USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men > Part 185
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Mcantime the rioters, directed by an executive committee which made its headquarters at Schuler's Hall, at the intersection of Fifth and Biddle Streets,
continued their reign of terror, accompanied by public mass-meetings and parades back and forth before the Four Courts, where the city authorities and citizens' committees had their headquarters. On Thursday, July 26th, the day following their most flagrant out- rages, the mob visited the extreme northern section of the city, the majority being negroes, who were led by one of their number, a large man " on a yellow horse." They visited a number of industrial institutions, and were even more insulting and disorderly than on the preceding day. Finding Filley's foundry closed and under guard, they stoned the guards and left. Bel- cher's sugar-refining works being also closed, they broke open the gates, raked the fires, and broke some windows. After this they had several collisions with the police, but the latter, being armed with guns and bayonets, were uniformly successful. During the day a destructive fire occurred, and was attributed to the rioters. By this conflagration a vacant house at the northwest corner of Second and Madison Streets, be- longing to Amos Page, was burned, and a lumber- yard belonging to A. Boeckeler & Co. was partially destroyed. On this day the following extraordinary communications were issued by the executive com- mittee :
" TO THE HON. J. S. PHELPS, Governor of the State of Missouri, and all Citizens :
" We request your speedy co-operation in convening the Legislature and calling for the immediate passage of the eight- hour law, its stringent enforcement, and penalty for all viola- tions of the same.
" The non-employment of all children under fourteen years of age in factories, shops, or other uses calculated to injure them.
" Your attention is respectfully ealled to the faet that a prompt compliance with this our reasonable demand, and that living wages be paid to the railroad men, will at once bring peace and prosperity such as we have not seen for the last fifteen years. Nothing short of a compliance to the above just demand, made purely in the interest of our national welfare, will arrest this tidal-wave of revolution. Threats or organized armies will not turn the toilers of this nation from their earnest purpose, but rather serve to inflame the passions of the multitude and tend to acts of vandalism.
" Yours, in the nation's welfare, " EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, " UNITED WORKINGMEN OF ST. LOUIS."
"TO THE HON. HENRY OVERSTOLZ, Mayor of St. Louis :
" Sir,-We, the authorized representatives of the industrial population of St. Louis, have called upon you to request your co-operation in devising means to procure food for those actually in a destitute condition.
" In order to save a useless waste of your time, it is necessary that we at once say that all offers of work during this national strike cannot be considered by us as a remedy under the present eireumstanees, for we are fully determined to hold out until the principles we are contending for are carried.
" It is the earnest desire of every honest toiler in St. Louis to
1847
MOBS AND RIOTS.
accomplish this their purpose in as orderly a way as this dire contingency will allow.
"The stringency of food is already being felt; therefore, to avoid plunder, arson, or violence by persons made desperate by destitution, we are ready to concur with Your Honor in taking timely measures to supply the immediate wants of the foodless, and respectfully offer the following suggestions, namely : if it is not in your power to relieve this distress, we request that a convention of merchants be called by Your Honor to meet and confer with us as to the best way to procure food for our dis- tressed brothers and their families.
" Each member of all labor organizations will hold themselves individually and collectively responsible to pay for all food pro- cured by their order.
" That we, the unfortunate, toiling citizens, desire to faith- fully maintain the majesty of the law while we are contending for our inalienable rights.
" Therefore, we in good faith give you our earnest assurance to assist you in maintaining order and protecting property. Further, in order to avoid riot, we have determined to have no large processions until our organization is so complete as to posi- tively assure the citizens of St. Louis of a perfect maintenance of order and full protection to life and property.
" In the name of all workingmen's associations, by the Ex- ecutive Committee of the United Workingmen's party of St. Louis."
Another paper, signed by " the Executive Commit- tee," notificd physicians and surgeons that they would be " professionally regarded during the present strike by wearing a white badge four inches long and two inches broad, encircling the left upper arm, bearing a red cross, the bars of which to be one inch wide by three inches long, crossing each other at right angles, allowing the bars to extend one inch each way." A few hours after the issuing of these communications a mass-meeting was held at Lucas Market under the auspices of the committee which signed them, at which incendiary speeches were made, the rioters being urged to arm and organize themselves into small companies, and intimations were thrown out that the forces of the authorities were to be attacked. This, however, appeared to be the climax of the riotous proceedings in St. Louis. The news from the East of the cessation of the labor troubles, the judicious dis- tribution of volunteer militia, the effective action of the police, the energetic movement of citizens, the failure of the agitators who were directing the rioters to inaugurate determined efforts, and the lack of sub- stantial results all contributed to assist in the final and peaceful repression of the mob on the following day, Friday, July 27th. The enrollment of the citizen mil- itary had been prompt and effective, and in three days about four thousand had been recruited and equipped ; some had been put into active service, and all were under arms and ready.
Such was the condition of things when the mayor and his counselors determined to make an attempt to arrest the ringleaders, otherwise the " Executive Com-
mittec," at Schuler's Hall. Accordingly, on July 27th, the following order was issued through the Board of Police : "Capt. William Lee is hereby assigned to the command of the police battalion detailed for the pro- tection of life and property, and more particularly for the capture of the violators of the law now assembled in Schuler's Hall. In effecting the arrest of said un- lawful assemblage you will use your best judgment, and should forcible resistance be offered, such as you cannot control without damage to your command, open fire on them. If arrested, files of soldiers will be in readiness to aid you in bringing them to these headquarters."
The raid on Schuler's Hall was made by a battalion of mounted police and patrolmen and soldiery with cannon, and attended by the mayor and prominent cit- izens. The mounted police led the procession, and on arriving at the hall cleared the street by charging the masses who had gathered there, effectually dispersing them. A number of rioters and idlers who were in the hall were arrested, but the executive committee, having been warned of the approach of the police and military, leaped from the third story of the building to the roof of an adjoining house and thence escaped, but were subsequently captured and punished. This action completely broke up the riot, and although the police prevented the holding of meetings, and the services of the soldiery were availed of a few days longer, there was no further disorder.
The railroad strike in East St. Louis during this period had remained in statu quo. The disaffected men were quiet and orderly, and at no time joined the St. Louis mob. On the contrary, they sent word to the St. Louis leaders to " leave them alone." They confined themselves to parades and meetings, and wisely kept the liquor saloons closed, but at the same time com- pelling the total suspension of business of all railroads terminating there. The beginning of the end in East St. Louis came with the rising of the sun on Saturday, July 28th, the day succeeding the raid on Schuler's Hall in St. Louis. At this hour twelve companies of the Twenty-third United States Infantry, regulars, under the command of Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, came up the river on the steamer " Elon G. Smith," which with an armament of guns had been in service along the river front during the St. Louis riots, and surrounded the Relay Depot, which they at once occupied, the few rioters who were there at that hour beating a hasty re- treat. The surprise was complete, and in a short time eight of the companies were sent back to the arsenal. An hour or two after the capture, Governor Cullom, of Illinois, arrived from Springfield, accompanied by United States Marshal E. R. Roe, Col. Merriam, Col.
1848
HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.
R. D. Lawrence, Capt. A. Orendorff, Judge William Preseott, Maj. James A. Connolly, Col. S. H. Jones, Major Ray, and a number of prominent citizens of Springfield. Subsequently the Governor issued the following proclamation :
"WHEREAS, Certain persons, active in violation of the law, have assumed to interfere and prevent the movement of rail- road trains in this State, and have sought to intimidate honest workingmen, engaged in the avocations by which they earn their daily bread, and to compel them to cease their labor; and
"WHEREAS, This condition of affairs continues, and is in- tolerable, entailing as it docs disastrous consequences, the na- ture and extent of which it is impossible to foresee,
" Therefore, I, Shelby M. Cullom, Governor of the State of Illinois, acting under and by authority of the laws of this Statc, do command all such riotous and disorderly persons to desist and return to their homes, and do call upon all sheriff's, mayors, and other officers charged with the execution of the laws to break up all conspiracies against the rights of property. and persons, and to this end to employ every lawful means in their power, and to enjoin upon all citizens to assist in bringing about the restoration of order, resumption of business, moving of trains, and revival of manufactures.
" I further give notice that the entire military force at my disposal, as commander-in-chief of the military, will be em- ployed for the support of the civil authorities in this endeavor, and that orders will be given to troops to use whatever amount of force may be necessary to compel obedience to the law."
As soon as Governor Cullom reached East St. Louis he telegraphed for the Belleville Guards, of Belle- ville, Ill., Capt. Andel commanding, who reached the scene of trouble early in the afternoon. Their arrival was supplemented by that of six or seven hundred more of the Illinois militia, who came in a body, as follows : Brig .- Gen. E. N. Bates, commanding; Lieut .- Col. J. N. Reece, assistant adjutant-general ; Assist- ant Inspector, Maj. G. S. Dana. Fifth Regiment, Colonel, S. H. Barclay ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Cornelius Rourke; Major, William C. Gilbreth ; Adjutant, C. F. Mills ; Surgeon, J. N. Dixon ; Sergeant-Major, J. H. C. Irwin. Company C (Governor's Guards), of Springfield, Capt. G. S. Johnson ; Company D (Cul- lom Guards), of Williamsville, Capt. I. F. Constant ; Company I (Morgan Cadets), of Jacksonville, Capt. Harrison ; Company K (Light Guards), of Jackson- ville, Capt. J. N. Swails.
Eighth Regiment, Capt. E. B. Hamilton, eom- manding; W. L. Distin, adjutant ; Franeis Aid, quar- termaster ; R. W. MeMahan, surgeon ; William L. Ryan, sergeant-major. Quincy Guards, of Quincy, Lieut. R. A. Cox, commanding; Keokuk Junetion Guards, Lieut. Wm. Hanna; Carthage City Guards, Capt. C. Long ; Mount Sterling Guards, Capt. M. H. Lawler; Augusta Guards, Capt. E. Gillett ; Quincy Veterans, Capt. L. Bort ; Clayton Guards, Capt. H. A. Horn.
These troops found the city free from disorder and in the possession of the military, which had previ- ously arrived, and beyond the ill-concealed disgust of the rioters at the march which had been stolen on them, and disappointment which found expression only in words and private discussions, there was little to indicate the situation of a few hours before.
On the arrival of the National Guards the follow- ing military order was issued :
" HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD, "EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL., July 28, 1877. " General Order No. 6.
" Having, in compliance with orders from the Governor and commander-in-chief of the forces of the State, assumed com- mand of the Illinois National Guard at East St. Louis, for the purpose of aiding the civil authorities of St. Clair County and the city of East St. Louis in preserving the peace and protect- ing property therein, to effectually exccute this order, acting with the peace officers of said county and city, I hereby com- mand all persons within the said county and city to observe the peace and aid in the execution of the laws. Riotous and other unlawful assemblages are hereby prohibited, and will be promptly dispersed. Private citizens in any considerable number, appearing in public armed with weapons of any kind, will be regarded as rioters and dealt with accordingly.
" The streets of the city and thoroughfares of the county will be kept free from crowds, and all boisterous and unruly persons- will be arrested and punished as provided by law.
" Citizens and corporations with whose business any person interferes, by the use of violence or the intimidation of their employés, reporting the fact to these headquarters, will be pro- tected by the forces of this command in the peaceful pursuit of their several avocations.
"By order of Brig .- Gen. E. N. BATES, commanding Illinois National Guards.
"J. N. REECE, A. A. G."
On the following day, Sunday, July 29th, the mili- tary was further reinforced by the Fourth Regiment, Illinois National Guard, a company from Peoria, and one from Henry, Stark, and Knox Counties. A number of gatherings of idlers and strikers were dis- persed, and there were a great many arrests, indi- vidual and collective. There was no trouble in East St. Louis after this, and on the ensuing day a large majority of the strikers returned to work, the move- ment of freight beeame general, and all of the rail- roads resumed operations. The military remained in occupation of the city a few days longer, and with their assistanee a number of ringleaders were appre- hended and sent to Springfield for punishment.
On Tuesday, July 31st, the people of St. Louis- witnessed a fitting finale to the labor troubles in a parade of all of the volunteer forees that had rallied to- their protection a few days before, in which such com- panies as still remained in East St. Louis participated. The parade started at half-past four o'clock in the afternoon over a line of march embracing Twelfth
1849
FAMOUS DUELS.
Strcet, from Clark Avenue to Pine Street, to Four- teenth, to Lucas Place, to Eighteenth Street, to Mor- gan, to Seventh, to Carr, to Fifth, to Clark Avenue, to the Four Courts, and was composed as follows :
Gen. A. J. Smith and staff: Col. Leigh O. Knapp, adjutant- general ; Col. J. S. Fullerton, assistant adjutant-general ; Col. R. H. Spencer, chief of ordnance ; Cols. C. W. Thomas, David Murphy, Eugene F. Weigel, J. B. Gondolfo, R. H. Brown, T. W. Heman, Edgar Miller, aides-de-camp; Col. W. F. Mel- bourne, aide-de-camp and acting quartermaster; Col. Louis Dorsheimer, aide-de-camp and acting commissary subsistence.
First Brigade. Knights Templar Band.
Company A, Missouri National Guard, St. Louis, Capt. Chas. E. Pearce; Quincy Grays, Quincy, Ill., Capt. E. B. Hamilton ; Peoria Veteran Light Guards, Peoria, Ill., Capt. Thomas Cos- grove ; Peoria National Blues, Peoria, Ill., Capt James M. Price ; Belleville Guards, Belleville, Ill., Capt. Casimir Andel.
Merchants' Regiment, St. Louis : Company A, Capt. H. Duncker; Company B, Capt. Fairbanks; Company C, Capt. J. D. Brutche; Company F, Capt. Robert McCulloch ; Company D, Capt. William Harrigan ; Company E, Capt. Joshua Brown ; Company G, Capt. Robert Cunningham ; Company H, Capt. Joseph K. Byers.
Second Brigade.
Gen. John W. Noble, commanding, and staff : Capts. Silas Bent, J. R. McBeth, W. M. McPherson, and J. R. Currie.
Eighteenth Ward Battalion, Capt. F. B. Davidson, command- ing : Company A, Lieut. G. C. Castleman ; Company B, Capt. R. R. Hutchinson ; Company C, Capt. J. D. Slocum ; Court- House Guard, Capt. S. F. Adreon ; Phelps Guard, Capt. C. L. White; Capt. William C. Marshall's company.
Bremen Battalion, Capt. E. D. Meier, commanding : First Company, Lieut. R. B. Stuart; Second Company, Capt. S. B. Stannard ; Third Company, Capt. Buchanan.
Capt. Jefferson Clark's company.
Capt. Rothford's company.
Third Brigade.
Gen. W. U. R. Beall, commanding, and staff: Maj. W. F. Haines, assistant adjutant-general ; Capt. George H. West, lieutenant-colonel ; Maj. N. H. Clark and F. W. Molt, aides-de- camp.
Company A, Fifteenth Ward, Lieut. II. F. Messengale.
Squires' Battery, Col. Charles Squires commanding.
Excelsior Guards, Capt. H. W. Steirman.
Mayor's Guard, Capt. Wm. Bull. Real Estate Guards, Capt. E. G. Obear.
Company A, Carondelet Militia, Capt. J. J. Frey.
Company D, Carondelet Militia, Capt. W. H. Fagley. Capt. Thomas G. Fletcher's company.
Fourth Brigade. Col. David Murphy, commanding.
Maj. Soule's battalion, Maj. Charles C. Soule, commanding : Adjutant, F. L. Shaw ; Sergeant-Major, W. P. Minor; Commis- sary-Sergeant, Stephen D. Barlow, Jr .; Company A, Capt. W. S. Long ; Company B, Capt. C. M. Woodward ; Capt. C. H. Krum's company, Capt. W. P. Nelson's company, Capt. P. H. Cronin's company, Capt. Davenport's company, Capt. Schamitz's com- pany, Capt. Berzey's company, Capt. Gondolpho's company, Capt. Stevens' company, Capt. George H. Shields' company, Capt. Kirk's company, Capt. Cunningham's company, Capt. Brownell's company, Capt. Hahn's company.
Fifth Brigade.
Gen. D. M. Frost, commanding, and staff : Col. H. J. McKel- lops, adjutant ; Maj. N. Wall, quartermaster.
Cosmopolitan Band.
Detachment United States Artillery, Lieut. Bolton, command- ing.
Marine Corps of St. Louis Volunteers, Capt. F. C. Moore- head.
Tenth Ward Guards, Lieut. C. II. Stone.
Iron Mountain Railway Guards, Capt. J. H. Woodward.
Southeastern Railway Guards, Capt. Harry M. Kenderdine. Twelfth Ward Guards, Capt. A. B. Glove.
The parade consisted of the exigency militia of St. Louis, with the exception of Company A, Missouri National Guard, the Illinois State troops, and the United States artillery, and numbered about five thousand muskets. A number of other companies of citizen troops were absent on guard duty.
Thus ended the great riot of 1877 in St. Louis, and considering the fact that at the time of its inception there was only one company of State troops in Mis- souri, the State and city authorities and the citi- zens of St. Louis deserve great commendation for the prompt and pacific suppression of the disorder that reigned throughout the city.
FAMOUS DUELS.
One of the most celebrated dueling-grounds in the United States was the well-known " Bloody Island," in the Mississippi River, opposite St. Louis, which gained its name from three fatal encounters there in 1817, 1823, and 1831. The first duel near St. Louis that we have any record of occurred in December, 1810, between Mr. Farrar and Mr. Graham, but ac- counts are meagre, and it is uncertain when they met. Neither of the parties was injured. The duel that first gave Bloody Island its right to that incarnadined title was that between Col. Benton and Charles Lucas, in 1817, in which the latter was wounded, and at a second meeting killed. The entire record of this duel, which in some respects ovcrrode the accepted laws of the code, and which seems to have been char- acterized by a bloodthirsty spirit on the part of one of the chief actors, can be found in the Missouri Gazette for that year, and in the letters of the principals on the subject.
An extended sketch of Charles Lucas, published Nov. 1, 1817, throws much light on his character and on the training young Western men had in those days. Born Sept. 25, 1792, near Pittsburgh, of Nor- man parents, who had settled there in 1784, he fol- lowed them to St. Louis in 1805, returned to Penn- sylvania in 1806, and spent five years in study at Jefferson College. Young Lucas is said to have shown from his childhood penetration, judgment,
1850
HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.
originality, independence, tempered in all things with a kindly regard for the rights and feclings of others. After completing his classical education he returned to St. Louis, entering the office of Col. Rufus Easton to study law. As soon as the war of 1812 was fairly begun he joined a company of volunteers raised at St. Louis, and served in a campaign up the Illinois River. The next winter he aided in forming a company of artillery, which tendered their services to the Gov- ernor, and were placed on an island near Portage des Sioux. Their captain was Robert Lucas, and when he resigned to enter the regular army, Charles Lucas was appointed in his place. The post was important, and an attack deemed probable. Lucas had displayed zeal, courage, and ability, but no encounter with the enemy occurred during the season. Later that sum- mer he was sent to punish hostile Indians near St. Charles, but the report proved false, and he returned to St. Louis to resume his law studics, was admitted the following spring, and a few months after was elected representative from St. Louis County to the Assembly, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Emmons, of Bonhomme. He proved a useful and worthy member. In order to extend his knowl- edge he made a tour in the winter of 1816-17 through parts of the West, and visited the Atlantic States. In 1817 he was appointed United States attorney for Missouri, which office he held at the time of his death. All contemporary evidence goes to show that young Lucas was carnest, industrious, and worthy, both in public and in private life. The family then, as ever since, was one of great mark and power in St. Louis, and every member of it seemed gifted with more than ordinary courage, public spirit, and energy. It was a time when no man could refuse to fight a duel and escape social ostracism, and a faithful attor- ney often gave umbrage to men, whose reply was a challenge. In 1817, Congressman John Scott de- murred at an article written by Charles Lucas, con- cerning the election at which the former had won, but the dispute was amicably settled.
The difficulty with the famous Thomas H. Benton grew out of political reasons, was, at least on onc side, unrelenting, and through its fatal results colored and affected St. Louis politics for a third of a cen- tury after. It may justly be ranked as the great political duel of Missouri. We shall first give the account written by Charles Lucas on the night be- fore his first meeting with Benton, and found among his papers :
" The eauses of difference between T. II. Benton and me were as follows: At October court of last year (1816) Mr. Benton and I were employed on adverse sides in a eause. At the close
of the evidence he stated that the evidence being so and so, he requested the court to instruct the jury to find accordingly. I stated, in reply, that there was no such evidence, to my remem- brance. He replied, 'I contradict you, sir.' I answered, ' I eontradiet you, sir.' He then said, 'If you deny that, you deny the truth.' I replied, ' If you assert that, you assert what is not true.' Ile immediately sent me a challenge, which I deelined aceepting, for causes stated in my correspondenee. The jury in a few minutes returned a verdiet for mne, and in opposition to his statement. He never even moved for a new trial. Since that time we have had no intereourse except on business. On the day of the election at St. Louis, 4th August, 1817, I inquired whether he had paid a tax in time to entitle him to vote ; he was offering his vote at the time. He applied vehement, abusive, and ungentlemanly language to me, and I believe some of it behind my back, all of which he deelined to reeant, to give me any satisfaction other than by the greatest extremities. This is the state of the dispute between T. H. Benton and myself. I make this declaration that, let things eventuate as they may, it may be known how they originated."
The letter Lucas sent to Benton after the chal- lenge in 1816 from Benton was as follows :
" ST. LOUIS, Nov. 15, 1816 .- T. H. Benton, present : SIR,- Your note of this afternoon was received. On proper occasions, or for proper causes, I would give the kind of satisfaction you appear to want, but for such causes as the one you complain of, under all the existing circumstances, I would not feel justified in placing myself in sueli a situation as to be under the neees- sity of taking your life or jeopardizing my own. I will not suffer the free exereise of iny rights or performance of my duties at the bar to be with me the subject of private disputes, nor will I allow it to others for doing my duty to my clients, more particularly to you.
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