CHAPTER XV.

1871.

THE year 1871 will always be memorable from the occurrence of three events-one of pleasant and two of painful memories. These were: first, the ORANGE RIOT; second, the noble manner in which the city of New York responded to the request of the sufferers of the GREAT CHICAGO FIRE for relief; and, third, the culmination and exposure of the gigantic frauds, and the downfall of the "TAMMANY RING."

The Orange Riot, which at one time promised to be as disastrous in its effect upon life and property as the "Draft Riot" of the Civil War, occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 12th of July. Numerous threats having been made by the Roman Catholics against the Orangemen should they turn out in procession in honor of the victory won by the Prince of Orange at the battle of the Boyne, the Mayor issued a proclamation forbidding the parade. This step, however, at once aroused such an outburst of indignation, irrespective of party-not only in the city but throughout the country-that Governor Hoffman hastened to issue, on the morning of the day, a counter-proclamation, guaranteeing the safety of all Orangemen who should join in the celebration. The procession accordingly formed at the head-quarters of the Orangemen, on the corner of Twenty-ninth Street and

Eighth Avenue, and began its march under the escort of four militia regiments, the Seventh, Ninth, Twenty-second, and Eighty-fourth, and a large force of policemen. Scarcely, however, had the procession begun its march, when it was attacked at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street, both with missiles and fire-arms, hurled and discharged from the street and neighboring housetops. The Seventh Regiment, followed by the Eighty-fourth and the Ninth, thereupon, acting under general though not specific orders, began firing on the crowd by sections, and with such effect that the mob were quickly dispersed. As is almost always the case on such occasions, several innocent persons were unavoidably killed. Still, it is believed that the promptness with which the military opened fire was the means of preventing a vast amount of bloodshed. The number of those who were killed in this riot was sixty-two.

On the morning of Sunday, the 6th of October, the citizens of New York city were startled by the news. which flashed along the telegraphic wires that a terrific fire was raging in a sister city. Nor were the emotions to which this intelligence gave rise dissipated when, on the next day, and the next, news came that the fire was still burning with increasing fury, and on the day following the further intelligence that, although the fire had been extinguished by a providential rain, yet it was not until five square miles of Chicago had been reduced to ashes, one hundred thousand people rendered houseless, and several hundred persons burned to death.

In response to the cry for help that went up from the stricken city, instant and abundant relief was sent from every part of the Union. Wherever the news was carried it awakened the best impulses of human nature. The General Government sent thousands of tents and army

rations. Societies and private citizens sent money, clothing, and provisions. Railroad companies dispatched special trains laden with these gifts. From Canada and from Europe came expressions of sympathy and proffers of assistance. Foremost among all in the good work was New York city. On Monday and Tuesday, while the fire was in progress, nearly all business was suspended Crowds surrounded the bulletin boards of the newspaper and telegraph offices; men meeting with men could talk of nothing save the great and--as all considered itnational calamity; and although there was scarcely a person whose business was not more or less injured by the fire, yet when the event was spoken of it was to express heartfelt sympathy with the sufferers-personal considerations were cast entirely aside.

As soon as the extent of the disaster was known, meetings were held for the purpose of raising contributions in money and clothing in aid of the victims; collections were taken up at the different churches; the proprietors of the New York Tribune offered any Chicago newspaper the use of a duplicate set of type and presses; A. T. Stewart gave individually fifty thousand dollars; and wagons went through the streets bearing large placards, with the words: "WE TAKE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE CHICAGO SUFFERERS." Public and private liberality walked hand in hand. In less than two weeks the handsome amount in money and material of nearly three millions of dollars was raised and forwarded to Chicago. The City of New York had acquitted herself nobly.

Although it had long been known by the citizens of New York, and the people throughout the country generally, that immense frauds were being perpetrated by certain persons ycleped "members of the Tammany Ring," yet it was not until the early summer of this year that

the people were fully aroused, both to the alarming state of affairs and to the necessity of bringing the guilty parties to justice. Accordingly a vigorous attack upon the "Ring" was first made by the New York Times, which, in a series of able editorials, exposed, by the publication of the exorbitant sums paid for different articles furnished the city government and other documents, the iniquitous proceedings by which the tax-payers of the city had been robbed of their money. There was the record of millions paid away for work that never was done, supplies that never were furnished, chairs and carpets that never were seen in any of the city or county offices. There were warrants drawn in favor of men who had no existence, and indorsed to the order of particular friends and instruments of the "Ring." There were proofs of the most daring forgery as well as of wholesale robbery. The whole country was aroused. Even Europe rang with the scandal.

At first the leaders of the "Ring" contented themselves with replying either by gibes or by the argumentum ad hominem—referring to alleged frauds in the departments of the Federal Government. At length, however, the sledge-hammer blows dealt day after day in the columns of the Times began to tell, and the "Ring" leaders, relinquishing their former tactics of treating the accusations lightly, and as a thing to be settled merely by a pert repartee, resorted to various quibbles. The Mayor, for example, stated that he had acted "ministerially," and had, therefore, "no personal responsibility." He also said that his name had been forged to duplicate bills, while the other officers of the municipal government, following the same line, assumed an air of entire ignorance regarding their alleged fraudulent practices.

Meanwhile the disclosures of corruption and malfeasance in office were of so astounding a nature that the

people were at length aroused to the importance of vigorous measures, and joined in a general demand for some action that would lead to the deposition of the men who had violated their oaths of office and betrayed their high trusts, chief among whom were mentioned A. Oakey Hall, Mayor; Peter B. Sweeney, President of the Commission of Public Parks; William M. Tweed, Commissioner of Public Works; and Richard B. Connolly, Comptroller of the City and County of New York-public officers commonly known as the "Ring" rulers of this city.

In obedience to the popular demand the following call was issued and published in the public newspapers:

"A meeting of citizens and tax-payers, irrespective of party, to consider the present condition of the city finances in view of the charges of corruption that have been made in respect to them, and to take such action as the public safety may require, will be held at the Cooper Union on Monday, September 4th, 1871, at 8 P. M. Hon. Wm. F. Havemeyer will preside. Hon. Edward Salomon, Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, Hon. James Emott, Hon. Oswald Ottendorfer, Hon. Edwards Pierrepont, Hon. Thomas A. Led with, and others, have accepted invitations to address the meeting. All persons opposed to the corrupt administration of city affairs are respectfully invited to attend.

In response to this call Cooper Union was crowded on the evening of the 4th of September in every part, and long before the hour announced for the opening of the meeting thousands of citizens were obliged to return to their homes, unable to obtain admission.

At eight o'clock, James M. Brown, Esq., of the firm of Messrs. Brown Brothers & Co., bankers, called the meeting to order, and nominated for chairman the Hon. William F. Havemeyer, ex-Mayor of the city of New York. The organization was completed by the election of two hundred and twenty-seven Vice-Presidents and fifteen Secretaries. These were chosen from among the most distinguished citizens of New York city.

At this meeting, after the subject for which it had been called had been ably presented by speakers of both