Arkansas State Gazette

RIOTS IN PHILADELPHIA:
From the National Gazette, May 17:
We have received an account of a riot which took place last evening-outside the large new building called the Pennsylvania Hall lately opened in this city for recent meetings on political questions, and lectures, including the discussion the question about some. There is part of the communication which is calculated to bring about a renewal of disturbances since. Last evening the Hall was crowded with about one thousand persons to hear a lecture by Mr. Garrison and others. Of the audience about one-half were females. It was promiscuously composed of white and black people.
At the close of Mr. Garrison's address mob outside was very noisy. Mrs. Maria W. Chapman, of Boston, then addressed the meeting for several minutes. She was followed by Mrs. Angelina Grimke Weld, Lucretia Mott, of this city, and Abby Kelly. In the mean time the mob increased, and became more unruly, and threw various missiles at the windows. No farther injury was done than the breaking the glass, as the blinds inside protected the audience. At a quarter before ten the company retired amid the cries and groans of the mob, who blocked up the street on every side. One black man was knocked down with a club.
The proprietors of the Hall have called upon the city to pay the amount of damages done.
From the Philadelphia Gazette, May 18.
Great Popular Movement. We extract from the Pennsylvania Inquirer the following account of a tumult which took place at the Pennsylvania Hall last evening. The crowd assembled at an early hour, and proceeded at once, with a quiet resolve, to effect their purpose. The police of the city did all that could be done to quell the tumult. Our intrepid Mayor, Col. Swift, repaired to the spot about half past eight o'clock, at the head of the entire body of the police. The crowd quietly opened to allow him to pass to the Hall, but the instant the officers endeavored to arrest those engaged in the work of destruction, the populace fell upon them, and the police force was, of course, defeated and scattered. No police could, unless backed by a military force, have averted the destruction of the Hall. The crowd must have comprised from twenty-five to thirty thousand men, generally respectable and well dressed, and determined, almost to a man, to protect from interruption the immediate agents in the destruction of the building. The whole affair took place without unnecessary violence or noise. The firemen seemed fully to participate in the feelings of the assembled populace, and though the surrounding houses were completely protected, not a drop of water fell upon the building devoted to destruction. We saw no drunken persons in the crowd, and heard of no fights except the brief conflict with the police. Of course, every good citizen, every one who desires to see the supremacy of the laws maintained, must regret and reprobate proceedings of this character. It must, however, be admitted that the excitement which has led to this unhappy affair is wide-spread and intense.
From the Pennsylvania Inquirer
Destruction of Pennsylvania Hall. The popular excitement growing out of the dedication of Pennsylvania Hall, and the attending circumstances, reached a fearful pitch throughout yesterday. The tumult of the previous night was the theme of all tongues; a thousand extravagant stories were circulated, and the apprehension became general that the night would not pass by without a still more fearful and exciting scene. During the day the Hall was open, and, as we believe, one or two lectures were delivered. At noon, from 100 to 200 persons congregated in front of the building and the number continued to increase, and the sensation to become stronger, until towards sundown, when thousands, from every section of the city and county, poured in dense masses towards the scene; and by 8 o'clock there must have been a concourse of ten thousand persons of all classes, sexes, ages, and conditions. The Mayor, we are told, made his appearance at an early hour, and closed the doors of the Hall; notwithstanding it was understood that no society would meet there in the evening, for the purpose of discussion. We need scarcely state that, as the crowd increased, the excitement waxed warmer. The first demonstrations of attack were made upon the windows, which were thrown at from numerous hands and from every direction. This movement was followed up by an attempt to force the doors, which, at first did not succeed; the efforts, however, were soon redoubled, and an entrance speedily effected. The next step was breaking the seats, galleries, and furniture in the interior. The fragments, it is said, were hastily gathered together in the centre of the Hall, and a torch applied. The gas-pipes were cut, and fire communicated to the streams that issued forth. These are the statements of the night; for, with the conflicting rumors in circulation, it was impossible to discover any authenticated account of the more deliberate preliminary steps. The alarm of fire was speedily given, and the vast multitude re-echoed the cry. The State-house bell also rang out, and the engines and firemen poured in with their apparatus, which they speedily put in readiness for action.
The crowd by this time had swollen to an immense magnitude, and not only Sixth street, from Arch to Race, presented a dense mass of human beings, but all the streets and alleys adjacent were thronged with eager and excited spectators. The alarm soon spread through the city-a few hasty particulars passed from mouth to mouth, and the apprehension was far greater among those who had not an opportunity of witnessing the progress of the flames, than the immediate spectators of the scene.
This was natural, the Hall being located in one of the most densely populated parts of our city; within a stone's throw of the Arch Street Theatre, and a number of frame buildings being in the immediate neighborhood, it was feared that, no matter how well directed the efforts of the firemen, nor how liberal the supply of water, they would not be able to bound the progress of the flames. Nay, more, a conflict between the police and the crowd was apprehended; and hence many an anxious mother or susceptible wife dreaded the night would not pass by without the destruction of life as well as property.
Soon after 9 o'clock, the whole building was wrapped in flames, which diffused a lurid light around, and throwing their red reflections upon the multitude below, imparted a remarkable and fearful effect to the scene. Every window vomited forth its volume, and the roof cracked, smoked, and blazed before the progress of the devouring element. It was a fearful scene, and yet we never witnessed so vast a concourse so passive and so quiet, considering the circumstances of the case. The great majority appeared to be merely spectators: unwilling, by any movement whatever either to increase the existing or provoke further excitement. The firemen were self-possessed, and took especial pains to protect and save the surrounding property. This was a task of great difficulty, but one in which, as we believe, they proved fully successful. Torrents of water descended, and as fast as the strength of one body of men gave way, their places were instantly supplied by another.
We saw several colored persons in the outskirts of the crowd; but as far as our observation extended, no effort was made to molest them. We were told, however, that several were driven from the ground. The fire raged furiously until all the wood-work of the building was destroyed. The roof fell in about 10 o'clock; and as the flames subsided, the throng gradually dispersed.
From the U. S. (Phil.) Gazette, May 19.
Farther Disturbances. Last evening a large number of persons gathered in Cherry street above Tenth, in front of a school-house. The Mayor was there with his police, and prevented any injury to the property. Nearly at the same time, the very large building in Thirteenth-street, above Callowhill, built for an asylum for colored children, was found to be on fire. The engines and hose collected, and the fire was put out after some injury had been sustained by the building. Immense numbers of persons were assembled but we saw nothing of violence.