The Daily Herald

Outrage. About two o'clock last night, the slumbers of our quiet citizens were broken by a loud and instantaneous report, resembling the explosion of a large quantity of powder, or the discharge of some heavy piece of ordnance. The cause of such an unusual and untimely disturbance being entirely unknown, it of course excited a good deal of apprehension and alarm. Some supposed it to be connected with the late magnificent phenomenon in the heavens; others supposed that the public arsenal had blown up with a terrible explosion; while others attributed it to some terrible convulsion in nature which would involve them in one general ruin.

The mystery, however, was revealed this morning, when it was discovered that one of the large brass field pieces had been taken from the armory in the Medical College, dragged down College st. to opposite the State House, where it was discharged, breaking by the concussion 110 panes of glass, almost every light in the side of the building exposed.

What could have prompted this wanton destruction of property, it is impossible to conjecture. Whatever it might have been, it certainly furnishes a most convincing proof of the necessity of establishing an organized and permanent City Watch, for the protection of our citizens from these midnight depredators upon their security and repose.