Citizens to the Mob.--Mob attempt to break into Jail and seize the
Students.--The Fight.--The Military called out.--Beaten by the Mob.--
Larger Military Force called out.--Attacked by the Mob.--Deadly Firing.--
Great Excitement.--Flight of Doctors and Students.

In former times "body-snatching," or digging up bodies for dissections,
was much, more heard of than at present. The fear of it was so great,
that often, in the neighborhood where medical students were pursuing their
studies, persons who lost friends would have a watch kept over their
graves for several nights, to prevent them from being dug up. Neither the
high social position of parties nor sex was any barrier to this
desecration of graves, and the public mind was often shocked by accounts
of the young and beautiful being disinterred, to be cut up by medical
students. In the city there was, a few years ago--and perhaps there is
now--a regular commercial price for bodies.

[Illustration: THE NEW YORK HOSPITAL.--Scene of the Doctors' Riot. Located
formerly on Broadway at the head of Pearl Street.]

[Illustration: THE COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM 143d St. The former building
destroyed during the Draft Riot of 1863.]

Although it was conceded that for thorough instruction in medical science,
subjects for dissection were necessary, yet no one outside of the medical
profession could be found to sanction "bodysnatching." There is a
sacredness attached to the grave that the most hardened feel. Whenever the
earth is thrown over the body of a man, no matter how abject or sinful he
may have been, the involuntary exclamation of every one is "_requiescat
in pace_." When, it comes to be one of our own personal friends, a
parent, sister, or child, to this feeling of sacredness is added that of