to Governor's Island for help, but he met with no better success. As a
last resort, General Sanford was now directed to call out the city
military.

All this time the crowd kept increasing, while from out its bosom came an
angry murmur like the moaning of the sea before a storm. The polls were
deserted, and it seemed impossible that the opposing forces could be long
kept apart. At length word passed through the Whigs that the mob were
about to take possession of the arsenal. Instantly several hundred
citizens made a dash for it, and occupied it. This was a brilliant piece
of strategy, and no sooner did the rioters hear of it, than they swarmed
around the building with yells and imprecations. The Whigs, however, held
it, and some of them passed out arms to their friends.

Three terrible hours had now passed since the first outbreak, and from the
Park to Duane Street, Broadway, and the cross streets on the east side of
it, were packed with excited men, their shouts, calls, and curses rising
over the dwellings in tones that sent terror to the heart. But for the
narrow streets, in which but few could come in contact, there would
doubtless have been a collision long before.

But at this critical moment a detachment of infantry and two squadrons of
cavalry came marching down Broadway, and in close column. The crowd
divided as they advanced, and they drew up before the arsenal. The
gleaming of the bayonets and the rattle of sabres had a quieting effect on
the rioters, and they began to disperse again to the polls, to watch the
progress of the voting. In the meantime, the infantry took up their
quarters at the arsenal, and the cavalry at the City Hall, for the night.

When the polls closed at evening, the ballot-box of the Sixth Ward was