them out into the street. Mr. Hart, who, either from curiosity to hear
what the meeting would propose to do, or from his suspicions being aroused
from what he had previously heard, was on the spot, and as soon as he saw
the crowd stream out of the Park, down Broadway, he hurried to the police,
and obtaining a posse of officers, made all haste for his store. But as
they were going down Dey Street, the mob, which blocked the farther end,
rushed on them with such fury, that before they had time to defend
themselves, their clubs, or staves as they were then called, were wrenched
from their hands and broken into fragments. The crowd was not yet very
great, and the disarmed officers forced their way into Washington Street
and into the store. Their presence frightened the few inside, and they
hastily decamped. The Mayor, who was in his room at the City Hall, had been
speedily notified of the riot, and hurried to the spot. The crowd
remaining in the Park had also been informed of what was going on, and
dashing madly down Broadway, and through Cortlandt Street, joined with
loud shouts their companions in front of the store. The Mayor mounted a
flight of steps, and began to harangue the mob, urging them to desist, and
warning them of the consequences of their unlawful action. He had not
proceeded far, however, before brick-bats, and sticks, and pieces of ice
came raining around him in such a dangerous shower, that he had to give it
up, and make his way to a place of safety. The street was now black with
the momentarily increasing throng, and emboldened by their numbers, they
made a rush at the entrance of the store. Driving the police-officers
before them, they wrenched by main force one of the heavy iron doors from
its hinges. A half a score of men at once seized it, and using it as a
battering-ram, hurled it with such force against the others, that after a
few thundering blows, they one after another gave way, and the crowd
poured in. The clerks fled, and the rioters went to work without
hindrance. Mounting to the upper lofts, they first broke in all the doors
and windows, and then began to roll and heave out the flour. The barrels