Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SPRIXG FIELD, 1636-1SS6. 491
Springfield was completely takeu aback by tlie actiou of Cougress,
in the summer of 1854, which decreed that civil superintendents
should be appointed at Springfield and Harper's Ferry. After so
long a dispute the local heart of anti-militarianism palpitated with
delight. Among the names mentioned for the Springfield appoint-
ment were Mayor Tyler, Otis A. Searaans, and John Chase, of
Chicopee. Master Armorer E. S. Allin was placed temporarily in
charge of the armory (August, 1854) after the removal of Colonel
Ripley by Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War. When General Whitney
had received the appointment, a rousing civilians' jubilee was planned.
It was the beginning of November. A procession was formed at the
Pynchon-street Church by City Marshal Churchill. In line conspic-
uously placed were the aged armorers who had been discharged, as
well as three revolutionary veterans, — Reuben Burt, age ninety-
three ; John S. Edwards, age ninety, and Jonathan Smith, of
Chicopee, age ninety-three. The procession brought up at Hamp-
den Hall, where a banquet was spread. Mr. Tyler sat at the head
of the table, and among the vice-presidents were Stephen C. IJemis,
Charles Stearns, S. R. B. Lewis, Seth B. Bliss, John C. Stebbins,
Dr. J. Hooker, G. W. Harrison, and Lewis Foster. The toastmaster
was Grove H. Loomis, of the Boston Custom-house, and among the
speakers were ex-Governor Steele, of New Hampshire ;
Whiting, of Boston ;
Superintendent
ex-Alderman
Whitney, Dr. Osgood, Charles
Stearns, who might have been called " The Happy." He, by the
way, secured from Congress, in 1856, his long-sought indemnit}' for
losses resulting from " the riot." In the evening the rejoicings were
renewed in the City Hall. The ladies of Springfield gave Mr.
Stearns a silver pitcher, and the civilians' jubilee closed with speech-
making and general felicitations. The next week ]Mr. Stearns'
friends put him up for Congress, and he accepted it on the armory
issue.
In the fall of 1854 came the Know-nothing whirlwind. Eliphalet
Trask was put up by the Know-nothings for ^Nlayor, and was over-