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43
No. X.
LETTER FROM MR. OTIS CLAPP* TO THE EDITOR.
The reading of your letter this morning on the
"
Garrison Mob revived -my recollections of the
scene.
I happened to be standing on the south corner of
State and Washington Streets when the mob came
up Washington Street, with General Lyman and his
officers surrounding Mr. Garrison, who turned him
into State Street, and up the steps into the Old State
House (then the City Hall), when the door was
closed and guarded. This action produced great
excitement among the mob, which increased in fury
each moment, and threatened to break down the
door. Soon after, General Lyman stepped through
the window on the roof over the door through
which they had entered City Hall, and addressed
the multitude.
He asked all to aid in keeping the peace, and
advised all to quietly retire. The laws, he said, so
far as rested upon him, must and should be obeyed,
if he died in the attempt ;
or words to this effect.
His figure, as he then appeared, when he straight
ened himself up and spoke, is impressed upon my
mind as though it was within a year, and the fire
with which he declared his determination rings in
my ears to this day. The effect upon the multitude
was electric, and all was hushed for some moments ;
* United States Assessor.