inflicted. Of this no notice was taken by those
who were stationed within; it was repeated. At last, finding they were
treated with contemptuous silence, and that no sign of surrender was
offered, the crowd swayed back,--then forward,--in a combined attempt to
force the wide entrance-doors. Heavy hammers and sledges, which had been
brought from forges and workshops, caught up hastily as they gathered
the mechanics into their ranks, were used with frightful violence to
beat them in,--at last successfully. The foremost assailants began to
climb the stairs, but were checked, and for the moment driven back by
the fire of the officers, who at last had been commanded to resort to
their revolvers. A half-score fell wounded; and one, who had been acting
in some sort as their leader,--a big, brutal, Irish ruffian,--dropped
dead.

The pause was but for an instant. As the smoke cleared away there was a
general and ferocious onslaught upon the armory; curses, oaths,
revilings, hideous and obscene blasphemy, with terrible yells and cries,
filled the air in every accent of the English tongue save that spoken by
a native American. Such were there mingled with the sea of sound, but
they were so few and weak as to be unnoticeable in the roar of voices.
The paving stones flew like hail, until the street was torn into gaps
and ruts, and every window-pane, and sash, and doorway, was smashed or
broken. Meanwhile, divers attempts were made to fire the building, but
failed through haste or ineffectual materials, or the vigilant
watchfulness of the besieged. In the midst of this gallant defence, word
was brought to the defenders from head-quarters that nothing could be
done for their support; and that, if they would save their lives, they
must make a quick and orderly retreat. Fortunately, there was a side
passage with which the mob was unacquainted, and, one by one they
succeeded in gaining this, and vanishing. A few, too faithful or too
plucky to retreat before such a foe, persisted in remaining at their
posts till the fire, which had at last been communicated to the
building, crept unpleasantly near; then, by dropping from sill to sill
of the broken windows, or sliding by their hands and feet down the rough
pipes and stones, reached the pavement,--but not without injuries and
blows, and broken bones, which disabled for a lifetime, if indeed they
did not die in the hospitals to which a few of the more mercifully
disposed carried them.

Th