ockport's
prominent citizens, introduced by President George L. Farnham, of
Syracuse, always her friend in those troublous days. By this time more
than a score of the eminent educators of the day had become her
steadfast friends, and they welcomed her to these conventions, aiding
her efforts in every possible manner. Rev. Samuel J. May, who had
delivered an address, upon his return home wrote: "You are a great
girl, and I wish there were thousands more in the world like you. Some
foolish old conventionalisms would be utterly routed, and the legal and
social disabilities of women would not long be what they are." Miss
Anthony herself, writing to Antoinette Blackwell, said: "I wish I had
time to tell you of my Lockport experience; it was rich. I never felt
so cool and self-possessed among the plannings and plottings of the few
old fogies, and they never appeared so frantic with rage. They
evidently felt that their reign of terror is about ended."

October, 1858, brought another crucial occasion. In Rochester, a young
man, Ira Stout, had been condemned to be hung for murder. A number of
persons strongly opposed to capital punishment believed this a suitable
time to make a demonstration. It was not that they doubted the guilt of
Stout, but they were opposed to the principle of what they termed
judicial murder. As the Anthonys and many of the leading Quaker
families, Frederick Douglass and a number of Abolitionists shared in
this opinion, it was not surprising that Miss Anthony undertook to get
up the meeting. In a cold rain she made the round of the orthodox
ministers but none would sign the call. The Universalist minister, Rev.
J.H. Tuttle, agreed to be present and speak. She secured thirty or
forty signatures, engaged the city hall and advertised extensively. The
feeling against Stout was very strong and there was a determination
among certain members of the community that this meeting should not be
held. Huge placards were posted throughout the city, urging all opposed
to the sentiments of the call to be out in force, a virtual invitation
to the mob.

When the evening arrived, October 7, the hall was filled with a crowd
of nearly 2,000, a large portion of whom only needed the word to break
into a riot. Miss Anthony called the assemblage to order and Frederick
Douglass was made chairman, but when he attempted to speak, his voice
was drowned with groans and yells. Aaron M. Powell, William C. Bloss
and others tried to mak