street was thronged but not crowded, but it soon became apparent that the crowd was assembling from all directions. It was not generally known, nor was it possible to make it known, that an arrangement had been made to send the people under guard, out of the city by the next steamer, and that they were only being returned to their quarters temporarily, because there was no other place they could stay. The crowd seemed to think they were being returned to the place from which it had driven them, to remain there. Consequently as the march proceeded the crowd rapidly became larger and uglier. When First Avenue was reached it was found to be packed with an excited multitude for several squares[1] in either direction. Main Street beyond it was equally crowded. All were shouting and many were in a state bordering on frenzy.
By the time the advance of the guards had reached the middle of First Avenue, it was necessary to push this howling mass from their front, in order to advance, and at the East line of the street some of the crowd pressed through the line and turned the Chinamen back, but the cadets were behind them, preventing their retreat, and so they could only march around in a circle like so many frightened sheep. It was impossible to move them forward, and so a halt was called and a line of guards formed across the streets, making a sort of square within which were the Chinese who were now so thoroughly frightened as to be helpless. There were several old soldiers among the guards, who had seen danger before, and all acted with great coolness.[2] At the order given their guns were loaded with ball cartridges, but no demonstration was made about using them. Sheriff McGraw marched up and down in front of the line, commanding the crowd to disperse, and warning everybody not to interfere with the officers
- ↑ Presumably "squares" = "blocks". (Wikisource contributor note)
- ↑ The following passage is singled out by Kinnear as inaccurate. (Wikisource contributor note)
