University of Virginia - Corks and Curls Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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cut horses loose from the wagons, mounted them, and rode helter-skelter over ev- erything and everyone connected with the Circus, ripping and burning tents, breaking up wagons, and trampling the showmen. One circus man was killed, and a great number wounded before the students had avenged their colleagues death. Needless to say, it was a long time before another carnival ventured near Char- lottesvillef, At the end of Cleghornels monologue, Grant Sayers quickly interjected his own iiriot story? iiIt seems that back in 1827 a school of military instruction was es- tablished at the University, and it attracted a great number of students, since a knowledge of and proficiency with arms and fighting was requisite to the making of a true gentleman. Drill was conducted on the Lawn, at first with wooden sticks as rifles, but soon with muskets, on the demand of the indignant students. The administration was terribly strict about issuing arms; hence the only time a student could be in possession of a rifle was during a drill period. The French drill instructor was often away on business, so the students petitioned the faculty to form a company of their own to replace the military company. Thus, when the military instructor was in residence in the University, there would be two com- peting companies. Before each drill the captains of each company were required to turn into the faculty the names of all who would be issued arms for that day. Well, at the very first drill of the fall term of 1836, the civilian company forgot to turn in such a list and did not obtain permission to draw arms at all. When the faculty demanded an explanation the students became riled and refused to turn in their rifles as ordered. They made a resolution That we have our arms and intend to keep themf and shortly after presenting this resolution to the faculty, the proctor informed them of the expulsion from the University of every member. From that Saturday night until Monday morning, a scene of unparalleled disorder and violence continued. The company marched on the Rotunda and captured it, taking its occupants prisoners and tying them up. They put their flag in the sky- light and shot it to shreds from within the dome, several being hit by reflected bullets. The Rotunda bell was rung continuously for six days, leaving the towns volunteer fire department in a state of utter confusion as it sped around town looking for a fire. Faculty dwellings were attacked, forcing residents to retreat to the upper Hoors to avoid injury. The rioters inserted megaphones in the windows and shouted insults at the faculty members and their wives, while tearing draper- ies and breaking down doors. iiThe faculty appealed to the legislature for help on the fourth day, and a special committee of representatives were sent immediately from Richmond to investi- gate the matter. After they had gotten into their hotel in Charlottesville, they were given a reception by the students that night. The students showered the ho- tel with rocks, chanted throughout the night, and scared the delegates half to death. One of the frightened committee members got a message out to Richmond that night to send troops to the University. It was believed in Richmond that the rioting students had burned the entire University down. The following morning, two hundred state militia marched to the University and assumed guard over the buildings. Only after the most offensive rules had been removed did the students return to normalf, Vanderslice declared that he had a iicharmingT riot story of his own. Students used to blow off steam, by means of calathumps, which were wild riots consisting of horn-blowing, tin pan-beating, and pistol-firing on the Lawn. Students would go from pavilion to pavilion shouting, heckling professors, and generally making merry. Everyone wore masks, and it resembled a miniature Mardi Gras, except that it was slightly more hazardous. On November 14th, 1840, during one of the

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iiOne of these unlucky students when brought before the Dean of the University made a most noteworthy defense of his actions. Claiming a certain veneration of the past, the student professed his concern for the happiness of the iold rock and the prehistoric creature and that he only hoped to get them both togetheri where they might be more happy. The Deanis comments on this concern went unrecorded, but we note that the mammoth remained in Brooks Museum. iiBut getting back to what Martin said about politics? Cary went on, upolitics at the University has often been concerned with issues other than those immediately concerning the student body? Student political demonstrations have not always been disorderly amalgamations of bearded iconoclasts. Fm sure the old Charlottesville families remember the demonstration once held here in behalf of Grover Cleveland. On a designated evening just after his election, U.Va. students marched through town en masse, making quite a noise with their tin horns and drums. At 11 RM. all returned to the Lawn with a brass cannon and plenty of ammunition. Salutes commenced to be fired. The next morning all was well, but certain members of the faculty could be found nowhere. At noon, the missing Chairman of the math department sud- denly appeared, rifle in hand. After being told that the festivities of the previous night were simply a political rally, the red-faced old veteran of the Civil War, embarrassed beyond words, finally admitted that he and some of his uninformed colleagues had feared that the University was under siege, perhaps by some new- ly-sprung extremist group. These men had looked themselves in their basements for protection. He was the only one Who would dare venture out to see what had finally happened? With the same whiskey sour in his hand, Cleghorne promised to relate a story on the riots at the University before the Civil War. Silence greeted this announcement. But he went on, iiProbably the two most se- rious riots in the history of the University occurred in 1836 and 1845 when . . . , 'Cleghorne paused, and turned to find where an irritating new noise was coming 'from. Gotts, who had been a student guide for three months, was noisily scrib- ibling notes with a dull pencil to use on his next tour. Cleghorne asked him to look in Bruceis history of the University for the details. iiThe fact is, resumed Cleghorne, iithat riots occurred about every five years at the University before the Civil War, and were caused mainly by the resentment of the students against the petty rules at the University then. During the usual riots the students rang the bell continually all night, caned any professors who came out to identify the riot- ers, threw bricks through the pavilion windows, and fired pistols from horseback on the Lawn? Sparked by the interest shown his latest story, he decided to relate another one along the same lines. iiMost students are intimately familiar with the traveling carnivals that come to town during the year e they are anticipated with great excitement. Back in 1846 a fair came and situated itself about a mile out of town. Naturally, the first night attendance was not very large, as most of the students hadnit heard that the fair was in town. During that first night, however, several students became involved in a fight with one of the showrnen over a card game. The argument was quickly ended when the man pulled out his pistol and shot one of the students. The news spread quickly the next day, and that night every student in the University proceeded to march on the fair, the tromping of their boots and their wild yells throwing the town into a state of petrified alarm. Women and children cowered in their beds as the mighty juggernaut rolled unhesitatingly towards the carnival grounds. Bullets ricocheted in the streets and the civic leaders of Charlottesville dared not to stop the onslaught. The students

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wilder calathumpian serenades, the students gathered before the pavilion in which Professor Davis, chairman of the faculty, lived. After several minutes had gone by, Mr. Davis came out and asked the crowd to leave. He was met with derisive laughter and even more noise. He approached the nearest student and at- tempted to pull off his mask, whereupon the student drew his pistol and shot the professor. He died the next day? uIs that right? Fletcher burst out. Gotts, interested in the subject of riots, asked if anyone knew anything about the Jefferson Theatre riots. H. T., pleased that he finally had something to contribute, said, The riot took place when the Jefferson Theatre suddenly raised admission fees from live to ten cents. ttOn a warm Sunday afternoon, U.Va. students tmost of whom turned out to be coerced first yearmen and iun-shaped up, pledgesl opened fire on paying customers at the Jefferson with rotten tomatoes. Gentlemen to the manner born, indeed, held their Hre whenever a woman dared step into the area under assault. The so- lution seemed simple enough to the manager, who immediately called Dean Page. Angered at having been rudely awakened from his afternoon nap, he said that he would be happy to quell, the riot if the manager would be so kind as to send the students out to his home. The following Monday morning admissions were back to five cents. Phelps, glancing at his watch, realized it was late. Fletcher asked how late it was. TIES quarter after one? In his usual manner, Fletcher replied, iiIs that rightly, Vanderslice pointedly asked, ttIsrft this a little past your bedtime? ttLeth call it a night? said Lambert. I have a quiz tomorrow. I dont know how I get sucked into these bull sessions? That isn,t like you, Phelpsfl said H.T. iiAre you afraid that Georgia will have a hard time meeting its quota for the draft? ill just carft see spending the next winter in Viet Nam. illfs very interesting? said Cleghorne, how radically students, attitudes differ from those of students here at the University prior to the War of Northern Aggression? Vanderslice interjected bitterly, ttCivil War, Cleghornefi itAll right, Civil War? Cleghorne said as he began to recount some facts which he had picked up in his studies. iiThe University actually marched to war. As sectional controversies peaked in 1861, war seemed inevitable. Students here petitioned the faculty for permission to organize two fighting companies. The request was granted and the ranks were soon filled. Colorful drills drew spectators to the Lawn each afternoon to see the Sons of Liberty as the first company was called, come prancing by in their vel- vet embroidered Ishirts of dazzling red and black doeskiu trousers while at the other end the Southern Guard; distinguished by blue shirts and light-blue caps, ambled over the site of Homefs statue in perfect quick-time. These patriotic young volunteers were armed with antiquated Hintlock muskets minus the Hints, cartridge boxes minus the cartridges, and bayonet scabbards. Each company num- bered sixty-five to seventy strong. ttOn April 16th rumor broke out that the die was cast, and the regiment quickly assembled on the Lawn, eagerly awaiting the call to action. Soon our heroic as- semblage marched into Charlottesville and joined the iMonticello Guards at the