“No More Rioting” – History of New York City

The end of the Fourth of July riots came as a relief not only for the people who were afraid to leave their homes, but also for Mayor Wood.

The last day of the riots was described in a front page spread by the New York Times: “At 7 o’clock a party came down from the grocery, corner of Worth and Centre streets, into Cow Bay and commenced the attack upon Five Pointers, which of course, was resisted. …Many of the Five Pointers or Dead Rabbits got on the houses and tore down the chimneys, throwing the bricks at the Centre-street crowd or Kerryonians, and supplying their comrades with the same sort of ammunition. Rev.Mr Pease saved the day by going between the two groups, getting the double-barreled gun from the Pointers.”

Although military was brought in on Sunday, it is described that a civilian had a part in ending one of the riots in the Five Points neighborhood. Although they are often described as ruffians, these gangs had a strong sense of loyalty and their sense of honor. While they may not listen to the government or the New York City Police, it was through their own terms that they would stop fighting. In this case, we see the relationship between the gangs and their neighborhoods, who stopped the fighting through the intervention of their neighbors.

A depiction of a “Dead Rabbit” and a “Bowery Boy.” Each live in neighboring parts of New York – Five Points/Bowery. The Bowery Boy is depicted as a gentleman, in a top hat and suit-pieces. The Dead Rabbit is shown as a monstrous beast wearing rags. The artist uses the stereotypes of the Irish, depicting them as animalistic, and not human. Nativist sentiment can be seen in the illustration of the Bowery Boy, as they are drawn as gentleman. The Bowery gang was known for their nativist beliefs and often proclaimed themselves as “True Americans.”

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