the printing establishment, which, in the course of a few
minutes, was reduced to a state of confusion and chaos. The door was
broken open, the press partly demolished, the imposing-stone overturned,
and a quantity of type battered and thrown into the adjacent bay. The
contents of some of the cases were "pied" and scattered around the
floor. Frames, chases, galleys, composing-sticks and office furniture
were thrown together in one confused heap. In a word, the entire office
was turned topsy-turvy. Mr. Mackenzie's mother, who was then in her
seventy-eighth year, stood and watched the proceedings in a state of
great fear and agitation from a corner of the office.[72]

The most remarkable feature about the whole of this extraordinary
transaction was that there appeared to be no attempt at concealment. It
was carried out as though it had been the most legitimate and ordinary
business enterprise, to which no one could reasonably offer any sort of
objection. The raiders did not think it necessary to wait for darkness,
nor did they resort to any disguises. If they did not court publicity,
they at least took no care to avoid it. They chose a time of day when
the journeymen and apprentices connected with the establishment were
almost certain to be absent, and when there would be no one to oppose
their entrance; though, according to the printed admission of the prime
mover and instigator of the affair, they were prepared, if necessary, to
oppose force to force in order to effect their purpose. As there was
nobody in the office, any such display of force was happily uncalled
for. Having made their way inside, the work of destruction was proceeded
with coolly and calmly, as though there was no necessity for
extraordinary haste. When they had fully worked their will, they
departed as quietly as they had arrived.

The actual perpetrators of this unique act of ruffianism were nine in
number. They were none of them ruffians by profession, and were not
commonly rated as blackguards. They could not even plead the poor excuse
that they were under the influence of strong drink. Most of them were
young men, and nearly all of them were closely identified, either by
interest or by close relationship, with prominent members of the
oligarchy. They were, in short, with few exceptions, the flower of the
aristocracy of the little capital. Chief among them was Samuel Peters
Jarvis, barrister, the slayer of poor young John Ridout, mentioned on a
fo