Jerome Bonaparte, who had taken the petition organizer hostage to break through the encirclement, was quickly supported by vigilantes and regular police outside the encirclement. Armed with blunt weapons and smoothbore pistols, they shielded Jerome Bonaparte from the workers.
The workers, worried about harming the hostage, dared not advance after seeing their leader taken, fearing Jerome Bonaparte would kill the respected gentleman.
"Let go of Mr. McGrady, you bastard!"
The radical workers shouted, demanding Jerome release him, but Jerome ignored them, curiously observing the bespectacled, gentlemanly "riot" leader in front of him. He asked, "Are you McGrath? The leader of this strike?"
[McGrath: Member of the Executive Committee of the Charter Faction Association]
