The mob, under the lead of Constable Richard L. Swift, fully answered all expectations.  As Miss Anthony stepped forward to open the meeting, she was greeted with a broadside of hisses and ironical applause.  When Mrs. Stanton began her address her voice was drowned in jeers and groans and, although she persevered for some time, she was unable to complete a single sentence.  Rev. May attempted to speak and was met by yells, and stamping of feet.  A Southerner in the audience rose and said:  “Well, I may as well go back to Kentucky, for this is ahead of any demonstration against free speech I ever saw in the South;” but he was stopped by cries of, “Put him out!” The men kept on their hats, smoked pipes and cigars, stamped, bellowed, swore, and bedlam reigned.  The acting mayor, sheriff and chief of police were present, but not an arrest was made.  Mrs. Stanton finally left the platform, but Miss Anthony courageously maintained her position until the chief of police mounted the rostrum and declared the meeting adjourned.  Even then the rioters refused to go out of the hall, and the speakers were obliged to leave under protection of the police amid the hooting and howling of the rabble.  All wanted to give up the rest of the meetings, but Miss Anthony declared they had a right to speak and it was the business of the authorities to protect them, and persisted in finishing the series as advertised.  On Sunday the only place where they were allowed to hold services was in Zion’s colored church.  The house was filled, morning and evening, and they were left in peace.

At Port Byron the meeting was broken up by the throwing of cayenne pepper on the stove.  When the speakers reached Utica, where Mechanics’ Hall had been engaged, they learned that the board of directors had met and decided it should not be used, in direct violation of the contract with Miss Anthony, who had spent $60 on the meeting.  They found the doors locked and a large crowd on the outside.  The mayor was among them and begged her not to attempt to hold a meeting.  In reply she demanded that the doors be opened.  He refused but offered to escort her to a place of safety.  She answered:  “I am not afraid.  It is you who are the coward.  If you have the power to protect me in person, you have also the power to protect me in the right of free speech.  I scorn your assistance.”  She declined his proffered arm, but he persisted in escorting her through the mob.  As no hall could be had they held their meeting at the residence of her host, James C. DeLong, and formed an anti-slavery organization.  The instigator of the opposition in Utica was ex-Governor Horatio Seymour.  Of the meeting at Rome, Miss Anthony wrote: