Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-23
BY EDGAR sNoWDEN.
PARTICULARS OF THE RIOT ON THE
WASHINGTON RAIL ROAD.
correspon fence Of the Baltimore Patriot.
EIK-RIDGE june IS 1894.

ELK-RIDGE, June 10, 1854.
A furious Instruction broke out on Sunday
last among the Irish laborers on the line of the
washington Rail road, between the points cor
to about the twelfth and twentieth
mile stones from Baltimore, which continued
until Tuesday afternoon, when it was entirely
quelled, or at least suppressed for the present,
by the active eXertionS of Gen. G. S. Ridgely,
acting under the sanction of the civil authority,
with a company of about fifty men from the
Savage Factory and few others OF the neigh
borhood, who, with alacrity and prompttude
volunteered their services, under the immediate
command of MIR. Capron of the former place,
well armed with musket and ball-with Col.
Geo Cooke, as aid to the General-and the
whole accompanied with two magistrates Of the
county. As no resistance was made, no VIC
lence was necessary, and of course none was
used on the part of the State, except in the ar
rest of a number of the rioters, who were mo-
ving along the line of the road armed, or car
-ying bludgeons, with evident hostile design
Three or four of the rioters are known to have
been killed, and several badly hurt in the differ
emit affrays among themselves. Twelve or fifteen
shantees have been burnt or otherwise destroy
ed in the commotion, with the greater part of
heir contents-leaving number of women
and children houseless and destitute No other
persons are known to have received injury Ell
cher in their persons or property on this occa-
sion.-Gen. Ridgely was not informed OF what
was going upon the road till some time in
The forenoon of Monday, when he proceeded
20 the chief point of the commotion, as soon as
he could be furnished with the requisite civil au-
hority.-The writer of this accompanied, or
rather found the General at the threatened
point Of attack, and witnessed his executions by
command and entreaty 10 preserve the peace
with the first band he succeeded, but Inole
/ :rrious set soon came up with whom AeIther
command or entreaty had the least effect He
/ oil thn vii n
| The Savage Factory, procured the force before
mentioned, and followed the rioters-palties Of
yhOm were soon discovered 10 be proceeding
iown the line evidently for the purpose o. IS
sailing their Opponents-as many Of these werc
arrested as could be oVertaken. The troops
.hen proceeded towards the lower section, OPP
)oste to Waterloo and at dusk after fatigue
ing march of miles in hot and sultry even
ing, the General directed them 10 Waterloo, TO
secure the prisoners and take up quarters for
he night.
Early next day he proceeded to the 9Th Sec
ion, the head quarters of the Corkonians, and
Feceived- the peaceabe submission OF all the
party there. Statoning guard of II men, he
returned with the rest of his force, on the line
Of the road, back to the other disturbed sec
lions, received in like manner the peaceable
submission of two or three hundred Of the RIO
GERS, and thence marched on to the section ct
about the goth mile stone, where he found the
his people for defence-whie stationary ne0r
his point, information was brought that distur-
Dances had been renewed at the principle point
Just before paSSed-a cOuntermarch was there
sore ordered, but on arriving back this informa>
ion proved to be false. The people here, how
cver were found to be in a state of alarm and
commotion, experimenting or pretending to APP
orehend an attack from the Corkoniahs. To
oacify their apprehensions, and as measure
Of necessary precaution, Gen. r. suggested 10
he fatigued volunteers, who had scarcely any
lest the night before, and who had been march.
ing backward and forward all this day III the
ain, that he wanted guard to remain here
ill the expected force from Baltimore shopid
.rrive. This was promptly met by MIR. CanroA
himself and twenty of his men, the whole I'M
Ter command of Col Cooke-being all that
we're necessary, the actual disturbances all O.
long the line being entirely suppressed. TIE
Baltimore troops under Maj. Finley arrived
shortly after.
! The unnatural and deadly feud appears not
20 have had its origin in either of the ordinary
courceS of animosity among those people, Pol
tics and Religion, but mererely in the circum-
stance of their coming from different parts Of
me same Island The North against the South
the CorkonlanS on one side, and those from
lie North, Fardowns as they are called on the
5ther-and both l am informed, are Roman
Catholics. Such an infuriate and brutal fee /
ing as was displayed by both parties of these
Infatuated men 1t had never fallen to my lot
% witness beforehand yet Ihave had the op-
Oortunity to know that there are some very de-
cent and respectable men among both sides,
who, with all that are peaceably inclined, are
treated as foes, they do not join their respec-
i've parties-and peace for any length Of time
cannot be expected among them, if the Ring
leaders on each side be not arrested and made
examples OF. Indeed it may be very doubtful
whether any thing can prevent renewal of
disturbances while the hostile factions remain
on the same line. 1t may be worth while for
the Rail Road Company to endeavor to effect
an exchange of least numerous of the parties
here with an equal number of the contrary par
~ on the Canal, whereby both works and all
parties may be benefited, by having all ofone
side on each work.