Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-18
ELECTION RIOTS IN PHILADELPHIA.

had been, on the previous night, dreadful riot
in Moyamensing. We did not then deem II
polite to enter in the particulars OF the lamen-
table occurrence. The minds Of our fellow cl-
tizens were yet under the excitement OF the
election contest; and the details of such a scene
might have produced further violence. we
made inquiries, yesterday, as to the origin ana
propress of the disturbances, and learned that
the in feeling engendered, or heated by the elec-
ton during the day, had been further excited by
some collisions which occurred after the CLOS
ing of the poll; the Jackson men assaulted the
house, known as the head quarters 1.-THE Wings,
and a party of anti-Jackson men sailed forth
from this place, and in repulslng the Jackson
men, q hickory stick, set up as sign in small
temporary shanty, was thrown down. This re-
tort provoked further aggreSsons from the Jack
son men, who proceeded to the liberty pole, IN
front Of the anIi-Jackson house, with view OF
cutting it down; this was difficult task, as the
lower part of the spar was closely strapped with
iron, extending from below the surface Of the
ground to the height Of eight or ten feet. While
u part OF the crowd were engaged upon the IL
berty pole, another party was lndustrlously en-
ployed in pelting the house with stones, bricks
and other similar missiles. When this attack
had been continued for a short time, and it was
evident that the building would soon yield, and
the lives OF its numerous inmates be ]eoparded,
if not taken away, some persons discharged
fire arms from the house and wounded several
of the aSsailantS. We instituted inquiry as
to the manner in which these arms came into
the house, and we learned, that after the Ward
Election, week before last, the Jackson men at
tackled this house, and did much injury to the
exterior and its contents; and it was reported,
that, on the night of the General Election, the
house was to be pulled down. Arms, therefore,
were procured by its occupant, TO defend his
property at the last extremity. or the proprle-
ty Of this selfdelence, we are not now TO speak,
we are giving only such information as we
could gather. The crowd thus assailed, grew
desperate, and rushed to the house, which they
soon broke open, and dragged forth its inmates.
We are told that they had, at one time, man,
whom they had mistaken for the proprietor of
the house, and were about to intiict summary
vengeance on him, when they were prevailed
on to release him.
II is said, that shortly after the guns were dis
charged from the house, several were also fired
at the Wings, from behind fence. One Wing
had his eye SO much injured, by shot, that he
will probably be entirely deprived Of the sight
thereof When the house was open TO the rio
tors they dragged forth the furniture, piled 1t
against the liberty pole, and set 1t on hre; tins
soon communicated to the houses in the vici-
nifty, and the conflagration became general
The firemen were not allowed to act.
We have given the above as we gathered it,
from several persons Of credit; and we subjoin
the accounIgiven by the Philadelphia Gazette.
of yesterday afternoon:-U. s. Gaz.
Among the many disgraceful scenes Of out
rage which took place yesterday, that which
occurred in the township of Moyamensing, at
late hour in the evening, appears to have been
the most serious in its consequences. Besides
the destruction of a block of five handsome and
valuable houses, the property of our townsman
MIR. Robb, it appears that several individuals
were seriously injured, and perhaps one or more
killed. The particulars of this dreadful scene
of violence as well as we could learn from the
various contradictory statements made on the
ground this morning, appear to be as follows:
The Wings of Moyamensing had established
their head quarters in the tavern at the corner
of Christian and Ninth streets, opposite the Dis
trict Hall where the elections are held. The
Jacksonmen established their head quarters on
the opposite side of the way, by the erection OF
a booth on the pavement having failed in an at
tempt TO procure the use OF the house in the same
row with the Wings. In the course of the even
inc, the Jackson party, being much stronger on
the ground than their opponents, committed 1t
is said many assaults upon peaceable Nhlg Vot-
ers, by breaking their lanterns, tearing away
their electioneerng bills, and finally in knock
ing down and beating them. This course OF
conduct appears to have been pursued until hui
man nature could submit to the aggravating in
suits no longer. The Wings made rally and
10 punish the insolence Of the Jacksonmen, made
a rush on them, and cut down their hickory
pole The ground then became quet-the dis
turbance was considered as finally settled, and
peace was fully restored. This state oil things,
however. continued but short time; the oppoS-
ing party, in the interim. had been collecting
their forces from Southwark, the city, and up
per districts, and suddenly aud unexpectedly
appeared on the ground in great numbers, and
made desperate attack upon the Wing Head
Quarters driving into the house, nearly every
Wing on the ground They deliberately set hre
to the splendid Liberty Pole in front, and the
Matchbox at the corner, and then entered the
tavern and adjoining houses in the row-dc-
stroyed the furniture in those which were ten
anted-threw out the beds and bedding &C.
and piled them up in the street, and set the mass
on fire!
Still unsatisfed with the work of destruction,
the mob ransacked the lower rooms of the Wing
tavern, threw out the furniture upon the blazing
nile in the street, and grossly assaulted all upon
whom they could lay their hands. The land
lady and her shrieking children were driven
with violence into the street, and severely NAL
treated. The persons in the upper rooms, now
Considering that the object of the mob was TO