Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-08-15
INFAMOUS AND HORRIBLE RIOT IN
PHILADELPHIA!


INFAMOUS AND HORRIBLE RIOT IN
PHILADELPHIA!
"A CHURCH, nall, md HOUSES b UR.NT'
BY ii MOB LOSS or LIFE.
We copy the following outrageous and melan-
chUly account Of the proceedings OF Il dlsgraceful
and nlurated mob, which took place OF Monday,
in the city of b,otheriy oUe, Philadelphia, from the
Inquirer Of Tuesday morning.
a dreadful riot and fight occurred yesterday
morning in the vicinity of South aud Seventh
streets 1t seems that Temperance Society,
composed Of colored PERSONS determined yeser-
day to walk in procession, the object, us is said,
being two-lol TO celebrate the Temperance cause,
also the anniversary OF The Slave Emancipation in
the British West Indies. They mustered in con-
siderable force, probably fifteen hundred in num-
Der, carried banners and wore badges, the princi-
pal marshuls being mounted. The crowd of look
ers on also large. Some of the banners, it is
said, were rather innalnnory in their character
and had little to do with temperance. Much mis-.
representation was also circulated rs TO their OBJ
jecls aud designs, and u considerable excitement
was the result. The affray was fist commenced
by boys They threw stones at some of the col
ored people, who realiated, when white men took
part with the White boys, and the disturbance soon
becaro gen 3ra. Men and women mingled with
it, brlckbats were thrown in showers, II number
Of persons were knocked down, and several of
both colors seriously if not fatally wounded.
The principal fight occurred in ST. Mary street
above south, and between Sixth and Seventh A
bout Two hundred persons were engaged i'll ii, aud
it ragged most violently for u time. Tho blacks
fought with desperation, and drove their assailants
back more than once. They were ultimately COM
PEELED TO fly, or lake refuge in their houses The
procession was torn into confusion, and most OF
the banners were beaten 10 pieces. white wo-
man was knocked down with brickbn and much
inlured--a white man was stabbed III the eye and
had an arm broken-threc or four OF the blacks
were reports that more than one life was lost. The
snCps III the vicinity were closed, and ior time
tho scene was irighliul. The Mayor was on the
ground early with his Officers, and exerted HIM
self III the most pralseworlhy spirit. Several Of
the rngleaders were arrested and committed.
We passed through the battle field about four
O'Clock in the afternoon. Groups Of persons, of
both colors, were assembled at the corners, fights
occasionally took place, aud ever and anon crowds
would rush in various directions. The stores and
houses in the neighborhoods of Lombard, South,
and Fifth SIKH and Seventh streets, were closed,
and apprehensions expressed lest further out
breaks should take place Several arrests had Just
been made by tho Police Oticers-principay
white persons and one or Two of them were res
cued We observed with modification that the
officers were PEELED with brickbals they procee-
died along Fifth street by Walnut. They never
tbeess behaved manfully and worthy the agents
Of the law.
At one time, about IL NJ. there could not have
beer less than five thousand persons either in
about the scene of excitement. A butcher early
III The morning, was violently assaulted by some
blacks in Seventh street by Shipper, and his man
was dreaduily injured We had the account from
| his own lips, and he affirmed that he passing
| quietly along when he was attacked. The court
| at the west OF the African Church in Lombard
| street above Fifth, was crowded ut one moment
| with ASSISTANTS, who battered The doors and win
dows oil several OF the houses. The tenants, col
! .trt1 ia.
TERRENCE oflhe Police the houses would, no doubt,
| have been torn down.
| The most exaggerated stories as to the alledgel
oulrnges were IN circulation, and these served not
liule to add TO the excitement.
The half grown boys were evidently the prin.
| cipa mischief makers,
The scene in the vicinity Of Sixth street and
Small was deplorable Human beings, of both
coors and sexes, were there seen in conditions of
misery, wretchedness aud alarm, melancholy TO
contemplate. They knew not at what moment
rush might be made upon Them, and hence they
lrembled not only for their lillle STOCK oil worldly
goods, hut even for their lives.
The police officers were scattered about, and as
far us we could discover, conducted themselves bo
cQnliugly. The numbers, however, in the event
of~anythng like general fight, were greatly a
| gailisl Them.
1t was reported that sailor (whle) was sadly
! nurod-that dirk was found upon black who
But the reports were SO numerous and many SO
utterly uniounded, we took the trouble 10 as
certain, that we think bright until the excitement
subsidies, 10 caution the public against attaching
TOO much importance 10 many OF The stories that
are put into circulation.
little before five, we again visited The scene OF
iumult, aud in Sixth and Shipper streets, we saw
white boy carried along, the blood streaming
from one OF his legs, lie having been shot by ne
gro IN neighborng alIey. 1t appears that sever
al boys went up tins alley, and were busy in the
general excitement, but we could not learn Tint
they had committed any violence. Two shots
were fired out of the different windows upon them,
mud three Of tho boys were wounded. One is re-
ported TO have since died--but we cannot youch
for the truth of the statement. A large crowd OF
white persons soon collected in the alley, and me-
gro having been seen on the roof, the house was
entered, and efforts were in progress to capture
him with evident intentions Of taking summary
vengeance. Mr.. Hartman Yerkes soon appeared
on the spot, and assembled to the upper part of the
house and took the negro, who gave himself up
on learning that MIR. Y. was Police Ohicer. MIR.
Y. then endeavored to escort him through The al
ley, assisted by another person. probably an Off
GER The negro was struck over tho head by The
nearest of the crowd, but Mr. Y. succeeded in get
ting him to the conner OF Sixth street and Wash
ington square where a large body OF persons met
the police and negro, took him by main force
struck him down with pieces of wood, trampled
upon him, and he was dragged to the Office al
length by some cons,abes who came to tho rescue
but we learn that life at the time was all but il mol
quite extinct. il seems, also, that another negro
had been taken by some OF the bystanders neal