Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-01-21
From the o. s. Gazette.
RIOTS AT KENsINsTON,


sngson, aud for the past week that district hiss been
kept in fever Of excitement Our Reporters fur
nish the following statement Of occurrences.
Some time since the wesvers Of the city made a
formal strike for higher wages as journeymen.
They formed Society, and adopted standard OF
prices to be demanded for the labor performed. A
number of the wcavers did not think the movement
a lust one for the times, and continued working on
at the old prices. The men who had struck endea
vored 10 bring them into their measures by threats
of violence, which in case Of refusal they at times
carried into effect. Things have been going on
this way, marked occasionally with acis Of violence,
for more than month back, but within few
days past, the weavers in Kensng,on who had
struck, have been growing more and more violent,
until Wednesday evening, when they assembled in
n,obs, and endeavored to break up the looms and
cut the warps Of some weavers who lived in the
ncighborsood Of Front and Brown street. Sheriff
Porter, on information being communicated to him,
immediately assembled strong posse and repaired
to the scene of action, from whence, after short
skirmisb, the rioters retreaed to the market house
in Kensngton.
They were followed ta,i,her Ivy the Sheriff, who
made an sttack upon them but the posse was re-
PEELED by shower Of stones and determined sor-
tie from the rioters. A man named Archibald De.
violin struck the Sheriff wiha club, and injured
him so severaly that his life is in danger. Devolin,
and number more were arrested. 1t being then
about twelve o'clock, the posse retreated aud no.
thing further transpired during the night.
In consequence of the disturbed state Of the Nor.
them District, Deputy Attorney General Scott re-
qucsted Mayor Scott yesterday morning, to hear
the cases of the rioters who had been arrested on the
night before. The following was the result of the
hearing.
John McVay and Archibald Devon were each
bound over in the sum of $4,000. The latter was
the individual who inflicted the injury upon Sher.
ifr Porter under which he is now suffering
William Costello, Patrick McVay and James
Welsh were each bound over in the sum Of S25O0,
Barney McAleer, Edward Devohn and Thomas
McConoway, were each bound over in the sum Of
$4,000.
The whole were committed ia del, ,ult Of bail.
The burthen Of the evidence against the above,
to the effect that they were actively engaged
telligerents; but agant Archibald Devolin the ev
dence was of a stronger character 1t was proved
by several witnesses that after he had understood
that Mr.. Porter was the Sheriff, he exclaimed with
horrid oath, you're jus, the man want )" and
Mr.. Porter then being down, the prisoner Devon
commenced kicking and beating him with his feet
and club which he had in his hands
Yesterday and during the day, the district see-
med alive with people, and parties of men, armed
with clubs, paraded through the upper part Of it,
occasionally making some demonstration Of vio-
lence and both by word and action evncing de.
termination 10 resist the proper authorities.
The market house in Kensingon, and the large
vacant space around it, were filled with people du.
ring the day. A man, while talking to some others
near the sehoolbouse, was set upon and beatel
severely, as also were several others at different
times.
A part of the lower end of the market house was
boarded in on both sides yesterday, as to AFFORD
protection to any party that might take possession
oft. At the lowest end of il load OF fragment,
Of bricks were piled up These, the Market Com
muee ordered to be removed, and cart wal
brought to take them away but, after the cart
man had thrown them in, mob of men set upon ant
heat him severely, took possession of the cart, de-
posted The brick again in the place from whenc'
they were taken, and then told the carman to tax,
himself of.
Alderman Clark the Police Magistrate of th,
District received anonymous note yesterday sf
ternoon, stating that his house was to be set fir
to, in revenge fr having aided TO arrest three o
the rioters in the course Of the morning.
Threats were also used towards Alderman Potts
and he was obliged TO close his house at an earl,
hour on Wednesday evening, and remove his book
and papers to a place of safety.
The state Of feeling becoming apparent,
was deemed necessary Ivy the She,iilto call out tn
Military, and the two Companies OF German Wash
ington Guards, the Garman Ysgers and the Mon
roe Guards, were under arms all day yesterday.
General CadwsIader ordered eight companies
his brigade to be under arms at seven O'Clock la
evening, in readiness to march at moments war;
ing.
UP to ten o'clock last evening, no further decide
net of violence had been committed. Conslderab
excitement, however, prevailed, and large numbe
of peope throneed the infected part of the Distri
during the evening. The decided measures taxi
70 opuoss them, doubtless kept the rioets dow
but it was plain to see that the evil had only DC
-, -, ra,ooyed, and as they are well orga