Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-05-16
RIOTS IN PHILADELPHIA.

First Day.--According to adjourn
ment from Friday, large meeting of
Native Americans assembled at the cor
ner of Master and Second street, Ken
sineton. and organized. The meeting
was addressed by S. r. Kramer, and
Gen. Smith, and H. {. Levin, Esq, ed
itor of the Sun had just commenced a
speech. when a storm Of wind and rain
came up, and the meeting adjourned to
the shelter of the Market corner Of Mas
Ter and Cadva|ader streets. Previous
to this, it is stated that large number
of persons residents of the District had
taken shelter in the Market. and that
they showed an unwilingness to give
way to the Native Americans. The flag
however, was planted, and Mr.. Levin
re- commenced his speech.
Hardly had he begun, when the riot
commenced. Precisely and certainly
how it originated will never be known.
Some of the reporters state that 1t began
in an alteration between two men nam
ed Fields and Mclaughlin, the former "a
Protestant, the latter Catholic, and
both irishmen. A third person inter-
fered, ard then another hamed Babe, &
resident Of Kensington. The third
man whose name is not given, drew Two
pistols. threatening to shoot any man who
molested him. Babe went into the
street, and challenged him to fire. The
young man followed him up, there was
rush of hundreds to the spot, from the
Market, and from the Hibernia Hose
] House, the pistols were discharged IN
scuRie land in an instant the riot was gen
eral, discharges of fire arms became
frequent bluhgeons. bricks and stones
flew in all directions, and the contest
became one Of the most terrific that It Is
possible to conceive. Mr.. Patrick Fisher
late constable in the District was woun-
ded in the face, but not dangerously, by
the discharge of pistols, as mentioned "a
hove.
Another account OF the Commence
ment Of the riot is that it grew out OF
the chastisemeot OF some persons who
disturbed the meeting by noise, and
that directly upon this shots were fired
from the upper part of the liibernla Hose
House. By this voley, il is stated sew
eral wounds were inflicted,and charge
was made upon the lrishmen, who had
collected III body. Several guns we're
fired from among the Irishmen, and an
swered by pistol shots from the either
side. 1t is stated that there could not
have been less than one hundred dischar
! nf n Ia d
half that the battle lasted. Most the in
jury done by arms was done at the first
lire from the lrishmen.
In, the evening the attack was resumed,
the Natives demolishing the windows of
the houses. from which guns had been
! fired during the afternoon. The crowd
then proceeded up Second street to
Master, at the corner of which is Ro-
man Catholic School House. A bonfire
was kindled at the corner of the street
and the fence of the School House set
on FIRE; abont this time when the crowd
had taltered in front of the School House
volley OF musketry was fired from the
hoeses opposite, and when the crowd
had parted it was discovered that sever
al were wounded; one young man named
W. Wright was taken up dead, IA bullet
having pierced his left breast just above
his heart. Another young man named
Ram sey, living on Third street above
Brown, was mortally wounded in the up
per part of the left lung with bullet.
No further violence occurred during
the night.
Second Day. The excitement, fam
ed by reports, and strengthened by the
carelessly dgested accounts of the morn.
ing papers. was immense throughout the
, day. A band Of men were promena
:, ding tie streets, bearing d tattered A
marfcan ensign, and placaTd over il