Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-05-18

ming, the flames continuedt to spread without stay,
until rwENrY.HrvR houses were consumed, the
greater part Of them being upon Cadwalader st.
About seven o'clock the market house itself
caught fire, and at nine o'clock lay in heap of
ruins
The melancholy result ofthe few hours during
which the contest between the Irishmen and Ma
tive Americans ragged, is Ia killed and 80 wound
ed
A man by the name of Maitland, was danger.
ously wounded by shot fired by John Taggert
negro sitting in the market house, immediate
ly fired at Taggart, and several shot struck him
in the forehead. Taggart then ran into the house
but number Of the Native Americans rushed in
and made him prisoner. He was conducted
down to Alderman Boileau's Office who upon the
oath of one of the spectators committed him to
Moyanensng Prison. He left the Office in charge
of two officers and number of citizens, but
when near Beaver street, the crowd took him vi
olently out ofthe hands of his conductors, tied
rope around his neck, and dragged him some dis
tance along the street.
His captors then passed the rope over the end
of an awning post, and pulled him mp for the pur-
pose of hanging him, but the beam broke and he
fell to the earth, he was then dragged for some
distance and finally left lying in the street to all
! appearance dead. He was, however, alive when
! taken up and remained so up to ten o'clock last
night. He cannot however survive.
! The scene during the continuance of the con-
I fagraton awfully grand great sea of
fire ragged, the roaring noise of which was heard
at a considerable distance, mingled with the
crash of falling timbcrs or tumbling walls Peo-
pie were hurrying hithcr and thither, anxiously
cndcavoring to save their property and on the
open lots adjacent piles of furniture were heap
ed up promiscuously. Women and children, made
| houselcss by the destruction ofther homes, were
gathered in the vicinity, and the whole scene had
its appropriate climax in the glitter of the arms
and accoutrcmcn,s Of the soldiers, the cannon
and their guards and the dense and dark mass of
people by which the whole square was hernmed
in. The Military remained on the ground during
the greater part of the night
THURSDAY, MAY 9.
The riots in Kcnsing,on Yesterday, although
not signalized with the loss of life, up to seven
o'clock in the evening was nevertheless marked
with violence of the most outrageous character.
During the night large numbers of people re.
mancd about the scene OF violence, and the mill
tarv kept vigilant guard until day light, when
portion OF them were relieved by reinorcements
from the second and third Brigades, and shortly
after, the district appearing TO be quiet the rest
of the military were drawn oil, with the exeep-
tion of a detachment of twenty four men, under
the command Of Captain Fairlarnb, which was
left to guard St Michael's Church.
About two O'Clock, a crowd Of people went 10
Ninth and Poplar street, where number of Irish
families had taken refuge, in a number of dwell
= ings These were fred and burned to the ground,
the inmates scattered, and the contents destroyed
: Meantime, an immense crowd had gathered in
the vicinity OF ST Michaels Church, and about
two o'clock, Captain Fairlamb demanded the
keys of the cdifce from the Rev. Mr.. Lochrin,
the pastor, who Immediately gave them up and
with them, the keys of his own residence, ad-
!. Joining the church. Captain Fairlamb instituted
e rigid search through the premises, and found
neither arms nor men concealed, either in the
. church or in the house.
a Shortly after this three yonng men walked
o through the detachment of military into the
: church. the front door of which had been left un-
:, locked. One of them in few minutes after
wards threw out ola window a portion of the
~, drapery of the altar. They soon came out into
- the street and walked off without obstruction
:. The flames soon burst ont and spread unchecked
&c until of the noble eiifce nothing remained but
the bare walls During the conflagratlon, thre'
80 distinct explosions were heard, and this serveC
,s greatly 10 exasperate the crowd. When th'
, cross which surmounted the church, fell, cheers
r. rent the air and drum and fife struck up The
"A "Boyne Water"
:. The dwelling house of the Pastor adjoining
"A was broken into by the mob, the furniture thrown
into the street, and the building itself fired Ii
:, a short time il reduced 10 ruins.
E. Destruction OF SAINT AUGUsTiSE's CHURCH
le During the latter part OF yesterday afternoon
crowds began to assemble in the vicinity of tn
- Catholic Church of sain, Augustine, on Fourt
:. street between Race and Vine streets.
Mayor Scott took early precautionary measure
~. and long before dark had large posse ofcitzen
. draugh,ed, with which he took position at III
:. rear of the Church, while the City Watch, hav
ing their badges on, formed in line upon III
- curbstone before the front on Fourth street.
Matters remained quiet until about half pas
nine o'clock, when every avenue thereabou,s wa
:" filled by dense masses Of people.
About that time, a solitary brick was flung il