The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-09
BY LAST NIGHTS MAIL.
AWFUL SCENES!
FURTHER RIOTS ONFL-aGR.aTTO.N and

FURTHER -CONFL.aGRaTTON AND
LOSS OF LIFE
We are compelled to record still more painful
scenes, as having occurred in Kensington yester-
day afternoon and evening. Language is made
quate to express the Indignation and horror which
these fearful outrages, embracing the slaughter
of number of citizens, have excited in all pro-
perly regulated minds. The death of single
individual, under such circumstances as have
inst transpired, is calculated to produce excite
ment but in the present case life after life has
been sacrificed, while dozens of individuals have
been wounded, and quite number fatally. The
impression is, too, that if the military had made
their appearance upon the ground early most of
the tragcal scenes of yesterday would have been
prevented.
We have given an account OF the deporable
scenes of Monday night, and OF large public
meeting produced by the excitement and indig-
nation, which was held in the State House Yard
yesterday afternoon That meeting, on adjourning,
proceeded to the Washington market, Kensngton.
They had hardly assembled there, however, be-
tore other appalling events took place, and seve-
raj persons, Native Americans were shot down.
lhe muskets were, it is said, hrcd from the
filbernia Hose house, the houses in the neigh
hood, and the mouths of one or two alleys the
meeting being in the market house Immediately
opposite As soon as these death-Eounds were
given, the excitement became intense. The
Hose House was fred, and soon kinded into a
blaze, which extended to number of dwellings,,
frame and brick, on both sides and in the rear,
and the confagraton thus produced, continued for
hours The Native Americans were driven out
of the market house, but soon rallied, while ever
and anon m.skets were discharged by the Irish,
some of which did fatal execution.
For squares around the scene of action crowds
| assembled, exciting stories were related palnfua
details were given, while as the dead and wound
ed were carried along on sofas, expressions of in
dignation and sympathy Of the strongest kind we're
uttered. We saw several bodies carried by us in
this way. In some cases the sufferers exhibited
sights of truly heart-rending kind, their wounds
bleeding, and their clothes dyed in blood. Do
zens of families, nay hundreds, were flying
through the day and evening from the scene of
peril, some in one direction and some in another
Among them were old men and old women, mo-
theirs with little children, boys and glrls-all ex-
cited and panic-strcken. The burning houses,
with their lurtd flames, presented after night
fall another fearful feature Of the scene.
One account last night stated the number killed
at 7, and the wounded at Is.
An Irishman, who came out of an alley, level
led his musket and shot man, returned, proba-
bly, to reload. He was watched, and soon APP
peared again, when he levelled his piece at ano-
Their. He was seized, while in the act of pulling
the trigger, his musket was taken from him, and
on being searched, flask of powder and num-
Der of balls were found in his possession While
on his way to the alderman's office, rope was
put round his neck he was dragged through the
streets by the populace, partially hung in the Sc
cond street market to hook, and so severely
beaten and injured that he is not likely to re-
cover.
A dropping fire of musketry was continued on
both sides towards the close, the Native Ameri-
cans having, after number of their companions
were killed, obtained arms. A large body of
military appeared on the ground between 8 and
o'clock.
No attempt was made by the fremen TO extin-
guish the flames until quarter before ten, when
the obnoxious property had been destroyed; the
military nterfered to protect the engines, seve-
raj of which commenced playing on the adjoining
houses.
From twenty TO thirty small buildings were
destroyed by the fire, which was burning at late
hour.
Several Of the Irish are said to have been kill
ed or wounded while in the act OF escaping from
the burning houses.
During the day, party of men and boys car
ried the American flag through the streets, with
board, on which there an inscription, de-
noting that it was the flag which had been tram
pied upon by the dsturbers of the meeting on
Friday night
The military were under the command of Cen
eral Cadwalader, and were out in considerable
strength The Sheriff's posse accompanied the
military. The volunteers were fully armed, and
had with them two pieces of artillery They took
their station south Of the Washington Market,
and while the fire was still burning. The mar
ket house, at least the wooden part of it, was en-
tirely consumed. The military had possession OF
the ground by ten oclock.-Philad. Inquirer OF
yesterday.
A.(t