Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-05-21

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were advantageously posted in the houses
on Cadwallader street, perfectly projected
from The fire of the enemy-by the walls
while the natives were unprotected, the
only shelter they possessed were the Dill.
lars Of the market house. but they fought
mostly w,,hou, cover, and Notwithstanding
their exposed position and the g.eat dispar-
ny III the number Of fire arms, with slea.
diness and desperation that would have
done credit TO the fororn hope of an army.
II was owing to their exposed situation
and the opportunity enjoyed by the oppo-
nenis, that SO many lives were lost, and
The only marvel IS they so long carried on
SO unequal contest, when their numbers
were diminished at almost every dischage
Of The Catholics.
The volunteers attached TO the first brig
ade Pennsylvania militia. under General
Cadwalader, were called out BIZ the sheriff.
They turned out in considerable force,
took possession of the ground at about 8
o'clock, p. NJ, and cleared il, after which
sentnels occupied the entire square. There
the firing between the Natives and the
Catholics ceased at once, and was not re-
sumed. The houses on Cadwalader street,
some Of those on Master street, and The
Washington market, were set On fire early
in the cvenng,and when we left the ground
at midnight, the whole Of the buildings were
mass Of burning ruins.
The only instances of disturbance after
the military arrived, were abou, and IL
O'Clock. AT the former hour group OF
men was standing at the corner OF Cd and
Master streets, when party Of Irish came
through Perry street in the dark, and fired
across an open lot, wounding several Of
them Two, it is rumored, mortally. A
ball glanced and wounded a person not IN
the group. A rush was caused by the at
tack, in which boy had his leg fractured
About eleven o'clock some shots we're
fired down Master street, in the direction
OF the church. A detachment of the mill
tary could not discover who had fired.
On the arrival of the military a, Wash
ington street, volley was fred from a
house, but without wounding any of the
men. The occupants Of the house imme-
diately retreatcd and escaped.
Several active fire companies, as soon
as they could be protected in their work,
operated successfully in preventing the
spread of fire. The extent of the damage,
(the fire having commenced at the house
corner Of Caldwalder and Master streets)
was the total destruction Of about twenty
houses in those streets and Washington st.
The market house was totally destroyed
1t was a good structure about $50 feet
long.
How m1ny on both sides were killed and
wounded, it is impossible to say. 1t is very
probable several lrishmcn were killed in the
houses, which were afierward burnt, and the
bodies consumed with them.
From the United States Gazette.
Most of those present at the 8 O'Clock
me ting moved in body to Kensington. at
the corner OF Second and Master streets, and
proceeded to organize meeting, but they
had scarcely nailed up their fag-the same
that is spoken of above-when number of
boys made an attack upon the Hberna hose
house. A number of shot were then
fired from houses in the vicinity toward the
meeting, and the Native Americans, after
dispensing for amonent, rallied and attacked
the hose hose house, took out the carriage,
ran the hose off the reel, and then broke the
apparatus up.
An old tender, the property Of the Wash
Ington hose company, which was also in
the house, was broken up likewise. The
Native Americans thea between and 5
O'Clock took possession of the market
house, and for the next three hours, The
shots were frequent from the houses in its
Western vicinity. Men were seen lying
upon the roofs of a row of houses fronting
the market; and in every place Of conceal
ment near the same place, others were &C.
casionally discovered.
A bout five o'clock another attack was
made upon the hose house, and large
new bell found in it was brought out into
open square and shattered to pieces
Shortly after this a frame dwelling house
next to the hose house was fired, and from
that time up to nine O'Clock in the evening,
the flames continued to spread without stay
until TWENTY NINE houses were consumed,
the greater part of them being upon Cad
walader street, and four upon the stree,
! t'acing-,he market Abo,a seven O'Clock
! ''c u'"iNt houSo hScli CiuSHt Htc, GIG Ill
8 O'Clock, lay in heap Of ruins
AT 7 o'clock, the first brigade and two
companies of third brigade, came on the
ground under the command of Gen. Cad
walader, and formed on Master street
facing North. Cannon were stationed SC
as 10 range on the street fronting the mark.
C, on Master street, Westward. detach.
ment of two companies under command Of
Col. Murray, marched to the Moth end OF
of the market, and formed Gordon across
the rret.-The military had previously
been formed in like manner on Master
street.
The Sheriff then detached a number OF
his constabulary force (which had proceeded
the military on their march up,) and pro
ceeded 10 examine all the houses from which
shot. had been Sired; in one OF them a mas
named John Holmes, was found, and in
the same room in which he was rifle
heavily loaded. He was brought out and
consigned 10 the care of the military.
The melancholy result of the few hours
during which the contest between the Irish.
men and Native Americans ragged, j: