Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-06-01
RIOT AND MURDERS IN PlIILA.
DEIpUlA.

ers of Philadelphia. The Riot began thus:
The Natives held meeting in Kensington
to rejoice as some Of the papers state over
their late victory in New York. This was
attacked and dispersed by foreigners. On
Monday the 9th inst, another meeting was
held which was attacked and dispersed.
the Natives rctreaiing and defending them
selves with stones and pistols. Later ac-
counts state that the first reports of the
affair were greatly exaggerated but from
all we can learn we have stated the origin
of the riot correctly. Several men were
killed in this aifray and number wounded.
The accounts are so disconnected that we
are not able to distinguish the party by
which the damage to the houses in Ken
singion was caused. They evidently seem
to have been written under great excite
ment. Several houses were spoiled and
their furniture broken up. The Irish fired
on the Natives from the windows.
The Natives held meeting on Tuesday
the 18th and adjourned to the corner Of
Second and Master SITS, when they pro-
ceeded with their flag and occupied the
market place. Several guns were fired at
them from the windows opposite, one man
killed and several wounded. The houses
were then attacked, and the firing CON-
menced briskly and four or five men were
killed and a number wounded. A great
deal of property was also destroyed. In
the afternoon the houses on Cadwallader
st. were burned down. No engines were
allowed to approach them. The military
force under Gen. Cadwalader were or
dercd out, and reached the spot about dark.
Quiet followed; all the firing ceased. Sew
eral men were arrested, John Taggart was
taken up as the murderer of one of the
slain and while being conveyed to prison
was almost killed by the mob. The Ma
tives held another meeting and passed reso-
lutions against the murderers. They then
proceeded to the scene of riot. Here an
llishm0n who had shot an American was
caught. Two pistols were fired at him;
he was then seized, a rope was put around
his neck, but he was not executed as had
been proposed. He was committed TO Jail
to answer for the murder of Rhinedollar
one of those killed in the morning. The
Hibcrnia Hose House from which shots
were fred, was burned down. A square
of houses in Market st. was also burned!
Three men were killed and a number
wounded, and the city in a scene of tre-
mendous excitement.
Wednesday morning the excitement was
still very great, and rumors of great num-
bers killed and wounded were flying over
the city. The Irish were said to be arm
ing themselves, and pouring into the city
from the surrounding country, st. Michaels
church was occupied by them. A mass
meeting of the Natives was held on We'd
ncsday, and addressed by a number of
speakers. Resolutions were also passed.
The Catholic Bishop issued card, calling
upon all to avoid occasions of excitement,
and shun public assemblies. The military
were stationed to suppress the riots, and
large crowds of persons assembled to wit
ness the devastation that had been commit
ted. A number were engaged in search
ing the houses of the Irish for fire arms.
A number of the tenants of the houses are
thought to have persisted in the flames. A
number of fires broke out near the places
where the fires took place the day before.
As the day advanced, the excitement in
creased. At twelve the Irish in the vicinity
of the late riots for squares around were
moving out of their houses in great trepi-
dation, the military affording them protec-
ton. Several rows of buildings were set
on fire and burned. At half past two St.
Michaeps church and the adjoining resi-
dence Of the Priest was set on fire, and
with some frame buildings near were al
; destroyed. The Priest escaped with diff
Guilty through the aid of the military.
! At four, the Female Seminary at the
, corner of Second and Phoenix st. was
burned. Alarming reports of the Irish
arming themselves and concentrating al
Richmond were in circulation. A grea
many families were turned out Of house
5 and home. During the burning of the
! church the mob continued to shout, anC
when the cross at the peak Of the roof fel
they gave three cheers. A temperance
store opposite the Seminary, was attacked
by the mob and completely riddled. The
= volley by which Mr.. Wright was killec
on the day before was said to have been
fired from this house. The first brigade
under the command Of Major Gen. Patter'
son, who was accompanied by Sheriff
: McMichael, arrived on the ground. Pre-.
vious to the junction of the military, the
mob made rush on the bayonets of Pages
troops and dcfed them TO fire with loud
r threats. The moment was critical, when
} the Col. appealed to them as Americans
when they gave him three cheers and re-
tired. At 6 o'clock the rioters proceeded
to the house of Alderman Clark and guttec
his house, demolished his windows anC
y threw his furniture out of doors; all hi
papers were destroyed. At half past eigh
another outbreak occurred. A house If
Master ST. was stoned. Harmony cour