The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-10
BY LAST NIGHTS MAIL.
FROM PHILADELPHIA.
THE RIOT In KENSlNGTON.
SCENES OF WEDNESDAY,.

| throughout yesterday. Ihe topic OF converse
ton everywhere, was of the recent riots and muir
ders. In the heart of the city, thousand rumors
were circulated many of them utterly unfounded,
and calculated still further to inflame and irritate
We avoid repeating them here, for a great effort
| is required just now, to soolhe and calm the an
cry and indignant feelings Of the multitude. On
visiting the ground yesterday about noon, we
| found crowds collected at various points, and
three military companies stationed in front OF St
| Mchael's Church and the adjoining house. The
whole were under the command of Gen. Horato
Huboell, who, stationed at we'll chosen and CEN
trail headquarters in the vicinity, was certainly
exerting himself to the utmost. The companies
alluded to we're
Wayne Artillery, commanded by Colonel Fair
lamb
Lafayette Life Guards, Lieut.. Pearce.
Independent Rifles, Lieut.. Bradshaw.
The keys of the house and church were in
possession of Col Fairlamb, who had examined
the church, and found no persons nor arms with
in it. In consequence of information received,
| Col. Fairlamb had searched several houses, in
some of which he found muskets and ammunl-
ton, most of which had been sent to the Sherf's
| Office. We saw a musket in the hands Of the
| Wayne Artillery, which contained light load,
and another which was loaded almost to the muz-
zle and which would probably have proved fatal
| to any one dschareing it.
| At 2P. M. yesterday, company OF volunteers
was to be detached to malt house about half a
mile distant, in which it was reported-perhaps
incorrectly-that nearly 200 stand of arms were
concealed A gentleman named TORI, who is the
| owner of considerable property in kensngton,
| behaved in very liberal manner in furnishing
provisions for the military
The immense number of removals presented
! an extraordinary spectacle. In some places fur
furniture cars were seen at every door, for ~ or
40 houses in row. In short, the inhabitants are
flying from these scenes of fire and blood, in all
the panic of alarm and terror.
Meanwhile, an extensive confiagraion was
raging in and about Harmony court and Cadwal-
ader street. Several houses were in flames, said
| to have been fired by the mob, from feeling of
revenge for the death Of Mr. Hammett, who was
shot from one of the windows, and from which
| quarter also several men were wounded, if not
| killed. The wind was high, and the dust, smoke,
| ashes and sparks, blew in such volumes from the
burning buildings, that it difficult to get even
near them on the leeward side. The engines
were playing, and several fire companies we're on
the spot A three story brick house would have
been destroyed but for the courage oil. two young
| men, who mounted the blazing root, and by
dint of great exertions extinguished the fire.
Several frame houses near and rather to the lee
ward, seemed in great peril-doubtless fell a prey
to the devourng> element in the course OF the
afternoon.
The left arm of Mr.. Augustus Peale, the den
tist, who was shot the night before, was ampu.
tated yesterday morning
Between IL and IL o'clock an Irishman was
seized in his house in Cadwalader street, above
Master, having two muskets in his possession.
They were taken from him. and he was marched
down st. John street On his way he was beaten
| by the mob until he was apparently lifeless.
1t was reported yesterday that several families,
men, women and children, had persisted on Tues
day night, in the burning houses. We could
hear nothing of this the ground.
| The American flag that was trampled upon at
the Native American meeting night or two
| ago, was displayed at the corner of Franklin and
Second streets.
| An Irshman named Rice, was shot down on
| Tuesday night, and as is stated while in the act
of firing upon the crowd.
| An lrishman was also killed at the corner Of
! Jefferson street and Germantown road, but not
| until he had discharged several muskets at the
Natives. He was, it is reported, shot through
the back of the head by boy.
| ST. MTcHAEL's CHURCH AND OTHER BUILDINGS
BURNT.
Between 2 and 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
St Mchaes Catholic Church, large, new, and
handsome editice, was discovered to be on fire,
the military at the time being in the immediate
neighborhood. 1t was evidently set on fire by
stealth, as there was neither riot nor outbreak
| at the time. 1t burnt with great fury, and by
half past 3 the roof fell in with tremendous
crash which was hailed by the shouts OF the
multitude. The church is now in ruins. Sew
| eral houses in the immediate vicinity were also
destroyed by fire. At the time the church was
burning, three houses about square TO the
westward of Second street were also set on fire.
| Between 3 and O'Clock the scene of confiagra-
lion was terrific. 1t continued throughout The
evening
MORE OF KENSINGToN.
! Such is the destruction of private property,
| that in all the streets of West Kensngon small
American flags, or, in the absence of the stars
and stripes, bits of tri-coor are hung from the
| MINER windows of the houses, 10 denote that it's