Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-05-11
From the Philadelphia Ledger Of May7.
GREAT RIOT AND BLOoDsHED IN
kENSINGTON,

lhe nelghborhood of the Washington Market
Kensngton, was the scene Of another serious and
alarming riot on the 9TH inst. A meeting Of
the Native American party was held at the i,,nc
tlon OF Second and Master streets, at an early
hour in the afternoon, at which large number of
persons were present, from all parts of the city
and county. Some time after the meeting was
organized, storm of wind and rain came on.
Many persons from the meeting, to seek
shelter elsewhere, but the majority adjourned
over to the market, on Washington street, above
Master.
few minutes after the meeting was re-organ.
izHd under the market house a commotion occur
red from some cause or other, and some twelve
! or fiitecn persons ran out of the market on the
! West side, pursued by about an equal number
A scuflc ensucd; two desperate fellows clnch-
ed each other, one armed with brick and the O.
/ thcr with club, and exchanged u dozen blows
/ any one of which seemed severe enough TO kill
an ordinary man. Some stones and bricks were
! now thrown on both sides, and several pistol
shots were fired by persons on both sides At
/ the report of the fire arms the majority of the
meeting dispersed precipitately, while number
/ took position at the South end of the market
where they displayed the American flag
! Several stones were thrown against the Hi.
! hernia Hose House situate in Cadwalader street,
west of thu market, and some persons were pur-
sued up Master street A frame house in the
/ latter street, between Cadwaladcr street and the
/ Germontown road. was stormed and the windows
and doors demolished Two other frames in
Cadwalader street below Master, shared the
same fate. Two three muskets were dis
charged at this time by the retreatng party and
a rally attempted. The persons who had been
in the meeting still kept their ground and vollcys
| of bricks and stones were continually kept up by
both sides A number of persons, evidently
Irishmen, then rallied at Germantown road and
Master street, and came down at a brisk pace up
on the others with stones and two three guns.
/ The Native Americans rctreated, but maintained
a fire with stones aud one two pistols Several
, persons We're severely wounded at this point of
time, and the rioters became furious. The Ma
tive Americans again rallied and recovered
temporary advantage but finally rctreatcd, under
sharp fire of every kind of missiles, and two or
three discharges of a muskct carried by a gray
headed Irshman who worea seal skin cap.
During the firing young man, named George
Shiier, between eighteen and nineteen years Of
age, living in ST. John Street, near Beaver, was
shot under the right arm while the German
town road, below Master street. The charge of
the piece fired entered his chest. He
ried off the ground TO the drug store of Mr.. Bow
ers, at the junction of Germantown road and st.
John street, were he fingered for few moments
and died Dr. McAvoy dressed the wound. An
other young named Henry Temper in the
employ OF Mr. Lee barber, on the Frankford
road, while engaged on the side of the Native A.
mericans, received shot in his side, which
glanced off the hip bone and only produced flesh
wound He received several small shots in the
legs lie was attended by Dr. Bethel, who con-
siderS his case no way dangerous. Thomas Ford
was struck in the forehead with a spent ball,
which did him but slight injury. Another nam
ed Lawrence Cox, had his hip seriously injured.
Patrick Fisher late constable ofthe ward, was
shot in the face, but not dangerously wounded.
While the contest ragged with its greatest fury,
the main body of the bclligerent parties were
posted east and west of the market house, in
Master ST, each ralying and retreating in turns,
while others were engaged in skirmishes in every
. direction, for some distance round, Houses
= were attacked, and the inmates driven out with
the utmost CONSERVATION and alarm. While a
party ofthe Irish were being pursued down Cad
walader street, below Master, a man fell into the
doorway of the residence OF Edward Develin, and
in consequence of the first floor being below the
pavement he rolled into the house. Mr.. Develin
was sitting al the door, and in instant re-
treated inside, when between the two the front
: door was shut The house was then assaled by
y the pursuing party with brickbats and stones,
some ofthe latter weighing seven eight pounds,
the windows and window frames broken out,
and the place otherwise spoiled Mr.. d. was
struck with the gutter pipe, which was wrench
: ed Off by a man, and his wife with two or three
i children narrowly escaped injury.
The house of John Laflerty, on the German
town Road above Master st, was battered with
" missiles and the interior injured The adjoining
: house, occupied by widow lady, named Brady
who was in at the time, with two or three te
=, males, was most shamnfuly mutilated The
panels of the front doors knocked out, The
windows broken, large stones thrown into thu
parlor, which destroyed the looking glass, tables
and other pieces of furniture. Some of the artl
;. cles of furniture were taken by piecomeal from
:, the room and broken. The cause of attack herr