The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-09


board Of the steamer Algoma, entirely consuming
her, with four other boats-the San Francisco.
| Mary, Dubuque, and Phoenix all Of which were
destroyed, with several valuable cargoes. The San
| francisco and Algoma had just arrived from the
Missouri river, both with large and valuable car
goes, comprising principally hemp, tobacco, ba-
con, and grain The Mary was freishted with be-
tween four and five hundred tons Of produce for
New Orleans, and would have left this morning for
her port of destination. A part of her cargo con-
sisted of five hundred head of live hogs, all of which
were burnt up, and amid squeals and granting such
| as was scarce ever before heard from dumb beasts
The Phoenix was destined for Louisville and Gin
cinnati, and had between seventy-fve and hun
dred tons of freight in her. the principal items of
which were hemp and lead. The Dubuque was up
for Galena, and had just commenced receiving
freight for the upper ryers all that in her, as
well as the residue of the FIVE boats, were entirely
destroyed, except few casks of bacon saved from
the Mary. Fortunately the Lucy Bertram had but
just arrived from Quincy, and having steam up, was
not only thus enables! herself but some six or
seven other boats which must inevitably have been
consumed but for her timely assistance. The Aleck
Scott, one of the largest and most magnificent boats
IN the New Orleans trade, had Only reached port
yesterday from the Crescent city, with large and
valuable cargo. Nothing saved her but the indom-
liable perseverance, of the 6remen and the calm con-
dition of the atmosphere at the time the fire was
raging The hus of four out of the FIVE boats burnt
have sunk at one landing, thus deprivng our COM
merce of the facilities for receiving and shipping
produce and merchandise and which before was So
limited IN extent as to work great inconvenience, as
VIII as injury, to our mercantile interest. We have
now no less than thirty wrecks of STEAMBOATS, sunk
at our landing, the remains Of TWO conhagrations,
since the 18th of May last. Had the wind been as
high and in the same direction as it was the fire
on the 18th May, the residue of the business part
NJ Our cIfU hav bee cd IL
that some four or five lives have been lost by the
burning of the boats. In the confusion, however,
that prevails at this writing, nothing can be ascer-
tanned with certainty and the rumors in this respect
require confirmation. The Captain of the Agoma
narrowly escaped with his life, and a great many
passengers lost every thing they had with them,
except what was on their backs. wish that my
tale of wo could here cease. But unfortunately
for the cause of truth and the reputation of city,
am compelled to chronicle agother disaster if less
serious In Its consequences yet disgraceful in
Its character and results
At half-past five this morning, while the iremen
were still on duty near the wreck of the burning
boats, most serious riot broke out, which is not
yet suppressed and the end of which no man can
foresee or predict Ii had its origin in most fool
ish circumstance, and but for the unlawful associ-
ating together for purposes of characterization of
body Of lrlshmen, the affair would have terminated
where it had its commencement, in fight between
fireman and an lrishman 1t appears thai when
the fire was pretty well subdued, couple of dogs
got fighting on the levee, which drew together a
crowd of bystanders, among whom were the two
beligerents Pending the fight, the fireman took
one of the dogs by leg and threw him off, at this
the lrishman took offence, and e<rsmonie gave
the fireman blow with his fist. A fight ensued
in which the fireman very soon logged his assail-
ant. The Irishnsan withdrew from the field of COM
bat, retiring to battle roo, the Irish headquarters
the levee, and arousing his fellow rioters, who
are a sworn club to whip their own countrymen
differing with them in opinion in some national
feud, returned to the levee, and together made an
assault upon the fremen as body The Irish,
some of them having firearms drove, after short
engagement, the fremen from their engines leaving
five without man to work them, and the fire
not yet out. shot was fired during the first en-
gagement from the Irish boarding house of o Brien,
that took effect upon the president of the Missouri
Fire Company, badly wounding him in the face.
This exasperated the fremcn to desperation. The
alarm-bes of the respective engine-houses were at
once sounded and fremen from all parts Of the
city could be seen running towards the levee with
guns and pistols in their hands The armory Of
the Independent Company of St. Louis Greys was
broken into by one of the fire companies, and their
muskeu seized by the members of the fire COM
pany for purposes OF sef-preservation. In thirty
minutes the 6remen rallied again, and such scene
as ensued upon the evee for short period beggars
description, and is beyond the reach of magma
ton. The Irish were soon driven from the ground
and the engines again in possession of their respec-
1 tive companies. The fremen in turn now became
the assailants and the word was passed TO raze To
the ground the different buildings constituting the
headquarters of the rioters. The boarding house
of O'Brien was first attacked, and in the twinking
of an eye it was Quilted of its contents from cellar
TO garnet, and Its inmates made fee for refuge TO
| other parts of the city from the indignation and
vengence of the hremen, who had been brutality as-
saulted and fired upon in the first place From this
house Of O'Brien's they proceeded to others, until
they had completely riddled eight buildings in the
whole, occupied by those composing or favoring
the rioters. In the mean time, the mayor of the
city called out the ST. Louis Greys to aid in putting
down this disgraceful spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION and
dispatched messenger to Jefferson Barracks to
ask of the commanding officer a detachment of u
s. troops TO aid in restoring order our communi-
ty, and in UNFOLDING the supremacy and majesty
OF the law. The police officers were also active SO
far as they could be, owing to their numerical
weakness, when compared with the number of the
rioters, and succeeded in arrestIng some eighteen
! or twenty up TO the latest information have re-
ceived from the seat OF war. A number on both
sides are badly injured, but from no source thai
rely upon can hear thus far Of any life having
been sacrificed. As is usual in all riots, several
who were mere spectators were badly manned by
the Irish, who seemed regardless who they attack
ed long they did not belong TO their organized
band for the purpose that have already explained
TO you. A second riot has broken out on Franklin
avenue between the same parties, but the partcu-
lars of which cannot give you at this writing.
will let you hear from again by next mail, when
will have IL in my power to particularize. So far
as have gone, you can rely upon the facts they
are stated TO you herein
The confusion and excitement is so great, grow
ing out Of both the fire and the riot, that nothing
reliable be sscersined as to the loss Ivy the fire
nor TO who the principal sufferers. Unless
the authorizes investigate thoroughly the cause,
which led to this riot, and have punished ndiscri
minatey all who guilty, our FIRE department
will be entirely broken up and disbanded
SPARTICUS
BEprosp SPRMes, Penn, Aug. 4, I649
Nv p.,rp,,c. Having beep so;o,rn,no :.