Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-06-02
From the New York H0rald
Riot and Loss Of Life at HObokenIl

May Festival Of the Germans-Sereral
Men Kalled and Wounded-A Justice
Of the Peace Wounded-A Large
Number Of Prisoners Captured.
Yesterday the Germans of this city held
their annual Mdy Festival ut Hoboken; ac.
compaued by their wives and Children
The numbers are variousiy eslima.ed.-
Some say they numbered 10000; others,
lO,00O; but; at all events. The humbers
were very considerable. They had two
bands Of music and seven 6 lee clubs, with
! banners ana badges Some of the latter
were red, and bore the inscription "Mani-
fest, New York, 1852
They passed over the ferries at eleven
o'clock, to the spot where the festival was
held, which is called Fox Hill, in the
vicinity of the Elysian Fields. In the
afternoon, while the Germans were pnr-
taking of picnic on the grass; disturb
ance took place between them and some
young men of Hobokeh ano New York,
whom the Germans describe as Rock Boys
and Short Boys, and allege that they seized
their sausages and drank their beer. The
Germans repulsed them, beating them se>
verely. The two parties subsequently
met n. McCartys saloon, about three
O'Clock in the afternoon, and there was the
first serious outbreak Of riot. The party
Of Germans who were engaged hero all
wore white short coats, and white hats, and
may be designated the Short Boys, or fight
ing men of the Germans. Several Of them
had knives and arms. There are those
who say that there was no disturbance
whatever till it commenced here, and that
it originated in the Germans, demanding
drink rather peremptorily, and McCarty
refusing, when blows followed, and the Ho-
boken boys took part with him, and melee
began which resulted in the demolition of
McCarty's house, and a serious injury Of q
lame child, of himselE and his wife. Mcs
Carly fired two shots into the crowd, one
Of which took effect in the groin of a Ger
man. The coinbatants tore up fence,
and dealt dreadful blows to each other;
they also welded the legs Of broken tables
and chairs, and the branches of trees,
while others daew knives and pistols, and
used them freely. The tide Of battle adj
vanced and receded, the scale of victory AT
one time inclining in favor of the Germans
and at another for their opponents. The
Germans exceeding their antagonists in
numbers, drove them off the field, killing
some and wounding others. This battle
lasted about three hours.
The Short Boys, or Rock Boys, or by
whatever name they may be designated,
fastened to the village, and meeting q
large number of Irish laborers, who had
just stopped work at 6 o'clock, enlisted
them in their service, by telling them that
the Germans were cutting the ,hroats of
American citizens. Many Of the citizens
Of Hoboken, too, collected to give the Ger.
mans battle, while mos, persons shut up
their houses, and barrcaded their windows
and DOORS Meantime. ,he.Germans hav.
ing carried McCar,y's house BY storm, and
smashed doors, windows, bar, fixtures and
furniture, they pursued the enemy in the
direction of the village, and various skirm-
ishes took place, in which the Germans
were still successful All this time The
women and children were screaming with
terror, and running in all directions from
the showers OF stenes that were auing.-
Many of them left their husbands and
sweefhearts behind, and made their way in
the best manner they could to the Jersey
Ferry. In one of these onslaughts, the
Germans bent young man SO dreudfally
that he lay on tine field for dead. The
Germans with the white coats acted in
concert by the sound of horn.
At this period Of the hostilites Mr.. Bun
ming, Justice Of the Pence, in addressing
the rioters, and endeavoring 10 quell the
Grbt ,yae Lpocl, al do,yp opJ b,5 Al ;p;,roJ
lis head is severely wounded.
The Germans, supposing that their VIC
tory was complete, relaxed in their pursuit,
and being tired of fighting, they scattered,
many Of them to look for their wives and
children, aud female friends. Some of the
prettiest Of the women might be seen with
clubs in their hands.
Meantime, the "boys," reinforced by
the Irish laborers, and by citizens of Ho.
boken, waited at Otto Co:tuge for the scat
tered and struggling parties of Germans as
they came to the ferry. Those who were
protected by womeh, escaped, with some
Kisses, taunts and curses; but every Ger
man who had not petticoat to defend him,
particularly if he had white coat, was
knocked down, made prisoner Of and in
meny instances we'll beaten after he was
arrested. Several wagons and Omnibus
loads of prisoners were sent to Bergen Jail. I
The Germans in the rear, finding what
was going on ahead of them, fastened !
forward to the rescue, when terrible bat .
tie commenced opposite 10 the office of the
magistrate, Mr.. Burning, corner of Wash
ington and Newark streets. The corner
grocery Of B. M. Gilmore & Co had the
doors and windows shattered to pieces, and
stones were thrown into the stare at least
ten pounds weight. Almost every house
down to the ferry was ridded, particularly
Pope's and Corbett's, Mr.. Lewis, and Mr.
Writes, on the opposite to Gilmore's.-
They got up on the roof of Mr.. Lewis
house and proceeded to demolsh it. The
Germans were now again Victorious
Thus riot reigned uncontrolled, with but
one magistrate and two constables TO op-
pose the torrents. One of the constabes,
named Francis, had revolver; but Of