Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-04-15

being composed Of the former, began to move
toward Soulard's Market, where were the first
ward polls. In that vicinity the sidewalks OF I,
Seventh, Fifth street, and Park avenue were
crowded densely with Germans. Numerous at
tacks were made upon the Americans as they Il
passed down; rocks and other missiles were
thrown, and occasional shots fired from the
houses. We must in Justice, however. add that |
these assaults were at times provoked by the /
indecorous language and conduct Of the passers (
by. A squad Of Americans, numbering about 1
two hundred, at last arrived opposite the Mar
ket House, and led by few men who were /
well armed, marched, with shout for free SUI /
fages, to the buildings and took possession Of /
the polls-without resistance. The Germans /
dispersed, and took refuge in the coffee-houses
along the street above and below. The Ameri- I
cans continued to flock down from the upper /
wards until their forces amounted to some thou /
sands. Nearly like number Of Germans were !
gathered here and there, as spectators and par /
ticipators, in knots or adjacent streets.
As soon as the Americans had permanent
possession Of the Soulard Market building, Mr..
McDonough, Whig addressed the crowd, and
invited all citizens Of the first ward who had not
voted; whig or democrat, German, American or
Irish, to come forward and deposit their votes.
HE explained that the reason o. the presence Of
so many Americans from other portions Of the
city was to secure them their free suffrages,
land to preserve them from the molestatisn Of
lrowdies, like those who had Just been elected.
Mr.. Abels, one of the Judges Of the election,
followed Mr.. McDonough. He spoke in Ger
man, and repeated in substance what Mr.. Nc
Donough had said. On this number of per-
sons approached the polls and deposited their
Votes.
Fights were going on, in the meantime a.
mong the crowds below. Several persons were
wounded by firearms, discharged from the win
|dows and doors of the houses. In their provo
cation, elected by the first outrages, however,
the recent assailants had become unfairly vim
dictive; and bemeaned themselves Extensively
where there was no manner of cause. One OF
them was shot through the hand with buekshot;
another had bullet through his leg; third re-
ceived whole load Of shot in his face, and a
fourth had his leg broken by huiiict.. While
or the ground we heard more than one hundred
I and fifty discharges Of firearms in various di-
rections. The Americans, in the meantime, re-
turned the fire whenever the opportunity offer
ed, but so Ear as we could ascertain, without Sc
! rious effect. They continued, however, to at
! tack or defend, with bats and stones. At last,
or sixty began to demolish the beer hous es
whose tenants had been most active in the as
sault.
The Soulard Market House was riddled; so
:. also house at the corner of Park avenue and
Fifth street, and the tavern of Mr.. Neimeyer,
at the corner of Park avenue and Seventh street.
= Some persons had, at an early stage Of the pro-
ceedings, taken refuge in this house, and through
> the windows occasionally pelted the passers-by
u with stones. The crowd beseiged the tavern
and having broken panel Of the door, were
!; going on more rapidly, when gun was placed
!. Through the aperture and fired, the content:
! lodging in the breast Of a young man named
y Joseph Stevens, wire worker in the employ
T. of Mr. Hough, on Second street, and mem
: her Of the ST. Louis Fire Company. Stevens
staggered short distance across the street anC
se''lfell dead. The furniture, bar fixtures, Sc.
:. - were smashed, and the building finally fired
= The flames communicated readily, and the hous
ar was soon gone beyond all hopes. This is th'
= more to be regretted, as Mr.. Nsimeyer is al
!. honest, good man, an American in feeling
: Though not born in this country.
% The Phoenix engine was hauled on the groun
y u by some Germans, and was being prepared fo
% work on the burning building, when, not sati:
&c fled with the mischief already done, some on
90 cut its hose, rendering it impossible to furnis
se supply Of water. The building was reduce
Ito ashes. The firing and fighting with stone
'r &C.. continued until after dark. 1t becau
're known that the cannon of Captain Almstedt
u company were in an armory near by. Acrov
l started for them, and soon after they returns
= with two brass six Founders. These we
y. carefully charged. and then rolled to the corn
va of Park and Carondelet avenues, where tn
- Iwere placed so to sweep with murdero
Ieertainty either side of Second street On the 81
me- walks Of which were immense crowds OF Ge
~. att mans. The fight was still kept up with pist
of and stones; and the party having possession
les 1.-The cannon were awaiting the proper provo.
~, tion to use them. Affairs were in this alarmi
s; position when Marshal Felps, accompanied
Capt. Almstedt, arrived, and by argument a
20 pursuasion, prevailed on the beligerents to
, ~ Isist. Mr.. Felps happened fortunately to be
ouainted with many Of the parties, and his p
III sonal influence effected that which ne ofi'
aas authority could have accomplished. The Gro
on Idwindled gradually. until every active part
~, pant in the disturbances had quit the grou
~ 1.-The spectators also retired, andby midnight !
oIr portion of the city had returned to its ordn
asst. quiet.
VS. About 10 o'clock at night, however, the vic
self Iity Of the Anzieger des Westens printing OF
the had become the scene Of second excitement
nor Indeed, frequently throughout the aftcrn
disturbances in the First Ward, the proposi
Ihus was broAched by those most exasperated, TO
tbe lmolish his establishment, the crowd attribu
,sm lthe outrages committed at the ballot boxes
date rectly 10 the inhammatcEy articles published
nan. time 10 time in this Journal. BY night i
ssed however, the company Of Grcys and the II
uep- linen had; at the direction II the Mayor,
tive lsoitnn tneetber. anS weEs drown mp totAyel
heir SO as 10 prevent access 10 the building.
crowd numbered probably 300 TO 20Oo. I