The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-09-21
Terms Of AdyertIsInc.
The Great Riot at Somerset.

The town Of Somerset, in Perry cnun-
iy, has recently beenFthe scene OF seriou,t
riot and bloOdshede The Sheriff Of Per.
ry county sent dispatches 10 GAINESVILLE lor
military aid 10 quell the riot, and The Ciiy
Guards anda comp ny Of volunteers Iojhe
namher Of about seventy-fise, repaired To-
the beseiged iowa. Tho riolers who had
held possession of the town during ihs
day, dispersed on The approach Of the
military. From a history Of the war.
given by Volunteer" in the GAINESVILLE
Courier. we copy uu account Of the un,
fortunate affair, go q,g3s's
The cause of the affray had ils origin in
Welch's Hippodrome, or Circus, which
exhibited in Somerset on Wednesday dn!
ring the day and evening. During the
evening performance an Irshman hy tho
name Of Sullivan took seat among some
ladies and commenced smoking Pipe,
and when requested 10 desist gave an in
decent reply in the negative, and was In
consequence Immediately turned oni.-!'
His companions and counirymsn, there
upon, made an attack upon the showmsli,l1
but were beaten and roughly handled By,
them. During The fight broiher Of the
smoker, a man who il is said had taksr M
parI in it, but had got into the midst Of the
combalanlS for the nprpose af rescuing his
brother, received severe beating as
to deprive him ofhz about. al hour af-
terwsrds. The murdered man is repre-,
senled as having been peacable, and rath-
er above the mass Of his comrades in rs.
speelabiliiy and intelligence. d4
During the night or early in tho next
morning. number Of the showmen were
arrested and examined before magistrate
and nine Of their number committed 10 j,il
To answer the charge Of murder. During
the same period the State arms, consiaiing
Of forty or flIy United States rifles, were
delivered by some one Of the citizens ire.
port says Gen. John Lidey was lhe mani
10 the wild and in(u,i,,ed Irishme r,,lec
the pretcxl of assisting to arrest tie show.
men. A hostile demonstration was made
against them, the effect of which was q
concentrate the entire body, with the ex-i
ceplion OF those under arrest, in the Gar.
don House for the purpose OF defence
against ldwless violence. HeN3H
About six o'clock on Thursd, mirping
musician attached 10 the Hippodrmne
was shot down by an lrishman while gs.l
ing down the steps in front Of the Gordon
House, rife loaded with shot harinr
been disrharsed few PAGES distant, inn
his face. Another lrishman Immediately
tnado an "ns"i upon The fallen man wiil,
his rifle clubbed, and at the ST tc,nd blow
upon his head, broke, off the stock nj The
sreech. The wounds produced BY these.
blows were Of a serious character, anil
have been The cause Of much astoniSh GeHt
that the Snowman was not immedirh'y
killrd. His recovery is very doubtful.
While this scene was enaciing an >
tempt was made 10 storm the Hotel. aud u
number of guns were discharged into the
passage between the parlor and bar room.
The side lights 0 ween The door and PR,
ution were broken by shot, and the lnnrs.
ST ire, and bannislers were pretty yell lead
ed. The treasurer of the Hippodrome-
was shot while on the stairs, and severity
but not fatally wounded. Ode III more
Of the citizens, whose names we did not
learn, received slight wounds from fral-.
terng shot. The showmen on the second
floor armed themselves with brick torn up
from the hearlhs, and also broke up BID.
sleads and stands to procure supply of
defensive weapons.
One or more of the Catholic Clrrgymen
resident in the town, soon appeared in the,
street, and made an ineffective eGrt To
quel the rioI. The citizens were unable,
or perhaps imagined they were unable, "a,
check the riolers, who we're leII 10 pnsscS'
sion Of the streets which they occupied dn'
ring the day. Our arrival dispersed tho
mob, raised the seige OF The Gordon VI 'use,
and restored general quiet aud confidence
among the cili2tns. r..... .. .,..