The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-12

INSULT 70 4Hu ANrRICAx FLAo-MLyrARY ORpassD
0UT-FULL PAxTlCULARS.
fYrom b. Bsston lise, July Ill
LAwssSCs. Asss.. July 10, 1854.
This city, last Saturday evening. was tho scene
OF On outbreak, which came near leading to conse-
queDces Of violent and bl 0dy nature, and which,
through BY ignorant Ishmeo. The fsots Of the affair
are these = Saturday evening about seven O'clock
report was circulated through the city. that the
Irish had boistea an American flag, Uniou down,
with cross over II. and that lrishmen wore there
threatening to murder tho first man that attem ted
to take 1t down. On proceeding TO Oak street. Gan
Irish caiify). we found that the report Was true,
rum shanty. The Irish were advised by the p0Iice
to take it down, when they retaiiated with Oaths,
and stated that IT shonld mot come down. Crowds
soon began TO collect the spot, and the Gag was
torn from the building without resistance from the
Irish. What fOllowe IN why they did not resist
Il WIS because 1t was not quite dark enough for
them to rsis- their peculiar arguments, bf0k6ats,
down, pole was procured. and two Americans
mounted landsr O. spiked tho flag to the top OF
the building whsre It still floats The Irish dare not
take it down. Alb ut this time the members Of tue
American Engine Company. Syphon No. 8, (whose
house b but lew steps from whore this affair took
place) raied their banner to the mast head and as
It unfuried itself TO the breeze and displayed its
gorgeous stars and stripes 1t was greetei with
sembled and witnessed its ascent The blood c0ursed
through mems veins with quicker beat. For our.
selves, as We saw that banner. ths emblem Of our
nationality, AlOwl y rising TO the mast and ~ We
thought Of the insult which had been perpctrsted
on It. We gloiied IN being an American citizen.
Amer "Syphon 9" tag was raised, 1t was deemed
b. 81 10 maize sone sort IT .emonsr, alton which
should be uDertoos by the Irish that the American
flag could Lot be insulted with impunty. Acoord-
inRly. the Lawrence Brass Band WAS procured, and
q procession was formed, numbering nearly 1000
persons, who marched through our streets, with
sve'al American banners. to the tunes Of "Hail
Columbia aud yankee Doodle" While passing
by the Catholic church. thy we're saluted by
shower Of stooes and bricks, which fortunately IL
No damage. The procession halted for q moment,
when, lding nothing more, they again started In
ne, ard had proceeded as fur W. Common street,
between Newbury and Jackssn streets, which Is
infested with nothing but lri-h. whea they were
retaiated by several persons not in the process
sion. Several windows were broken, and the crowd
passed. 1t was thought that nothing further would
come Of IL. and 30 confident were they Of this, that
after retiring to the engine house. aud giving three
cheers for the American flag, the crowd dispersed
quietly in different directions, to their several
homes.
AS a party Of dozen, whose route lay through
Common street, were passing quietly along, they
were assailed from the alleyways and houses with
perfect tornado Of stones and bricks. One man was
severely cut gu the head. This reused the indigna-
ton Of those present, and the alarm was given.
Several volleys Of muskets and pistols were then
fired from the houses, upon this small party who re-
taliated BY stoning the buildings from whence the
shots were fired. The alarm becoming general,
At this time II ia fair to assume form which
could not easily be queled. Not light was on the
street; not an lrishan was to be seen but stones
and shots were coming thick and fast from tho
buildings The crowd which had been assaulted,
having other resource and having no one against
them but sneaking towards, who dare not show
themselves, Of course could do nothing but repay
them In their own coin, with stones. The windows
the whole line of the street were partially broken
and at point in particular. Where the majority
OF the muskets were fred, stand was made, and
the entire front of tho building. Is far as regards
windows, sashes and doors. was demolished. About
this time. the Mayor, arriving on the ground,
mounted large stone, and commenced to read or
repeat the riot act.
While be WA speaking shet was fred from the
who were present, and the attack was once more
commenced. Tho Mayor then dispatched mes
seneer with verbal message and order for the COM
%snds5 o. the !M en- Light Infantry to
IN the shortest possible space Of tme; which order
being verbal the commander, like good soldier as
he Is, and one who knows his duty, replied, " that
before mastering his men he must have q written
order over the Mayors SIGNATURE" then he would
respond to it, and do his duty. This was reported
to the Mayor, when he dispatched the necessary
orders for them to repair to their armory and to be
In waiting, and ready ct moments notice. This
was promptly done. We do not know whether the
Mayor sent this verbal order through ignorance, or
whether he was 80 excited and in such state of
WQ0I
tain is that he did do IT, and it is also certain that
be was much frustrated and excited.
After the excitement and attack had become par
tally quelled. two persons who had been appointed
as special police, volunteered to enter tho building
from whence the shots were being fred. They had
barely entered when musket was discharged at
them, and they, being alone were forced to retreat
Where then was the bravo City Marshal, that he
secure the originators Of the affair at once? He
was there upon the ground, and knew Of the cir
cumstance; and he also knew that IL he gave the
order he could have had fifty men, five hundred,
to help him carry out that order. Why he did not
give it, he himself can answer best We know that
there was and is great feeling manifested ct his
inactivity in this affair.
The riot, through the influence and entreaties Of
some Of our hrst citizens, and also the part of
some OF our officers, began to spbside, and the
crowd, finding that there was nothing TO contend
with, except wooden buildings, began to dlsperse,
and by one o'clock the ground was all clear and
everything quiet. The orders to the Infantry were
counteymanded, and they were discharged for the
night but were to hold themselves in readiness If
they were wanted on the Sabbath.
We have not heard OF but one person who was
struck with q ball and that barely grszcd his leg,
merely touchr & the skin. One watchman informs
rs that he knows there were as many as thirty shots
FREQ during the onslaught It Is somewhat miracu.
lous that DO one was killed or wounded. Some
twenty or moro were injured with stones on both
Sides but none, 80 far az we have learned, have
been seriously injured.
Illus mas passed on one OIL tue mOH exciting
scenes that has ever been enacted in this city, and
we hope VIC shall never be called upon to record
another Of the like. II is true that it was provoked
by lrshmen, and that II was studied plan to insult
the American flag and to get up Q row with Ameri.
cans. By this we do not mean to DO understood
that all the Irishmen of this city were connected
with Il, for we have heard many of them condemn
the motives which first led to the flags being raised
in the manner IL was, and also the manner in which
they attacked the citizens; nor do we mean TO be
understood by anything which VIC have here writ
ten, being in favor Of Of counsellin9 riot or
of getting up any unnecessary excitement.
On the contrary, our best efforts will always be
directed to preserve the peace and dignity OF the
city; but we do say, that II Americans cannot walk
the streets, either in procession or out, without
being assaulted with stones and firearms In the
hands Of foreigners il Ia high time that some salu-
tary measures were taken to bring about different
state Of things. II nothing else win do it, several