Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-13
From the ST. Louis Democrat.
Great Mob In st. Louis.

Our city, on yesterday afternoon, and up to
late hour last night, was the theater Of one of
the largest and most disgraceful mobs that ever
transpired in the western country. II origi-
mated about o'clock in the afternoon at the
polls of the fifth ward, between party who
called themselves Americans and number Of
Irishmen, who had gathered around the en-
CINE house.
The fight, at first, was general one, which
was followed by slight skirmishes all along
Third street between Vine street and Franklin
avenue, serving very much to increase the ex-
element and draw together large crowd.
Wherever an Irishman was seen on the street
he was pursued and most cruelty beaten. FL
nally pursuit of one'was made down Morgan
street, where the mob we're met by number
Of Hiberians, who gave battle by throwing
stones and firing pistols, but the crowd of riot
ers increasing they gave way and retreated to
their houses between Main street and the
Levee on Morgan. Here for while the mob
was a scene of the widest excitement. The
Irish fired as many perhaps as hundred pis-
tol-shots into the crowd, who were breaking in
the doors and windows of the houses by showers
Of stones from the street. At last the shooting
was silenced, and the mob proceeded down to
the Levee and along it to Locust street, assail-
ing every coffee-house or tenement supposed TO
contain foreigners with continued storm of
missiles.
After this the Irish made another stand on
Second street but were driven down past Cherry,
the mob still continuing their assault upon the
houses and windows.
They then proceeded up Morgan and Green
streets, above Fourth, and assailed number of
houses, completely Kidding the doors and win.
dows with stones and brickbats. During the
evening slight assault had been made on the
Office of the Anzeiger Des Westens, but the
party were dispersed without much injury. In
the meantime the military and police were out
in full force, scattering the excited combatants
here and there, and doing much to restore
quiet to the city. About 10 o'clock at night,
however, company of the rioters, numbering
perhaps 20, came marching down Third street
from the scene of assault upon Morgan with
stones in hand, and shouting in the widest
manner, and upon arriving in front Of the An
zeiger Office, again commenced an assault up
on the windows and doors of the house. At
this juncture the military came charging upon
the crowd again, and dispersed the mob. When
we left the scene quiet seemed to be in a very
fair way Of being restored, the military having
complete possession Of the street, and seeming
determined TO enforce order. /.
1t is utterly impossible to estimate the num-
]
even to say how many have been killed. We
saw at least twenty men lying bleeding, and
wounded so severely that they were perfectly
4 nsensible--their faces cut most horribly and
skulls mashed, and some appearing perfectly
1 dead; and then we have learned of three men
/ certainly killed, and Of FIVE or six more who
1 are thought to be dead at this time from
wounds received.
/ 1t is O wonder TO us, when we remember the
| number Of shots fred and the exposed position
/ of the mob that there were not double the per.
/ sons killed and wounded. A man by the name
\ of Shannon was stabbed in the back Of the
neck, from which he very probably died last
/ night. A hand from the steamer Henry Chou.
/ teau was killed instantly, and a man by the
name of Joe or Frank Freeman was shot
/ through the heart, and fell dead without utter
ing word He was standing near lumber
pile at the foot Of Morgan street, on the levee,
with his arms folded, watching the ARRAY with
out at all participating, when he received the
| fatal shot from the window of house on Bat
tie Row. He has long been in the employ OF
! Captain Warren, Of the canal boat Burlington,
/ as steersman, and has been known in New
! York as canal boatman. We understand he
| has brother living up the Missouri river. His
| fate Is sad one.
We hear Of one man being shot in the leg,
another in the hand, one in the abdomen, and
another in the shoulder. We cannot pretend
to give a correct statement either Of the num-
Der killed and wounded, or the true origin and
continuance Of the mob. The immense ex-
element throughout the whole city prevented
the procurement of any reliable account Of the
disturbance.
FIRES IN THE WooDs.--A fire has been raging