The true Democrat., 1854-09-27
From the Louisiana Courier, Sept E
The Riots!

From the Louisiana Courier, Sept lo
 The Riots!
 STREET RIOTS-GREAT ExCITEMENT-T -Tboro was scarcelya corner of the city at which we did not meet yesterday groups of long, headed sober-sided political amateures whose conyer. satlon Tn almost every instance seemed to turn on the riots of Sunday and Saturday evenings. We have made inquiries of nearly hundred individuals and have received as many accounts, which are for the most part contradictory, and all ot which seem to be tinged with certain degree of improbability. The respective par ties who are engaged in the affair manifest no inclination to make any disclosures, and their friends who were either looking on or who have had an opportunity of receiving their in- formation from reliable sources, qiN not of course give an impartial account. Under these cir cumstances, it is difficult for us to assure our readers of the accuracy of our information
 1t appears that on Thursday last, and Irishman, whilst passing by the house of H. T. Sherman, on Bartholomew street, in the first district. was attacked by dog belonging to the latter, and had his clothes torn by it. On the following morning, he called on MT. Sherman, the owner of the dog, and requested that he should be shot. which request MT. Sherman peremptorily re- fused. The lrishman then went home, and armlng himself with a gun, returned and shot the dog Tn Mir. Sherman's yard, after which he made his escape. MT. Sherman pursued him and on his way met watchman and asked him to search in the neighborhovd for the individual who had shot his dog. The watchman ob- served that he did not see or hear of any riot, and that he could not comply with MT. Sher- mans request, upon which the latter made use of offensive language toward the policeman, which caused him to be arrested. So ended the dog business.
 On Saturday night number of individuals amounting to some fifty or sixty, and supposed to be particular friends of MT. Sherman, repair ed to the nelghborhood in question, and when they arrived there they sounded "rattes" as our lntormants say, for the purpose of bring Ing the watchman together. The latter. how ever, suspecting that things were looking squally, did not reply to the call, and in place of repairing to the place of rendezvous, con- cealed themselves as best they could Several pistols were then discharged without injuring any person, after which the party alluded to re- tired. On the following day (Sunday) reports were current that there had been serious riot on the night before Some said that there were three men killed others that there were ten. We have heard it said even that there could not have been less than fifty killed and wounded. Early in the afternoon, however it was ascertalned with certainty, that no person had been either killed or wounded and that ru- mor had been, as usual, disposed to "lie.'' By some parties It was stated that the same crowd was organlzlng and increasing its numbers, and making prparatlOns to return to the charge on Sunday night. It was said that the quarrel no longer existed between Mir Sherman,s friends ana the police officers in the upper part of the Irst district but between the Know Nothing party ana Irish inhabitants of that part of the c!ty. The latter, It appears, were informed of ths fact, and according y armed themselves for the purpose of resisting any attack that might Dc made on ther persons or property. We understand that they mustered some hundred and hfty strong, and paraded the streets armed Tor the most part with muskets and swords Whilst passing the Beer Garden on Anunciation street they were fired at by some persons ill the garden. The fire was returned by the party assaled Unfortunately, young man whose name we could not ascertain, whilst in the act of leaving the garden, was shot down, whether Dy the party attacking or attacked we know not. After this the main body distributed it. self into groups and for few hours there was number of shots fired in the neighborhood In the at1ray there were altogether three per- sons killed and five or six wounded Among the latter are MT. Grinnell, of Leed, & Co.,. a watchman named McHahem, person nam ed Gilpatrlck and Spaniard whose name we did not learn.
 Recorder Summers, who happened to be close by the scene of riot, repaired thither for the purpose of checking the disturbance. es- capped narrowly being shot down three or four times. He was finally invited by the amia- ble lady of MT. Wheelehan, Anunciation street, to enter their dwelling. Considering the num- Der of persons that were in the neighborhood and shots fired, it is surprising that there were not more persons killed and wounded. The firing continued until late hour of the night We understand that the Mayor was on the ground at an early stage of the proceedings and sent for reinforcement of police from the sec- ond and third district, as soon as he saw that the riot could not be repressed by the force at his immediate disposal About 2 o'clock on Monday morning, things began to look quiet With the exception of a stray shot here and there all appearance of riot had disappeared.
 Earl in the morning as soon we stepped in- to the streets whithersoever we turned we were board with the questions: How many kilied?" How many wounded?" etc., to all of which we were obliged to reply "We know nothing" We have never heard of a riot oc- curing in a large city like this whose details it was more difficult to arrive at with any degree ofaccuracy. Each person we applied to for in- formation gave different version of it, and, in consequence, we were for portion of the day laboring under the apprehension that it was al- most impossible to get clue to the truth.
 We forgot mentioning that we were inform ed that Gen. Tracy was waited upon by party of men who requested him to give them the arms belonging to the National Guards We are happy to state, however, that that gentle man had the good sense to refuse Threats were used in order to induce him, but the ve- teran soldier was equally imperious to threats and entreaties. Had he not been so, Heaven only knows what number of lives might have been sacrificed. We trust that this state of things will end here. Our city is already un- fortunate enough in having to contend with sickness with all its ineonyeniences, without be- coming prey to the worst of allscourges, civil disscnsions.
 II o'clock, P. M.-We had expected whilst persuing the above, that the riot would have