Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-08-22
Dar,,ar CorresDcndence OF the Times.


DEAR TINES As you instructed me to be care
full always to give you the earliest information on
all topics of general interest, hasten to inform
you that ON last night we had riot exceeding in
its destructive result the of previous night.
Before giving you the details of that allow me to
take you back and dispassionatey trace the causes
which have produced so serious effects and which
seem about to produce, am afraid, more serious
disasters.
On Saturday night last, (5th,l the Wings and
Democrats, (alias Anti-Benton,) parties met at
different ends of the Court House in order to
make last appeal to their friends before the
elect N. Thosc parties are perfectly friendly,
and no evil consequences were anticipated. So
far. SO good. At another corner of the Court
House Square DR.. Marsh Mcdowell, rahid Ma
tive American, was speaking. He is very queer
ronu4. VALE he is a man Of decided ability, he
is so giraffe as to det oy tn, i'll luencc he might
otherwise have. When he arose to address the
crowd he pulled of his coat and took out two re-
,olyers and 4 bowie knife. These he placed by
him, at the same time remarking he intended to
be plain in his language, and while he woald not
attack with weapons, he would defend himself
deep. smothered feeling. 1t did so. The stiffness
of tho sea before storm was observable. Scarce
" breath could be heard. Minutes passed ere
this significant silence destroyed. And not
at all until he in an eloquent strain bade them to
| be calm. A shout which made tho g welkin ring
went up at this time, and the stited passion was
| gone. For three or four hours he continued his
harrangac. and at twelve O'Clock his audience was
larger than at any time previous. Several times
he attempted 10 stop but the universal and con-
tinued cry, "go cn,' rendered it impossible for
him to do so. The subject was one which every
native felt deep interest in, and the imprudence
of the foreigners had aroused their antipathy so
much that the host which surrounded Mcdowell,
on tip toe, listened, and listening believed every
word. He did not attempt to excite them to a
riot, but agreed to show how completely the for
c;gn element was subdung Sc Nativeism." Here
it certainly, until now, has controlled everything.
While he speaking body of men bearing
torches and Benton transparency, insultingly
marched through the audience. Most of this last
body were Irish, but strange to say-and your
correspondent is glad it was so-the Americans
bore the insult without murmur. The night
passed off without any disturbance of consequence.
| Sunday, the day of prayer and rest intervened.-
All was passive on that day. Mondays sun scarce
" shows himself from behind the Eastern horizon
before the busy marts are deserted and general
voting has commenced. 1t was soon discovered
that s'Peoples Ticket" alias 'Know Nothing
was out and we'll supported. Even this did not
seem to disturb the waters much. About five o.
clock in the evening, as | have Informed you, at
9Th (''Bloody Ward'') general melee common
ced and continued, of and on from that time till
late at night or early in the morning. Many per-
sons were injured by it-three killed instantly
One poor fellow was killed, who fancied himself
in place of security-merely locker on. The
cause of this riot was,--an American challenged
the vote of an lrishman, and was Immediately
stabbed. The g Know Nothings'' came up and
literally riddlcd about 80 or 40 doggercs. One
doggery was saved by having on its sign the 'Ame-
rican Eagle" nothing else would have done it, ]
believe. 1t was kept by an Irishman. Stones
were cast from windows and doors and all direc-
tons. One Irishman being chased to the steam
boats, he attempted to get on one, but was
driven back, as the Capt. was afraid he would be
mobbcd if he received him. The fellow threw up
his hands and with a countenance indicative OF
great fear exclaimed ''Fath, be jabcrs, wish
was nager,'' and well he might, one negro
was fighting like Il bold fellow for the americans
military raradcd the streets and restored order
| Thus ended Monday. now comes Tuesday.
| All day the streets were thronged with people.
! Every body more or less excited about the
election and the previous nights work. More
arms We're sold than at any time since the Mexi-
can war, was informed. Boys, and even Quakers,
went armed. 4 'sknOw Nothing" was walking
up the street in the afternoon and the Irish stoned
! him to death. That was the commencement
| Night came, but its dark mantle could not Oblit-
crate conceal the feelings Of the two parties.
The military were parading the streets subject to
the commands of an Irish Mayor. AT ii O'Clock
your correspondent heard repeated firing near his
room and went to the spot. After waiting few
moments he heard a succession of shots in the
crowd and rather uithdre,c a little. He went up
again to find out the result, but before he could
do so again the crowd dropped back, and each
man appeared to be testing his agility, SO he fol-
lowed their example, and we'll he did, as at that
moment some thirty or forty pistols were shot
and the ground was strewed with the wounded,
| believe none were killed. At this juncture the
military came up and were fired upon by the
| Irish from house, killing and wounding
three more. The Captain of the company fired on
asked the Mayor to let him give the word ''ire''
The Mayor thought it possible they (the Irish)
would not do 1t again, and ntimated If they did
it again he would then think of giving the order
asked for. They were fred on again and with
out any order from Mayor How. A return fire
brought down dead three Irishmen. Several
persons were injured who were merely lockers on.
Mr.. Violettc, an iron merchant, of this city, was
among the killed lie was quiet and excellent
citizens. At the time he locker on. An
| lriShman shot from window and murdered him.
About l o'clock large crowd of Americans
! gathered around the military and threatened to
take their arms from them as Mayor How would
not order them to shoot. Soon after they went to
the college and it was generally thought that it
would be pulled down. After pulling down sew
eral houses about three o'clock this morning the
mob dispersed, but the worst is to be feared to-
night. Mayor How has called meeting Of the
citizens for the purpose of devising means of de-
Tense this day at II o'clock-it is now five min
utcs of that time, will attend and give you the
result.
have Just returned from the court house. 1t
was raining in torrents, but there assembled
between four and five thousand persons. Mayor
! How in the most agtated manner, said, in sub
stance
..Felow Citizens of the City Of Saint Louis
| This is the most melancholy moment of my life.
You all know the city of st. Louis has been con-
trolled BY awlcss gang for the last forty eight
hours. have used every effort in my power to
suppress the riot, and find the means at my dis
posal inefficient, therefore call upon you in a
BODY, to know what means can be devised.'-
After regretting the necessity of such course,
he wished to know what suggestions, If any, the
| citizens could make. Judge Bates and Mr.. Ken
nett. congressman elect,) then made speeches
in favor of all maintaining the law by force
Resolutions were offered to the same effect as the