Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-10
EVENING STAR.

EVENING STAR.
a FULL AND CORRECT ACCOUNT OF rHe
CINCINNATI RIOT.
We take from the New York Express
the following particulars of the Cincin.
natl riot, which that journal obtains
we believe, from the Cincinnati CONNER.
cial:
A difficulty between the Germans and
Know Nothings occurred yesterday re.
gardlng . cannon. We endeavored to
procure the facts in the case, but canno,
be positive that we have succeeded, as
the terrible excitement prevailing through.
out the city,rand the countless rumors
flying, rendered it extremely hard to at.
tain accurate information.
AS near as We can learn, the facts are
these: The Germans borrowed o brass
cannon of the American Military Com
panies, with the purpose of firing it on
election day, in honor Of the birth day
| of Jefferson. The cannon was taken
from them while they were using it on
Jackson's Hill. by q body of excited
Americans, during the trouble at the
llth Ward; and after parading Though
the streets, and once fired when loaded
with boulders, in the 18th Ward, was
deposited in the armory where it be-
longed. -..- 2
The Germans, it is said, took this car.
non, or some other one from the armory,
and placed it in shed near Vine street,
some four squares above the canal. There
is disputed cannon, but what one it is,
We do not know, and perhaps it is not
Important. Gen. Sergeant was highly
indignant at the proceedings of the Ger
mans, in regard to this disputed prop
erty, and demanded that it be returned.
To this the Germans refused to accede,
and the news of the difficulty spread
through the city, like fame in dry stub.
BILE. What claim the Germans had on
the gun, or what was Gen. Sargeant's
authority in the case, we do not exactly
understand. 1t may be sufficient to say
that there was dispute about piece of
artillery, and an immense accumulation
of feeling in the city, which tended to
spontaneous combustion.
The rumor that caused most excite.
ment down town was, that the Germans
had loaded the cannon and proposed to
use it against the Americans. General
Sergeant, we are told, made an effort to
get the cannon into his possession, but
failed. and in the afternoon great crowds
collected in Vine street. Between three
and four o'clock, the street was thronged
from the canal bridge to the foot of the
hill. There were four crowds, each of
which might be styled an immense mass
meeting. Two of these were of Ameri-
cans-one on the bridge, the other
couple of squares higher up-and the
other two were Germans.
The sidewalks were thronged, and
thousands of women and children looked
on from the windows. The aspect of
affairs was decidedly warlike. The
Americans were in state of extensive
Excitement, and seemed resolved to have
the cannon at all hazards. We passed
through the street, and heard enough
conversation to gather the prevailing sem
timent correctly. The most current re-
mark was, "Let them give up the can
non, and we will let them alone-but
give it up they must! We saw Mr.. Cox,
the Prosecuting Attorney, begging the
Americans to return to their own side of
the Canal, and settle the affair in some
other way than by force Of arms, but his
words seemed to be wasted.
DIR. Fries was passing along the street,
and pausing to make inquiries, was sur
rounded by multitude of Germans, and
addressed few words to them in their
own language, and also in English. As
this gentleman S language has been liable
to Misrepresentation, it may be well to
give his exact words. Speaking in Eng.
lish, he said:
Il want you all to keep the peace
for Gods sake keep the peace-but if
your rights are assailed, shed the last
drop of blood in your veins sooner than
submit. But if possible, for Gods sake
keep the peace"
Passing up the street we saw unmis.
taxable evidence of preparation for
desperate conflict. Pistols were being
loaded publicly. Nearly every German
was armed. The handles of pistols pro-
truded from their pockets, and many had
swords.
We met party Of about dozen stur-
dy fellows, carrying rifles, upon the
tubes Of which were seen the glistening
of caps, showing that they were pre-.
pared for active service, and to the rifles
were attached sabre bavonets-making
altogether terrible weapon, at once a
rifle and spear. The German women
kept up constant chatter, in which the
words "Know Nothing" and Demo
crat" were most frequently distinguish
able.
The street, viewed from the upper
portion, appeared black with men as far
down as the eye could reach, and through
the dust, above the oense throng of hats,
the fash of steel was at intervals per-
ceptible, Meeting German acquain-
tance. be informed us that the halls of