Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-06-19

Riot and Bloodshed in Portiand.-Intenss Excite
men,.-Onc Man killed, many seriously wounded.
An extraordinary excitement growing out of
the proceedings of the Mayor of Portland, (Neal
Dow,) in purchasing liquor for the City Agency,
under the new law, occurred in Portland on Sat-
urday evening, ending in tumult and the shedding
of blood. We give below the particulars of the
affair. as contained in the Portland Argus Of the
4th inst. 81.
The Argus makes the following statement:
1t will be remembered that on Saturday morn
ing we called the attention of the City Marshal
and the police to the fact that large quantity OF
spirituous liquors had been purchased in New
York and brought to this city for sale, and sug.
cestcd to them the duty of sezing them. These
LIQUORS. 81 600 worth, Mr.. Neal Dow had stated
to one of the Aldermen he had bought en- his
own individual responsibility, and had order
ed them to be brought here and stored in this city.
This being apparently in direct violation of the
law, making Mr. Dow liable to the penalty, on
conviction, of 80 days Imprisonment, and render
ing the liquors subject to seizure and destruction,
complaint was accordingly made to the Police
Court, and Judge Carter issued his warrant for
the seizure of the liquors, but whether for the
arrest of Mr.. Dow we have not learned. Judge
Garter, however, instead of giving his warrant to
an officer who was ready to make immediate SER
vice, put it into the hands of Deputy Marshal
Ring, who for some cause. Immediately disap-
peared, and could not be found.
Meantime the Board Of Aldermen were sudden
ly summoned to meet for the purpose, it was al
legged, of effectng transfer of the liquors to the
city for its agency, which was established on last
Thursday night, by the casting vote of MIR. Dow,
though the liquors were purchased some weeks
since. After the Aldermen had been together
awhile, Deputy Ring appeared, and seized the IL
quors upon the warrant.
Quite little crowd stood about tho doors
where the liquors were stored, and in the vicin-
ity during the remainder of the afternoon, but
perfect quiet and apparent good humor was OBJ
gan to collect about the depositc of the liquors
in the City Hall building, and gradually increased
until little after nine O'Clock, when cry of
fire was raised, understand, by Mr.. BOWS
orders, with view of divcrting the crowd from
the spot. 1t had, however, contrary effect, and
greatly increased it for time, the engine COM
panies were brought from both extremes of the
city to the centre in the market square, where
the crowd was assembled. They however, soon
withdrew, and the crowd began to diminish.
Occasionally during the evening stones and
brickbats were thrown against the door of the IL
quor store, breaking the glass and sashes, and
otherwise injuring the door; this was done, so
far could sec, by boys.
The whole affair was the mercst boys play,
done in the most apparent good nature and with
the least possible excitement. Indeed the whole
crowd seemed to be there without other purpose
than curiosity to see what might be done, and
those who threw the missiles were without leaders
or apparent power to do harm.
1t is our decided opinion, and we have not met
an intelligent person who has witnessed the pro-
ccedings of the evening, that does not concur
that an efficient police officer. with dozen good
men, could have easily dispersed the crowd any
time prior to IL O'Clock. Soon after 10 O
clock the crowd had materially dimished, and
seemed rapidly dispensing, when MIR. Dow, accom-
panied by Capt. Green, and part of the Light
Guard, appeared upon the sidewalk on the North
side of the City Hall. The crowd were warned
to disperse. His appearance, sword in hand,
with soldiers, at changed the temper of
the multitude. They rallied around them and
gave groans and Kisses prior to the proclamation
to dispcrsc.
Mr.. Dow then gave order: s'First section, fre.''
The order was not obeyed, and the crowd then
threw mssels. A part of the company started to
escort Mr.. Dow toward Middle ST., and the re-
mandcr immediately returned to their arnory in
the City Hall building. At the time Mr. Dow
gave the order to fire, (Capt Green refused to
give it, as we understand, on the ground that he
did not think the circumstances authorized it,)
the company were standing directly opposite the
entrance Of the hall of the Mechanics Association
in Clapp's block, and their fire would have taken
effect, if at all, upon the people the sidewalk,
part OF whom were mechanics ust coming from
the hall, and who were entirely unconscious that
any such proceeding vas called for or contcm-
plated.
After Captain Green's company had retired, the
brickbats flew thicker and stronger: and the po-
lice, who were aiding the Deputy Marshall; who
had seized the liquor to guard them, commenced
firing pistols, charged only with powder. A kind
Of sham-fght was thus kept up between the crowd
which had now become more determined in its
character, and the police until about Il o'clock,
when Mr.. Dow, with portion of the Rifle Guards
IL -.l.xlc
the Light Guards Armory, and with the mu.kets
of the Light Guards to south side of the City Hall.
The doors of the liquor store were then thrown
open, and the firing then commenced by Mr.
BOWS order, through the store upon the crowd
in the street upon the other side Of the building.
One man-Gcorge Robns--second mate of the
bark Louisa Eaton, was shot through the BODY,
and almost instantly killed. The bali entered his
right side, between theffh and sixth ribs, passed
through his body, cutting off the great aorta, 1.-THE
artery through which the blood flows to the lower
extremities,) and escaped between the fifth and
sixth ribs on the left side. Robbins was verv
near the door when the shot was fired, and imme-
diately fell into the arms of a man close by.
Thomas McCarty, n hostler, aged % years. re
ceived ball under his chin, which passed out
through his check, breaking his jaw-bone in the
passage.
Thomas Robinson, worthy young man aged
~ years, in the employ of Mcssrs. Fernald Co.
while sitting on box near Clapp's Block, on the
opposite side of the street, was struck by ball
on the inside of the right ANGLE, behind the joint,
the ball SCATTERING the lower end of the tbia, or
large bone of the leg and passing out at the in
step. The inner malleolar or shin bone was am
putatcd by DR.. j. r. Lord, and amputation of the
foot may yet be necessary.
Howard Dennison, young man residing on At
lantc ST., was struck by pistol ball in tie front
part of the arm. The ball penetrated to the bone,
passed around without breaking it, and buried it.
self in the muscle of the back of the arm. The
ball was removed, and the wound dressed by DIR.
Lord.
Thomas Mckinney, young man about 20
years old, was slightly wounded by bullet on the
head. young man by the name of Frank Mil
liken, received blow from a brick bat in the
face, making severe wound; also an apprentice
of Mr.. Felt, and a young man employed at the
United States Hotel, were slightly wounded by
bullets.
John A. Poor, ESQ.,, on his way home from his
Office, passed, in company with two other gentle
men, in front Of the Clapp and Deering Block,
and just before reaching Preble street bullet
passed through his hat, but did no injury There
were several other similar hair breadth escapes.
After firing for awhile, the soldiers charged bayo-
nets through the streets and made several wanton
and rude arrests, though none were attempted in
the early part of the evening when they ought to