Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-05-04
Chicago Riot.
dERMANsREsIsTING THELAw

Chicago has been made the scene of
a terrible and murderous riot, inslig-
ated and carried on by the Germans,
and other foreign population; not from
provocation offered by native citizens,
but in resistance 10 the enforcement Of
the iaics.
CAUSE OF THE RIOT.
The Chicago Tribune, thus states
the origin of the riot. We may pre-
mise that case under the new liquor
law, to which the Dutch were resolute-
ly opposed, was on trial before Judge
Rucker at the time:
II is well understood here, that the
ring.leaders in the organized opposi-
ton to our new License Law, existing
and perfected among the lower portion
Of the German population of this city.
had been for several days past. busily
engaged in fomenting disorderly and
mob spirit throughout the ranks of
their followers. Not only at the pub
lie meetings which they have held in
the North Side had they inflamod the
mob with violent and revolutionary
speeches. in which they declared that
the rights Of the German citizens were
invaded, their liberties taken away,
and themselves made slaves by the
Americans, and urged them to come
down in force on the day when Judge
Rucker was to give his decision, and
see that justice was done their com
rades. in other words to over.awe the
Court, and compel decision in their
favor. but on Saturday morning. these
ring.leaders mounted themselves on
horseback. and visited every lager beer
saloon in the city, rallying their delud-
ed and besotted followers, and com.
handing them to assemble in force be-
fore the Court House, where the liz
uor cases were then in progress Of trial.
The Dutch obeyed tho summons and
by half past 9 o'clock, Randolph street
was crowded with multitude of the
most desperate and savage characters
in the city, ready for any blood. ra-
pine or murder. resolved to follow the
programme laid down for them by
their chiefs. and determined to vindi-
cate the right Of one portion Of the
community to openly violate andEdis-
regard law TO which we all owe al
legiance. We took pains to 90 thro'
the crowd as much as its density
would permit, and listen to the con-
versations going on among its mem
bers. IL was almost exclusively com
posed Of the most brutal, ignorant and
debased portions of our Dutch popula-
ton, interspersed, here and there,
with few men OF a better class, like.
wise Germans, who seemed intent up
on stirring up the crowd to violence
The programme Of operations;as open
ly avowed by the desperadoes, il the
decision Of the Judge should be ad.
verse to the liquor sellers, was to at
tack the Court House, 10 murder
the. Mayor, to liberate the prisoners
in the Jail, and to sack the Tribune
Office.
FIRST FIGHTWITH THE POLICE.
Police officers were sent to dis
perse this crowd rs il completely
blockaded the street. The Tribune
goes on:
Police officers made one or two ar
rests Of Germans who would no. move
on. without much difficulty. when
some three or four Of the ringleaders
came up and urged the crowd to
stand their grounds, rescue the prison.
ers who had been taken into custody,
and to kill the police il they persisted
in endeayoring to dispense the assem-
blage. A serious fight Immediately
ensued, the officers holding on to
their prisoners. arrcsting others, and
knocking down those who assaulted
them n v
The Germans fought savagely, and
resisted the officers with that obstina-
cy so peculiar to that race Of people,
Many of the police were very roughly
handled, and some Of them considera-
bly, injured. Marshal Knights was
pounded brutality. but he fought most
nobly. dropping the Dutchmen around
him in every direction. Officer TEA.
brock arrested German who was in
the very act o; drawing a pistol from
his pocket. and after a desperate
struggle succeeded in disarming him
and taking him to the watch-house.-
The pistol was heavily loaded and cap
ped. In the struggle, the officer re.
ceived severe blow on the head AID
arm, which almost disabled him. AL,
derman Howe. who was busy in quell,
ing the disturbance, received very
severe blow on the elbow, which came
near breaking bis arm. Officer Dew,
ey performed deeds of proves; which
were the admiration Of all who saw
him. Indeed, every officer did hi.
duty most nobly. We have never
seen men fight more bravely and with
better effect. They never let go theil
hold of man. They were Knocked
down time aud again were pounded
bruised, kicked and mauled, but they
stood up tothe work ard did it a.
American policeman can do. The
city owes to them debt Of gratitude
which she will be sure not to forget
This fight severe as it was, lasted
but a few moments. Some dozer
persons were taken into custody, sew
eral Of whom we're very badly injured
One German was taken off the felG o
battle with his head pounded to!a jelly
and We understand that he is sine,
dead. Another taken to the cour
house, had his nose entirely knocked
of by blow from the baton of one O
the officers.
During the skirmish two drummer
appeared amid the crowd and com
menced loudly beating their drums
one in front Of a Rum Saloon, and til,
other in front of the Tribune Office
They were both taken into custody
| the dr,,n, of ona Of than, ha;rc- sx,asi,