Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-06-08
Riot in Portland /!

Riot in Portland
Our exchanges are filed with the de-
tails o. this blood. affair, and from what
we can gather r., NJ both sides, the facts
appear 10 be tina, Mayor Dow with two
Aldermen were appointed a committee to
make all the necessary arrangements for
putting liquor agency into operation.
Either acting under the authority thus
conferred by the board Of Aldermen, or
IN his own name, Mr. Dow puacha sed
81 600 worth Of liquor IN New York
and III due course OF time the liquors
we're landed III Portland. The question
then arose whether Dow bad any right to
purchase intoxicating liquors Upon
consulting the law i, appeared there was
no provision for any person to deal IN
liquors except an agent duly qualified
As no such agen, been appointed, or II
appointed, had not been qualified By FL.
ing the proper bond and subscribing to
the oath required, II was contended that
Dow had no RICH, to purchas. liquor, Is.
pecially in his own n+me.
Acting. upon these grounds, last Sal
urday warrant WAS procured and tie
liquors seized. As ,las was something
like making doctor take his own pills,
quite crowd COLLECTED about the Cily
Hall, where the l.qqts wrCa .,orcd TO
witness the sport. The eliicel th,.u>fed
with The execution ri The warraut, did
not remove the liquors, nor did he ares,
Dow, because it was sand lhere WIS not
time for the trials on Saturday. Query
had the warran, been directed asains,
some poor devil unable to give bail
where would said poor devil have been
likely TO have lodged tina, night y The
crowd continued to increase as night
came on, and several became noisy and
riotous. The police officers were insult.
ed and stones thrown at the doc, and
windows of the room where the liquors
were stored. We think that all must
agree in saying that it was the duty Of
the police to arrest every person thus
found breaking the peace, but from all
n
that any arrests were made or attempted
to he made. On the contrary the police
officers within the building CONNIE need
firing their pistols.
As evidence that an officer was
safe in passing through the crowd, Dow
went back aud forth several times with.
out molestation. But here was an op.
portuni,y for Dow to ascend another
found on the ladder Of fame, and his am i.
bit'on overeame his judgment. The
Light Guards we're called upon by Dow
in person. who assisted in loading their
guns and ramming down the deadly bull.
let. They marched to the scene of &c.
ton. and BY Dow himself were ordered
to fire upon the crowd. but REUSED
Their provocaiion was great, for the RI.
oters commenced pelting them with
stones. We, they preferred to submit even
to this outrage. rather than FIRE into a
crowd at the risk of shooting down alike
the innocen, and guilty. With them,
judgmen, ,riumphed over passion, and
they retired to their armory.
But Dow vas not thus TO be thwar,ed.
He next went to the Rife Guards, y
who promptly responded TO his call, and
with Dow at their head, marched into
the armory Of the Light Guards and
took their guns rhether or no, las their
rifles were without bayone,s,) and were
then led by the gallan, Dow to the scene
Of action. Arrived there, contrary to all
precedent, Dow assumed the comm and
and ordered them to FIRE. They did FIRE,
and We regret 10 say one man whose
name is given as Robbins Of PASSPORT,
by some of the papers, and Robinson Of
Deer Isle By others, was SHOT through
the body and died almos, Instantly
Many were wounded. some very severe
ly, aud wors, Of all. most OF them were
persons who had no part 10 the riot.
The crowd a, length dispersed. aud
then. ike locking the stable after the