Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-11


Of violence, bloodshed, and house burning which
occurred IN cur city yesterday. We cannot now
express our great adherence Of such things, nor
can we Ind space in which to say what we would
wish 10 say upon this subject. A terrible respon-
sl0lhty rests upon those who have melted the
foreign population of the city to the deeds of vo-
lence which were the commencement of the riots
IN the first and eighth wards.
The riots were accustomed by indscriminate
and murderous assaults committed by foreigners,
chiefly irish, upon inotfensive citizens, peaceably
attending TO their own business, at some distance
from any OF the voting places. All the ciTcum-
stances connected with these assaults strongly in
dicate that they We're premeditated and insti-
gated by other parties than those by whom they
were actually committed All the facts will
probably be ascertaned iudieially, and then the
responsibility will rest where it properly belongs.
We have not now time to give details. We
assert, however, and are sure that il will be prov
ed by respectable witnesses, that every act OF
bloodshed was begun by foreigners; that, in every
instance where mortal violence ensued the begin
nng OF the riots was an unprovoked slaughterby
foreigners of peaceable Americans while quietly
passing in the streets at distance from the polls
ms inturated the populace, and prompt and
terrible resort to mob violence, by which many
foreigners were killed and much property destroy
ed was the consequence.
IN the first ward, about o'clock in the morn
ing, while the election was proceeding quietly
at the polls, Mr.. Geo. Burge, respectable and
quiet American citizen, was brutally assaulted by
party OF lrishmen on Jackson street. Without
having given any provocation he was knocked
down and horribly beaten with stones and clubs
lie attempted to escape from the fends by whom
he was attacked and ran into the alley of an adj
joining house, where he was followed by his blood
thirsty assailants and cut, stabbed and beaten
until he was supposed to be dead, when one of
these inhuman brutes deliberately opened his
knife and proceeded to cut the throat of the I'M
fortunate man. When this act of violence was
made known party of Americans started in pur-
suit of the murderers, who were subsequently
arrested and lodged in Jail by the Mayor and City
Marshal.
In the afternoon, between three and four
| O'Clock, several Americans were fired upon and
severely wounded while quietly riding or walking
by the German brewery on Jefferson street. near
the Beargrass bridge Among these were some
gentlemen from Jefferson county and several re-
spectacle citizens. One gentleman who was fired
at was riding in buggy with his wife seated by
his side. About the same time perfect shower
OF shot and bullets rained upon every Ameri-
can passer-by from the windows of some houses
occupied by Germans upon Shelby street, in the
nelghborhood of Madison street. As soon as
these occurrences were made known it was ascer-
tanned that large bodies of foreigners, armed with
shot guns and rifles, had assembled in the neigh
pSNAiooNN -
An indiscriminate slaughter of American citizens
was apprehended. An immense crowd of excited
maddened, Infatuated Americans assemblies thew
were fired at from the windows of the brewery
and the houses of Shelby street, and in seeking
to arrest these offenders several men were badly
wounded, and the incensed and inflriated mob
burnt the brewery and sacked the houses from
which the shots were fired.
In the eighth ward the most serious disturbance
occurred about six O'Clock in, the afternoon A
Mr.. Rhodes, in company with two friends, all
American citizens, was quietly passing upon Main
street, near Chapel when they were set upon by
party of ten Irishmen who with horrible oaths
swore they would clear the streets of every Anne
rican. Fifteen shots We're fired upon them
Rhodes was killed and both his companions badly
wounded, one of them seriously. The Irshmen
then ran up Chapel street, and on being pursued
took refuge in house at the corner of Chapel
and Market streets, whence several shots were
fired by the inmates, by which several American
citizens were wounded and two were killed, a Mr.
Graham and Mr.. Hobson. The firing from this
house continued from some half hour. The Irish
We're armed to the teeth with firearms of every
description, while the Americans were almost
entirely unarmed, and were obliged to 90 to their
homes 10 procure arms to defend themselves and
their friends from the murderous fire of the insane
wretches who had made this attack upon them
Between six and seven o'clock a sufficient force
had assembled to capture the murderer of young
Graham; an attempt was made to hang him, But
we learn that he is still living.
In the mean time a fusade Of shot-guns and
rifles was kept up against any Americans passing
by the row of houses at the corner of Eleventh
and Main, belonging to an lrshman named Quinn,
a brother of Father Quinn, Roman Catholic
priest. Several Americans were wounded by
shots fired from these premises, and the attention
of the crowd was given to them. They were
filled with 1rishmen and loaded arms, as the
sequel proved beyond doubt. An attempt was
made to drive them out, and the houses were fred
whether on the inside or outside we do not know
While burning the frequent reports showed that
they were well provided with fre-arms and the
confessions Of poor mserble devil, who was res
cned by Captain Stone, proves that they were
| filed with arms, and contained thirteen kegs OF
powder, provided for the occasion. The houses
are still burning as we write, and the riot is not
yet suhsded.
We have neither space nor time to enter into
any particulars. We will attempt TO do so to-
morrow. A number of Americans were slain by
the foreigners, and number of foreigners met a
heavy retribution. We do not know how many
have been killed, but have already heard Of some
twelve or fifteen in ALL and some twelve or thirty
have been more or less dangerously wounded.