Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-14
The Liquor Riot in Portland.
MAYOR DOW CENsURED.


The Portland State cf Maine gives the fol-
lowing account Of tae late liquor riot in Port
land. Maine
"At quarter past nine O'Clock the different
I bells in the c,sy rang an alarm Of fire. which
proved false. aud the crowd returned in Great
numbers
"Stones were thrown ly the crowd s.Ssipss
the door of the ran l-sh0p by those outside
Some one then approached and attempted 10
read the riot act. Being poor reader, his
attempt excited derisive bursts of laughter.
"fhe police inside the rum shop immedi-
ateiy commenced firing through the door into
tho crowd
al nine O'Clock Mr.. Dow sent an order to
the amory Of the Portland Light Guard, for
Them 10 appear under arms. Captain Charles
II. Green. captain Of the company, objected
TO the course Of proceedings Mr. Dow came
into the asmory, prepared with ball csrtrid-
ges, and commanded the men 10 losd with
powder and balls
About iwenty-lour soldiers, with CapSsin
Green. fdentenants Kendall aud Sawyer, then
marched down stairs with Mr.. Dow Al their
head. beins himself armed with q heavy
black tlnie - '...|8 = 4.
"Capt Green was then ordered by the
Mayor 10 order the men 10 fire, and the men,
IN obedience 10 the wOrd, took aim. The
Captain however, hesitated, and asked the
Mayor il he should fire. The Mayor said:
"Stop moment" aud the order was counter
manded. The Light Guard did not fire on
the crowd and came hack into their amory
Soon after this Mr.. Dow came into their
amory, and wanted their muskets for the use
Of the Rifle Guard. Captain Green submit
ted the question to vote Of the company,
when Mr.. Dow interrupted. saving that be
did not request their arms he demanded
them.
The Rifle Guarl, with Capt. Chas. A Rob
erts at their head, were marched into the
amory If the Light Guard without their
consent, and took the guns that bsd been
previously loaded. against the earnest pro-
lestations OF the Light Guard.
Mr. Dow then asked how many OF the
Light Guspl were ready 10 join with the
Rifle Guard Capt Green put the question
10 his soldiers. but none of them fell into the
ranks.
The Rifle Gnard were then marched down
into Middle street. Mayor Dow al their head.
and marched ia double fle into the city
shop
~ iihtNi NNlh 81 Afl4tC " ALc NtCh9
on Congress street, and without showing
themselves 10 the crowd, Mayor Dow or
dered the Rifle Guani 10 fire into Congress
street
"The order TO lire was given so suddenly
that no one had any chance 10 escape from
the range Of their guns Lieutenant Patten,
of the Rifle Corps. ran around the end Of the
City Hall, to give the citizens notice of thar
danger, but before he could do this the vol
lev fired by the Rifle Guard swept across the
street, by which five men fell
"The crowd was entirely without leader
or any organization, and nothing was easier
.han to have dispersed them without any
special violence, BY the arrest Of few Of
the most prominent Not tenth part had
any other motive than idle curiosity and the
small proportion that wished TO create G not
could easily have been silenced or carried
OF. Il is stated, on what we deem good an
/ thority, that not a single arrest was made un-
| til after the firing had commenced"