Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-08-16
Letter of Another "Byo witness. y


KR, which appeared in the Joaral OF yesterday.
man who says ''that foreigners were in ey-
cry instance the aggressors" is as unworthy |
of belief as the Louisville Journal Did the |
Irish set fire to their own houses and burn up
their own wives and children, and march TO
destroy their own churches? Did foreigners
constitute the mob which proceeded to the Off
ces of the Times and Democrat, broke the win
dows. burned the signs and were with difficulty
from destroying the establishments.
And here let us ask why is the journal so
silent: why are its tones of condemnation so
weak, why does it grasp at every little cir
cumstance, as the drowning man at straws, to
palllate the enormity? Even if foreigners
did begin the riot (Which is an infamous I'M
truth) who can excuse the ercesses to which
Americans carried their revenge on a helpless
minority? Why is the Journal so tame?-
Nothing but a mob in Kansas or one to carry
off negro can arouse the virtuous Indignation
of the Journal
From the Louisville Democrat
MESsRs EDTroRs:-I believe statement oi the
disgraceful conduct which occurred under my
own observation, and IN my own ward, at the
Court House an Monday, the 9th August, 1893,
due alike to all parties, but more especially to
all good citizens of Louisville Between four
and five o'clock in the morning repaired to the
Court House, for the purpose of making some
arrangements to distribute tickets; The polls
were not vet open: passed through the lobby
Taffar II
upon the steps and in the yard some Is or 20
men. nearly every one of whom carried club
or loaded stick. was not able to identify any
one of these men, after close reconnaissance OF
them. The election proceeded as quietly as
could be expected until report was put IN cir
culation that the Democratic ticket was ahead In
the Fifth Ward, and that twas a close vote In
the Sixth Ward, when cry was raised, more
the ID Sac Nichis! Dorm nth the Dutch and
Irish: G-dd-n them" In an instant several
citizens were knocked down and ran out of the
hall. I stood my ground, and saw officer Sea
ton make some effort to restore order but saw
him make no arrests. This outbreak occurred
between the hours of 9 and 10 o'clock, A. n. A
party of these bnllies took possession of the
platform on FIFTH street. | went out among
them, and saw them offer yellow tickets to every
man who came up the stairs. If they were re-
fused some of the crowd would ask them who
cratic or Clarke, they were moved or knocked
on the head / laid my hand upon the shoul-
der of one of these men whom thought knew
and inquired what was the cause of his hand
being in a swing; to which he replied he had
bruised it. Judge my surprise when, IN less
than five minutes thereafter, | saw him knock
down an Irshman with the same wounded hand,
and upon it pair of brass knuckles.
A friend of mine, and gentleman, called me
har mad.
which replied l was not, nor had | carried
arms but on one occasion in Louisville, within
a period OF nearly quarter of century. He
gave me one of his Ieyolvers, and insisted upon
INV acceptance in manner which left no doubt
upon my mind of his friendship. This gentle
man is Know Nothing, and an honorable
mani / repaired to the court house. Some
three old gentlemen inquired of me if they could
get to the polls other than through the dense
crowd at the door of admission, upon which |
directed them to the other door, stating that sew
eral old gentlemen, from age and infrmity had
been, through the kindness of the doorkeeper,
admitted-among whom l named j. w. Breden,
Esq. After the admission of these, entire stran-
gers to me, a rough looking customer, who had
heard all that had been uttered between these
men and myself, called me to an account for It,
He had yellow ticket in the riband of his hat
and a club in his hand. From his language,
stepped back and drew my pistol stating If he
raised his stick one inch would shoot him in
his tracks. A young man of good address threw
his arm round his neck, stood between US, and
backed the bully into the crowd. I shuddered
az the idea, that in moment more would, in
all probability, have taken life that could not
restore, and which act would be to- all time a
source Of bitterness to me; hence, returned the
weapon, and went unarmed the balance of the
day.
saw unoffending men knocked down in the
court yard, and stoned off the yard fence by
these DULLES, and no attempt made to arrest any
one of them, although l saw some of the police
within reach of the offenders. Such unprovoked
and cowardly attacks upon peaceable citizens,
who came to the polls to record their suffrage,
trust never to behold or hear of in future. The
passes to the potts were thus fully taken posses
sion of. One stoutly built man assembled the
steps, and was met above-"How do you voter
| did not with distinctness get his answer, when
he was struck, and staggered; got upon his feet,
and passed through the crowd, dealing ont to
his assailants some heavy blows. He was soon
overpowered, and while in the act of throwing
him over the bannisters, Capt l.. II. Rousseau
ran up, grasped the man, and saved him from
further violence. Here permit me to say, from
years of acquaintance. have ever regarded
Capt. Rousseau as a highly honorable aud brave
man, Out never until ldcI Monudl utu
appreciate his noble worth. His deeds of daring
throughout the day were most worthy his well
known character.
From o'clock until the close of the polls
received but one or two votes; in fact, may say
from the time the polls were taken in the fore
noon got but few votes. / gave yellow tickets
to two whom believed to be my friends to
nv through the crowd. They went in, discard
Ell the yellow, and voted the Democratic ticket
g. 7
the court house, and no arrest made for these
outrages Between2 and 4 o'clock, P. NJ, call
ed on from 30 to 40 of my friends, urged them
to go to the polls, promising protect them, but
to no purpose. Most of these voters are by birth
Americans, and all respectable and orderly citi-
zens engaged in business There are, Of am
correctly informed) some % of my friends on
Jefferson street, between Fifth street and Third,
including three in the house of W. III. Johnston,
not, or would not vote, in consequence of the
disorder at the polls. But the most inhuman
of all the acts of the day was reserved for the
afternoon. A gang of rowdies had in keeping
and in tow poor man all bloody, taking him
to jail-for what offence / know not As they
rushed past my door / went out after them
When nearly opposite the southeast corner OF
the court house, a gen,eelly dressed foreigner,
believe an Irishman, was coming up the yard
leA'@ ~
part of them cried out, ''Move the id for
eigneri'' and in moment he was knocked down
and beat almost to a Jelly. One of the demons
cried out for Ratchet to cut off his head, dc.
One had pitch-fork. whom some present stated
he stuck into the poor man. At this moment VIM
G. Stewart, Esq, the generous and humane
lawyer, having Just came into town, into
the crowd, pushed them right and left and
cursed them for set of sconndrels, DC. This
was the most unprovoked attempt 10 murder
poor unoffending man / ever beheld.
| There were many other outrages committed,
such as knocking down and kicking Mr.. Cud-
more into the door of my store, at which time
Hon. W. p. Thomasson was struck, in at
tempt to rescue Mr.. Cudmore; an assault at
tempted on Mr.. Hampton, an honorable and
| good man, dc. As | did not witness the origin
or commencement of these and other cases, /
leave them for others TO detail.
| Permit me, in conclusion, TO say pen the
above with feelings of sorrow, mingled with the
most painful regrets. No man can feel, much
less express the horror have felt at these bloody
occurrences; nor can ever think of these scenes