Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-08-15
THE LOUISVILLE RIOT.


The following is an account Of the
terrible riot which occurred at Louisville
on Monday, the 9th inst. Apprehensions
of disturbance were entertained several
days prior to the election. The Louisville
Journal of the 4th said that it had heard
of preparations by the anti-Americans for
a resort to violence and the organization
of bands of DULLES.
The origin of the riot is difficult to ar
rive at with positive certainty, but the
generally credited version is, that two
gentlemen riding in carriage in the first
ward were fred at from house occupied
by foreigners. One of the gentlemen was
wounded, and the firing being repeated,
caused a crowd to flock thither. Among
them was Edward Williams, Waterman
of the Second ward; Joseph Silvage and
John Latta, all three of whom were
wounded by shots fired from the houses.
Exaggerated reports of these occurrences
reached the lower part of the city, and
the crowd continued to increase rapidly.
The house from which the firing proceed
ed was attacked, and two Germans shot,
and so dreadfully beaten that they are
not expected to survive.
This house was completely sacked, and
then the mob proceeded to the houses at
the corner Of Shelby and Madison streets,
from whence it was reported that shots
had also been fired. Two groceries and
beer houses were riddled, and the Ger
mans found therein severely injured.
Another scene Of riot occurred in JEFF
ferson street, where party of gentlemen
coming into the city, were fired at from
large brewery. 1t is not known what
provocation was given. The brewery
and adjoining houses were sacked and the
brewery set on fire and totally destroyed.
Several Germans found here were badly
beaten, and an Irishman who was shot by
the mob died soon after.
On the street below, an American was
slightly wounded by pistol shot, and an
Irishman was shot and beaten. 1t is
asserted that shots were fired from all the
houses that were attacked.
The mob threatened to sack the Catho-
lie Church, where it was rumored, arms
had been concealed, but Mayor Barbee
and others prevailed on the crowd to
leave without committing violence.
The mob then marched to the engine
houses in the fifth ward, with their can
non, and the most having dispersed, all
the difficulty was supposed to be over
This unfortunately proved to be mere
lull in the storm.
While the above had transpired in the
upper part Of the city, other occurrences
were going on in the lower part. On
Main street, two Americans were wound
ed, by shots fired from house occupied
by Irish, for which it is said there was no
proyocation. An Irishman who was
charged with shooting Mr. Rhodes was
Immediately hung in the street, but cut
down before he was dead. In this affair
thirty or forty shots were fired, and it is
impossible to ascertain the number of kill
ed and wounded.
A row of houses occupied bv Irish, the
owner of which it was freely asserted
had fired upon the mob, was set on fire
and totally destroyed. Mr.. Quinn. the
owner was killed, and eight or ten per
sons are said to have persisted in the
flames. The number of lives lost is esti-
mated at from fifteen to twenty.
The city is now quiet and it is thought
there will be no further disturbances. The
fighting was at a distance from the polls,
and did not interfere with the election.
The coffee houses have been closed and
the number of drunken men about the
streets is quite few. The keys of the Ca
thedral have been placed in the hands of
the Mayor by Bishop Spalding.
Some fifty extra police are on duty
The mob has been addressed by Judge
Bullock and several others at the Court
House, and more calmness prevails
Large numbers of Irish are leaving the
city.