Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-17

Between IL and o'clock Of that day, as was
on my way to dinner, as passed Marshall street,
on the west side Of Clay street, heard a fuss on
Marshall street. west Of Clay street l stopped at
the corner of Clay and Marshall l had stood there
about two minutes, when an Irishman came out Of
a house on Marshall street, east Of Clay, and fired
pistol at me. / ran toward him he escaped In
the house searched for him. but he had con-
cealed himself did not anticipate anything Of
the kind, and was altogether unarmed
H. JONES.
August, 1855. l.. A. WHITLEY,
Notary Public
Alexander @. Cross states that on Monday, the
9th inst, the day of election in Louisville, he was
at the Second Ward polls, when boy, say IL or
IA years old, at about two o'clock p. M, came to
him and complained that he had been badly treat
ed by large number of foreigners Green street,
above Shelby He said that he had started to
water his horse, but had been driven off by them.
Mr. Edward Williams was present at the time the
boy came to him, and they concluded to see Mr..
Selvage, who was acting as sheriff at the Second
Ward polls, and get the benefit of lis advice be-
fore they took any step. They saw Mr.. Sewage,
and ii was agreed upon he should 60 along. We
went to the place pointed cut to US by the boy.
When we got to point AT Green street where it
is intersected by Campbell street. four or five
squares from the place of voting, they discovered
a large number of foreigners, some with muskets,
some with pistols, some with bowie-knives, some
with rakes, and others with scythes, which they
fourished over their heads When we got within
from 80 to 100 feet from the front of the crowd,
Mr. Sewage raised his hands in duplicating po-
sition and begged the crowd to desist from any
hostile action. While Sewage was thus engaged,
afiiant saw man on the northwest corner OF Green
and Campbell pointing his gun toward Selvage.
Affiant spoke loudly to Selvage, telling him TO
I" look out" He supposed Sewage had not seen
his danger. About the moment he spoke to him
the man shot, the first gun he heard Of being shot
on that day. Selyage was shot in the face, on the
breast, and as he staggered he turned his back on
the crowd and was shot in the back, the shot TAX
ing effect almost all over him. He bled profusely.
He states thLt at the time Sewage was shot,
Edward Williams was standing within two or three
feet Of him. Williams turned rapidly around with
the INTENT witness supposed, to catch Sewage as
he fell. This action turned Williams around from
the crowd and as he turned another gun was shot
and the contents of the gun were lodged all over
his back. He then drew his pistol, and Williams
drew his pistol, and they all (Selvage without
arms) started toward them. They started off in
hurry-some up Green, and some along Campbell.
They (the foreigners) would stop and then fire,
Selvage's son, coming about the time when s. was
shot, was also wounded by several shots Further,
he says that when approaching the crowd of Dutch
and Irish they saw one-horse wagon with two or
three men in it, quietly passing down Green street,
when on getting near by, and in the midst Of the
crowd, they were stoned and beaten by nearly all
of the Dutch crowd.
After the facts above stated had TRANSFERRED, a
party Of Americans, hearing and seeing the firing,
came running up in pursuit, and the firing and
fighting became general in the neighborhood.
Many shots, being fred from the doors and win
dows along the streets Of this neighborhood, at
the Americans, as they ran through the streets in
pursuit of different parties of foreigners.
ALEXANDER G. Cross
The foregoing statement having been written in
our presence, has also been carefully read to us,
and we concur in the statement of facts, having
been eye-witnesses Of them.
EDw. WILLIAMS,
AARON RAY,
j. ID. SEWAGE.
John Vogt states About o'clock on the 9th
of August, while was standing on the corner of
Clay and Madison streets, saw hack going up
Madison. / was strongly induced by several
Americans and several Germans to fire upon the
Americans who were in the hack. / did 50, firing
both barrels of loaded shotgun. 1t was loaded
with small shot. After firing was attacked and
wounded by an American party. l cannot tell
who they were. acknowledge that was to
blame, and would not have shot but by the over
persuasion of the Americans and Germans who
urged me to the dreadful deed
JOHN VoGT
Jos. d. Sewage being sworn states was ap-
pointed by the Mayor policeman for the Second
ward polls. was sheriff at tie polls. While at
the Second ward polls about 2 o'clock, news was
brought there that the foreigners up town were in
arms. Ed. Williams and Alex. Cross, night-watch-
men In the Second ward urged me to go with
them to stop them. have been all the season
working on public contracts on street. some 90 to
| 20 foreign laborers mostly Irish. Williams and
Cross asked me to 90 with them, because they be-
lieved would have considerable influence with
the foreigners. went with Cross and Williams
When we reached the corner of Shelby and Green
streets, we discovered a body Of Germans, about
49, armed with guns, congregated at the corner Of
Campbell and Green. babe the crowd that &C
companied us to remain behind, and would go
TO the Germans and talk with them.
The Americans remained at the corner Of Shell
by street except Williams and Cross and myself
We went toward Campbell street. Williams and
myself were about ten feet In advance of Cross
When we came within some seventy feet Of the Ger
mans, raised my hands and begged them :" for
Gods sake TO go home and put away their guns
said this several times while my hands were
raised and was exhorting them to go home, some
one in the crowd Of Germans cried out to shoot
face, neck, and breast l reeled against fence
and was then shot in the back and legs. Some
twelve or thirteen guns were fred Mt that time
Williams was wounded in the head and legs during
this firing. The Americans then rushed up Green
street, and the general melee commenced l was
altogether unarmed, and l did not see any fire
arms among the Americans at that time. This
was the beginning Of the difficulties at that point
The Germans were scattered and pursued in every
direction; what happened afterwards l am unable
TO state. j. d. SALVAGE.
Sworn to and subscribed to before me, notary
public, this sth day OF August, 1855.
L. A. WHITLEY, Notary Public.
We we're present at the time Of the attack upon
Sewage and Williams, and corroborate the above
statement. EDWARD WILLIAMS,
ALEx. @. CRoss,
AARON RAY.
VIM. II. Richardson states on oath: That on
Monday, August 9, election day. about halfpast
two o'clock, P. NJ, was quietly walking out Shell
by street, just south Of Madison, when man mot
an American from the second lot east Of Shelby
street, discharged double-barreled shot gun, Ia
king effect in my leg and breaking the leg OF Mr..