The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-16
THE LOUISVILLE RIOTS.

THE LOUISVILLE RIOTS.
Louisville, august Z. - The origin of the
riot OF yesterday it is difficult to arrive at with
positive certainty, but the generally credited
version is, that two gentlemen, riding in car
rage in the lst ward, were fired at from a
house which was 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 I'd ward, Joseph Silvage, and John Latta,
all three of whom were wounded by shots fired
from the houses. Exaggerated repots of these
occurrences reached the lower part of the city,
and the crowd continued to increase rapidly.
The house from which the firing proceeded was
attacked, and two Germans shot, and so dread
fully beaten that they are not expected to
survive.
This house was completely sacked, and 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 beerhouses were riddled, and the
Germans found therein severely injured.
Another scene of riot occurred in Jefferson
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,
stroyed. Several Germans found here were
badly beaten, and an Irishman, who was shot
by the mob, died this morning.
On the next street below, an American was
slightly wounded by pistol shot, and an Irish
was shot and beaten. 1t it asserted that
shots had been fired from all the houses that
were attacked.
The mob threatened to sack the Catholic
church, where it was rumored arms had been
concealed, but Mayor Barbee and others prevail
ed upon the crowd to leave, without committing
violence.
The mob then marched to the engine house
in the 9TH ward with their cannon, and the
mist having dispersed, all the difficulty was
supposed to Be over. This, unfortunately,
proved to be mere lull in the strom.
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 wounded by shots fired from a
house occupied by Irish, for which it is said
there no provocation. An lrishman 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 fred and it is impossible to
ascertain the number of killed and wounded.
A row of houses occupied by Irish, the owner
of which, it was asserted had fred upon the
mODJ was set On IRE anu totally DESTROYED. Mr.
Quinn, the owner, was killed, and eight or ten
persons are said to have persisted in the
flames. The number of lives lost is estimated
at from fifteen to twenty.
Bishop Spalding publishes card, disclaim-
ing any connection with the difficulties and
calling upon his flock to assist in maintaining
the peace of the city.
The city is now quiet, and it is thought there
will be no further disturbances. The fighting
was all at 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 are few in num-
Der. The keys of the cathedral have been
placed in the hands of the Mayor, by Bishop
Spalding.
Louisville, august S.-The Journal states
that the violence of Monday night and yester-
day was altogether disconnected from the cleo
ton, and was premeditated The editor pro-
fesses to be informed that the Irish Catholics in
the vicinity of Junius House contemplated an
attack on the American procession of Saturday,
but were deferred by the immense number COM
posing it. Some of the Irish, says the Journal,
admit this.
Unquestionably, the first act of violence pro-
ceeded from foreigners.
From the Louisville Journal know Nothng) Aug. 4.
From all quarters we hear of preparations
made on the Anti-American side for a resort to
violence at the polls. We hear, from hundred
sources, of organized bands of DULLES, who, it
is said, are to receive extraordinary prices for
| their rufhanly services. We hear of systematic
| arrangements of foreign-born persons, led on
by native-born Sag NIGHTS, to take forcible DOS
| session of the polls on Monday morning or
Sunday night, and to keep forcible possession
of them until all the Sag NIGHT votes shall be
poled. We pay very little heed to such renorts
and we hope that our American friends will paw
no heed to them. We earnestly hope that our
friends will not anticipate collision of force
at the polls, and that they will make no pro-
vision for any such contingency. Let every
true American 60 to the place of voting, de-
sirous only of exercising his own rights, and of
encouraging all others, of whatever political
party, to exercise theirs. We do not deem it
necessary to exhort the native born American
citizens not to allow themselves TO be deprived
of even the least of their rights by any array of
hostile strength, for the bare suggestion OF the
possibility of their doing so would be an insult
that they might well resent.
The idea of native-born American citizens
permitting themselves to be excluded from the
polls by any thought or any reality of clubs,
pistols, bowie knives, swords, rifles, or cannon,
is too monstrously absurd to be entertained for
one moment by any man that understands the
American character.
We would by all means soothe rather than
inaame the public feeling, for it is by far too
much inaamed already. We deprecate col
ision of force, as one of the greatest evils that