Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-08-29
The Raj TsMAN's JOURNAL.

Der of affidavits of respectable citizens of Lou
isville, we publish the following, without
comment, which establish, beyond question,
where and how the riots originated.
III. Jones, being sworn, states: On Monday,
about o'oclock, Colonel Preston was stand
ing in the street in front Of First Ward polls,
in the midst of crowd of Germans. I heard
him tell the Germans to spend one day for
their rights, and to stay around, and not to
leave the polls; that he was the only Democrat
ic candidate there was out for Congress. Col.
P. was among the Germans about the polls
nearly all the morning, from early in the
morning till nearly or about IL O'Clock.
Between II and l O'Clock of that day, as /
was on my way to dinner, as | passed Mar
shall street: on the west side of Clay street,
heard fuss on Marshall street, west of Clay
| street. stopped at the corner of Clay and
Marshall. had stood there about two min
| utes, when an Irishman came out of house on
Marshall street, east of Clay, and fired pistol
at me. l ran toward him he escaped in the
house, L searched for him, but he had conceal
ed himself. 1 did not anticipate anything of
the kind, and was altogether unarmcd.
III. JONES.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 9th
| August, 1855. l.. A. WHITLEY.
Notary Public.
Alexander C. Cross states that on Monday,
the 9th inst, the day of election in Louisville,
he was at the Second Ward polls, when a boy,
say II or ii years old, at about O'Clock 2. NJ.
came to him and complained that he had been
badly treated by large number of foreigners
on Green street, above Shelby. He said that
he had started to water his horse, but had been
driven off by them. Mr.. Eeward Williams was
present at the time the boy came to him, and
they concluded to see MI. Sevage, who was
acting as Sheriff at the Second Ward polls,
| and get the benefit of his advice before they
| took any step. They saw Mr.. Sclvage, and it
was agreed upon he should go along. We
went to the place pointed out to us by the boy.
| When got to point at Green street where
| it is intersected by Campbell street, four or
| five squares from the place Of voting, they dis
covered large number of foreigners, some
with muskcts, some with pistols, some with
| bowie knives some with rakes, and others
with scythes, which they fiourished over their
heads. When we got within from so to 100
/
Selyage raised his hands in a suppIicating po-
sition, and begged the crowd to desist from any
hostile action. While Selvage was thus
! gagged afant saw a man on the northwest cor
ner of Green and Campbell, pointing his gun
toward Selvage. Affiant spoke loudly to Sell
wage, telling him to s'look OUT He suppos-
ed Selvage had not seen his danger. Sevage
was shot in the face, on the breast, and he
| staggered, he turned his back on the crowd
| and shot in the back, the shot taking effect
almost all over him. He bled profusely.
Ho states at the time Sewage was shot, Ed
ward Williams was standing within two or three
feet of him. Williams turned rapidly aiound
with the intent, as witness supposed, to catch
Selvage as he fell. This action turned Will
| liams around from the crowd, and as he turn
| ed another gun was shot and the contents of
| the gun lodged all his back. He
| then drew his pistol, and they all (Selvagc
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. Sevagc's son, COM
ing 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 transpired,
party of Americans, hearing and seeing the
firing, came running up in pursuit. and the fir
inc and fphtinp hacame general N the H.
borhood. Many shots being fired from the
doors and windows along the streets of this
neighborhood, at the Americans, as they ran
through tin streets in pursuit of different par
ties of foreigners. ALEXANDER G. Cross.
The foregoing statements written in our
presence, has also been carefully read to
us and we concur IN the statement Of facts,
having been eye witnesses to them.
EDw. WILLIAMS,
AARON RAY,
J. d. SELvAGE.
John Vogt states: About O'Clock on the
9th of August, while 1 was standing on the
corner of Clay and Madison streets, 1 saw a
hack going up Madison. l was strongly IN
duced by several Americans and several Ger
mans to fire upon the Americans who were in
the hack. did SO, firing both barrels of a
loaded shot gun. 1t was loaded with small
shot. After firing was attacked and wounded
by an American party. / can not tell who
they were. acknowledge that was to blame,
and would not have shot but the over-persua-
sion of the Americans and Germans who urged
me to the dreadful deed. JoHN VOGT.
| JOS D. Selvape being sworn states: I was