Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-08-09
THE ELECTION RIOTS.
Loo ID Y w OR ID :!
Murder and Arson
TWENTY MEN KILLED!


of an election. As provided for by statute,
the polls were opened, and privilege granted
to such as were ''right upon the GOOSE with
few exceptions, to exercise their elective fran
chise. Never, perhaps, was greater farce,
or as we should term it tragedy, enacted
Hundreds and thousands were deferred from
voting by direct acts of intimidation, others
through fear of consequences, and multi
tude from the lack of proper facilities. The
city, indeed, was, during the day, in posses
sion of an armed mob, the base passions of
which were Infatuated to the highest pitch
by the incendiary appeals of the newspaper
organ and the popular leaders of the Know
Nothing party.
On Sunday night, large attachments of
men were sent to the First and Second Wards
TO see that the polls were properly opened
These men, the american Executive Com
mittee'' supplied with the requisite refresh
meqtS, and as may be imagined they were in
very fit condition on Yesterday morning to
see that the rights of freemen were respected.
Indeed they discharged the important trusts
committed to them in such manner as to
commend them forever TO the admiration of
outlaws They opened the polls; they pro-
vided ways and means for their own party to
not show the sign; they in fact converted the
election into perfect farce, without one re-
deeming or qualifying phase.
| We do not know when or how their plan
of operations was devised. Indeed we do
not care to know when such system of out
rage-such perfdy-such dastardy--was con-
ceivcI We only blush for Kentucky that
her soil was the scene of such outrages, and
that some of her soils were participants in the
nefarious swindle.
1t would be impossible to state when or
how this riot commenced. By day break the
polls were taken possession of by the Ameri-
can party, and in pursuance of their precon-
certed game, they used every stratagem or
device to hinder the vote of every man who
could not manifest to the guardians of the
pols' his soundness on the X. y. question.
We were personally witness to the procedure
Of the party in certain wards and OF these We
feel authorized to speak. At the Seventh
Ward we discovered that for three hours in
! the outset in the morning it was impossible
| for those not posted" to vote, without the
greatest difficulty. In the Sixth Ward a
/ party of bulies were masters of the polls
/ We saw two foreigners driven from the polls,
forced to run a gauntlet, beat numerically,
stoned and stabbed. In the case OF one fell
| low the Hon. VIM. Thomasson, formerly a
member of Congress from this district inter-
fered, and while appealing to the maddened
crowd TO cease their acts of disorder and vio-
lence, Mr.. Thomasson was struck from be-
hind and beat. His gray hairs, his long
public service, his manly presence, and his
thorough Americanism, availed nothing with
the crazed mob. Other and serious fights
occurred in the Sixth Ward, of which we
have no time to make mention now.
The more serious and disgraceful disturb
ances occurred in the upper wards. The vote
cast was but partial one. No show was
given to the friends of Preston, who were
largely in the majority, but who in the face
of cannon, muskets and revOlvers, could not
being an unarmed and quiet populace, con
front the mad mob. So the vote was cast one
way, and the result stands before the public.
In the morning, as we state elsewhere, Geo
Berg, carpenter living on the corner of 9tl
and Market, was killed near Hancock street
German named Fritz, formerly partner a
the Gait House, was severely, il not fatall
r beaten.
In the afternoon general row occurred o.
Shelby street, extending from Main to Broad
way. We ae unable to ascertain the fact
concerning the disturbance. Some fourtee
}. or fifteen men were shot, including office
e Williams, Joe Selvage, and Others. Two G
4 three were killed, and a number of houses
chiefly German coffee houses, broken int
and pillaged. About O'Clock when the vas
D crowd, augmented by accessions from ever
S part of the city, and armed with shot-gun'
" muskets and rifles, were proceeding to attac
the Catholic church on Shelly street, Mayo
Barbee arrested them with speech, and tn
n mob returned to the First Ward polls. Pres
II emily large party with piece of brass oil
d dinance, followed by number of men au
y boys with muskets. In an hour afterward
!, the large brewery on Jefferson street. near tn
Il junction of Green, was set fire to.
In the lower part of the city, the disturb
/ anccs were characterized by greater degle
e of bloody work. Late in the afternoon thre
Irishmen going down Main street. near Ele,
enth, were attached, and one knocked dow
70 Then ensued a terrible scene, the Irish firm
e from the windows OF their houses, on Mai
e street, repeated volleys. Mr.. Rhodes, rive
70 man, was shot and killed by one in the upps
story, anil a Mr.. Graham met with simils
y fate. An Irishman who discharged pst'
he at the back of mans head was shot and the
hung He, however, survived both punisl
ments. John Hudson, a carpenter, was sh'
u dead during the fracas.
~ After dusk, row of frame houses {
&c Main street between Tenth and Eleventh, Il
OF property of Mr.. Quinn, well known Irisl
o. man, were set on fire. The flames exte
:, ded across the street and twelve buildin
were destroyed. These houses were chief
re tenanted by Irish, and upon any of the te
= ants venturing out to escape the flames tn
in were Immediately shot down. No id
bo could be formed of the number killed.
are advised that fee men l0ere roasted 10 dea
OF having been so badly wounded by gun sh
pt wounds that they could not escape from {
- burning buildings
cir Of all the enormitieS and outrages comm
30 ted by the American party yesterday and |;
night, we have not time now to write. II
'u' mob having satisfied its appetite for blood,
no paired 10 Third street. and until midnig
made demonstrations against the Times a
he Democrat Offices The furious crowd satisi
b ITSELF however, with breaking few windC
- panes, and burning the sign of the Tin
IL office.
At one o'clock this morning large fire
raging in the upper part of the city.
Upon the proceedings of yesterday and ],
ms night we have no time, nor heart now to CO..
DIV ment- We are sickened with the We
~ thought Of the men murdered, and hou
:, burned and pillaged, that signalized I
- American victory yesterday. Not less tn
has twenty corpses form trophies of this wond
US full achievsmsnt-LoHsvills Courier.