The Placer herald., 1855-09-22
DREADFUL RIOTS AT LOUISVILLE, Ky
Murder and Arson.

The City of Louisville was the scene of terri
bic riots during the late State Election in Ken
tucky, which took place on the 9th August. We
copy the following account from the Louisville
Courier some time since know-noth adv ocate
but now an opponent of that party. 1t is alledged
that on the evening previous to the election large
detachmcnts of X. Ms went to different wards to
see that the polls were properly opened. BY day
break the polls We're taken possession of by them
and every stratagem used to hinder the vote of
every man who disagreed with them in senti-
ment:
Never perhaps WAS greater farce or rather,
tragedy enacted. Hundreds and perheps thou
sands were deferred from voting BY direct acts Of
/ intimidation, others through fear Of consequences
and multitude through the lack Of proper facili-
ties. The city indeed was during the day in the
possession Of armed mob, the base passions of
which were infuratcd 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 deachments of men
were sent to the First and Second Wards to see
that the polls were properly opened. These men
the "American Executive Committee" supplied
with requisite refreshments; and, as may be ina
Gined, they were in very fit condition on the morn
ing Of election day to see that the rights of free
men We're respected. Indeed they discharged the
important trusts committed to them in such man
ner as 10 commend them forever to the admiration
/ Of outlaws! They opened the polls; they provid-
ed ways and means for their party to vote;
they buficd and bullied all who could not show
the sign: they in fact converted the election into
perfect farce, without one redeeming or qualify
ing phase.
outset in the morning it was impossible for those
not posted to vote without the greatest difficult
ty. In the Sixth Ward a party Of bullies were
masters of the polls. Two foreigners were driven
from the polls, forced to run q gauntlet, beat un-
lnercifully, stoned and stabbed. In the case of
one fellow the Hon. William Thomasson. former
ly a member of Congress from this District. in
terfered and while appealing to the maddened
crowd to their acts of discord and violence,
Mr.. Thomasson was struck from behind and beat
/ His gray hairs his long public service. his manly
presence and his thorough Amerlcanism. aValled
nothing with the craAed 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 disturbances
| occurred in the upper wards. The vote cast
but a partial one. and nearly altogether on one
side. No show was given to the friends Of Pres
ton, who were largely in the ma jority, but who,
in the face of cannon, muskcts and rCvoyerS,
could not, being an unarmed and quiet populace,
confront the mad mob So the vote was cast one
way, and the result stands before the public.
In the morning George Berg. carpenter living
on the corner of Ninth and Market streets, was
killed near Hancock street. a German named
! Eitz, formerly partner at the Galt-Housc, was
severely. if not fatally beaten.
In the afternoon general row occurred on
4 Shelby street, extending from Main to Broadway.
Some II or Is men were shot, including Officer
| Williams. Joe Selvane and others Two or three
were killed and number Of houses, chiefly Ger
man coffee bouses, broken into and pillaged.-
4 About o'clock when the vast crowd. augmented
by accessons from every part of the city, and
3 arm wi -i.,t- l4ts on1
! proceeding to attack the Catholic Church on
! Shelby street, Mayor Barbce arrested them with
Il speech. and the mob returned to the First Ward
Polls. Presently large party arrived with Il
/ piece Of brass ordnance followed by number Of
men and boys with muskets. In an hour after
wards the large brewery on jefferson street near
/ the junction OF Green. was set fire to.
In the lower part Of the city the disturbances
were characterized by greater degree of bloody
work. Late in the afternoon three lrshmen going
down Main street. near Eleventh., were attacked
and one knocked down. Then ensucd terrible
scene--the Irish firing from the windows Of their
houses Market street repeated vollcys. Mr..
Rhodes, a river man, was shot and killed by one
! in the upper story. and Mr.. Graham met with a
! similar fate. An Irishman who discharged
! pistol at the back OF mans head was shot and
! then hung. lle however survived both punish
ments. John Hudson, a carpenter, was shot dead
during the iracas.
| After dusk row of frame houses on Main street
/ between Third and Eleventh streets, the property
of Mr.. Quinn Il Well-known Irishman was set on
| fire. The flames extended across the street and
| twelve buildings were destroyed. These houses
were chiefly tenanted by Irish and upon any of
the tenants venturing out to escape the fame
they were Immediately shot down. No idea could
be formed Of the number killed. We are advised
| that fire men trere roasted to deah-haivng been
so badly wounded by gun-shot wounds that they
could not escape from the burning buildings.
The mob having satisfied its appetite for blood,
repaired to Third street and until midnight made
demonstrations against The Times and The De-
mocrat offices. The furious crowd satisfied itself
however. with breaking few window panes and
burning the sign of The Times Office.
LATEsT-Every day develops something new
concerning the horrible tragedies of Monday On
Thursday the rubbish for the space of five feet
was cleared away in the rear of Quinns on
Main street. and number of bones were discover
ed They were examined by DR.. G. W. Ronald
and pronounced by him to belong to the human
frame.
These continual developments render it mpos
sible even to surmise the extent of the horror en-
acted on the uight of the election. Eternity can
alone reveal how many persons fell victims to the
mob.
The Coroner, Dr. White, held an inquest on
Thursday over Murphy, who was killed on Mon
day. near the O. X. Pork-house. The usual ver
| dict was rendered, Game to his death from a
i gun-shot by some person unknown"
Coroner White held an inquest at the Hospital
on the body Of William Mouldry an lrishman
who died from wounds received near the corner
of Main and Chapel streets. No evidence was
elected and the usual verdict rendered
We learn from Coroner White that Graham was
killed while pursuing some lrishmen and throw
ing boulders at them.
The newspapers all over the country complain,
and with great justice. of the imperfect and par
tial reports of the riots sent by the telegraph
reporter in Louisville.