Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-04-13
Election Riots and Frauds in
Cincinnati.

I GAAOOAASAA AAAOAS ANUS HI
Cincinnati.
| The Cincinnati Gazette of the Sd give.
8 the following account ofthe disgraceful anC
bloody doings at the polls in that city OF
e Monday:
: The election yesterday was deeply ex
4 citing one, and was characterized BY scene.
=, which all good citizens must regret Tie
. fights in some instances began in the morn
D ing with the opening of the polls. At th,
!, Fourth ward there was a fight, in which
e several persons participated. but we believe
b no particular injury was inflicted on any
one. In the Sixteenth Ward Americsr
Judges were chosen. This led to some hard
words and fight, in which three or foul
3 persons were pretty severely beaten. In
| the Eleventh a difficulty arose early in the
, afternoon. 1t was rumored that the Ger.
/ mans would not permit the Americans to
t vote, and in consequence Of this rumor a
party Of seven or eight Americans went up
to see what was the state OF things and 10
} help their friends to get in their votes. A
German was arrested by the police officers,
and as they were taking him away he was
rescued, and officer Carey severely beaten
on the ground. The Americans we're soon
informed, and towards six O'Clock the 6pbt-
ing was resumed, in the course of which a
man named George Reeder was severely
and it is supposed fatally, stabbed DR..
Brown was hit on the head with colt and
much hurt, and Mr.. Higdon, William Smith
and John Leonard were also beaten more
or less severely. Soon after this rush was
made at the polls, the ballot box seized, TAX
I en- out of the house, broken in pieces and
the tickets scattered about the streets.
A party then went up to Jackson's hill
to seize the cannon, which had been used
yesterday to FIRE minute guns in honor Of
Jetferson's birthday. The gun was captur-
ed. The sword was taken from the captain
of the gun squad, and the flag which be-
longed to il, was carried off and planted on
the Engine House. where the polls we're
The crowd soon after went down town. pas
sing by the Ninth Ward polls, when anoth-
er fight was got up, but the polls having
been closed, they proceeded to the Thir-
teenth Ward polls, on Sycamore, between
Seventh and Eighth AS the party was
passing with the cannon, they were assault
ted by lrishmen there assembled, who
threw boulders at them. A general scrim-
mage then ensued, in which boulders few
like hail, and pistol shots we're heard on
every side. The Irish gave way when they
saw the Americans loading their cannon
with boulders. One Of the 5oulders shot
from the cannon struck man not engaged |
in the fight, and inflicted severe wound on
The head The others went through the |
sign Of the Mechanics and Traders Hall.
The Times Of the afternoon of the same
date says:
We stated in Yesterdays paper, that du-
ring the forenoon bitter feeling was man
ifested by the Sag NIGHTS in the Eleventh
Ward, towards the few Americans station
ed al the polls. 1t was as much as ones
life was worth TO say anything favorable TO
any of the candidates on the American tick
ct Several persons were knocked down
for crying "Hurrah for PAP TAYLoRl'' and
the few Americans stationed at the polls as
challengers, were constantly derided and
lnsulted. The utmost disregard was paid
the challengers, and illegal votes were re-
ceived and deposited in the ballot box with
impunity.
The American challergers hardly dare
open their mouths About one hundred
bullies, including the ward politicians, most
y Germans, surrounded the polls. and they
were backed by several hundred Germans.
As an evidence of the feeling of all, we !
state the fact that on more than one occas-
ion clerk forsook the poll books, and COM
menced quarreling with an American for {
challenging the votes. 8
Matters went on in this way until about
two O'Clock in the afternoon, when deter {
was made to driUe the americans ,
from the pollsi 1t was accomplished :
through the following incident A you ig 3
nan, and legal voter. came up 70 vote :
One Of the Mohawk bullies asked him what !
ticket be had, and he replied, "the Ameri- ,
ian Reform" by Cd you can't Vote 2
hat ticket here!" was the response. He I
was Immediately knocked down. The few 3
Americans present endeavored to protect $
him, when they were assailed with dray- T
pins, and other weapons. They were, of /
course, soon overcome and driven away, =
nearly every man being first brutaly beat !
IN. One American was drawn from his {
buggy, where be was sitting quietly, and i
beaten over the head with clubs. |
Some of the Americans were prepared
and did defend themselves. A German, /
'aid 10 be in the employ of Frank Linck, b
was stabbed in the breast Just as he was b
striking heavy blow with dray-pin. Tie !
German policemen took part in the assault a
tpon Tie americans! a
The polls cleared of all opposition, fraud c
llent votes were put in with impunity. amid 3
he cheers ofthe crowd. The news soon v
presd to the lower wards, and in half an l.
lour people came focking up 10 the EIev- I
nth ward, from the down town polls, and p
" 8 o'clock full 5000 people were on the 0
round. The bulies were driven from the e
,olls, and the ballot box protected. The S
Mayor and large police force arrived, bul Ia
lot withstanding their presence, fights occa- ii
ionaIly occurred. A party went upon Ia
acksOn Hill and took possession of can S,
on. which was being fred by the Ger Il
Mans This they brought to the l Ith ward h
'olls. and hoisted flag over it, with great Y
heers q
Abou! this time. Mayor Snelbaker, who h