The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-04-11
From the Cincinnati Commercially
RIOT AND


Streets over the Canal-The
Germans Prepared for War.
A difficulty between the Germans aut
K.7N.s occurred yesterday, regarding :
cannon. We endeavored to procure th'
facts in the ease, but cannot be p~ositiv,
that We have succeeded, as the terribl,
excitement prevailing throughout tn,
city, and the countless umors flying rem
dered it extremely hard to obtain accu-
rate information.
As near as we can learn, the facts are
these: The Germans borrowed a brass
cannon of h American Military Com.
panies, with the purpose of firing it or
election day, in honor OF the birth day
of Jefferson. The cannon was taken
from them while they we're using it Oh
Jackson's Hall, by a body of excited
Americans, during the trouble at the
Eleventh Ward and after being para.
ded through the streets, and once fred
when loaded with boulders, in the Thir-
teenth Ward, was deposited in the armo-
~ whero it belonged.
The Germans, it is. said, took this
cannon, or some other one from tic ar
mory, and placed it in 3 shed near Vine
Street, some four squares above the ca
nal. There is a disputed Cannon, but
what one it is we do not know, and per-
haps it is not important. Gen. Sargent
was highly indignant at the proceedings
of the Germans in regard to this dispu-
ted property, and demaded that it be re-
turned. To this the Germans refused
to accede, and the news of difficulty
spraed through the city like flame in dry
stubble. What claims tho Germans had
on the gun, or what was Gen. Sargen.'s
authority In the case, VIC do net exactly
understand. It may be sufficient to say
that there was a dispute about a piece
of artillery, and Al immense accumula-
tion of feeling in the city, which tended
to spontaneous combustion.
The rumor that caused most excite
ment down town, was that the Germans
had loaded the cannon, and proposed to
use it against the Americans. Gen Sar-
gent. we are told, made an effort to get
the cannon into his possession, but fail
ed, and in the afternoon great crowds
collected in Vine Street. Between three
and four o'clock the streets was thronged
from the canal bridge TO the foot of the
hill. There four crowds, each of which
might have been styled an immense
mass meeting. THO of these were
Americans-one on the bridge, the ether
a couple of squares higher up-and the
other two were Germans.
The sidewalks were t~hronged, and
thousands of women and children looked
IN f-0ro kho tvn1o-, Ill., o.-ook -c
affairs was decidedly warlike. The
Americans were In a state of excessive
excitement, and seemedresolved to have
the cannon at all hazards We passed
through the street, aud heard enough
conversation to gather the prevailing
sentiment correctly. The most current
remark was: "Let them give up the
cannon, aud we will let them alone but
give it up they mustr' We saw Mr..
Cox, tho Prosecuting Attorney, begging
the Americans to return to their own
side of the Canal, and settle the affair
iuEJme way other than by force of arms,
but his words seemed to be wasted.
DIR. Fries was passing along the street,
and pausing to make enquiries, was sur
rounded byAa multitude of Germans, and
addressed a few words to them in their
own language, and also in English. As
this g~entleinan's name was often used,
and that which he said has been much
misrepreseDted, it may be well to give
his exact words. Speaking in Engllsh,
he said
II want you all to keep the peace-
for Gods sake keep the peace-but if
your rights are assaulted, shed the last
drop of blood in youEveins sooner than
submit. But if possible, for Gods sake
keep the peace"
Passing up the street We saw unmis-
taxable evidence Of preparation for a
desperate contest. Pistols were being
loaded publicly. Nearly every German
was armed. The handles of pistols pro-
truded from tLeir pockets, and many
had swords by their sides.
We met a party of about a dozen
sturdy fellows, carrying rifles, upon
the tubes of which the glistcning of per-
cussion caps showed that they were pre-
pared for service, aud to the rifles were
attached sabre bayonets-making alto
gether a terrible weapon, at once a rifle
and aspear. The German women kept
up n constat chatter, in which the words
of" Know Nothing ~ and Democrats
were frequently distiuguislable.
The street, viewed from the upper
portion, appeared back with men as far
down as the eye could reach, and through
the dust, above the dense throng ofhats,
the fash of steel was at intervals pre-
ceptable. Meeting a German acquaint-
ance, he informed US hat the halls of
the Fretmen and turner's, were each fill
ed with men armed with rifles, who
swore to defend the disputed cannon to
the last gasp.
Returning near shutdown the street
was even more densely filed. The
Sheriff, with view of removing the cause
of difficulty, was c~ndeavoring to get pos
secession of the gun which was Che i'm
mediate cause of contention, and no re-
~sistauce was made by the German Off
GERS, but the multitude pressed about
the shed where the cannon was stationed,
so that it was entirely impossible to get
1T away, and the Sheriff left the ground
on receiving assurances from Capt Moore
and other German officers that the gun
should not be improperly used, and
should be surrendered to the proper au-
,thorities at any time.
About this time the Germans detect
ed in their midst, or though that they
did, one Of the persons VINO destroyed
the ballot box in the Eleventh Ward;
a cry of Know Nothing was raised,
the individual In question fed, and the