Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-06-26

We have already published an account of the
riot in Portland, from the Argus, and we now
give different version Of the affair which we
find in the Advertiser. 1t seems that Mayor
Dow was not so far out of the way after all.
AS evening drew on, large crowd again
assembled around the building; which was soon
entered by the Marshal and six or eight of the
police armed with pistols The crowd began
to pelt the building and break the glass with
stones The Marshal repeatedly cautioned
them to desst; and during the evening both
the Sheriff and the Mayor ordered them to dis
perse. Of the rest Of the proceedings, we
give the Advertisers account, with its COM
ments:
At length one man who appeared to be
rngleader in the mob, came to the door, swear
ing horrible oaths, and using most insulting and
violent language towards the police in the ROOM
He called them "a pack Of damned towards"
challenged them to fire, and tainted them by
saying that they did not dare to fire. Then he
harrangued the mob, urging them to come on,
assuring them that there was no danger-that
the police were towards and had only blank
cartridges and dared not fire upon them if they
had. The Marshal again warned him upon
peril of his life not to attempt to enter the room
But under his leadership the mob made vio-
lent rush for the door, which however proved
too strong for them. The police then fired, hut
intentionally aimed over their heads, hoping to
frighten and thus avoid the necessity Of killing.
This checked them for few minutes, but the
same voice was again heard rallying the mob,
assuring them that nobody was hurt-that they
were only blank cartridges; &c., and another
rush was made for the door, the leader reaching
in and attempting to unbar it. The police then
fired with effect. One man, named Robbins,
as we are informed, a mate Of an Passport ves-
sci, fell dead or MORALLY wounded close by the
door, and it is supposed he was the man who
had been so busy in melting the mob, as that
voice was not again heard during the evening.
OF this, however, the police are not certain, as
they were not able clearly to distinguish objects
in the darkness and confusion Prior, howev-
or, to this firing by the police, a military COM
pany the "Light Guards" or portion of the
company, marched through the crowd and took
a position in front of the door on Congress St.,
when the mob began to pelt them with stones,
and several Of the soldiers were severely injur-
ed. An order was given to fire, thinking that
the order itself might possibly terrify the mob.
Dut the OIOeI was uOt exeCuteO, anu the COiupd"
ny finally retired to their armory. somewhat in
confusion. fi 2fi 81 ha.iis hl av
The "Rifle Guards were then called upon
and promptly responded to the call. Mayor
Dow, with Aldermen Carleton and Brooks (the
committee appointed by the Board Of Alder
men) put himself at their head-they marched
into the Armory Of the Light Guards and took
their guns, Gas their rifles were without bayo-
nets) secured some cartridges, and then march
ed down through the crowd and into the room
through the door on middle street. Orders
were then given for them to fire through the
door on Congress street, in squads Of four. This
order was executed, with what effect we are not
able definitely to state-but the report is that
one man Gan Irishman) was killed, and some
six or seven wounded, more or less severely.
A few rounds suficed to drive the mob from
the door, and gradually, at about IL o'clock, the
mob dispersed leaving the police, the military
and city authorities in quiet possession Of the
room, with the proud consciousness that they
had nobly discharged their duty, and that law
and order had prevailed against lawless mob
IA mob, too, gotten up entirely without cause
or provocation, and as despicable in all its fea-
lures as any that ever assembled on the face Of
the earth!