Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-10
Saturdays Election.
RiOtOus Proceedings Out
RACES and BlOOdshed.

Saturday morning early crowd of jackals,
hyenas, and bawdy-house DULLES took posses
sion Of the polls in the First and Second
Wards. swearing that no anti-k Nothing,
foreigner or not, should be allowed to vote, or
even approach the polls; and they kept their
word faithfully. A few of the incidents we
will give to our readers:
Dr. Strader, passing down Main street from
the polls, was stoned by the crowd, and COM
PEELED to run. This was about the beginning
An aged German, some sixty years old,
was standing on the door-sill of his house on
Clay street, near Main, sIying nothing TO any,
BODY, when the crowd assaulted him, dragged
him into the straet, and beat him. r. T.
Baird, Esq, endeavored to protect him, but
without avail.
Geo. W. Noble went into the First Ward
polls while the crowd were off at fight, and
man asked him how he voted "As / pleased"
was the reply, when he was knocked down.
Getting up he was knocked down second
and third time, and then dragged some dis
lance by the hair of his head.
An old German, apparently about 40 years
of age was beaten almost to jelly, and left
covered with blood. Young Bamberger, in
quietly passing alorg, was pursued for seve-
rel squares, and succeeded in escaping only
by hiding in an old building.
A large crowd pursued two Germans from
the First Ward polls to the United States
brewery on Market, just below Wenzel street
An aged man seeing the crowd coming, hur-
ried to pass through private alley into his
own house. Before he could open the gate
and pass in two or more assaulted him, and
knocked him down Trying to get up he
begged for his life but not his age, his gray
hairs. nor his entreaties, were of any avail |;
the miscreant assaulting him struck with a
g-shot-the blow missed its aim, striking
the wall Of the house. At that moment the
crowd diverted attention to the house of p.
Merkel, keeper Of the brewery, and the poor
old man escaped.
The main crowd were furious in their pur-
suit Of the two Young Germans. They assault
ed the house. demolished the bar ROOM break
ing everything in it ; beat Mr.. Merkel in a
most cruel manner. Not satisfied, the mob
pushed on through the house, breaking and
tearing 10 pieces all that came in their way
chairs, beds, dishes, pictures, glasses. Up
stairs they pushed, into the room where Mrs
Msrkel and her children were-some one
struck her a severe blow on the shoulder
Fer or five shots were fired into the room
where the children were.
Charles Hunt, Merkeps driver, was pursued
up stairs and shot at, the ball lodging in the
decreasing above his head; the crowd over.
took him, knocked him down, and beat him
nearly TO death.
All the furniture in the house, except two
small rooms back was entirely destioyed.-
Mr. Hunt was robbed of fifteen dollars The
money drawer in Mr.. Merkels bar room wa:
rihed Of its contents, something over fifty dol
lars.
The two young Germans, John Snyder, and
C. Raich, were crt and mangled in terrible
manner; one Of them will, in all probability
lose one OF his eyes; an attempt was made tc
/ fire the house
The crowd, returning from the brewery, stop
ped milkman's wagon. The young soI
of the milk-man frightened, jumped ont anC
ran down street screaming with terror A
4 blacksmith near by rushed ont and endeavor
ed TO protect him for this human nttemp
/ the crowd stoned him.
A funeral, proceeding up Jefferson street Il
the graveyard, was stoned.
The drug store, corner Of Main and Camp
DELL, Mds slOntu.
A shoe store, on Main, near Clay, was ais
stoned.
A wagner from Shelby county, while pas
sing along quietly, was assaulted and forced
| to run.
In the second ward about O'Clock, Ger
man living on Jefferson street, between Pres
ton and Jackson streets. stepped out of hi
house to take child of his from the side
walk, when the crowd that was passing look
ing for "some fun" knocked him down witt
the infant in his arms.
About the same time, Mr.. T. Frishe, can
didate for Magistrate, went with friend Il
the Second Ward polls to vote, when the,
were assaulted and severely beaten.
Mr.. Jacob Seibert. going to the polls, wa
knocked down by one, and severely beaten b,
several Others.
As Mr.. W. Veitch was about entering tn
engine house, he was dragged out and beaten
A crowd on Jefferson street knocked dow
an old German white-washer, aud while b.
was down, stamped on him, kicked and bea
him. About square further of, the sam
crowd assaulted an old mana very old man
a poor man, whose clothes were all tatteret
and torn, whose steps were feeble with tn
weight of years on his head-and him the,
beat numerically.
Captain Knapp was assaulted, but manages
to escape. A mechanic, returning from hi
days work, passing on the opposite side o
the street, was assaulted and chased severa
squares.
The following persons were also beaten, bu
we are unable to give the circumstances =
John Hess, Felix -, blacksmith, Twin
east Of the Woodland garden, and job
Mann.
, The First Ward was the scene in the after
r noon OF great excitement-pistols firing
. men running--women and children scream
lng--nor was the firing confined TO the vicir
ity of the polls
Mr.. VIM. Gray, who had been qu;etl
: watching most of the forenoon for an oppo
tunlty to vote without meeting violence, an
who returned after dinner, at last took advar
tage OF the absence of the crowd, which ws
! of chasing some unfortunate foreigner, an
deposited his vote. On coming out he Wa
) stopped by one of the crowd which was the
. returning, and struck on the head Mr.. Gra
was seen tn replace his hat, and then, draw
E ing a double barreled pistol, fired before h
could fire the second barrel, three pistols wei
fired ut him; he shot the second time and fec
no less thOn fifteen to twenty shots bei1
fired after him. He fled into a stock van
and endeavored to hide behind a pig pei
!, eight balls were picked out of the fence b,
|, hind which he took refuge; six holes wei
: : made in his hat and two balls were lodge
;, in his body, one in the heshy part of eac
thigh.
Officers Gilmore and Hammond interfere
5 and took him home in wagon. With Il
= exception of this interference, there were 1
= police about; the city marshal was not on tt
II ground all day; the Know-Nothing May,
:. was not there; the deputy sheriff was appea
II ed to to preserve peace, but replied that !
: was a quiet man, and the people must tai
e care of themselves.
: There are other incidents connected wit
the election, for which we have not roor
they are, however, of the same stamp
u above mentioned. In all, there are not lie
Il than from 100 to 150 persons injured durir
I the day, in the two wards.