Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-05-10
The Mob aud Riot at Chicago.

disturbance In tn ut city.
Thirty-three persons, we believe entirely
Germt ms, had been arrested for violating a
city ordinance against the ale of spiri,uous
liquors on Su1day. The cases were to be
heard, and the legal points argued before
Judge KUcKER, on Saturday. IT was claim
ed that the repeating clause to the late TEN.
perance law of that State also repealed all
laws prohibiting or restricting the sale of H.
quors till the LIST Of July, and that all persons
hud a right to sell, &C., I'LL that time -
There was much excitement, as bad man
had instigo'ed the Germans to resist the ex-
ecu,ion of the law. When the court room
doors we're opened, there was tremendous
rush to get into the room. Not one ne.tenth
could find entrance. They were noisy and
excited, an eated SO much confusion that
the court was finally compelled to order the
room to be cleared of all except the attorneys
and suitors.
While these proceedings were going on
within the Cour, House, an immense mob of
the lowest class of the German population as
sembled in the vicinity of that place. They
came armed and made open declarations that
if the court decided against the prisoners.
they would attack the Court House,
murder the Mayor, liberate the prisoners.
and sack the Office o. the Chicago Tribune,
which had made itself obnoxious to them by
8 advocacy Of temperance, and its deterni.
nation to see the laws enforced.
Randolph street soon became SO crowded
that persons on business and in carriages
could not pass. The police attempted to
keep it clear They wereresisted, and some
severe fighting ensued. The officers acted
like heroes, and, in spite Of the numbers and
resistance Of the German mob, succeeded in
arresting aud taking to Jail some of tke ring
leaders. A noisy, brawlng scamp, by the
ma ne of La RUE, attempted io,,address the
mob, to encourage them to violence, but
when he had uttered about half dozen sen.
tences, the Sheriff and posse were hold of
him, and, in spite Of his resistance, marched
him of to'jail. The rngleaders being !mpris-
oned the mob gradually dispersed and retired
to the German part Of the city.
Here, all was excitement. Armed bands
were organizing. and everything indicated a
desperate attack upon the jail, &c, by the
Dutch. The Mayor at once ordered out the
military companies, and prepared for rtsis-
tance.
At 4o'clock the mob, preceded by men
armed with loaded muskets &C., made n rush
from the German neighbOrhood, upon the
Court House square. There were about 200
of them armed, and in advance of the main
body.
| The troops soon arrived, and were station
ed to the best advantage. The artillery brig
ade placed their guusso as 10 command Clark
La Sale and Randolph streets. Additional
| arrests were made. The energy Of the police
who, throughout the entire affair, were as
brave as lions, together with the prompt nc
| ton of the military, soon brought the rioters
! to sense Of their position. Fifty or sixty
of their principal men were in Jail, MANY of
/ them with broken heads Tho triumph OF
law an order was complete. There was
much threatening and loud talk in the Ger
man part of the city, but they were efectualiy
beaten and cowed. and were tina ly made SEN
sible OF the fact that, while they remained in
this country, they must obey the laws.
Martial law continued in the city ill Tues
day, " hen it became evident that the trouble
was over, nt lie st for the present. 1t is i'm.
possible to estimate the moral effect Of this
affair upon all parties. The Americans. be-
ing the friends OF law and order and temper.
ance, haze shown themselves equal to the cri-
sis. The Germans were taught that they
mus. behave themselves, aud that all attempts
to Uverawe the Court and set at defiance
the laws, will be sure TO meet with terrible
rehuke. 1t is regular whisky riot 1t shows
to what extremes these ignorant foreigners
may be led by designing men and base dem
agogues. Throughout The State this con
- duet vfths liqaor interests will nerve the arm
of temperance men, and cause thousands to
be active in securing the vote of the people
for the sanction of the temperance law, that
would otherwise have been Indifferent of the
J result. Journal.