The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-06-22
AMERICANS RULING AMERICA!:
Liquor Riot and BIoodshad in Portland

An extraordinary excitement, growing out Of
the proceedings of the Mayor Of Portland, Nral
Dow,l in purchasing liquor for the City Agency,
under the new law, occurred at Portland on
Saturday evening, ending in tumult and the
shedding Of blood, W. give below The Partc-
tnfafs of1Ue affair, as c6ntdInr n TIE f'Orhanu
.1rgus OF Monday morning
It VIII BE- remembered that on Saturday morn
ing we called thr attention Of the CITY Marshal
and The police 70 the fact that lars" quantity
oispirituous liquors had been purchased in New
York and brought here for sale, and suggested 10
them the duty Of srizing them. These liquors,
$1,000 worth, Mr.. Neal Dow had stated 10 Que
OF the Aldermen be had bought on his own
individual responsibility, and had ordered them
TO be brought here and stored in the city. This
being apparently IN direct violation of law, max
ing Mg. Dow liable 10 thr penalty, on convic-
ton, of jmpriSoumei,t for thirty DAYS, and rem
dering the liquors subject to seizure and des-
tructon, complaint was accordingly made 10
the Police Court, and Judge Carter issued his
warrant for the seizure olthe liquors but whetL-
er for the arrest Of Mr.. Dow we have not earu-
ed. Judge Carter, however, instead Of giving
his warrant to an officer. who ready to
make immediate service, put il in the hands of
Deputy Marshal Ring, who for some cause I'M
mediatsIy disappeared and could not be found.
Meantime the Board Of A Aldermrn were sud
denly summoned TO meet for the purpose, it
was alleged. OF efiectlng transfer Of the Iiqnors
10 the city. for its agency. which was establish
ed on last Thursday night, by the casting vote
Of Mr.. Dow, though the liquors were purchased
some weeks since. After the Aldermen had
been together a while, Deputy Ring appeared
and seized ths liquors upon the warrant
Quite a little crowd stood about the door
wher- the liquors were stored, and in the vicin-
Ity, during the remainder Of the afternoon, but
perfect quiet and apparent good nature Was
observed. Soon after O'Clock crowd began
TO collect about the deposit of the liquors in the
City Hall building, and gradually increased
until little after 9 O'Clock, when a cry of fire
was raised, as understand, by MIR. Dow's
orders, and the bell rung with a view ofdiypr-
ting the crowd from the spot 1t had, however,
contrary effect, and greatly increased II, for
time, as the engine companies We're brought
from both extremes fthe city TO the centre in
Market square, where the crowd was assem-
bied. They, however, soon Withdrew, and the
crowd began to diminish.
Occasionally dnrlng the evening, stones and
brick-bats We're thrown against the door of the
liquor store, breaking the glass and sashrs, and
otherwise injuring the door; This was done, so
far as we could seq, by boys, The whole affair
was the merest boys play done in the most APP
parent good nature, and with the least possible
excitement. Indeed, nearly the whole crowd
seemed to be there without other purpose than
curiosity TO see what might be done, and those
who threw the missiles were without leaders,
or apparent power 10 do harm.
II is our decided opinion-and we have not
met an intelligent person who witnessed The
proceedings OF the evening that does not concur
with US that an efficient police officer. with
dozen good men, could have easily dispersed the
crowd any time prior to 9aso'cock. Soon after
10 O'Clock, the crowd had materially diminish
ed, and seemed rapidly dispensing, when Mr..
Dow, accompanied by Capt. Green and part
of the Light Guard, appeared upon the sidewalk
on the north side of the City Hall. The crowd
were warned to dsperae. HIS appearance, sword