Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-14
SERIOUS RIOT IN PORTLAND.

FlS Oh the lOtl OF AuSuSt.
SERIOUS RIOT IN PORTLAND.
After our paper was put to press last week,
came news of serious riot and bloodshed in
Portland, on the I'd inst, growing out of the
Liquor Law. The facts, as gathered from the
Portland papers, are in this most unfortunate
affair as follows:-
1t seems that Mayor Dow, with two other
gentlemen were appointed by the Board of
Aldermen, as committee to procure the
liquors for the city agency. This was on the
Sd day of May. This committee negotiated
with dealer in New York for the purchase
OF liquors in the original packages, and stated
in what capacity they acted. These liquors,
with their invoice, recently arrived at Port
land, directed to the "City Agency Of Port
land" and the invoice was accepted by the
Board of Aldermen. By some means, the
impression became fixed. among many citizens,
that the liquor was purchased by Mr.. Dow,
without authority, and consequently he held
it as private property. This belief naturally
created much excitement, especially among
the opponents of the liquor law.
On Saturday afternoon, in the Police Court,
three citizens, Royal Williams, Joshua
Stevens, and Alvin S. Dyer, appeared and
entered q complaint against Mayor Dow for
having liquors unlawfully in possession and a
warrant was issued by the Judge and put into
the hands of Deputy Marshal Ring, with Or
ders to execute it.
The compainants made demand that the
warrant should be delivered to them, to be
severed by some officer whom they should
choose. But the Judge refused to grant their
demand, and after some little time they quiz
city left the Court Room. Officer Ring then
went to the cellar of the City Hall, where the
liquors were deposited, and took possession
of them. He would also have arrested Mayor
Dow had there been time ortrial, the com.
llainants having suggested to the Court that
tample time should be given for trial.
\ When the seizure was made. quite q crowd,
q large portion, Of whom we're Irish. gathered
kroand tho City but there was, &c, ua5,
disturbance through the aiter660h'
Il But At an early hour in the evening, about
o'clock, the crowd about the building being
quite large, Mayor Dow made his appearance
with some six or eight of the police, armed
with pistols, and entered the room where the
liquors were stored. In a short time, the
crowd began to pelt the building with stones,
breaking out the glass in the upper part of
the door on Congress street. The police were
stationed on each side of the door, out of reach
of any stones that might come in, and ordered
not to fire thei, pistols unless an attempt should
be made to enter. Meanwhile the Marshal
repeatedly warned the crowd to desist upon
peril of their lives, and they were also orderd
to dispense, in the course OF the evening, by
the Sheriff of the county, and also by the
Mayor. At length the mob, led on by man
who appeared to be ring leader, and who
used the most insulting language to the Off
GERS. shouting to the mob to come on that
the police had only blank cartridges, &C., made
rush upon the door on Congress street, which
however, proved too strong for them. The
police then fired, aiming, however, over their
heads, hoping to frighten them and avoid
spillng blood. The mob were checked for a
few minutes, when another rush was made
and the police then fred with fatal effect
One man, named Robbins, mate of vessel
from Eestport, fell dead, and several were
wounded.
Prior to this, military company, the Light
Guards, were posted in front of the door or
Congress Street, when tho crowd began ia
pelt them with stones, and several of the sol
diers were badly injured An order to fire
upon the crowd was given, but was afterwards
retracted, and the company marched back to
their armory.
The Rife Guards, with Mayor Dow, anG
Aldermen Carleton and Brooks, 1.-THE commit
tee on liquors above referred to- at their head
were then marched through the crowd into tn,
room, by the door on Middle Street, an(
ordered to fire on the mob through the doc
on Congress Street, in squads of four. Thi
done, causing, it is stated, the death 0
one man, an 1rishman, and wounding SOM
six or seven others. A few rounds sutfieed t,
drive the mob from the door, and gradually
, the mob dispersed at about II o'clock, leavin!
the police, city authorities, and military ii
possession of the room.
! The above are the facts as stated by th,
Advertiser. The Argus and the State 0
Maine differ somewhat, especially with regart
, to the authority of Mayor Dow to purchas
E the liquors, and also as to the firing upon tn
people, and say that the man, Robbins, wal
killed by the shots of the military.
5 The names of the killed and wouded, al
. far as known, VIC find in the Argus. Georg
0 Robbins, second mate of bark Louisa Eaton
/, shot through the body, and almost Instant.
t killed Thomas McCarty, hostler, shot unde
0 the chin, tn, ball passing out and breaking
a the jaw Thomas Robinson, young man il
A the employ of Messrs. Fernald 4 Co., strucl
by a ball on the inside of the right ANGLE
: SCATTERING the large bone of the leg and pass
: ing out at tho instep, probably have Il
a suffer amputation; Howard Denison, strucl
}. by pistol ball in the front part Of the arm
. Thomas McKenny, slightly wounded by
ball on the head an apprentice of Mr.. Felt
9 and young man employed at the U. S. HOtel
Il were slightly wounded by bullets youp