The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-05-16
Riot at the Louisville Election.

AT an election in Louisville, Kentucky.
the 9Th inst, a scene was en- acted, which
rivals the Cincinnati riot. The Louisville
Courier, K. N. paper, states that "there
were foreigners, innocent of any wrong.
or intention Of wrong, who when passing
along the street. when in their own houses,
when distant from the polls, were attacked
and beaten most numerically"
We give below a few of the many in.
cidents as stated by the Louisville Demo.
crat:
Saturday morning early crowd Of
bullies took possession Of the polls in the
First and Second Wards, swearing that
no anti. Know Nothing. foreigner or not,
should be allowed TO vote, or even ap.
proach the polls; and .hey KEEP, their word
faithfully. A few OF the incidents we will
give our readers.
"Dr. S.rader. passing down Main street
from the polls. was stoned by the crowd,
and compelled to run. This was about
the beginning.
"An aged German, some sixty years
old, was standing on the door.sill Of his
house OH Clay street, near Main. saying
nothing to anybody, when the crowd as.
suited him. dragged him into the street,
and beat him. r. F. Baird, Esq. en-
deavored to protect him, but withou,
avail.
"Geo. W. Noble went into the First
Ward polls while the crowd were off at
fight. and deposited his vote. On coming
out large man asked him how he voted.
"As pleased" was the reply. when he
was knocked down. Getting up, he was
knocked down a second and third time,
and then dragged some distance by tho
hair of his head.
IAN old German, apparently about
seventy years Of age. was beaten almost
to jelly. and left covered with blood.
Young Bamberger, in quietly passing
along, was pursued for several 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 Brewry, on Market, just below
Wenzel street. An aged man. seeing the
crowd coming. hurried to pass through a
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
:nlscreants assaulting him struck at with a
slung .shot-the blow missed its aim. strik-
| ing the wall Of the house. At that time
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
pursuit Of the two young Germans. They
assaulted the house, demolished the bar
room. breaking everything in it. and beat
| Mr.. Merkel in a most cruel manner. Mo-
satisfied. the mob pushed on through the
house, breaking and tearing 10 pieces Il
that came in their way, chairs. beds
dishes, pictures and glasses. Up stairs
they pushed into the room where Mrs
Merkel and her children were; some one
struck her a severe blow on the shoulder
Four or Ave shots were fired into the room
where the children were.
"Charles Hunt, Merkefs driver. was
pursued up stairs and shot at. the bal
lodging in the decreasing above his head
The crowd overlook him, knocked him
down. and beat him nearly TO death.
"All the furniture in the house. exoep
two small rooms back, was entirely de
stroyed. Mr.. Hunt was robbed Of $l5
The money.drawer in Mr.. Merkers bar
room was rif1ed OF its contents, something
over $50.
"The two young Germans, John Sny
| der and C.. Raich, were Gu. and m tangled
in terrible manner. One Of them will
in all probability, lose one of his eyes
An attempt was made to fire the house.
"A funeral proceeding up Jefferson
street to the graveyard was stoned.
..In the Second w ard about nine o'clocl
German living on Jefferson street. be
tween Preston and Jackson streets, step
| ped out OF his house to take a child o
his from the sidewalk, when q crowd tha
was passing. looking for "some fun ;
knocked him down, with the infant in hi
arms.
..About the same time. Mr. F. Frishe
a candidate for Magistrate. went. with I
friend, to the Second Ward polls to vote
when they were assaulted and severely
beaten. # o
"Mr. Jacob Seibert, going to the polls
was knocked down by one, and Sc, erely
beaten by several others.
"As Mr.. w. Veitch was about enter
ing the engine. house. he was dregged ou
and beaten. -
"A crowd on Jefferson street knocked
down an old German white.washer. ant
while he was down. stamped on him
kicked and beat him. About squar'
further off, the same crowd assaulted al
old mana very old man. poor man
whose clothes were all tattered and torn
whose steps were feeble with the weigh
OF years on his head-and him they bea
most numerically. ag
"a mechanic, returning from his day
work, passing on the opposite side OF ih'
street. was assaulted and chased severa
squares.
1.-The First Ward was the scene in tn
afternoon Of great excitement = pistol
firing, men running. women and childrel
scre aiming; nor was the firing confined 4
the vicinity Of the polls.
s.Mr Wm Gray. who had been quiet