The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-08-17
From the I.oui.vllle coufler 1wh,e, III, ,nst,
LOUISVILLE ELECTION RIOTS.

tKroA---R &kNIF hEN hIf4fEp.
We PASSED, yesterday, through the forms of an
election. As provided for by statute the polls
opened and privilege granted 10 such ''rlsht
/ upon the goose, with a few exceptions, TO exer-
else their electye franchise. Never, perhaps, was
Z greater farce, or, should term il, tragedy,
enacted. Hundreds and thousands We're deferred
from voting by direct tacts OF intimidation, others
through fear OF consequences, aud multitude from
the lack of proper facilities. The city, indeed
during the day, ~ possession Of an armed mob, the
base passions OF which were nlarated 10 the highest
pitch by the incendiary appeals OF the newspaper
organ, and the popular leaders Of Abe haowNoihing
| party.
On Sunday night large detachments OF
I the FIRST and Second wards that the
| polls were properly opened. These men the @Amrr-
Executive Committee supplied with the requi-
/ site rgf5esha4eRks, and. may be imagined, they
I were in very III condition yesterday morning 10
! see that the rights OF ireenen respected. IN
deed, they discharged the important trusts committed
/ 10 them in such !, to commend them for
| ever 10 the admiration OF outlaws! They opened
the polls and provided ways and means for their own
party vote they biufed and bulEied all who could
show the sign they in fact, converted the eec
! ton into perfect farce, without redeeming
/ qualifying phase.
/ We do noi kaow when OF how their plan OF opera
/ lions devised. Indeed, do not 10 know
/ when such system of ontfage--surh peThdy, such
das tardy--was conceived. We only blush Tor Ken
tncky. that her soil the scene OF such oatrages,
aud that some of her were participants ~ the
neiarious swndlr.
II would be impossible 10 state when or how this
! riot commenced By day break The polls were taken
possession oI by the American party aud 10 Imfsu-
] of their preconcerted game, they used every
sfratas~m device hinder the vote OF every nan
who could not manifest 10 the tssuardians OF the
( polls his soundness the X. n. question. We
were personally witness the procedure OF the par
ty in certain wards and of these feel authorized
! 10 speak At the Seventh Ward we discovered that
for three hours In the outset IN the morning II was
impossible for those s'posed" 10 vote, without the
| greatest difficulty. In the Sixth Ward part, of
! builies masters of The polls. We two for
eigners driven from the polis fore ed 10 gaunt
let, beat unme rciuily, stoned and stabbed In the
OF one fellow the Hon. Wm. Tkomasson, former
ly member of Congress from this district, lnterter
ed, and while appealing to tie naddened crowd TO
their OF disorder and violence Mr.. Thorn
asson was struck from behind and beat His gray
hairs, his long public service, hts manly preseDcr
and his thorough AueTicaHIsln, avaed nothing with
/ the crazed mob. Other and serious fights occurred
H the Sixth Ward, of which have nc time 10
( make mention now.
The serious and disgraceful disturbances
7 red in the upper wards. The cast bat
paFtiaisone, aud nearly altogether side. No
I show given TO the fTiends OF Preston. We were
largely in the majority but who IN the face OF can
non muskets and revolvers, could not, beng an un
armed and quiet populace, confrout the mad mob
So he vote east way, and The result stands
before the public.
In the morning, as we state elsewhere, George
Berg, carpenter, living the corner OF Ninth and
Market, was killed Hancock street. Ger
1 man, named Fritz, formerly partner at the Gait
/ House, severely, if not fatally beaten.
In the afternoon general occurred on Shelby
street, extending from Main 10 Broadway. We are
unable TO ascertain the facts concerning the disturb
ance. Some fourteen or fifteen men were shot, IN
! cludihg officer Williams, Joe Sewage, and others.-
/ Two three killed. and number OF houses
chIrfy German coffee houses, broke into and pillag
1 Ell. About O'Clock, when the vast crowd, aus-
menfed by accessioHs from every part OF the city,
and armed with shot guns, musket and rifles, were
/ proceeding 10 attack me Catholic church on Shelby
street, Mayor Barbee arrested them with speech,
and the mob returned to the First Ward Polls. Pre-
/ seniy large party arrived with piece OF brass
I ordnance, followed bv a number OF and boys
with muskets. In honr afterwards the large
brewery Jefferson street, the junction OF
Green, set fire 10.
In the lower part of the city, the Disturbances
( We're characterized by greater degree of bloody
work Late in the afternoon, three lrshmen gong
down Main Street, near Eleventh, attacked and
one knocked down. Then ensued terrible scene,
The Irish firing from the windows of their houses,
Main street, repeated voeYS Mr.. Rodes, a river
man, shot and killed by IN the upper story
and Nh. Graham with similar late. An
lrishman who discharged pistol al the back OF a
mans head, was shot and then hung. He however,
survived both punIshmrnts. John Hudson, carpen-
ter, shot dead during the iracas.
After dusk, OF fame houses Nam street
between Tenth and Eleventh, the property OF Mr..
Quinn, well known Trishman, Were set on fire.
he hames extended across the street and twelve
buildings were destroyed. These houses chief
ly tenanted by Irish, and upon any of the tenants
ventuTng out TO escape Ibe flames, they mme-
\ diaiely shot down. No idea could be formed OF the
number killed. We advised that fire tcsre
yooSfef 10 asath, having been badly wounded by
gun shot wounds that they could not escape IRON the
burning buildings.
OF aH the enorn.ities and ou,rages commiited by
the American party yesterday and last night, We
have not time 10 write. The mob having satisfied
ITS appetite for blood, repaired 10 Third street and
until midnight made demonstrations against the
'ETInes'' and ssDrmocrat'' Offices. The furious
crowd satisfied itself, however. with breaking a few
window panes, and burning the sign Of the Times
Office.
Al one o'clock, this morning, large FIRE is raging
in the upper part Of the city.
Upon the proceedings yesterday and last night,
we have no time heart to comment. We
are sickened with the very thought OF the men mur-
dered, and houses burned and ptaged, that signal
lied the american victory yesterday. Not less than
twenty corpses form the trophies OF this wonderful
achievement.
(From the same.)
/ TuE ELEcrIox- Rows AND BLooDsHEf4--The elec-
tion during yesterday was, could be. al.
0ue-sIded the most unfair being Te>orted to
by ;he Kaow-Nothings 10 crowd other voters from
the polls
In the First Ward the most intense excitement
prevailed for time, aud the polls surround
Gu oy d ld9Se crowd. whenever a hnoN- AOlhiHg
/ voter approached the crowd he hoisted right
over the heads OF al and landed the door, ready 10
deposit his vote Several disgaeefuI fights occnrffd
and one of the of Bureh, who mad with
others, chased an lrishman from the polls, in
turn bPSet, beaten nearly TO deaih, and Knocked
senselrss by the man he had been chasing Mar
shal Kidd, we learn, subsequently, arrested the Irish
man.
in the Sixth ward several dsgraeefu seenes oceur-
red, such as SIX, eight, dozen pitching
| into poor Irishman and driving him from the