The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-08-31
LOUISVILLE RIOTS.
From the Reading Gazette and Democra

From the Reading Gazette and Democrat.
We have been permitted TO copy the follow
ing extracts from letter written by gentle
man of this city, now travelling in the South,
who happened to be an eye-witness Of the re-
cent drpiorablr tragedy in Louisville. He re-
lates some facts which have not been given in
the accounts heretofore published and as he is
an American, born and bred, it may be taken
for granted lie does "nothing extenuate, or set
down aaght in malice"
LOUISVILLE, Ky, August Sth.
There are several things connected with the
Louisville riot, which have TO make you, and
your fripuds acquainted with, before you can
understand it. The polls of the city We're all
in the hands, that is, taken possession Of, by the
X Ms from + A. NJ. to 7 P. NJ, and at each
poll from one TO FIVE hundred We're stationed.
An American could walk the gauntlet without
moesiation, by taking pistol or knife in hand,
and politely SAYING ssGen;lemen, am dftermn-
ed To vote" 1t is said that about one hundred
Germans and Irish voted with arms in their
bands, or prepaIed with arms this is about the
number that did vote and the foreign vote IS
more than one-third Of the whole. Ii, howev-
er, a poor timid voter would come with his
white ticket, and no one to protect him, he was
sure to 90 away without his vote or perhaps his
life What | mean by the white and yellow
ticket IS this The Democrats, as usual, printed
their tickets on White Paper. The Il. Ms had
vel1ow raper,-a large ticket, and carried II IN
their bands and on their hats. Some Democrats
and strangers carried yellow tickets to protect
their persons. Last Spring the X. Ms by
similar vet not so bold a move, carried The mu-
ncpal Elecion The Irish and Germans, who
then attempted to vote, were driven from polls
and number seriously injured, and their hou-
SIS sacked. Since that time, large number
of houses, in the upper and lower part OF the
CITY, arr for rent, and rent cheap--the result OF
rioiing last Spring. This spirit again began to
show itself more than SIX weeks ago. Germans
and Irish were beaten most cruelty when met
ont of the city, alone or with their wives, drag
ged through ck-ponds, and some have been
found dead. No effort, am certain. has ever
been made, 10 bring those villains to punish
ment. Geo d. Prentice, with his Journal, has
been the prime mover and chief instrument in
this tragedy. Cn the morning Of the election,
he used such language to his K. \. friends,
larradv sufficiently excited and with the blood
stoned in the German district few nights be-
forp) $50 ahead K. Ms and raise as big
storm as you please "-eLct foreigners keep
their elbows 10 themselves to-day at the polls,
&c. sc. ''Keep the Irish and Germans down.
Show them that Americans are determined TO
ruie America"
Similar. vet more inAammatcry and incen-
diary articles appeared in his Journal through
out the canvass. Again, the mayor, council and
police, are oath-bound, ard dare not even now
attempt 10 make an arrest, without il is a poor
foreigner They have given comfort and aid
and have couutsnanced the moh-rule which
governed the city, and disgraced the citizens too
long. II is as true as the sun shines at noon
dav, that not murder was committed yeSter-
day in this town, but what has been perpeira-
ted in the presence OF police oibcer, or the
victims cry for help has been heard by them.
Early in the morning, there Were several Ger
mans driven from tie upper poil-firsi ward,
one Of them killed, and one or two seriously
injured. The party of Germans afterwards re-
treated into Brewery near by, closely pur-
sued by the mob One of the Germans had
gun, and fred tand | believe il so happenedl
killed an innocent man. The Brewery was
surrounded-the torch.applied, and SIX or eight
persisted in the flames. Several houses adJoin-
ing were guttrd, and all suffered 10 burn to the
ground II is said, that some of the mob, had
casks Of Ale or Beer sent TO their homes from
that fire. Does the mayor or police not know
who they are? This part Of the days tragedy
! did rot see, hut received the above facts on
the spot, after the ruin had been made complete.
Immediately after this fight, the cry Of FIRE, re-
ports of firearms, and dense crowds, became
quite general along Jefferson ST. fiom one end
10 the other. The mayor and his marshall |
saw several times driving from one poll to the
other in a buggy, hurraing for the second ward,
and saving, esThat they were doing tup brown,
and so they did for every foreigner had TO fly
the course. Soon after, there was cold blood
ed murder committed at the Court House. in
the very cpntre of the city, aud within short
distance of the mayors oi5ce. do not know
whether he was German or Native, but ] am
certain that he had not the yellow ticket. The
disgracetul pursuit commenced short distance
from the place of rioting. About twenty
follow ed him first with stones, then fred sever
al shots. The poor fellow staggered and retrea-
ted under the K. n. speaking stand, in the
Court House yard. thought he was safe there,
but all would not do. He covered his face with
his hands and begged for Gods sake TO save him,
hut the oath required if, and they mailed up his
head, and not satisfied with that, 6end came