Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-09
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

lucky election, that the Know Nothings of
Louisville designed preventing the naturalized
citizens from voting by the interference of a
large and well-organized band of ruffians
charged with the work of driving them from
the polls, even at the risk of committing muir
ders if resistance was offered to their violence
So the accounts that reached US on the day
before yesterday Of the occurrences in Louis
vile on the day before, were by no means
unexpected, even as far as the Know Nothing
partizsn coloring Of the dispatches was con-
cerned; as the telegraphic agent or correspond
ent in that city has, since the organization o.
the party Of falsehood, fraud, and universal
prescription, been in the habit of stating his
facts so as to palliate any and all evil deeds
done by those who secretly conspire, in the
darkness of night, against the truth, law, JUS
tice, and the rights of those whom they hate
and fear, because they will not join in their
crusade against the well-being of society. As
it may be some days eie we receive full and
reliable accounts (by the maiD Of the details
of the bloody work in Louisville, we have
u say tudt hho"h hCiO OS-
fore-hand of the intentions of the Know
Nothings to obtain the returns by violence
and, at all hazards, in that city, to enable us
to state the case as it will prove to have hap
pened, almost beyond peradventure. First;
drunken and characterless Know Nothing
rowdies were set on to modest individual for
eign-born citizens, at the polls and elsewhere,
who resisted and defended their rights. Then
other Know Nothings went to the aid of their
catspaws for the occasion, who were getting
the worst of the contest, which soon became
one of bludgeons and stones, first on the part
Of the assailants, who rallying in great force,
drove the Germans and Irish to their homes,
and then attacked them in their houses cover
ing their wives and children. The Germans
and Irish pressed by the Know Nothings, and
in imminent danger of being massacred with
their families, finally defended their lives
with fire. arms, wOunding some of their assail-
ants; when the latter set fire to the houses
they were attacking and murdered such of
those fleeing from the falling timbers and the
fire over their heads, as they could lay hands
on, burning to death such of them, women
and children included, as were too feeble to
make their escape. As for the part which the
foreign born citizens played in this bloody af-
fair, it will turn out that they promptly de-
Tended, first their rights and then their lives,
when the latter were sought.
1t has always happened when the rights and
honor of the United States have been assailed
by foreign foe, tina; the fOreign-born in the
United States have spilled their blood "a our
countrys defence, like true-hearted American
citizens devoted to the maintenance of their
adopted country rights and honor. The rolls
Of the various regiments so engaged in every
one Of our wars, from that Of the Revolution
to the present day, prove that they thus serve
the country, in numbers far beyond the legiti-
mate proportion, when their numbers here as
compared with the aggregate of our whole
population is concerned.
The following telegraphic dispatch to the as
ISOLATED press, written by the Know Nothing
partizan who wrote those published in the
'Siar of yesterday and the day before. puts
somewhat different face on the affair; as it says
that the origin of the riot-that is, who COM
menced it's in doubt; and next, that no
Americans were killed, and hut three were
wounded, while from fifteen to twenty foreign
born persons were shot, hung, and burned to
death. Thus, the truth concerning the affair
is gradually becoming known in this region, so
far, through the corrections and admissions Of
the Know Nothing telegraphic agent himself,
doubtless under pressure Of public opinion
around him
LOUISVILLE, Aug. THE origin Of the riot
yesterday it is difficult to arrive at with posi-.
tive certainty, but the generally YER
sion Is that two gentlemen riding in a carriage
In the First Ward, were fired at from house
which was occupied by foreigners. One of the
gentlemen was wounded, aud the firing being
repeated, caused a crowd TO flock thither
Among them was Edward Williams, Waterman
OF the Second Ward, Joseph Silvage, and John
Latta, all three OF whom were wounded by
shots fired from the houses. Exaggerated re-
ports OF these occurrences reached the lower
part Oh the city, and the crowd continued to
increase rapidly. The house from which the
firing proceeded was attacked, and two Ger
mans shot and 80 dreadfully beaten tn at they
are not expected To survive.
This house was completely sacked, and the
mob proceeded to the houses at the corner of
Shelby and Madison streets, from whence it
was reported that shots had also been fired.
Two groceries and beer houses were riddled,
and the Germans found therein severely in
jured.
Another scene of riot occurred in Jefferson
street, where party Of gentlemen coming into
the city were fired at from large brewery.
1t is not known what provOcation was given
The brewery and adjoining houses were sacked,
and the brewery set on FIRE and Immediately
destroyed. Several Germans found here were
badly beaten, and an Irishman, who was shot
by the mob, died this morning
On the next street below an American was
slightly wounded by c pistol shot, and an Irish
man was shot and beaten. 1t is asserted that
shots had been fired from all the houses that
were attacked.
The moo threatened TO sack the Catholic
church, where it was rumOred arms had been
concealed, but Mayor Barbee and others pre-
vailed upon the crowd to leave, without COM
hitting violence.
The mob then marched to the engine house
i'm the Fifth ward with their cannon apd ba