Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-20
From the Baltimore Clipper.
Firemen's Riot-Tw0 Men Morally Woun-

ded-Scveral Others Dangerously Injured.
The most disgracefu riot on the part Of our fire.
men that has occurred within our city since the
riots OF 1888, transpired on Saturday night last.
1t appears that the New Market Fire Company in
colleague with the United, and some Of the run
ners with two companies, had formed plot where.
by they designed giving the Mount Vernon Hook
and Ladder Company severe thrashing, and ac-
c0rdingy the bell of the New Market sounded an
alarm Of fire at ten o'clock that night, and the
members ran with the apparatus in northerly d.
rection. Upon returning the New Market fell in
behind the Hook and Ladder at the corner of
Franklin and Park streets, when bricks were
thrown at them.
This continued until the companies reached
Lerews alley, where pistols were fred and Skin
mish of short duration ensued after which they
proceeded along Franklin street, until about mid
way between Howard and Eutaw-the Hook and
Ladder ahead and Newmarket following At this
iuncture the United turned out of Eutaw street
into Franklin Immediately in front of the Hook
and Ladder company and the onslaught COM
menced upon them from the front and rear. Pis-
tolls were fired, bricks thrown, and axes, picks and
hooks used in the most desperate manner. Life
seemed to have little valuation to those concerned
The Hook and Ladder company, however, thus
hemmed in, with three to one against Them fought
until their ASSISTANTS were glad to scamper off as
best they could.
In the melee police officer Burkins made mar
row escape from pistol shot, which it is thought
MORALLY wounded young man named Charles
Ellis, aged twenty-one years, member of the
United. He was standing few feet from man
named Minnie johnson, alias George Jenes, when
he saw him raise pistol and fire, the bah from
which whizzed past his head and instantly young
Ellis fell. The officer arrested johnson and car
ried him to the station-house, where he was COM
mitted to Jail by Justice Mcgee for further hearr
ing. On his road TO the station-house he managed
to throw away his pistol The ball struck Ellis in
the left side of the head, Immediately behind the
ear, and passed through his 4kull, lodging in the
brain near the right side.
He was carried into the apothecary store of Mr..
Bailey, on the Corner of Howard and Franklin
streets, by officers Smith aud Hough, where resto
ratives were applied and his wound bathed, after
which officers Charles Smith and Miller conveyed
lirAto his residence on Paca street. near Fremont,
on door,, A physician was here called in, who
probed the wound to the depth Of three inches
without finding the ball. He was perfectly insen-
sible OF his injuries up to one o'clock yesterday
afternoon. DR.. Chatard and the other medical
gentlemen attending him state that it is impossible
for him to live. His death was momentariy looked
for. The impression of officer Burkins is that the
pistol was fred at him. as johnson and Ellis are
friends and members of the same company.
George Kemp, aged 81 years, was shot through
the left lung-the ball entering between the secopd
and third ribs. At the time be received the shot,
he was stepping out Of a store on his road home,
and was in no way connected with the riot. He fell
from the effect OF the wound, and was picked up
by officers Smith and Hough, and taken to DR..
Donayan's Office, on the corner ofPark and Frank
lin streets, after which he was conveyed In the
Doctors carriage TO his residence on Franklin
street, near Fremont. lie suffers greatly from In
ward bleeding, and becomes sufocated from the
rising Of blood In his throat He was alive up TO
noon yesterday but Il was believed that he could
not survive much longer.
One man was shot in the head in Howard street,
and fell against wagon there standing. The ball
that struck him, IL is thought, aimed at officer
Saville who secured the arrest Of the person firing
II. Another man was seen, who received shot in
bis head-the ball entered the back part, and,
coursDg between the scalp and skull, lodged near
bis forehead. Two others were shot-one in the
groin and the other In the shoulder, and a colored
man was struck In the leg by ball
Several arrests have been made.
A second attempt was made to raise an alarm
by the Newmarket company who ran in the street
with one piece OF their apparatus. They were
driven back, however, by high constable Herring.
We trust that the Mayor will either district these
Companies or close their engine houses, lest the
stigma upon our city, arising from the recurrence
OF such scenes, may never be erased. The police,
headed by high constable Herring, were active
during the entire riot in making arrests and en-
deayoring to que the Disturbances otwithstan6-
ing the flying Of balls about their heads like hail
stones. They deserve and should receive the en-
comiums OF all order-oying citizens.