The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-21


fFrom the Baltimore Sun, August 20
TWO MEN AoRrALLY AND sEvERAL OTHERS sEkI-
0UsLY WOUNDED.
beswSen 40 and II O'Clock on Saturday night last,
one OF tne most serious and disgracoful riots Tor
long time known to our city occurred on Frank
lin street. between Howard and Eutaw streets. be-
tween The New Market and United fire companies,
ladder company on the other. AS Is well known for
some time past difficulty has existed between the
New Market and Mount Vernon companies, and that
on Wednesday night last they came in collision
grounds, when reel belonging to the former COM
pany was partially destroyed by those with the appa
ratus Of the latter and their friends Since that
time there has been every indication of serious
struggle between them. though they have been kept
in check by the police, who were always on the
watch, In consequence Of the anticipated rupture.
notwithstanding their vigilance, however. they have,
at last, succeeded In their disgraoefu designs, and
the result was the MORALLY wounding of two men
and the serious injury Of nuIsber of persons, ma
ny OF whom are said to have been lockers on at the
fray.
sounded by the bell Of the Now Market Company,
and that o large crowd Immediately proceeded from
their house up Eutaw street, rayng under the cries
OF New Market and United, the crowd being made
the place above mentioned they came in contact
with the Mount Vernon, which was proceeding down
town, when most sanguinary conflict ensued, pis-
tolls, bricks clubs, and in fact every dangerous mis-
used.
In the beginning of the fray, officer Burkins, who
was in the midst OF the rioters, endeavoring to que
the disturbance, observed man pointing pistol d.
rectly at him. but before he could fire the officer had
stepped to one side and the ball struck young man
named Charles Ellis, aged about 81 years, who
sides In South Paca street, Fremont. II enter.
ed under the left ear and passing directly through
lodged In the opposite side Of his head. The wound
ed man was Immediately taken to the drug store of
Mr.. Perkins, near by, by officer Smith, where he
was attended by Drs. Chatard and kloman, after
which he was carried to his residence by officers
Charles Brown and Miller, where he now lies In
hopeless condition, his physicians deeming his reco
very impossible.
Officer Burlins succeeded in arresting Minnie
Johnson alias George Jones' the person said to have
fired the pistol and no was committed by Justice
Mcgee for further examination. Both he and
Ellis said to be members Of the United Fire Com
pany, which leaves the inference that the shot was
designed for the officer.
George Kemp, aged about twenty-one years, who
resides in Franklin street near Fremont, received
ball in his left breast, which passed through tho
lung and lodged in his back. He was carried to the
Office of DR.. Donavan q Son, by officers Brown and
Miller, and after his wounds were dressed he was
moved to his residence in the doctors carriage.
They also pronounced his recovery impossible, he
being barely alive at late hour yesterday afternoon
Although formerly a member of the New Market, he
is said to have been only locker on and not par
ticipant in the riot.
Officer Saville also made narrow escape, ball
grazing his head and striking an unknown man
standing directly behind him, who was supposed to
be one of the party with the Mount Vernon ap.
paratus.
Another man, who was standing upon the pavement
short distance off, received ball in his head, but
was able to get OIL before his name could be ascer
tanned. Three others-two white men and the other
o negro-were also wounded while looking at the
riot. One Of the white men received a ball in his
left shoulder the other in the groin, while the negro
was wounded In the leg. We were unable to ascer-
tain their names, they Immediately left for home
ut good speed.
Several others were observed to leave the
ground wounded from pistol shots, bricks, &C., and
it is thought that ct least twenty persons were
wounded by pistol shots, as continued fire was
kept up for about five minutes after the commence
ment OF the fray, when the police and watchmen Of
that section succeeded In separating the combatans
Officers James, Plowman, Hough and T. Airey
were injured by being struck with BRICKS though
none Of them seriously.
John Watson, John Kelton, Howard Davis, Minnie
johnson alias George Jones, Chas. Nally, Joseph
benson and John Smith, were arrested for partici.
pating in the riot by officers Saville, James, Merri.
ken, Burkins and Hines, and watchmen Gordon and
Bailey, and all except benson, who was held to
answer, committed to await further examination
by Justices Mcgee and Hayward.
The officers named are entitled to commentator
for their prompt and decisive action and unfinching
courage, as 1t was at the most imminent peril that
they performed their duties the crowd being for
the most part armed and necessarily firing. Several
tner clothes perforated with bas, S &c.
fortunately escaped unhurt. The apparatus Of the
Mount Vernon company bears evidence of the vio-
ence Of their assailants every portion of it being
completely rddled and cnt by the balls fired at
those with it. Indeed, it is q matter of surprise
that more not injured from the number Of shots
that were exchanged.
AT about the same time of the occurrence Of the
above frghtfu riot, the Vigilant and Lafayette fire
companies came together at the corner of Balti-
more and High streets, where some sharp fighting
was done, but they were soon separated, and some
of High Constable Herring. Again at o'clock
yesterday morning an alarm, which was also false,
was sounded by the bell Of the Lafayette and upon
the Vigilant proceeding to that section, another
conflict ensued between them, which was only pre-
vented from resulting seriously by the prompt ap-
pearance of large police and watch force.
Some prompt action Is necessary on the part of
the authorities to put an end to these disgraceful
exhibitions they not only tend to render inefIi-
cient the operations of peaceable fire companies,
but reflect shame upon them as well as our city.