The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-09-23
TERRIBLE RIOT IN BALTIMORE.

The most terrible riot that has taken
place i'll Baltimore for many years, occurr-
ed on Friday evening, at the corner OF
Light and Warren streets, in the vicinity
of Federal Hill, between the adherents OF
a fishing club, and party of men assem-
bled at the Seventeenth ward Democratic
Headq quarters. Two men were killed out
right, and more than twenty persons wound
cd. Both the men killed and majority
of those wounded had no connection with
the atfray, being either residents of the
neighborhood or persons passing along the
street at the time. Guns and pistols were
used with the recklessness and ferccity of
savages, the fight lasting for half an hour
The following particulars Of the riot we
copy from the Bait. American:
The fishing club several times passed
the Seventeenth Ward House, kept by
James Clark, where a slight difficulty oc-
courred early in the day. When they pass
ed the house the last time, one of the
Wampanogs Jagged behind and cheered
for Fillmore, which was responded to by
man on the sidewalk named John Carter,
who cheered for Buchanan. These parties
then took hold of each other, when several
others interfered. The fishing clubs then
returned, when the party in front of the
house commenced firing pistols. The fire
was returned, and for half hour the con-
Hict was terrible, men, women and children
being shot down at every turn. The fish
ing clubs commenced throwing stones, and
the street was literally covered with them.
The cOntending parties remained at close
quarters, and it is only wonderful that a
much larger number was not killed. Most
of those injured, as is usual in such eases.
had no part in the atfray.
l.,
of. the parties at the tavern, fired at a man
named Joseph Edwards, one of the fishing
club, whose wife seeing the danger in which
her husband was exposed threw herself i'll
front of him, and though thirteen shots were
made at him, she fortunately, as well as
himself, escaped uninjured.
A man named John Caulk, who was sit
ting in his house in Warren street, by the
side of his wife, received ball in his back,
which passed entirely through his body and
was taken out of bis breast. 1t is thought
hardly possible that he can recover. His
wife at the same time received a ball in
her arm which produced severe flesh
wound. A young man who was standing
at the door at the time, but whose name we
could not learn, received ball III his heel.
Mr. Daniel Spedden, residing in Hen
rietta street, near Light, heard the noise
and went up towards the corner OF Light
street to see what it Before he
reached the scene of the conflict he receiv-
ed ball under the left shoulder which pene-
trated to the lungs, and fell senseiess to the
ground. Before he could be removed the
crowd passed into Henrietta street and he
was trampled under their feet, receiving
severe confusion on the back of his head.
He was taken up and conveyed to his resi-
dence, and about eight O'Clock had copious
hemorrhage from the lungs. His wound Is
such that no hope for his recovery is en-
tertained.
An old man named John Hare. who was
saving wood in front of the house of Mr..
Caulk, received ball in the breast. and
fell dead instantly. His body was taken
to the Southern district police station, where
Coroner Benson held an inquest, the jury
rendering verdict of death from pistol
shot by some person unknown.
Clark, the proprietor of the tavern, at
one time during the fight. ran from his
house in pursuit of one of the opposing par
tv with a revolver in hand, and fred six
balls in succession at him, within ten PAGES,
none of which apparently took effect, as
he continued his flight In the meantime,