Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-11-12
ELECTION Riots.

Terrible riots occurred in Baltimore and New
York city on the day OF the Presidential cleo
ton. The Baltimore American gives the follow
ing account Of the riot at the second ward in
that city:
During the morning there was considerable
i'll feeling displayed at the second ward polls, but
up to three o'clock no serious disturbance occur
red. At that hour furious fight broke out
said to have originated from stone belngthrown
into the crowd surrounding the window. Pts
tolls were Immediately drawn and fired at both
parties. The Democrats, headed by George
KONG, drove the Americans from the polls and
up High street. The alarm was carried to the
fourth ward polls and q strong body of Amerl-
cans started from there. In the vicinity OF the
second ward polls they were met and driven
back. Further reintorcements were then recelV,
ed and the war renewed. A good proportion OF
both parties by this time were provided with
muskets, whilst others used pistols, and Others
skirmished with knives and clubs. Both parties
fought with determination, and IN many IN
stances exposed themselves with the most reck.
less disregard of danger. The battle ground
was spread over portions OF Fawn, Stiles, Exeter
and High streets, and Eastern avenue, ana the
spectacle presented was terrible and revolving
one. As either party gained temporary adj
vantage, men would be seen running with Others
shooting at them; the wounded were limpine
off and being carried away by their companions,
whilst others begrined with smoke and powder,
and in some cases covered with blood. still Kept
up the fight, now firing singly and then again in
volleys In the surrounding neighborhood the
utmost degree of excitement and CONSERVATION
prevailed. Children were hastily gathered, the
houses closed, and the occupants in many IN
stances sought their garres and cellars to be out
of harms way
"The Democrats were finally overpowered,
driven away from the polls, and retreated still
fighting down Eastern avenue. In the neighbor-
hood of the Causeway they again made stand,
and there guerilla warfare, carried on from the
alleys and street corners, continued for more
than an hour Of the number wounded in this
riot it is almost impossible to give fnl or cor
rect list. They were generally carried away by
their friends, and even when traced, every effort
was made to conceal their names
Another very serious riot occurred at the Bel,
air Market, besides good deal Of fighting in
different parts of the city. -Four persons only
are reported as having been killed, but the mum,
Der of wounded, many of them fatally, was very
large.
In New York the fighting was chiefly confined
to the friends of the rival Democratic candidates
for Mayor. IT is said that one Of Mayor Woods
champions was arrested for disorderly conduct
by order of Recorder Smith, but instantly dis.
charged by the Mayor. The New York Courier
says: x1
"In the First Ward, Mayor Woods suppS(I I.
| in Tom Burns and Mike Murray's crib parties
were as usual, the first in the field, and having
the police in constant fear of them, managed
things at the polls almost to their satisfaction
Several respectable citizens were deferred from
exercising the privilege of voting in consequence
of the rowdy rulers of the ward, and the unwil-
1ingness of the police to afford the protection ne
cessary. Among the shoulder-hitters present
and actively engaged on the Mayors side, were
some of the culprits banished by the San Fran
cisco Vigilance Committee, and other imported
rutfians who had no right to vote or interfere in
any way with the election. The supporters OF
McCay and Wilson, candidates for Aldermen, had
desperate skirmish at the Second District poll,
held at Burns crib and groggery No. 10
Greenwich street. Activity Burke Cali
fornian, fourished revolver in each hand, and
threatened to shoot down all opposition. He
had pretty much his own way, at this poll, and
scores of voters opposed to Fernando Wood,were
forced to show their tickets, and then driven
from the District others who insisted on vot-
ing, among them greyheaded men, were knocked
down aud brutally beaten. One man was stab
bed, and two shot, but not fatally.
A. +ba 1+h pO1l Of tho 9Th Ward (liSorf1nr
prevailed as early as o'clock. About o'clock,
the Wood men, headed by Pat Matthews, of
Tammany Hall notoriety, and the Anti God
men. with Councilman Kerrigan as leader, had
q desperate and blood collision. Pistols, knives,
axes, and brick-bats, were unscrupulously used.
Upwards of twenty shots were said 70 be fired,
but no one was dangerously wounded. A num-
Der of each party had their heads sadly INITIATED
by clubs and brick bats Capt. Bowling, of the
9th Ward police with section OF men, suppress
sed the disturbance, but did not attempt to ar
rest any OF the disorderlies.
"About - o'clock there was a serious Difficult
ty at the I'd District poll of the 2lst ward in
S4th street, corner Of Sd avenue. Over hun
dred supporters of Wood and Varian, made an
attempt upon the Know Nothing ticket stand,
and beat young man who was in charge of it,
in most savage and brutal manner a general
melee followed. The KnowNothings rallying
drove the Wood and Varian men Off The latter
afterwards accused Varan of being a Know-No-
thing, and got into a fight among themselves
A large number of persons were said to be in
jurec."
FIGURES IN RELATION TO PRESIDENTIAL ELEc-
TIoYs.-The majorities by which our Presidents
reach office are generally far less decisive than
l. srnnncnd Tho nnnnlar minority for the snn-