Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-17
WHOLE NO. 372.
The Kensington Massacre.
M Neeting "a lNonday, Mau eth.
Continued

sembled in mass meeting on Monday afternoon,
May 9Th, at o'clock, on an unoccupied los at the
corner of Second and Master streets This lot Il
about 100 feet wide and $50 feet in length and Is
bounded on the west by the Public School House.
which fronts on Master street The staging for
the officers and speakers was erected about the
centre OF the west side of the lot, against the
school house fence. The whole extent of the lot
was covered with persons who had assembled 10
participate IN the proceedings. The meeting was
organized in the usual way, aud several gentlemen
were called upon to address the assembled multi.
tude. Mr.. 5, II. Kramer and General Smith sue
cessively took the stand neither of them, how.
ever, occupied oyerten minutes time Their aC-
dresses were remarkably mild in their character,
and contained nothing against which the most
scrupuous could have reasonably objected
While these gentlemen were speaking several
Irish carriers came driving their carts into the lot
and forced their way through the crowd, nearly up
to the speakers stan greatly annoying the people
and even exposing them to danger. Each Of these
carts contained something more than an ordinary
wheelbarow load ofyellow dirt which was brought
there at that particular time, in that remarkably
singular manner and In such small quantities. for
no good reason which has yet been assigned Five
or six OF these diminutive loads were successively
brought in, and. emptied in the midst of the
crowd, as near to the staging the drivers could
conveniently force their carts These loads of dirt
IN.
They were not needed there at that particular time
neither has any use been made of them since
Neither Of them aoas brought in until the meeting
had assembled, nor one sent there after the
assembly had dismissed and when it l. understood
that at the very time when these cartets were com
nitting this inexcusable outrage upon the meeting
there was assembled in the market-house, running
parallel with Second street, on the north side Of
Master street, and few yards west of the sch OIL
a m 10 N slfnap aH tN hap
ing armed with firearms and other offensive wea-
pons, none can for an instant doubt that these
ters were sent there for the purpose Of provoking
an attack upon themselves and Of thus furnishing
plausible excuse for assault in return upon the
meeting, on the part of their friends in the market
house and the. surrounding buildings. There was
evidently in all this cunningly devised plan for the
preparation ofa premeditated outrage, for the con
summation of which the most fiendsh preparation
had been made.
But that sDivne Providence which often takes
the wicked in his own craftiness, and guards the
innocent from harm, nterposed most miraculously
TO avert the calamity which then pended over the
American Republican cause. Had the carriers to
whom alusion has been made, been assailed with
violence by the assembled people fearful and
dreadful slaughter, far more extensive than that
which really occurred, would doubtless have ensued
Form this spot, the citizens almost entirely un-
protected. They were surrounded by teir enemies
as they fled in the only direction which could
have promised security, toward the market
house. they would have been met by the assassins
who there remained concealed, awaiting signal
for the commencement Of their work Of death.
Then, too, it would have been exceedingly difficult
to have made it appear that the Native Americans
were not the aggressors and that their assailants
were not only acting upon the defensive, for the
protection of their worthy friends, the carriers.
At the moment when the conduct of the carriers
was growing insuiferabe, and slight demopstra-
ton of a disposition at interference was being
manifested, Mr. Lewis O. Levin, was called to the
stand. This circumstance restored tranquility for
the space of minute. But the moment that
gentleman commenced his remarks--before soil.
tary sentiment had been concluded by him, and
before the subject of the carts had again drawn off
the peoples attention, the clouds suddenly dis
charged a torrent Of rain upon the assembled
multitude. For second, there was pause which
was followed by Simultaneous rush for shelter in
the market-house.
So suddenly and entirely unexpected was this
movement, that those of the Irish who were un-
questionably awaiting some provocation for an at
tack upon the meeting, we're confused and undeter
mined in regard to the nature of their further pro-
ceedings. The most of them, as the crowd rushed
into the market, rctreated to row of buildings,
consisting of hose-house, and the dwellings of
themselves and friends, situated in Cadwallader
street, and facing the markethouse, at the dis
tance, perhaps, of some 200 feet Others, how
ever, but their number was few remained to con
test the right ofthe citizens to the ofthe market
This market house had previously been employed
as sort of rendezvous for the mob during the rail
road and weaver's riots, which had previously dis
graced that neighborhood, and they seemed TO con-
slider themselves solely entitled to its use.
An attempt was here made to reorganize the
meeting, but the few Irishmen who had now min
Ivvffh thor 4 Al,
the organization should not take place They pro-
duced the utmost noise and confusion, whenever
any effort was made to speak, on the part of Mr..
Levin, who had again arisen to continue his ad-
dress ; and so constant and violent was the uproar
that it was impossible for that gentleman to be
heard even by those who occupied places nearest
to him. Among the most noisy of those who we're
now interrupting the proceedings Of the meeting,
was an athletic lrishman near the speaker who
brandshed his naked arms above the heads ofthose
around him, and swore terrible vengeance upon
every one who should dare to come into contact
with lis cleUched fists. So exceedingly violent
was this mans conduct, that some person at length
attempted to eject him from the market-house. A
scufie ensued between the two. The Irish rioter
drew his antagonist to the outer side Of the mar
ket on that side which fronted the dwellings and
the hose-house, of which mention has been made
when stone was thrown from a party in the
vicinity of the osehouse, with tremendous vio-
ence, toward the market, which struck with great
force against one Of the stalls This was instantly
followed with the discharge Of musket from the
same direction.
A scene of confusion and strife now took place
which beggars all description. The first impulse
OF those in the market was to rush upon the party
near the hosc-house who first assilcd them, which
they did, driving them off in great alright in every
direction. But no sooner we're they thus drawn
out from the shelter of the market upon the open
space in 'front.' and their open assailants dispersed,
than destructive fire was opened upon them with
fowling-pieces rifles and muskets from roofs, win