Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-11-13
From the Baltimore Sun Of Wednesday last.
The Baltimore Riots.
The Election Observation-Disclosures Pro
ceedings, at the Polls, &c.

From the Baltimore Sun OF Wednesday last
The Baltimore Riots.
The Election neutrality-suspicious. Pro
ceedings, at the Polls, dc.
Phe election for President of the United
States taking place yesterday, his honor, May
or Kinks, few days previous called special
meetings of the city police and night watch
and informed them through the several cap
tains that their services would be required for
election day.
Good order and very good feeling was ex-
hibited at many of the polls, though we re-
greet TO be compelled to record a number
of fights and rows which took place in
others.
About ten O'Clock in the morning, police
man McCafferty, Of the fourth ward, was shot
by pistol, the ball taking effect in his
thigh. 1t appears that man armed with a
pistol and doubtless under the influence of
liquor mounted the steps of dwelling near
the polls, and drawing his weapon comusnc-
ed acting in disorderly manner, whereupon
a number of men rushed at him, and were Oh
the point of beasing him when the officer in
terfered to save him. At that momentsome
person in the middle of the street discharged
pistol, which, unfortunately, struck the Of
fcer. He was conveyed to his residence, the
ball extracted, and he is now doing well.
The wound is not of serious character. The
ball passed out of his right side.
Officer Barton was promptly on the ground
and arrested a man named Thompson, who
was taken to the middle station He insist
ed however with such earnestness that he
was innocent, that Mr.. Barton took him to
the residence of the wounded party, when
he at once directed Mr.. Thompson's discharge
as he was confident that the accused was not
the person who shot him. The prisoner was
accordingly discharged.
At the twelfth ward a disturbance took
place, which resulted in the injIring of Basil
Root, Esq, justice of the peace for the twelfth
ward, and the shooting OF his son Daniel
Root Itseems that Mr.. Root and son were
near the polls at the time when quarrel en-
sued, which soon came to blows. Bricks and
stones were freely thrown and pistols fired.
The Justice was struck on the back of the
head, which inflicted painful wound. His
son was shot in two places, the balls enter
ing his leg. The wound, however, is not Sc
we're.
At the sixth ward polls, usually rather quiz
ct and orderly, disgraceful row took place.
1t appears that quarrel ensued in relation to
the right OF a party to vote, which soon re-
suited in blows, whereupon pistol was fired,
the ball from which struck aud penetrated
the hand of a young man named William
Bright, and afterwards entered the right side
of the abdomen of Mr.. Richard Pryor, and
passed Immediately under the artery or lobe
of the liver. He is in a very dangerous con-
dition.
Whilst passing the Eighth Ward polls,
the persons who were carrying him on a
settee were cowsrdly assailed by number
of lawess desperadoes, who threw bricks and
stones at them. In the meantime, it was ru-
mored that the person who fired the pistol
was Charles Hannigan, a member Of the EN-
pire Club. Accordingly, the police went in
search, and soon after officer Hannigan,
brother of the accused, succeeded in arrest
ed him. He had taken refuge in the house
Of the Empire Club. He was locked up in
the Central Station House, and in short
time released by Justice Morrison in the sum
of $1,000 security to answer further exam
ination. As for Bright, his wound is of a
painful character, the hand being much shat
| tered
About half past three O'Clock, word came
to the Central Station that large party of
Inen from the Eighth Ward, armed with mus
kets and every description of small arms,
had attacked the Seventh Ward polls, and
that a riot ensued. Twenty-Five armed po-
licemen were sent to the place, but they
found themselves unable to cope with any
party of the rioters The men from the
Seventh Ward rallied, and drove back the
assailants to the Bellair Market. They were,
however, in turn driven back-their assail-
ants attacking the Sixth Ward. Voting was
there suspended-the judges closing the win
dow and refusing to receive a vote until Or
der was restored.
In few minutes the high constable, dep
uty high constable and sergeant lyman re-
paired to the Belair market, and there took
possession of swivel. They succeeded in
unmounting it, but were fred at by number
of men armed with muskets, who were con-
cealed in the market pillars. Capt. Herring
saw one man taking deliberate aim at him
with a musket. He rushed forward and
seized him, but he was quickly forced away.
Sergeant Tayman run a man as far as the
house corner of French and Foundry streets,
and there took two loaded muskets from
him. In the meantime, the fight or battle,
as it should be more appropriately styled,
ragged with increasing spirit and fury. Ais
quith street, between Gay and Holland, Hol-
land street, Orleans street, and the space near
Belair market were the scenes of carnage
and dreadful havoc. Swivels were freely
fired, with the usual accompaniment of small
arms. A large number of windows were
broken, and houses otherwise injured, whilst
those residing in the neighborhood closed
their residences and retired from sight.
The riot lasted for about one hour. We
annex a list of those wounded, as far as
could be ascertained, under the circom-
stances.