Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-06-10
Riot in washington CITY.

The municipal Election for Washington CITY
came Oft on Monday the 1st inst, and was &C
companied with terrible and disgraceful riot
Early III the forenoon there was much excite
ment in the Second, Fourth, and Seventh Wards
A large number of Baltimore rowdics consist
ing OF Plug Uglies and similar organizations
were known to have arrived by the early train
Their presence iDstigated the more disordery O
our citizens to violent proceedings. tgh
took place in each of the wards above named
and pistols, knives, and clubs were used witt
deadly effect. Several were seriously wounded
In the meantime the Mayor finding the civi
force insufficient to preserve the peace, request
ed the President to order detachment of Ma
rines from the Barracks. which request Wa:
promptly complied with, and accordingly 1lC
Marines were marched with fixed bayoners to
the scene of disturbance, tfs~ rowdies assailing
them with the most abusive epithets. A party
OF young men then obtained six FOUNDER brass
swivel, and dragged it along the streets to the
voting place of the Fourth Ward. The Mayor
having arrived with the Marines under Maj
Tyler, ordered the polls to be opened, but the
crowd declared that it should not be done. The
widest excitement prevailed, and the party
with the cannon making some hostile demon
STATIONS with it, the order was given to disarm
them of their piece The Marines advanced
with fixed bayonets for the purpose, and the
cannon was abandoned, but the soldiers were
assaulted with stones and revolver shots, and one
man fell. The order was now given to the Ma
rines to fire, and two platoons fired into the
crowd, sweeping 18th street and the Market house.
The scene at this moment beggared description.
After the first discharge the rioters firing from
corners and stalls killing several and wounding
many but it is believed that more met death
from pistol shots than from the hands OF the
Marines. Some 6 or persons were killed, and
many more wounded most of them persons who
were looking on at distance and not engaged in
the riot. The crowd Immediately took to fight,
leaving the field to the soldiery, who were
marched back to the City Hall.
1t had been pre-arranged that large force
should arrive from Baltimore in the o'clock
train, but hearing that their friends were return
ing, they desisted In the meantime the Ma
rines were drawn up in the depot, ready to re-
ceive them. The Marines having been on duty
the whole day, the Secretary of War ordered
the Light Infantry from Fort Mclenry, who are
expected to arrive before 10 o'clock. The mob
having obtained possession ofanother cannon, land
threatened to destroy the houses of the Mayor
and Capt. Tyler of the Marines, their families
and valuables were'removed to places of safety.
By night everything was quiet.
On Tuesday evening large meeting was held in
front ofthe City Hall in regard to the riot. The
speakers were Gen McCalla, DR.. Clayton, council
man Lloyd, all of the American party, who spoke
of the killing of persons by the Marines on the day
of election as cruel, cowardly and bloody mas
sacre of the innocent; and Of the conduct Of the
Executive authorities as tramplng under foot
of the sacred rights of citizen, and Of law and
order. Mr. Lloyd's advice to he prepared for
the next attack ELECTED spontaneous cheers of
appreciation At the same time he invoked
them to preserve the peace. A committee Of
two from each ward was appointed to prepare
suitable resolutions and call an adjourned meet
ing after the inquests on all the victims has been
concluded.
Inquests were held on Tuesday in two cases
Three witnesses swore that the order given to
the Marines to fire, was by Mayor Magruder af-
ter the swivel was taken from the rioters. Pre-
liminary measures have been taken to bring the
matter to judicial investigation.
The Mayors conduct was severely condemned
by the meeting Tuesday night which finally sep
arated with mingled cheers and groans.
The community is still in feyerish state on
the subject of the riot