American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-01-24
henoe cratic Riot In Baltimore.

of January Ball. The affair seems to
have been q regular riot. Fortunately
no Americans were present, or else
INSCRIPTIONS Democratic papers might
have charged the disturbances on them,
as they have falsely done in regard to
the previous riots which have occurred
in Baltimore. Nevertheless it would
not surprize us to yet see some Demo.
cratic paper laying the blame of even
this riot among Democrats alone, on
the gallant Americans of Baltimore
The American furnishes the following
account ofthe doings of the unterrifed
and harmonious. an
"A serious ARRAY occurred about half
past one o'clock ON Thursday night at
the Democratic Inauguration Ball, at
the Hall of the Maryland Institute for
the benefit of those wounded in the
election riots which will probably re-
suit i'll the death of one or more per-
sons. Soon after the opening of the
ball there were indications of q difficult
ty, aud up to the time indicated there
were several fights, some of the most
desperate characters of the city being
there and ready for any kind of diff
Guilty that mighttakc place. The diff
Guilty occurred in consequence Of man
named Roach having behaved in dis
orderly manner, when officer John
Graham took hold of him for the pur-
pose of cjccting him, against which he
resisted. While doing so Country
Thompson stepped up, and remarked,
'that is right, put every thief out who
does not behave himself" at which u
fight begun. The most intense excite
nent was created and those not cnga-
ged in it rushed pcll nell down stairs,
while others sought to shield themselves
from danger by getting into the room
at the rear. ..'- .... .... .
In the fight, Country Thompson was
stabbed in the neck, it is said by James
Roach, which wound, it is thought, will
prove dangerous. Some of. the larger
veins were severed and the blood flow
ed internally. Franklin and Petty
Naff received pistol shot in the leg,
producing, however, only bad flesh
wound. a female whose name we
could not learn was shot in the arm tho
not seriously. A young man, named
Greenbury Wilson, was assailed and
pushed to the wall, when he drew q
revolver and struck his assailant on the
head with the breach. The hammer
struck with such force as to explode
the cap, and the charge passed thro'
the right hand of Wilson, tearing the
flesh and fracturing the bone. 1t is
said there were several others shot
some of when took no part in the me-
lee, but we have been unable to learn
their names, as there is an evident dis
position to keep the thing as quiet as
possible. No arrests were made, as
the watchmen were only ordered to
guard the outer doors, the managers
having furnished their own officers to
preserve the peace inside. The fight
was not political one, all the parties
participating in it belonging to the
Empire and other Democratic clubs of
the city. Late yesterday evening Tomp-
son was considered in a dangerous CON
dition, and but little expectation was
had for his recovery. 1t was rumored
yesterday that a young man Claget liy-
ing in the fourth ward, had been scri-
ously beat by Thompson after he was
stabbed, but such was not the fact the
party in question not having attended
the ball. There was number of pis-
tolls fired, when the room was cleared
and the ball brought to close. Dur
ing the evening a stranger was robbed
of upwards of $1,000 in cash,
check for $3.50, and several valuable
papers, with which the thief escaped.
Let it be first observed, that this was
Democratic ball, got up for the bene-
fit of those wounded in the late cleo
ton riots in Baltimore. OF course
the Americans, who were killed by
Democrats in that riot, were beyond
deriving any 'bcnofit" resulting from
the proceeds of this ball. Secondly
let it be remembered that no Americans
were present, and that the participants
in this riot were the cut throats of the
ever memorable Eighth Ward, assisted
by other murderers and thieves of the
same party, who first instigated the ri
OTIS and then shed the blood of native
born citizens at the late election in
Baltimore. We are more particular
than usual in calling attention to these
facts, because neither the Baltimore
Sun and other Democratic papers, have
not as yet permitted a single line to be