Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-05
From the Washington Union, June 81

From the Washington Union, June y
THE CITY ELECTION YESTERDAY-R1OT-
ING AT THE POLLS-SEVERAL MEN KILL
ED AND WOUNDED The citizens of Washing:
ton were called upon yesterday 10 elect members Of
the two boards OF Councils and other municipal Of
icers and in place of their being allowed free and
full exercise of the privileges Of the elective fran
chise, armed gangs OF DULLES and desperados were
imported from Baltimore, with the view OF lntImida-
ting all from voting for the anti.Kuow Nothing can
didates through the persuasive influences OF oudge
ons, slung shots, pistols, anu bowie.knlves. The
Star of last evening" in it's account Of yesterdays
bloody proceedings, says: =,
A gang OF hired ruffans and bules, "plug uglies"
and other worthless from Baltimore, have been i'm
ported by the Know Nothiugs to take violent posses
sion of the polls, and armed with revolvers, bies
aud sung.shOts 10 prevent our own citizens from
depositing their votes.
10 the first precinct Of the Fourth ward this morn
ing general fight occurred, in which several hun.
dred men and boys were engaged, indlscrimnately'
II seems that some forty or fifty plug ugies came
down from Baltimore this morning to assist our ct
zens in the election to-day. After floating around
for some time without effecting anything of note,
they pitched upon the Fourth ward first precinct as
being the most eligible scene for their operaons-
long line of voters standing in the street, eI-
tending for some distance from the polls, and com.
posed principally of anti knowNothing voters
The plugs, assisted by several large squads OF chun-
kers and rip raps of our own city, endeavored to
break into this line by crowding, but not succeeding
in this they left The scene OF action 10 concert more
hostile measures.
Alter short time they returned largely reinforced
in numbers. and with revolvers. stones, bes, brck-
bats. &c. they made a concerted onslaught upon the
voters. terrible scene now ensued IN which the en-
tire crowd participated Stones and pistols were "a
pidy discharged and men were tramped TO the earth,
beaten, stamped on, and severely wounded. Among
those injured was Il Owens, Fourth Ward Commits.
soner, who had his wrist badly shattered by pistol
ball. A Klopfer received spent ball in bis forehead
which stunned him, but inflicted no serious injury
Captain Goddard was, with several officers, on the
ground aud the captain did good service with bis
long arms and heavy fists in quelli.g the affray de
was severely struck several times, but got of without
serious damage.
Several of the ringleaders arrested and taken
to the gusrd-housei amongst others, young man by
the name Of johnson.
The buildings in the neighborhood were damaged
the doors and windows being broken in on all sides
In the skirmish MIR George u. Spencer received &C.
we're blow in the face.
AT the first prscint Of the Fourth Ward the officers
did all in their power to prevent the riot, placing
themselves between the bellgerents and the voters
in the line with Captain Goddard at the head, who
demanded the peace, when they rushed on en- masse,
and with an impetuosity which nothing short OF q
military force could have whstood; and, although
the police fought like heroes, they were forced to
abandon the Held TO the possession Vi tnese nlreo
mscreants.
Our Baltimore visitors were, about IL o'clock good
enough to pay visit to the Second Ward polls wear
ing the Know. Nothing ticket as badge, and shout
ing for "Dixon'' 1.-THE Know. Nothing candidate for
collector) as rallying cry.
In few moment their inevitable revovers we're
out and some thirty forty shots were fred in quick
succession, in the neighborhood Of Eleventh street
and the Avenue.
teenth street, between II and l. named John Ouzey,
was shot in the knee. About this time some of the
"solid men" Of the ward were seen emerging from
their residences armed with muskes, as it they had
SOME notion Of going upon cunning e1PeditiI9n.3
The plug uglies seemed to think the Second Ward
air was getting insalubrous aud they left in body
probably with the design Of Regulating" some OF
the other precincts.
At one O'clock noisy crowd of boys and men
passed up Pennsylvania avenue from the direction
Of the Fifth Ward, dragging after them small brass
gun. Where they got it ars unable to say, but il
was said they INTENDED to use to defend themselves.
immediately after two companies OF United States
marines, commanded by Captain Tyler went to the
City Hall, and reported for service " the mayor.
At noon it become evident that nothing short of
military inerposoR could save the city from almost
universal riot. A letter was addressed by Mayor
Mapruder to the President of the United States ask
ing for company of marines in order to maintain
the peace OF the city. The request was promptly
complied with. We continue our extracts from the
Star:
Shortly after l O'Clock, P. NJ, the marines two
companies ITO in ally arrived on the ground, first
precinct Of the Fourth Ward, under charge OF Capt.
Tyler, and accompanied by Mayor Magruder. The
opposition had, in the mean time, procured brass
cannon, and stationed it at the Northern market
house. which they made their headquarters.
After the mayor had addressed the crowd, stating
that The soldiers brought there solely TO main.
tain the public peace of the city, which had been
Aagran,ly violated, the marines moved upon the mar
ket.houee to take possession of the cannon, amidst
every species Of taunt and opprobrium ending final
ly in the possessors of the cannon firing pistols at the
marines. The latter, however, moved steadily on.
seized the cannon, and then, due warning having
Al. Al
vuley Of ball.
The plug uglies then scattered, firing shots as they
did go from behind corners
After the smoke cleared away, the terrible sight
was presented of four five persons in the agonies
of DEATH and several Others fearfully wounded.
We give below as accurate list Of the killed and
wounded as We could obtain:
I'm Deems, clerk in the Land Office.
Mr. Alison, constable.
Archibald Dslrymple, of Baltimore, brakeman on
the Washington branch railroad
George McElfresh.
Redding colored, of Georgetown.
RAINY Neal, coored, formerly waiter of Walker
s. Schadd.
Somers sadier, probably mortay.
Samuel Cassidy, shot in the head.
Col. VIM. +: Wilson, shot through the shoulder
Jamss Wright, OF Anne Arundel county, Md, shot
in the thigh.
Charles Spencer shot in the leg and breast.
Biddeman, timer, shot In the arm.
James Stafford pasterer shot in the leg and through
the body.
Richard Owen, shot In the arm.
John Owen, stone cutter, shot In the hand.
marine severely wounded.
Thomas Wills Anne Arundel county, shot in the
back.
P. F. Bell eth ward, shot In the knee.
One Of the Baltimore rowdies shot in the leg.
John Fouche, severely.
Sam'l Fenton, in arm.
Mr. L.wrenson, tMsrcury,l shot through bis hat,
grazing his head.
1t is rumored that several were killed, and many
wounded, not mentioned in the above list-among
whom are one or two women and a email boy.
All that were killed or wounded, with one or two
exceptions among the wounded, were peaceable cit
Gems, passing by or looking quietly on.
Taking the vote for collector a criterion, there
we're about 4,7lS votes cast, Of which Mr.. Halliday