The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-06-09
RIOT Inv WASHINGTON CRY.


was held. The anti-know nothing ticket
was elected. The day was characterized
by disgraeeful riot. Shooting and stab
bling were freely resorted to by the rioters.
no Marines were ordered out, and pro-
ceeded to the polls, and were attacked by
the mob, who were preparing to fire a
Swivel, when the Marines charged and
took the swivel, and fired upon the rioters,
which was returned. When the mob dis
persed it was ascertained that six were
killed and fifteen wounded, one Marine was
shot, the rest were innocent persons and
rioters.
We take the following detail from the
Washington Star of the 1st instant:
In the first precinct of the fourth, ward
this morning a general fight occurred, in
| which several hundred men and boys were
engaged, indiscriminately. 1t seems that
some forty or fifty Plug Uglies came down
from Baltimore this morning to assist our
citizens in the election to-day. After float
ing around for sometime without effecting
ything of note, they pitched upon the
fourth ward first precinct, as being the
most eligible scene fer their operations. A
long line of voters were standing in the
street, extending for some distance from the
polls, and composed principally of anti
know nothing voters. The Plugs, assisted
by several large squads of Chunkers 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 to concert more hostile measures.
After short time they returned largely
reinforced in numbers. and with revolvers,
stones. billys, brick bats, &C., they made a
concerted onslaught upon the voters. A
terrible scene now ensued, in which the en-
tire crowd participated. Stones and pistols
were rapidly discharged, and men were
trampled to the earth, beaten, stamped on.
and severely wounded. Among those in
iured was r. B. Owens, fourth ward COM
missioner, who had his wrist badly shatter
ed by pistol ball; A. Kloffer received a
spent bah in his forehead, which stunned
him, but inflicted no serious injury. Capt.
Goddard was, with several officers, on tie
ground, and the captain did good service
with his long arms and heavy fists in quel}-
ing the ARRAY. He was severely struck
several times, but got off without any Sc
rious damage. ~-
An Irishman was so dreadfully mutilated
that his features were entirely undstin-
guishable, and his head and shoulders were
covered with blood. The polls were torn
down by this imported gang of Baltimore
villains, the pavements were strewn with
stones, clubs and other missils. Several of
the ringleaders were taken to the guard
house, 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 Mr.
Geo. d. Spencer received a severe blow in
the face.
An old man named Cassidy, granite
cutter, received bullet wound over the
left ear; the ball fortunately, however,
glanced and did not penetrate the SKULL
He was taken to the residence of DR.. Pal
mer who attended to the wound.
Mr. Matthew Emery was severely injured
by blow from stone. In consequence of
the disturbances, there was a general clos
ing of the stores and places of business
quite early in the morning.
At the first precinct of the fourth ward
the officers did all in their power to prevent
the riot, placing themselves between the
belligerents and the voters in the line, with
Captain Goddard at the head, who command
ed the peace, when they rushed on en- masse,
and with al impetuosity which nothing
short of a military force could have with
stood. and although the police fought like
heroes, they were forced to abandon the
field to the possession of these hired mis-
creantS.
Such an exhibition of murderous nstru-
ments as the party carried was sufficient to
cause the peaceably disposed to keep as far
from them as possible. One man was armed
with blacksmith's sledge; another with
horse pistol of large dimensions another
carried a miscellaneous assortment of re-
volvers, bowie knives, bllies, an iron bar.
while fourth carried, besides side pocket
filed with convenient stones, brickbats. &C.,
a large billet of oak wood of sufficient
weight to fell an OK. These weapons were
as thick as mulberries in season, the parties
brandishing them about in a menacng man
ner to the horror of all those who were not
like themselves, participants in these dis
graceful scenes.
Mayor Magruder Immediately sent the
following communication accompanied by
certi6cates) to the President, asking that
a company of U. S. marines should be or
dered out for the purpose of maintaining
the peace.
MAYORS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, June l, 1857.
To the President the United States:
Sir: Upon the representation OF credita-
bic citizens that band of lawless persons,
most of them not residents of the city, have
attacked one of the polls at which the an
Y.I,al election * II, Gnd ftar