Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-06-13
The Riot in Washington.

Inst. The following is from the Star OF
Monday evening: - re-
A gang of hired ruf1ians and bulies,
"plug uglies," and other WORTHLESS from
Baltimore, have been imported by the know
nothings to take violent possession of the
polls, and armed with reyolvers, billies, and
slung> shots, TO prevent our citizens from
dcpositing their voes.
In the first precinct Of the Fourth ward
this morning general fight occurred, In
which several hundred men and boys were
engaged, indiscriminately 1t seems that
some forty or City plug oghes came down
from Baltimore this morn;nn TO assist our
citizrns 10 the election to day. After float
ing around for some time without effecting
anything of note, they pitched upon the
Fourth ward first precinct, as being the p'ost
eligible scene for their operations. a.
line Of voters were standing in the strto
extending for some distance from The polls,
and composed principally Of anti Bno W. moth
ing voters. The plugs. assisted by several
large squads of chunkers and rip raps Of
our city, endeavored 10 break intn thin, line
by crowdir G, but not succeeding in this
they left the scene Of action to conceli more
hostile measures.
After short time they returned largely
reinforced in numbers. and with revolvers,
stones, billies, brickbats, &c they made n
concerted onslaught upon the voters. A
terrible scene now ensued. in which the en-
tire crowd participated. Stones and pis.
tolls were rapidly discharged, and men were
tratnpled to the earth, beaten. stamped on,
and severely wounded. Among those in
jured was r. b. Owens. Fourth Ward
Commissioners. who had his wrist badly
shattered by pistol ball. a. Kl pier re-
ceivcd spent bnii in his forehead, which
stunned him but inflicted no serious injury.
Captain Goddard was, with several officers,
on the ground. and the Captain did good
service with his long arms and heavy fists
IN quelllng the affray. He was severely
struck several times, but got off without
any serious damage.
Several Of the ringleaders were arrested
and taken to the guard house; amongst
others, young man by the name of John
son.
The buildings in the neighborhood we're
damaged, the doors and windows being
broken in on all sides. In the skirmish Mr.
George d, Spencer received Il severe blow
in the face.
AT the first precinct ofthe Fourth Ward
the officers did all in their power to prevent
the riot, placing themselves between the
belligeIens and the voters 10 the line, with
Cnptain Goddard at the head, who demand
ed the peace. when they rushed on en- masse,
and with an impetuosity which nothing
short Of a military force could have with.
stood; and, although the police fought like
heroe, they were forced to abandon The field
to the possession of these hired miscreants
--n n.-s p-i-:--.,s>i iutruro were, ABOUT j
o'clock. good enough to pay visit TO the
Second Ward polls. wearing the know moth.
ing ticket as a badge. and shouting for
Dixon" as rallying cry.
In a few minutes their inevitable revol-
vers were out, and some thirty OF forty shots
were tiled. in quick succession. in the neigh.
borhood of Eleventh and the avenue.
In this affray young man, residing on
Thirteenth street, between Ii and !, named
John Ouzely, was shot in the knee. About
this time some of tie solid men" of the
ward were seen emerging from their resi-
dences armed with muskets, as il they had
some notice of going upon cunning expe-
diiion. The plug ugiies seemed TO think
the Second Ward air was getting insalubri.
GUS, and they left in body, probably with
the design of Regulating" some Of the 9TH
er precincts.
AT noon il became evident that nothing
short of military interposition could save the
city from almost universal riot. A letter
was addressed by Mayor Magruder to the
President Of the United States, asking for
company Of marines in order to main,uin the
peace of the city. The request was prompt
ly complied with. We continue our ex,
tracts from the Star:
Shortly after o'clock, p. 81, the ma
rines Cwo companies, no 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, inIhe meantime, procured
a brass cannon, mud stationed il at the
Northern market-house which they made
their bead quarters.
After tho Mayor had addressed the crowd,
stating that the soldiers were brought there
solely to maintain the public peace of the
city. which had bten aagrantly violated, the
marines moved upon the market.honse to
take possession of The cannon, amidst every
species of taunt and oppsobrium, ending
finally in the posseseors Of the cannon firing
pistols at the marines. The latter, bowev-
er, moved steadily on, seized the cannon,
apd then, dae warning having been given,
replied 10 the pistol shots upon them By a
volley Of ball.
The plug uglies thon scattered, firing
shots as they did SO from behind corners. :