Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-24
From the Memphis Enquirer, May p.
FIrenan,s RfoI---SeriOus Collision
Between Fire Companies Nos. hree


One of the most dsgraceful ard unheard
of riots that ever took place in this city oc-
Cured on Main street. between Adams aud
Washington streets, Sunday afternoon, about
three O'clock The difficulty originated be-
tween the Numbers Of Fire Companies No. 3
and 6, from a misunderstanding. which has
existed between them f.. some time past. and
which on several occasions has eliminated in
hostile collisions among them. though until
Sabbath last they were generally smOthered
ND without serious results. At the fire on
Sunday morning last in the locality of the NJ.
y o. Depot, number OF the members OF the
two Companies nImed, (No. and 81 became
involved in a difficulty. resulting in the over
towering of the SIS by the 6's. who bore the
formers engine off, il being afterwards found
in a bayou. hit before midday was replaced
in the IS Cngine-hOuse.
Sunday afternoon the members CT NO. 3,
who had teen absent at Nashville, returned
to The city and at once repaired to their en-
CINE house. What deliberation on The affair
of the morning ensucd we are not able to
stale; but a little after two o'clock No. As
bell sounded fire alarm, and the 3's. s and
G's started from their respective houses down
Main street, the former aheaG, and the latter
some distance in the rear.
The SIS, upon arriving at the corner OF
Madison. discovered that the alarm was
false and turning their engine, started to-
wards Adams street. The 6's, who had by
this time arrived at Union block, below
Court st, also started for home, III lively
run The 3's then increased their speed, and
by the time the 6's reached Adams street,
were nearly along side, and not turning
,lown Adams, both companies stopped short
istancc above It.
Al This poiut "A tragic scene. which beg
airs all description took place. Hardly
iomcnt elapsed ere the two companies,
um5ering in all perhaps fifty or sixty indi-
iJnals, took po>itions-the 6's north. aud
nd the SIS sOuth--on Main street, when
,wdy shout was raised, followed by rain
-hrickbats clubs aud all available missiles
hich hither and thither went whlZZing
rough the air, manning those immediately
gagged in the mob, and placing the lives of
ystanders aud the outside crowd, which had
own into immense proportions, IN jeopardy.
xcitemeut soon became rifle; The street was
i've with men almost dead by their wounds,
d by others who apparently were paving
i.r way To almost certain death. when IN
Il less than three minutes loud reports of
stols were beard in rapid succession, "A mum
of shots taking effect in the crowd, seTi-
Isly wounding several persons. who were
,eedily taken away by their friends. OF
sose injured, the wounds OF one having at
aldy resulted fatally, he having died at the
Isp.tal Yesterday.
The wounds of the others, though painiul,
is thought will not prove fatal. After The
,utenis of all the firearms had been dis
,arg-d. the mob dispersed, the members OF
.mpany No. 6. as before. Carrying on The
igtne of No. ;. toward their, the SKIS en-
inc house. a running fight being kept up
tween the tagging menberc OF both COM
. anie~- At, or the way to the six : en-
inc house the three's engine Was despoiied
some mean parties with an axe, the spokes
ri the wheels being cut, and The body OF The
machine badly dishgured. After the dispcr-
,ion OF the crowd, both companies repaired
To their respective houses, where meetings
were held charsc terizrd 10y great excitement.
The companies have resolved 10 suspend until
the difficulty shall have been authoritaiiEely
adjusted, until which lime We defer express
ing any opinion a. TO who were the uggres-
sors. But that a grieyous wrong aud u bar
barous outrage las been committed, which
will forever he a stain and stigma on the
fair fame of tho Memphis Fire Department,
none will deny.
We trust. however, that repetiioa OF the
disgracelui scene enacted on sunday. will
not asain occur, and that we may see re-
stored the wonteI harmony, peace, and good
will which have heretofore reigned among our
hrenen. WHO. governed by 40 hope of rs-
muneraiiou. have been working for "A common
good, aud battling against common enemy.