Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-10-18

COLLISION OetueSn the W tCtG 1CtteS ana LeN0CG0tS
From the Troy Times, Oct. Is.
We are called upon to day, 10 chronicle one
of the most diabolica and wanton attacks up.
on procession of wide awakes, which hap
lpened in this city on Saturday night last that
III the nature OF the attack, the peaceabe con.
duct OF the outraged party, and the unprov0k.
ed character of the ASA ult, is without a par
allel in the history of our city. 1t is, too, uu-
paralleled in the history of the campaign
for Troy under democratic misrue, is the
first city in the union whose name has been
furnished with a crime SO t0al as that com.
mitted on Saturday evening The wide awakes
of the city had political demonstration and
torch light procession at the nail factory on
Saturday night. There was not general
turnout from the city-not more than from
four to five hundred men going down in uni
form. Rumors had been current during the
day, that the procession on its way to the fac
tory, WAS to be attacked in South Troy, and
if possible, broken up. These rulnors reached
the ears of the marshal OF The chief OF pc,
lice and other democratic leaders. The eli eff
of police, thought there might be disturb
auce, and he sent a squad OF six policemen OF
the force in South Troy to protect the process.
sion. No further means were taken to prevent
the assault.
While marching through the streets, at the
nail factory, the procession was On two or
three occasions stoned, and the guilty parties
arrested. Generally the rear OF the procession
was attacked, and it is not believed that more
than dozen persons were III anywse engaged
in the assaults which were made at different
times Que man, named John Handley, was
arrested in the act of throwing Il stone, by
some of the tenth ward club. He was marched
along the line until he reached the fifth ward
club, where he was placed in the center OF Il
file of men aud properly guarded until he was
handed over to officer McManus. lie was
subsequently conveyed to jail although not
until a desperate effort had been made while
the procession was fling through the Camp
bell highway to effect his release by party
of his friends, who were, however, quickly dis
persed Two other men were arrested, but
were released by Mr., Winslow, who agreed TO
have them re arrested to-day.
Upon the return of the procession from the
nail works, the melee became general The
10th ward club engaged with the rowdies
who began the work of destruction with much
effect--hurling the largest kind of paving
stones right in the midst Of the Wide Awakes
who, blinded by the glitter OF their own torch
es. were unable to defend themselves with any
degree of success A large number OF people
in the procession were OF course knocked
down and some of the aSsailants were sub
iected to a like fate at the hands OF tile Wide
Awakes Having no other means OF defence
than their torches, they used them to the best
advantage but the stats being made Of soft
nine wood, OF course no reliance was to be
nlaced upon them as weapons OF defence, One
blow was sufficient TO sever them. A good
many of the assallantS were knocked down,
simply, but were not Injured, and were able to
resume the fight again, while hit from
% nsgone was in nearly every case sufficient to
cool the ardor of their opponents, and lay them
ant pretty effectually. The 10th fought des-
perately, but were OF course overpowered.
The alarm beat for a general rally, but the
alarm had been so often sounded during the
night and no general attack being made, 1t
was supposed the disturbance would soon be
ouelled. This was not the case, unfortunate.
ly but the ASSISTANTS, elated by partial sue
cess rallied in great numbers and threw large
vollies of stones at the Wide Awakes, who,
after fighting from Adams street up to Wash
ington and the 10th being almost alone-the
LIST, 4th, and 9th wards arriving too late to
render any efficient service, and the men be
ing more or less beaten--a panic ensued at
Washington street, and the procession was
promiscuousy broken up. Up Fourth street
The Wide Awakes came at full race, followed
nv their assailants, who pelted them with
stones aud whenever Il struggling processon
ist was found, he was cruelty beaten and NAL
treated.
Charles Phelps, a very respectable citizen
of the tenth ward, and president OF that club
being IN the rear OF the procession, was
knocked down three times by stones, although
he, in return, succeeded in laying several of
the assailants low with his staff OF office. Mr.
Phelps is man over fifty years of age. Dis
covering u man pursuing him with large
atone which he had raised in both hands, aud
ali ready to throw it, he turned upon him and
knocked him down The man tell heavily,
and probably received a quietus for the night.
In minute more Mr.. Phelps was knocked
down senseless. While lying upon me ground
he WINS kicked and beaten, and did not recover