The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-01
The FlREMEk'S RIOT IN NEW
YORK.
A Fearful ARRAY Between Two
Engine Companies.
Three Men Fatally Wounded.

Three men faLally W0uuutu'
Dispersion Of the Mob by Police,
From the New York World. Aug. 81. -
At an early hour yesterday morning a
most disgraceful and fearful riot occurred
between the members and runners of en-
CINE companies Nos. and Al, during an
alarm of fire at the corner of Ridge and
Delaney streets which at one time threat
ened to involve the whole neighborhood in
the disturbance. During the melee three
of the belligerents were seriously, if not
fatally, wounded, and many others were
more or lees injured. The companies en-
gagged in this disgraceful affair are both
well known In the department as well for
their efficiency at fires as their -belligerent
propensities. Clinton engine No. al is
housed 10 Clinton street, near Grand, and
always carries Q large sscrowd" of runners
and fighters to fires. Americus engine No.
Sis, perhaps, the largest company IN thus
city. 1t is Familiarity known as "Big Six, !"
and among its active and honorary mem
bers are some of the most influential poll
ticians in the city government. 1t was
always the ruling political machine in the
Sixth ward, and from its original members
sprang the celebrated ""Amerious club, +"
now known a. the most powerful local or
ganization of politicians in the United
Ssates. For q long time past a most Bit
ter feeling of ill-will has existed between
the two companies, and frequent melees
have been the result of the meeting OF
these companies at fires. This wrangle
eliminated on Sunday morning in the fear
full riot, the details of which win be found
below. ss, In. .anrla.a.a a.s 90 81, q.
At about forty minutes past 12 O'Clock
yesterday morning, the fire-bells on the
east side of the city sounded for the sixth
district, the alarm being caused by. burn
ing of straw on the roof OF tenement
house, No. SO Ridge street. The; police
and fremen responded promptly to- the
alarm, and the fire was extinguished in .
short time. In the meantime, however,
while the police from the Thirteenth pre-
cinct were engaged in extinguishing the
flames, engine companies Nos. 6 and Al,
who both do duty in the 9Th district, had
met on the corner of Delaney and Ridge
streets, when the former quarrel was re-
newed and the riot was the result. It is
stated that the partisans of No. Al engine
made the attack on the members of No. 6,
armed with trumpets, pipes, iron-bound
clubs, etc. The fight ragged furiously for
some time, until at last pistols and dirk
knives were drawn and freely used among
the crowd. LII % y.I ~ -u.oz ., taeJ =
Information was soon received at the
station house, which is but a block away
from the scene of the ARRAY, and the re-
serve section were Immediately dispatched
to .quell, the, disturbance. They made q
charge. on the belligerents, but did not
succeed in dispensing them. In the mean
while knives were brandished and used,
and bullets few thick and fast. Captain
Steers, finding all his efforts to dlsperse
the mob unavailing with the small posse of
police under his command, Immediately
autographed to the adjoining precincts for
aid, and in short time section of men
from the 9TH, 10th, 18th and 18th pre-
cincts were on hand, in charge of q ser
geant from each of the above precincts.
Capt. Steers then massed his forces and
ordered q charge on the excited mob,
who were having it all their own way.
The police charged with appraised batons
calamity on the crowd, which now out
numbered them FIVE to one, and the strug-
gle for mastery now became desperate in
the extreme The police struck right and
left, and with each well-directed blow one
of the rioters sank to the earth, and while
many of the police were struck, none were
seriously or even severely wounded. They
seemed to have a charmed existence
among the flying bullets and the fast-de'
scending blows of brass pipes, trumpets
wrenches, &c. Finally, the police were
victorious and drove the rioters from the
street, and were left in possession OF the
field, and those of the wounded who were
not carried off by their friends. Among
those wounded and picked up by the po
lice are Matthew Bittman, shot in the alb
domen and is fatally wounded. Bartlett
AcGee was shot in the arm and breast
he is now lying at Bellevue hospital, in
precarious condition. James Quinley wa.
shot in the left breast and is supposed t,
be fatally injured.
Besides the above, there were, no doubt,
some twenty persons injured by the fire.
men and police, who were taken to thei
home by friends, and whose names coul,
not be ascertained. 1t was also rumore,
that woman had been shot, but we coul,
not trace this report to reliable source
After the rioters had been driven off b
the police, the latter took possession o
both the engines. 49,. ..fo.
PKRsoNAL.-aon. NJ. 8. wilkinson arrive
in town last Saturday. It is said that he cor
templates building residence this season. an
that lumber for that purpose. is now at Her
derson.-Monkao Record.
WnKs friends say he will stick to Mar
kato Until next fall, with the intention
getting the nomination to Congress
place of Hon. VIM WINDOW. We don