The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-11-02
RADICAL RIOT AT rrAeEnsrowN, mp.
One Policeman killed and another Dam
gerOusfy Wounded.
The Murder Party of Maryland.


1t becomes our duty as public jour
nalists to give a clear and truthful
statement of the bloody scenes enact
ed at the Radical meeting, held in this
place, on Saturday last. That the gath
ering was large one, no one that wit
messed it will pretend to deny, but it
was composed largely of women, chill
dren and negroes, from Western Mary
land, bogus Virginia and Pennsylva-
mia, so that it couldn't help being a
big affair"
The procession headed by the most
patriotic of the y-0ffice-holders
and otfice-seekers as a general thing
marched and cOunter-marched through
the principal streets of the town, as is
usual on such occasions, with banners
and flags floating in the breeze. The
grand parade over, there was a dismis-
sal for dinner, after which, the radical
fighting material began to develop it,
self. The first "Set-tO" occurred in the
bar-rOom Of StanhOpe's Hhtel, between
two men-bOth Radicals. One of these
men held flag, which he waved for eff
feet, and, imagining that one of the by
ISLANDERS had offered the emblem insult,
down. The row commenced, when
three Of the Police Officers, Charles
Gall, Robert Sands and Charles Ride
nour, the two first returned Union
soldiers, appeared promptly, as was
their duty, and attempted to preserve
the peace and quiet of the town. On
declaring that the peace should be pre-
served, and getting the crowd out Of
Mr.. Stanhope's Hotel, with little or no
disturbance, they were Surrounded on
the outside of the house by a mob,
when some one cried out they were no
policemen, but d--m rebels; the mob
then made violent threats, and eXhib-
tied the most menacing attitude. The
policemen, who were three brave men,
held their ground resOIutely rs long as
it was possible for them to dO so, stri-
wing to preserve the peace, and Gall
telling them they might shout for whom
they pleased, but they mast fight. The
policemen finding that they were being
0VerpOWered, that their efforts to pre-
serve order would prove Of no avail,
retreated slowly down Jonathan Street,
stones being hurled at them, and the
crowd rushing upon them, when they
turned and fired, which checked the
mob for a short time, and afforded the
policemen time to take refuge in the
house of James kuhn-a veteran sol
dier who served his country faithfully,
when the mob became doubly infuria-
ted at the sight Of splendid johnson
pole which had been erected by the
"bOys in blue" in front Of this house,
and on the top of which hoatcd a beau
tiful American flag-the "stars and
stripes" When the mob approached,
the cry was raised tOcut down the pole,
when firing Oh the mob from the Win
doWs Of the house commenced.
The street was literally blocked with
the mob, extending from the Court
House to the sceneO Of thefghting. Con-
spicuous amongst the mob was a prom
inent individual Of this place, a fire
brand, again urging men the third
time to deeds Of violence, the horrors
of which we siCken to record. Oh,
that the passions of men could not be
so readily inflamed at the bidding of a
man who thirsts for office, and who, to
accomplish his desires sets the laws at
defiance, and brings upon us scenes
that we shudder now to sketch. The
fight was now kept up, and several
times the mob backed, when officer
Gall, pointing a carbine out Of the Win
dow and exposing his head, q shot
pierced his brain, and he fell to the
pavement beneath, lifeleSS corpse.
The mob then rushed forward, the two
remaining policemen, with II few
friends who had rushed to their assist
ance, making their escape at the back
door. In attempting his escape, how
ever, Robert Sands, one of the police
men, was overtaken, and while held
fast by several men, received a danger
Gus stab in the right breast, penetra-
ting the lung. At first it was feared
that Sands was injured fatally, but
hopes are entertained that he will now
recover. The pole was cut down, and
falIingupOn the roof of the house smash
ed it in, after which the house was
gutted and literally torn tOpicces.-This
closing performance, we suppose, was
done for the reason that both Kuhn and
Rife, who kept a saloon in the house,
had been Union soldiers, but chose to
differ with the Radicals, and were the
friends of the President and the Gov
ernOr. Had they not the right to raise
the National emblem, the "Stars and
Stripes under which they fought so
bravely, over their building? The
cutting down of the pole with the flag
which the Radicals claim 20 have 50
much respect for, and which was rails
ed by Union soldiers, is a lasting dis
grace-a foul blot upon the names of
those who committed it. What. cut
down the American fag-that glorious
emblem of liberty, and that too, over
the building of men who braved the
dangers of the battlefield to uphold
and defend it, and who loved to sing
"And the star-spansled banner,
Oh long may it wave
Ger the land of he free,
And the home Of the bravo."
Did not Ben Butler hang man in
New Orleans for cutting down the A
merican flag, and have such proceed
ing5 become now less odiOus? Let us
reflect, and perhaps we will conclude
that times have changed sadly since it