The Portland daily press., 1869-06-08
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, June THE election for Col
rector, Register, Surveyor and members of tn
CITY Council took place o-day. Major Rich
ards, Superintendent of Police, had taken tn,
precaution to secure to every voter the exer
else OF his franchise and at the same time tx
preserve peace at the polls Long before day
oreak crowds, principally men, gathered
az tne polis and formed in line for voting, al
Snougn this did not commence until o'clock
mere was throughout the the city during the
DAY great excitement at the respective pre-
clncts Towards noon several serious disturb
ances occurred Between IL and IL o'clock a
dispute occurred between some c0lored men in
the vicinity of the first precinct, on the corner
of 9th East and / street South The marty
moved off and when they reached 10Th street
East there was fight and the police arrested
George Poole, colored. Poole made desner.
ate resistance, and Christopher Bohlage. who
came to the assistance of the officer. was at
tackled by the negroes, beaten badly and .mt
with razor in the thigh. Tho officer succeed
ed IN saving his life but Poole escaped. With
derby. aN-o' '-'- -
IL having been noised abroad that every navy
yard employee who voted the citizens ticket
would be spotted, the citizens party early this
morning commenced passing ticket similar
N appearance to that of the Republicans
Many OF the colored men in this manner voted
the citizens ticket ignorantly, not only in the
9th but in other Wards ti z ..sa
Between and 2 o clock exaggerated reports
WOho duOAb as 10 Tue 6lecGl0u rlOLS IN the 7tn
Ward, and attempts were made to rescue par
ties from the police. They originated thus.
About IL o'clock Arthur Taylor Randolnb'
colored, alias Blueskin, and Samuel Dorsey
engaged in a fight with sticks, stones and 9TH
woman in Fighting Alley.' and soon the
noise being heard at the polls, large crowd
was attracted. Pistols being fred increased
the crowd largely. Officers arrested the mar
ties, and with some difficulty conveyed them
10 tne station house, and the crowd in the alley
was cleared by squad of mounted men. The
disturbance had nothing to do whatever with
the voting.
About / o clock Julius Wallace, colored, was
assaulted near the corner of 18th and M streets
IA the "a Ward, for having scratched the regu-
lar Republican ticket, but was rescued by the
police, some of whom were roughly handled by
the crowd, but they succeeded in putting down
the riot, Wallace driving off in his buggy amid
shower of stones. About the same time Tim
othy Rogers, who had voted the citizens tick
ct, was assaulted and badly beaten before the
crowd could be driven off
These disturbances occasioned great deal
OF excitement IN the neighborhood, and the
report that riots were going on attracted from
the other precincts of the third ward almost
the entire crowds, and for a time there were
not enough voters lett to form a respectable
line. II
Charles Stewart, one of the leaders Of the
colored citizens movement, was sitting in a
store ON 18th street, when q largo crowd of col
ored men gathered for the purpose of mobbing
MN. he got away, however. Later in the day
the crowd increased in front of the store, and
stewart having taken refuge in an upper room
the proprietor and his family were Obliged to
leave the premises: Finally Stewart came out
the police, the crowd shouting, "Here he
comes, Chang him. "Come out here and 90
to your dinner" sc. The crowd made dash
for him, but were beaten off by the mounted
police. Lieut.. TAFT and the dismounted police
then formed hollow square around Stewart
who was in company with Major Richards,
and the police and Stewart commenced to
march OFT in that order, The mob hooted,
swore and threatened to mob Stewart, and it
required all the exertions OF the mounted po-
lice to protect him from being killed on the
spot. Stewart was escorted down l. street to
18th, and thence to the corner of the alley
where the polls were held, land there he cast
his vote, This alley was literally packed with
eolored men, as also was the alley on the oppo-
site side of the street, and scarcely had Major
Richards left the polls with Stewart when q
votley of stones were thrown and several of
the police were wounded.
The mounted officers warned them TO desist
and charged upon the crowd, but quickly the
attack was recommended on the corner of X
street, Stones commenced to fly so fast that
it was dangerous for all persons in tho neigh
borhood, and the police fred into the party en-
gagged in throwing stones, but this seemed to
enrage the crowd, who threw stones in large
quantities and several pistols were fred. The
officers realizing that prompt measures should
he taken to put down the riot, were obliged to
fire directly into the crowd, when there was
general stampede and the police pursued the
tiugitives closely. VIM. Smith tcolored) was
badly shot and it was reported that he was
killed, but at the last accounts he was living
he was foremost in the attack on Major Rich
ards, and struck the Major several severe
blows on the arm and head with club and
pred pistol at him within two feet of his
The widest excitement prevailed after the
hiring, the negroes congregating in masses,
yelling with rage against the police and call
ing out that this policeman and that one was
the one who killed Smith. In the meantime
the policemen, who behaved with great self
possession, marched up and down through the
crowd, preventing anything like riotous dem
onstrations. Major Richards, though much
injured, remained on the ground in q carriage.
shot Just behind and under one eye, which
passed out above the opposite ear An aged
colored man, who was too old to take an ac-
i've par. ~ ...e a..s.cs, received sno5 in the
head and was taken in charge by the police.
Drs Draper and Stewart were on the ground
and attended to Rolner, and proceeded with
him to the Freedmen's Hospital They ex-
press the opinion that he may possibly recov-
er, but there is but little hope.
Alter the riot it was found that several po-
lcemen had been struck and bruised. The
crowd did not seem inclined to leave the loo al
ity of the riot, and threats were made towards
the police, and for little time appeared as if
the rioters were determined to have regular
battle with the police. Mayor Bowen was on
the ground soon after the DISTURBANCE, and was
bus.ly engaged in endeavoring to restore order
and quiet the excitement. .fr.414-f
Ldter.-No disturbances have occurred to-
night, although there is much excitement. The
vote is lighter than last year. The result is
not yet declared but the Republicans are sup
posed to have been successful by large MAORI
ties. t9sfs 8s1s 81 rs b