The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-06
The Riot a, Rinh and Chesuut Streets.

''But how about the riot itself 2" we inquired.
'"The Invincbles," said the Mayor in response,
"came back from the meeting to their headquarters
very hurredly-an hour sooner than they were ex-
pected. The Keystones, having broken their pro-
mise at the outset, again violated 1t, and having
made circuit by way OF Green street, York avenue,
and Fourth street. turned up Chestnut street, reach
ing the corner of Fifth about hafpast 10 O'Clock.
large crowd of men was gathered on the pavement
in front OF this office, and on Fifth street. There
were cheers on one side and groans on the other.
Nobody can tell who struck the first blow. But as
the rear OF the Keystones reached the west side OF
Fifth street. an alteration arose between by
stander and some one in the ranks This was fol-
lowed by shouts of Come onv on both sides. Men
poured up Fifth street from Library, the Keystones
broke ranks and rushed down Chestnut, and the row
commenced
High Constable Clarlk's Official Account.
fBut," we here inquired, "were there no officers
still on duty at the Central Station?"
The Mayor here took up a lengthy manuscript and
said -"Let me read you the ofncial report of High
Constable Clark, who is one of our Republican
officers, you must remember"
He read the document aloud at length, emphasizing
and explaining certain portions as the reading pro-
pressed. After detailing his movements in following
the procession Of the Invincibes, in company with
Sergeant Crout, High Constable Clark proceeds to
give the following account Of the disturbance wit
messed by him.
"a few minutes after (arrivlng at Fifth and
Chestnut streets, on the return, the time of which
was half-past 10 o'cloc the Keystone Club came up
Chestnut street. large number of the Invncibles
being on the corner Of Fifth and Chestnut streets.
The Keystone Club had nearly all passed when
disturbance took place in the rear of the column of
the Keystone Club, then at the west side of the in
tersection Of Fifth and Chesnut and on making my
way the place arrested Archer Potter in the of
incting to riot and striking member OF the Invincl
bic Club, who, at the time was urging all parties to
keep the peace and pass on. AT that moment
general fight commenced, in which pistols were
freely used, and stones and bricks thrown. At the
time there were only Officers Kelsh Burnes, Moore,
Roberts, Crews, and myself present. thought that
quiet had been TeStOred."
"This" interposed the Mayor at this point, "was
the why High Constable Clark did not at once
telegraph to the district station houses for the assist
ance of the officers who still duty, awaiting
orders. 1t seems that there were two different and
distinct disturbances, and that after the close of the
first difficulty the officers present thought there
would be no further trouble and hence did not think
assistance essary."
The Mayor then resumed Constable Clark's nara
tve:-
81 thought that quiet had been restored. But in
this was Mistaken as the riot broke out afresh,
when i at once teegraphed for the Second, Third
Fourth Fifth, SIXTH and Seventh district reserves
who were promptly on the ground. But the mob,
having fired the transparency of the Invincibles and
broken several lights of glass in the windows of the
building, had left. With the force hand l dis
persed the citizens, and reported to the Chief of Po-
lice at his residence"
This closed the official report of the disturbance,
but the narrative of High Constable Clark proceeded
to say
On the route, in the early part of the evening, the
scarcity of officers in the Third police district was
remarkable"
"High Constable Clark" interrupted his Honor,
''was not aware of the special order given by the
Chief to the Lieutenant Of the district to detan his
men at the stationhouse for special duty and hence
his remarking the scarcity of policemen the
streets. But the High Constables report continues:
In the Second police district the men appeared
at their posts' This was also in compliance with
the special orders given to the men of that district
to which have already called your attention"
t'Itching for n Fight.''
'Who, then, was responsible for the disturbance?"
we here inquired. In answer to which the Mayor
said -
1.-THE impressions of our officers as to the cause of
the riot are these: THE Invincbles coming up to
the corner of Chestnut street after they had dis
banded instead OF returning to their homes, they
should have done, and the Keystones marching down
to this locality, contrary to the promise they had
gven made both cubs responsible for the disturbance
Both armed with reUolperS, and evidently itching
for fght!"
Our "IrIsh'' Police.
Having at last disposed of the riot of last Friday
night we broached another subject.
''Your political opponents have abused your police
force very much, we said, by way of suggestion.
'Yes," responded his Honor, sit has been abused
most shockinglv But look at this census of the
force which have had taken"-holding forth small
slip of paper covered with figures. "Out of sos men,
897, nearly haf, from the army and nary!
All these to start with, are honorably discharged
soldiers and sailors-a better proportion than was
ever known in any other administration in this
vicinity And just look at the table OF their natlv-
ties"
We noted it down, as follows:-
Born in United States ............ ........... 465