Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-08
Political Riot I'm Cincinnati

CONFLICT BETWEEN GREELEY AND BROWN
PROCESSION AND THE CoLoRRD PEOPLE.
A riot occurred in CINCINNATI last night on the
corner OF fifth street and Broadway, between
Greeley torch-light procession and q number
OF cOlored people, in which from fifty to seventy
five shots were fired and several persons
wounded, but none SO far as heard from killed.
The accounts of the affair given by eye-wit-
nesses are very conflicting. The Greeley club
was from the 4th ward, in which the population
is largely Irish, and the locality of the riot is
thickly settled by coored people. The colored
people say that during the day word was sent
them that they would be attacked last evening
officers of the district feared a riot, and the
colored men laid i'm a stock Of ammunition. A
coloTed man made q political speech on the
street, and while he was speaking the process
sion turned TO 60 down toward 4th street. Here
and at this time the firing commenced. One
account is that a lot of colOred children rushed
down TO the corner to see the procession 90 by
ana unframed for Grant, and that the torch.
bearers in the procession beat them and drove
them away, and attempted to drive a col
ored man away by beating him, aud tina;
he drew pistol and fred at them
Others who were not near by, but who saw tbs
beginning, say that four shots were bred first
from the procession, and that q colored man
hTed back The preponderance of testimony is
that the hiring was commenced by q yery large
colored man, who was standing on the sidewalk
The confusion then became fearful. The mem
bers OF the procession first started to run. ana
then rallied. The cOlOred men, such as had pis-
tols, seemed to be using them, and retiring
north over Broadway. Cnarmed colored men
ran to their armory on New street, where they
got about thirty muskets, and rushed out to re-
inforce their friends. They succeeded in driving
back and dispensing the members of the process
sion. They then rushed to their armory. where
about ore hundred and fifty or two hundred OF
them are under arms. They have all the ap-
proaches to the armory guarded One of their
leaders inside made them a speech, In which he
said :" This attack tonight was made to in
hmidate you from voting tomorrow. Now l
want to say to you, let every man of Won 90 to
the polls at vote, If at the cost OF YOUR lives"
While the riot was in progress the riot alarm was
turned in on the fire bells, and the whole police
force was called to the scene. The mayor, chief
OF police, and entire police force were soon on
the spot. The police formed across the street in
platoons and drove the mad crowd from the
vicinity OF the strife. They then made such a
disposition Of their force as to prevent a renewal
OF the conflict up TO midnight. Great crowds
OF men were congregated on Main street, out
side the police lines and three squares from the
armory. where the colored men were under
arms. The greatest excitement prevailed.
The general belief OF the witnesses is, that
alter the riot began both sides participated %
their utmost in the firing, but there are no
trustworthy accounts of colored men being shot
The witnesses say several colored men were
knocked down in the streets.
The seriously wounded are James Smith and
THOMAS Warrington, in the thigh. Smith was
III the procession. and Warrington was standing
on the sidewalk when the firing commenced.
Cne man was shot in the toe, another was era zed
on the thigh, another was shot through the
thumb, and several had their clothing cut bv
bullets.