The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-11
RIOT IN BALTIMORE.
A WARD MEETING BROKEN UP-BLUD-
GEONS AND PISTOLS-SEVERAL PERSONS
. WOUNDED-ARRESTS.

A meeting Of the Seventeenth Ward Hayes
and Wheeler Club was held last night in
Cross-Street Institute, south Baltimore,
which was attended by considerable excite
ment, caused by the firing OF several pistol
| shots. 4 great deal of disorder prevailed,
and Mr.. C. Irving Ditty, one Of the speak
ers, was struck in the head with billy and
knocked from the platform. Several other
persons were injured slightly. The meet
| ing commenced at half-past O'Clock with
about q hundred members OF the CLUB ana
those friendly to them occupying seats.
A glee club opened the meeting by sing
ing Republican campaign song to the ar
OF I" Hold the Fort" While this was going
on cheers for Tilden and Hendricks were
given by some persons in the crowd that had
congregated about the door, numbering
probably hundred persons. An alterca-
ton took place at the entrance, and several
blows were struck. William Fl. Mills,
president, and George w. Nickum, secreta-
nv of the club, who were on the platform,
called for order, and hoped thepolice would
preserve the peace Three policemen were
stationed in the hall and four outside on the
pavement, where a large crowd had assem-
bled. William NJ. Marine, Of Baltimore,
and w. F. Wilmington, OF Anne Arundel
county, who were announced to speak, oc-
cupied seats at the front near the platform.
C.. Irving Ditty, upon being introduced,
was received with three cheers. He said
that the two great political parties OF to-day
had no special momentOus question dividing
them and differed only in records and relia-
bility. Hence sensible men should lay party
feeling aside for awhile, and consider which
OF the two candidates presented was the bet
ter man for the position. He arralgned the
Democratic party as being lnslncere, gov
erned only by doctrines OF eNpedlency, ana
termed it the Pandora's box from Which
had emanated all the political corruption
and abuse of the civil service SO much COM
plaincd of in this day. All the trouble was
the result of wrong systems, he said. He
spoke of the necessity OF preserving the
nations credit, and argued against repudla-
ton. Tilden, he said, was political sui
eide, having buried himself by wrong acts
as an individual.
Mr.. Ditty then went on to speak OF Mary
lands attitude in the campaign. during all
Of his remarks there was noise and dlfhculty
in the crowd near the door, whom the po-
licemen, supplemented by reinforcements
from the southern station, kept in restraint.
Mr.. Ditty added that in the elections IN
Baltimore last fall the conseryators OF the
peace, who should have protected the BAL
iot-box, were in league with those who vlo-
lated it, and by force and intimidation Kept
legal voters from the franchise.
A young man seated in window at this
point interrupted the speaker, and with an
oath shouted out, "You're liar" Mr.
Dittv called on the policemen to remove the
man, but they were at the other emu OF the
hall. He had no sooner spoken, however,
than there was chorus Of eco for them,
4 than
minute over a hundred men charged to the
front of the hall, and scene OF intense en-
citement and CONSERVATION ensued. Several
pistol shots were fired by the advancing
party-probably six, but not less than four:
One bali made fesh-wound in the leg OF
James Cork, and another member OF the
club. whose name could not be learned, was
shot in the arm. Those who had been hold
ing the meeting were evidently taken by
surprise, and made a precipltate exit.
Some twenty persons got out OF windows
on to the market-house roof, and then Jump
ed to the ground. Four OF five jumped out
of side windows, distance OF over ten feet,
to the street. Several were knocked down
and tramDled while running down the steps,
among them Philip Watkins, living on
| Church street, who had his face and head
badly cut and bruised.
MI. Ditty was struck in the head with
billy, receiving a painful but not serious
wound In three minutes from the end OF
Mr.. Dittv's speech there was not member
of the club remaining in the hall. Mr.. Ditty
was assisted to his home by friend.
The reporter of the Sun had his notes
snatched out of his hand by man, and an
other fellow struck at him, but was restrain.
ed by policeman. James Hagan, charged
with "disturbing political meeting" was
arrested and locked up in the Southern po-
lice station. Thomas Hogan, charged with
L" firing pistol in political meeting and
breaking the meeting up" was also arrest
ed. Lieutenant Farnan, who stood near,
took the pistol away with difficulty, and
conveyed Hogan to the station-house. These
are the only arrests thus far, though it must
be remembered that the rush was so sudden
and excited that hardly much more could
be done at the Baltimore Sun, 9th.
The Combahee Strikers.
rur StJER1EF'S POSSE SURROUNDED AND