The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-04-08
HOME MATTERS.
WAR.
They fought and fit,
And gouged and bit,
Till the country,
For miles around,
" IS CUVCTtU q Ct
With blood and "cuss-words.'

FOR miles aTOuuu,
Was covered DER
With blood and "cuss- words.'
One of the most scandalous rows that ever
dsgtaced this city occurred on last Tuesday
evening. 1t had no reference TO the election,
which, though exciting, passed off quietly and
left every one except dozen or two OF candi-
dates perhaps in the best humor. The trouble
all arose from the smouldering relics of old
feuds-apd desire for "revengc--re.venge" A
dance, as we understand it, had beep given IN
the country, which some Of these fellows had
attended and where they had been badly "bruio'
ed" On Tuesday evening one OF the "countries,"
named Hyatt entered James lloban's saloon,
nndcr the Exchange Bank, where the roughs
were They pitched onto him and beat him
badly, without ceremony, and came out to prowl
around the streets, INDUCING in loud swearing,
threatening to lick" any one who spoke TO
them. One scalawag named Lynch had the au-
dacity TO go up TO special policeman Skinner
and tell him II he'd take off his star he'd thrash
him, and said he couldn't arrest him, and other
wise insuted him. Though Skinner was accom-
panied by Maher, the rascal was allowed TO con-
sinue his deyiltries with only an admonition TO
keep quietm They, after some time, entered
Mike Formulas saloon, where they met a couple
offcllows named Murphy, who were quietly play
ing cards, with whom they had had trouble at a
quiet dance" at quiet house" in quiet Cen
ter Ottawa" and with whom they now picked a
fuse. A general free SIGHT then UGsucd, in
which brass knucklcs, chairs, knives, any thing
that came handy were used. This emu, by the
assalants being thoroughly "cleaned out" and
expelled through the back door, bruised, cut and
covered with blood. There they tried hard TO
force an entrance again, but were not success
full. Next they congregated on Columbus street,
where they were partly pacifled by the police.
The smart Of the rebuff was still there, however,
and when the cry "here comes Nick" was raised,
the old spirit broke out again in greater fury,
and with Nick they rushed up Madison st. to the
corner and around to Mikes front door. Here
they attempted 10 force an entrance with loud
swearing and threats to Lick any id Murphy
that ever crossed the sails" At this time Chas.
II. Hook appeared on the scene and commanded
peace lie was showed away several times but
As he persisted to interfere he was pushed yio'
lently away by Downey, which Hook resented
by a blow for which he received many returns
tempted to arrest Lauigan, whom they lead
toward theljah. The crown surrounded them,
and by pushing and pulling, talking knife, etc,
managed to get the prisoner away, and to throw
the police to the ground. The officer, though
covered with mud, was not n badly kicked,
pounded and battered up as many suppose. az
ter the prisoner was released both the prisoner
and the others openly deied the police, saying
mo id police could arrest them" There was
no fighting after that but the crowds hung
around the streets till McIntire, the sheriff and
Justus Harris, who had been in attendance at the
CITY Hall. arrived, who speedily dispersed the
citizens who were discussing the situation-ihe
NIB having previously disappeared unmolested.
We don't wish to be hard on any one, but II
/. is our opinion that this row could have been
prevented by quick. decided action in the start
That rascal should insult the officers as
young Lynch did just after the row IN hohah
and escape, Is criminAlly ridiculous, and 10y ar
resting him the Subsequent proceedings oon'd