The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-06
THE EAST ST. LOUIS DISTURBANCE.

East ST. Louis, though really a suburb OF thu
metropolis of Missouri, is situated in Illinois
or rather on what has been known as Bloody
Island, an island in the Mississippi which ha'
always been under the jurisdiction of Illinois
For wears its municipal government has beer
rent by hostile factions, growing out of the dis
putes between the Railroads and the Wiggin;
Ferry company. A year ago, one Bowman, ;
partisan of the railroads, was elected mayor
but majority of the city council belonging
to the opposite faction, refused to act with him
The council finally voted him out and made
ono Rafter mayor of their own Thencefortl
the city hsd two governments, each appointing
its own police, &c. The governor complicated
the matter still further by appointing third
set of policemen, independent of both factions
known as the Metropolitan police. The Rafter
party, Tor better known as the "Wider'' party
from the name of the leader of the anti-Bow'
man party in the counciD had the shrewdness
to recognize the Metropolitan as their own pc
lice and thus secured a sort of state backing.
The city was operating under special char.
ter, and last winter the people hoped to end the
trouble by adopting the General Incorporation
Law, and thus electing new set of alderman
city petitiOned the council to order an election,
but the Wider faction, who had possession OF
the council, treated the petition with contempt.
However, the Bowman party went on and or
LID Al. aIn 81, hnr
ter was adopted and under it IN April an cleo
ton was held. The Wider party, though pro-
testing against the adoption of the new charter
as illegal, went into the election, and claimed
to have elected a majority of the new council.
The Bowman party, having possession of the
ballot boxes, counted in a majority of their
own, upon which the council divided and the
city had two councils as well as mayors The
Wider party were driven to the engine house.
They still had the advantage, however, of be
ing backed by the Metropolitan police, body
of about forty determined men, who had pos
session of the police headquarters. The Bow
man party had been steadily watching for an
to capture these headquarters, and
last Sunday noon, there happening to he but
three or four Metopolitans at the station, the
attempt was made The result was "A failure.
The attacking party were met by brisk fire
from within, and two of them were instantly
killed and several others wounded. The as.
sailants then withdrew and the Metropolitans
held possession. However, a majority Of the
people seem to be against them and the city is
so intensely excited that at any moment the
least accident may lead to a general engage
ment 10 the streets The Governor has been
appealed to and has sent some military com
panies to keep the peace.
The questions in dispute between the rival
factions were submitted to the Supreme court
a short time ago and on account of the urgency
of the case so advanced on the docket that an
argument WAS had, and 1t is hoped, Gas both
parties agree 10 abide by the decisionJ that the
court will hurry up its decision as rapidly as
nOSsiblp