National Republican., 1880-11-03
SCENES IN ALExASDRth.
DisGracerul Row at the PoIis-Incidonts o.
Election Day.


Tho streets of Alexandria presented some
very lively scenes yesterday. all business ex.
ccpt voting being suspended and tho election
being tho solo topic Of conversation. At tho
third ward, tho polling place Of which Is at
the courthouse, the scenes throughout the
DAY were disgraceful in the cxtromo. Gangs
Of democratic roughs crowded into the line IN
front of tho coored men, mud would make
their way rs far "a tho window, then fall
out, to again get into the line ut another
point and crowd out Legitimate re-
publican voters About o'clock in tho after.
noon 1t became evident that there would
not be sufficient timo to get all tho votes in,
rs tho polls were to close at sundown 10
o'clock). The democratic mayor, Mr.. Cort-
land Smith, Mr. Chapman Noalc Alexander
Hunter and other leaders were Mt the polling
place cgging on their adhercnis, aud on sew
eral occasions the limo of voters was broken
aud republicans forced TO fall back. The
mayor sent for all the policemen In the city,
who were soon on tho ground. Two lines Of
voters were then formed of whites aud col.
orcd. This did not mend tho matter, and In
n fcw moments the confusion was verse than
ever. Major Burke here mounted q stand
and urged the republicans 10 kocp their tenn.
per aud not disturb tho peace Chapman
Ncalo larangucd the democrats from he
courthouse steps, charging that 200 negroes
had been sont to that polling-placo to intimi-
date voters. Tho mob was now thoroughly
enthuscd with bad whisky and the iutem.
pCrato speech of Ncalc aud ripe for fight,
which soon took place and was with difficulty
suppressed. The othor polling.places were
comparatively quiet. About 100 voters,
mostly republicans, were in line when tho
polls closed and were deprived OF their voto
thereby.
A row occurred IN tho Tontine restaurant.
originating in politics. in which n gang Of
Il g1,.Y
sors They went to Alexandria for the pur.
pose Of serving the democracy in any capacity
in which thcy might he called. Some Of both
parties were arrested. The officials at the
| station.house assured tho Hancock men that
| they would be released that night. Gentle
| men who carefully observed tho proceedings
state that the whole Alexandra police force,
with one or two exceptions, were busily at
work watching aud challenging republican
voters A bold attempt was made by demo
Gratis TO disfrunchso large number
| Of republican voters who had paid the
capitation tax and were entitled to
vote, upon tho ground that Stato-Auditor
| Massey appointed the tax'collcctor without
the approval OF Governor Holiday. Upon
| this tho democrats expected to throw out
several hundred votos, but the county judge
Of Alexandria decided that tho taxpayers
were not responsible for tho neglect of the
state officials, and the mon wero allowed to
cast their votes. Several sailor repentors were
allowed to vote and cast, rs they said, "a slug
| for Hancock"
The scenes in tho third ward wero witnessed
by many gentlemen from Washington, who
denouncc the shameful conduct of tho demo.
cratic mob in the most emphatic terms. Men
appeared in tho crowd armed with double
barrccd shoguns. A fence in the neighbor-
hood Of the courthouse was stripped of its
painss, which were used to arm the mob ot
democratic roughs. A number Of colorcd m eu
were seriously hurt In the melee, and one ol
them was stabbed in tho side, but tho result
Of his injury Is not known.