Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-11-09
A SERIOUS RIOT IN KENTUCKY.

r On the 1st instant, while body Of Ken
lucky State troops were guarding two prison.
ers, Neal and Croft, who were being trans
ported by boat from Ashland to Catlettsburg
the boat was fired upon by a mob having for
their object the rescue of the prisoners. The
troops returned the fire and five persons, citi-
zens of Ashland, were killed.
Upon the return Of thetroops to Lexington,
the commanding officer, Major Allen, made
the following statement On Wednesday noon
the order was given for the troops to move
down to the river front. Major Allen, having
learned in the meantime that mob from
Ashland was on it's way to Catlettsburg, the
troops were marched down to the river front
and the prisoners marching with a guard de-
tail and with two companies. The remainder
of the troops were posted on the hill which
commands the river front. The different
companies had hardly been placed in position,
when IA train arrived from Ashland, consisting
of one locomotive engine, one or two passen-
ger cars, and five or six flat cars closely pack
ed with a mob from Ashland. A delegation
of some 25 or 30 men approached the troops
and called for Major Allen. The committee
representing the men said that they CAMERON
Ashland for the purpose OF taking Neal and
Croft, peaceably if possible, if not then by
force that they were 1000 strong and could
overpower the troops easily. Their demand
was peremptorily refused. The committee
then stated that if the troops escaped from
Catlettsburg with the prisoners they would be
met at Ashland by at least 1000 or 2,5OO men
supported by boat containing four cannon.
The troops were then withdrawn to the steam
er Granite State which arrived under cover OF
the cannon, which was faced toward the mob
until every soldier had embarked and which
was then dragged down the hill and into the
boat. The boat then left for Ashland
with the troops and prisoners, and at the
same time the mob boarded the train and start
ed towards Ashland.
When the boat arrived within few miles
of Ashland the train came in sight, and ran
along the track which skirts the river front at
that point. \ great number of shots were
fred from the train at the soldiers. They
were not responded to by the troops. just as
the Granite State approached Ashland ferry
boat containing, it is supposed, about lOO men
armed with muskets, rifles and shot guns ap-
preached the Granite State. The ferry boat
whistled a signal to stop, which the Granite
State did not heed. When nearly opposite the
Granite State, and from 200 to 300 yards dis
tant great many shots were fired from the
ferry boat at the troops, wounding several OF
the soldiers. The command was given for the
troops to return the fire which they did, and a
quick and spirited conflict ensued for four or
five minutes. The smoke-stack and hurricane
deck of the Granite State where well. perfora-
ted by the bullets from the mob. Four or five
soldiers were wounded, though none seriously.
The fire of the troops was directed entirely at
the ferry boat containing the mob, not at the
crowd collected on the bank, which was very
large and enthusiastic in supporting the mob
on the ferry boat. If persons standing on the
bank were injured it was through carelessness
in being 50 near to a lawless mob attacking
State troops, and not because the troops fired
at them. In the engagement the ferry boat
was soon silenced, and after the mob on her
had ceased to fire not a single shot was freddy
the troops The commanding officer, whilere-
GREETING that he had to take such strong and
deadly measures, feels that they were forced
upon him, and the responsibility for the unfor-
tunate results rests entirely upon the men who
attempted to take the law into their own
hands.
On the arrival of the guards from Catletts-
burg to Frankfort they were welcomed by a
formal address, in which their conduct was
approved. Gov. Blackburn says he sent the
troops to Catlettsburg upon the application of
Judge Brown, and while deeply sorry for the
dead and wounded, he could not lay the blame
on the troops and if application is made in
February he will send twelve regiments if nee
essary to uphold the law.