The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-25
IN PLUG UGnY DAYS.

The Death of One of the Leaders Recalls
the Rough Times in Baltimore.
Baltimore 'Na, January %.
John R, English died yesterday after.
noon at his home, 1923 East Fayette
street. after an illness Of four weeks
with kidney disease. he was about
sixty.four years old, Mr.. English was
born in Robinson'a chair factory. on
east side OF South street, near Lombard
street. His father, a clgarmaker, hav-
ing married a daughter OF Mr.. Robin.
son, conducted in the same building
where the chair factory was located a
retail tobacco shop. The sight OF Eng.
lish's lstt eye was destroyed by a gun.
ming accident in his youth. He learned
the cigarmaking trade and worked at II
until nearly twenty -one years old, when
he removed with his mother from South
street-his father having died in the
meantime-to the Fourth ward, in the
vicinity OF the old Vigilant engine house,
on Lombard street. near High street.
He became a member OF the Peeiers'
social organization, which included in
its membership men OF both political
parties Of the day. In 1S4B he removed
to Rose street; near Biddle street, and
became member OF the New Market
Engine Company, which then had an
engine house on Eutaw street, near Lex
ington street.
After a time no transferred his allie.
glance to the Mount Vernon Hook and
Ladder company, whose headquarters
were on Biddle street, near Druid Hill
avenue. He opened a saloon next TO
the company's house, II was in this
house that the title "Plug Ugly" was ap.
piled to gang who in their day were
the most formidable in Baltimore. An
old member OF the organization says the
name originated from one OF the ire.
quenters OF the saloon. who was very
ugly, always having plug tobacco. on
hand when the others would call him
by thepet name Of Ugly for his plug.
There are othor people who say. the
name originated from the ugly blows
the rowdies were accustomed TO give in
fighting. The Plug Uglies became a
terror TO the town. Under the admins
istratlon ofMayor Kinks he was a watch
man and later n policeman under Mayor
Thomas Swami. On the day Of Mr..
swann's election the Plug Ugly leaders
caused riots in the Eighth ward. There
were similar riots in Lexington market
between rival factions OF the day, which
caused tho loss OF some lives.
In 1856 English went to Philadelphia
with other members OF Mount Vernon
Hook and Ladder Company on visit
to Schiller Hose Company, OF that city.
The latter association were friendly to
the Mount Vernon, and always became
their guests when they visited Balti.
more. Tho occasion OF English's trip
was o ball given by the schfflers. Dur.
ing tile entertainment the Moyamen.
sing Hose Company, rival q the
Schiller, came in a body, and row
followed. AT the corner OF Ninth and
South streets the famous "Cockey"
Mcintyre, loader Of the Moyamen-
sing tiremen, was killed and Eng.
lish was arrested, charged with
his murder English's Baltimore
friends collected a large sum OF money
to defray the expenses OF the
prisoner, and Henry Winter Davis de.
Tended him and secured his acquittal.
Towards the decline OF know.nothingism
English was identified with q saloon on
Holiday street, between Fayette and
Baltimore streets, in the cellar OF which
1t Is said voters wore cooped and
drueged. After tho outbreak OF the civil
war English quieted down and became
staunch Republican. AT different
A A. Ia H. IA