Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11


was quite large. and the dealers generally cons
graduated themselves that their receipts were
nearly, If not quite, up 30 their Fridays re-
ceiptS and the prospects are that they win do
better at the new place Rents about the
market have risen considerably during the past
week"
THE Northern Liberties section was not ale
ways quiet and peaceful it is today.
for back in 1857 one Of the biggest riots this
city has known occurred in the immediate
vicinity of the market, where the polling place
was located for the election of certain city OFF,
GERS. ALI parties seemed to be pitted against
the American party commonly known as the
Know Nothing party, from the secrecy usually
maintained by its members.
William B. Magruder, who served the city as
mayor during the years 1856 and 1857, had
only been elected the year before, over the
Know Nothing candidate Silas B. HILL by q
scant margin of Is votes out of a total Of
5841 cast, and naturally the losing party was
willing to go the limit to carry the election
which took place on June 1, 1857. For this
purpose they brought over from Baltimore, ac-
cording to Mr. Topham, "a gang of IA election
strikers Plug Ugies' from a club of that
name, who came from Baltimore on the
morning Of June /, gathering in their train
many of the disorderly elements in this city,
and proceeded to the polling place at the
Northern Liberty Market on the south side Of
Eighth streets.
"The anti-Know Nothing voters were driven
away. The police were defied and helpless.
Mayor Magruder appealed to President Buch-
anan for troops. His request was referred to the
Secretary of the Navy, who promptly ordered
out ITO Marines from the Navy Yard, under
Mai. Tyler and Capt. Maddox who marched
to the polling place. where they found party
Of the disorderly element awaiting them with
a six-pound brass cannon. brought by the
rioters from the old Anacostia Engine House,
and placed under the Northern Liberty Market
shed at the corner of Seventh and K streets.
Mayor Magruder addressed the crowd which
by this time numbered about 500 persons, and
demanded that the polls be opened. His de-
mand being refused, the order was given the
Marines to fire. A section Of the Marines then
advanced under Maj Tyler and took possession
Of the brass cannon. The mob. retiring threw
stones and fired pistols at the Marines, one Of
whom wounded.
'"The Marines were then ordered to fire. with
the result that six persons were killed and
twenty-one wounded, among whom were Jus
tees Goddard and Dunn Ofdcers Deggs and
Birkhead and Gus F. Klopfer, Chief Of Police
Capt. Baggott Ward Commissioner r. B.
Owens, Col Williams of the Land ONCE George
d. Spencer, George McElfresh and others. AS
a result of the voting in this and other precincts
the Union, anti-Know Nothing ticket was
successful"
THIS incident at the time was of sufficient
importance even to cause the metropolitan
newspapers to feature it in their columns
Frank Lesiie's, in particular gave review OF
the riot, illustrated with pictures from daguerre-
otypes taken at the time. The description
accompanying the pictures says:
ION the right is to be seen the market house
in which the polls were held-on the left the
dry goods stores of A. Goddard and r. @.
FTNH~@
the picture, in hollow square inclosing the
swivel, and in the act of firing from every side
Col. william F. Wilson and Mr.. James Lauren
son were wounded while standing at the upper
or second story windows Of Mr.. r. G.. Hyatts
dry goods store, where they had gone to be out
Of danger. There are IL bullet holes in the
windows Of Mr. A. Goddards dry goods store
and three in Mr.. Hyatt's. Four Of the bullet
holes in Mr.. Goddards store were in a lower
window, on the range OF q mans head, and
within space of one foot square, man also
fell wounded in front of Mr.. Goddards store,
and Mr.. r. @. Hyatt was severely wounded
while standing in his store.
This will give pretty clear idea of the
firing of our Marines which seems to be on
the old English principle which prevailed In
the Revolutionary War-a practice which cut
the shrouds of our shipping to pieces and did
immense execution to the limbs of our forest
trees. Probably on this occasion this wild firing
was benef1cent, otherwise hundreds Of family
circles in Washington would have been clad in
mourning"
RESIDES this is also an interesting account
of the riot itself. which says:
1.-The polls in Washington were opened at the
different precincts on Monday, June 1. Every
thing proceeded quietly until between and 10
O'Clock, when symptoms of disturbance were
noticed at the fourth ward Suddenly an
attack was made upon an innocent, unoffendfng
naturalized citizen, who was standing in the
ranks Of the voters and an effort was made
to drive him and other naturalized citizens