Evening star., 1934-08-02
RELATES BATTLE
HERE FATAL TO 7
Official of Association OF
Oldest inhabitants Tells
of '57 Riot.

The battle Of the plug Uglies' IN
1887. when Seven people were killed
In q riot here. was described last
night to the Association Of Oldest
Inhs bftants by James p. Duhamel, q
vice president Of the organization.
Plans were made 10 celebrate
Stephen c. Foster night, al the reg
ular October meeting of the associa-
tion. when old songs win be sung.
The "Plug-Ugly" battle was re-
called by Duhamel In the course Of
"reminiscences OF early days in the
Northern Liberties
The greatest sensation IN the his
tory Of the Northern Liberties" he
said, was the Know-Nothing or
Plug Ugly riot at the old market
house at the southeast corner Of
Mount Vernon Square.
Plug -Uglies Sent Here.
In an exciting mayorality election
held in the Spring Of 1887" he ex-
planned, there was a polling place
on the south side of K street, op-
posste the old market. in the third
ward. The Know-Nothing party had
been very strong In Baltimore and
they decided TO send q section Of
their party. known as Plug Uglies.
to washington 10 run things at this
election district.
"For some time they terrortzed the
neighborhood when Mayor BerTett,
ON account Of the disorganized con-
dition Of the Washington militia,
called upon the President for assist
ance and the Marines were close at
hand and hurried TO the scene. They
called on the rioters TO disperse. The
mob refused to obey. and the troops
fired and seven, mostly spectators,
were killed and many were wounded.
This was but q preliminary to the
turmoil and bitter feeling that con-
tinued until the beginning of the
Civil War, when the militia, police
and fire departments were so de-
that In a few years COM
plete reorganization was necessary In
all three branches"
Games and sports OF the younger
were described by Du-
hamel.
Built Hook and Ladders.
re-nghting proclivities of our
elders were also in evidence" Du-
hamel said. land those boys with
some ability in carpentering were
called upon to build small hook and
ladders on which we rode with
others, for horses could be seen DASH
ing about the streets on many occa-
sions TO attack an imaginary fire In
some woodshed.
I'm front of the Wise house the
gutter was often damned and water
was pumped therein to float the
boats that we whitfield and rigged.
Often a gang of us would hike to
Rock Greek or Piney Branch for
swimming or boat sailing. Sometimes
In the Winter months we ventured to
visit frozen Tiber Greek at North
Capital and New York avenue II
there was none OF the Swampoodle
gang to stop u.s." Tales of kite max
ing and flying also were related.
A very conspicuous person in those
days, Duhamel recalled, was the
chimney sweep with his ragged and
sooty clothes and dirty face and
hands,
The speaker recalled many resi-
Dental names, business establish
ments, churches and other activities
of the Northern Liberties. The name,
he said. came from the fire engine
company, which had taken its name
from a company in Philadelphia, with
which there was much friendship.
Elra c. Palmer, violinist, whose
fame as q fiddler spread far and
wide through the receI+ concert Of
old-time dance music at the associa-
ton, broadcast by radio, discussed the
forthcoming Foster Sing-fest, and
praised old-fashioned music. On his
motion, seconded by Fred A. Emery,
the association moved UP the date
for the Foster night, from the Sep
tember to the October meeting.
Members were urged to buy song
books for the occasion. The most
ardent collector of Fosters songs and
material connected with the song
writer, Palmer said, was Josiah K.
Lilly Of Indianapolis, who has estab-
lished there Foster Hall. He has
presented to the Library Of Congress
complete copies Of original scores by
Foster, which now f1ll three big boxes
Old Spring Discovered.
Mr.. Emery asked If any one knew
the layout Of old roads or streets
into Rock Greek Park, In the neigh
borhood of Porter street. A friend,
Emery said, had recently discovered
an old spring in the neighborhood,
and masonry which appeared to be
part OF an old bridge He asked that
any one knowing about these former