Year: 1872




riot occurred about ten O'Clock tonight on the
corner Of Fifth street and Broadway, between
Fourth ward Greeley torchlight procession and
colored people, In which from fifty to seventy-fve
shots were fired, and several persons were
wounded, but none, so far as heard Of killed. The
accounts Of the affair by eyewtnesses are very
conflicting and 1t Is almost impossible to obtain
reliable particulars. The Greeley club was from
ward In which the population Is largely Irlsh and
the locality Of the riot was one thicky settled by
colored people. The colored people say that during
the day word was sent them that


THEY WOULD BE ATTACKED THIS EVENING.


This news came also to the police, and the
officers OF the district feared q riot; and the
colored men laid in stock OF ammunition. The
colored women of Allen chapel, which is at the
ner OF Sixth street and Broadway were holding
sort OF fair for the benefit Of their churches. They
had colored brass band playing for tn EN- on the
street in front OF the church. This drew a large
crowd OF people, and speech was called for. col.
ored man made them political speech on the street.
and while he was speaking the procession ofGreeley
men marching west, on Fifth street, toward Broad
way, came into the latter street and turned to 60
down towards Fourth street. This was one square
distant from where the speaking was going on at
and Broadway, and the procession turned
a az cnrc aeay H% sna ss
this time tho firing commenced. How 1t COM
menced is uncertain. No two stories agree. One
account is that a lot of colored children rushed
hurrahed for Grant, and that torch bearers In the
procession beat them and drove them away, and
by 6eating him. and that he drew pistol and fred
at them. Others, who were not near by, but who
saw the beginning, say that four shots were fred
first from the procession, and that the colored men
fred back The preponderance OF testimony is that
the firing was commenced by one very large col.
ored man. who was standing at Fifth street and
Broadway, on the sidewalk. The confusion then
became fearful. The members OF the procession
first started to run and then rallied. The colored
men. such rs had pistols, seemed to be using them
aud retiring north over Broadway. Charmed COL
ored men ran to their armory on New
Broadway. They got about thirty muskets and
rushed out to reinforce their friends. They sue
ceedel In driving back and dispensing the men,
bers OF the procession They rnen rushed to their
armory. where about one hundred and fity or two
hundred OF them are under arms. They have all
the approaches TO the .armory guarded. One OF
their leaders inside made them speech, In which
"This attack tonight was organized 10 intimidate
you, let every man OF you 60 to the polls and vote,


II AT THE COST OF YOUR LIvEs.n


This speech was received with deafenlng shouts.
When tile riot was in progress the riot alarm was
sounded on the nre-bels, and the whole police force
oce an the police
on the spot The police formed across the streets
in plaloons, and ,drOys the mad crowd rom the
siton 81 their iorces as prevented renewal OF the
conflict. Up to the present writing (midnightl,


GREAT CROWDS or MEN


are now congregated on Main street. near Sixth
street. outside OF the lines OF the police and three
squares from the armory, where the colored
men are under arms. The greatest excitement
prevails in the locality, and serious fears are enter.
tained OF q renewal OF the cOnnict. The danger
will not be past for several days. The general be.
lief OF witnesses Is that after the riot began both
sides participated to then utmost in the firing,
but there are no reliable accounts OF any colored
men being shot. witnesses say several coiored
men were knocked down In the streets.


THE SERIOUSLY WOUNDED


are James Smith, wounded In the neshy part OF the
thigh, ana Thomas Warrington, also Ia the thigh
Smith was In the procession and War
rington was standing on the sidewalk
when the firing commenced. One man
was shot through the toe, another grazed across
the thigh another through the arm and another in
the left thumb while several had their clothing
cut By bullets.