PHILADELPHIA FIREMEN'S RIOTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 735, 4 October 1870, Page 3

PHILADELPHIA FIREMEN'S RIOTS.

[PHILADELPHIA EVENING TELEGRAPH, JULY 11.]

The city has been disgraced by another firemen's riot, which commenced at midnight on Saturday and continued until afternoon yesterday, during which several fires were kindled, and a number of policemen and firemen injured. It originated with a quarrel between the Philadelphia and Good Will Engine Companies, the cause of which is assigned by some to politics, others to the action of the Philadelphia with regard to the Warren Hose, and still others to the fact of the Good Will constantly employing a colored band. But it is evident that this dissension has arisen from the presence in both companies of a class of men who live by stealing whatever they can Jay their hands on on occasions of fire, which are started especially for that purpose. Several attempts were made on Saturday to get the Good Will to the Schuyklkill front, by building fires in the neighborhood of Twenty-fourth and Sansom streets, and, finally, at half-past 12 o'clock at niifht, an incendiary's match started a fire in an old unoccupied building, formerly used as a glass-house, on Twentyfourth street, between Chesnut niid Walnut. The damage done was but trifling, but the occasion served excellently for a first-class firemen's riot, in which the Fairmonnt, Marion, Delaware, and Fame companies participated. Bricks, &c, were freely used, and the end was the tumbling of the carriage of the Good Will Engine Company into the the Schuylkill, at Sansom street wharf, by, it is alleged, the members of the Philadelphia Company. Baffled, worsted and defeated, the Good Will returned to their house, entertaining anything but good will for the Philadelphia. Accordingly, at a few minutes after two o'clock, flames shot out of an old shed or> Lybrand street, between Race and Vine streets, which is within half a square of the Good Will Engine-house, arid this fire had the effect oF not only satisfying the i bloodthirstvness of the fiends who kindled ' it, but also of destroying the valuable property of citizens who were miles away sleeping soundly, under the consciousness that their structures and contents were safe in the hands of the Philadelphia Volunteer Fire Department. The Philadelphia Engine Company went fo the scene, and hardly had they arrived on the ground when they were surrounded by a crowd of roughs, and assaulted in the roughest kind of manner. Fortunately anticipating a disturbance, a number of policemen accompanied the Philadelphia, and they prevented what otherwise would have been a terrible riot. However, as it was, several policemen and participants in the melee Mere hurt. Policeman William McClure was cut in the leg, Policeman Henry Noble was injured in the chest, and Policeman James Dungoold was cut in the side. Of the rioters no names could be ascertained, as they were hurried away from the spot. In the meantime the flames cracked away and communicated to the carriage manufactory of Thomas B. Parker, No. 240 North Broad street, a large four-story building used in part as a stable for a team of twenty-two moles, which Mr Parker uses for car teaming on Broad and Market streets. The aniinah were saved, but the building was totally destroyed. Tfceuce the flames spread to the flour mill of Messrs Rowland and Ervien, adjoining on the north, another fourstorey brick building, eighty feet front by seventy deep. At daylight the fire companies commenced leaving the fire ground, and the Philadelphia proceeded out Race street, on their way home- On arriving at Fifteenth street they were again attacked, and driven to Seventeenth street and down that thoroughfare, bricks, pistols, and other missiles being used pretty freely. The police were actively engaged making arrest of the attacking party, the following being those who were subsequently held by Alderman Ken* to keep the peace :— James Ray, H. E. M'Gee, Henry Milligan, R. M'Calley, W. B. Zehley, William Riley, John Atkins, M. Kee, and John Hollick, sen. Later in the morning the members and adherents of the Good Will Engine went to Sansom street wharf, and by eleven o'clock, and after great labor they succeeded in fishing out their carriage. But still possessed of the desire for revenge, they, instead of going up the Schuylkill to Race street, came down to Sansom street with a pacK of infuriated loafers, i who blocked up the side-walks and made j the air ring with their infuriated shouts. I Down they camo, xmtil reaching the Philadelphia Engine-house, where a halt was I had. The bells of the carriage were ' sprung, and wilder and louder were the , huzzas and groans which proceeded from the throats of those in the street. Another row was the result, and the Good Will were forced to make a run of it along Seventeenth street, from Sansom to Race strests. Pistol shots followed in quick succession, bricks were thrown on both sides, and so dangerous did things look j that the residents along Seventeenth l street sought safety in the rear of

thoir dwellings. The police were quickly notified, those of the Sixth District filing into Seventeenth street at Race, and those of the Fifth District running along Walnut to Seventeenth, and up after the demons. Finally the participant were hemmed in, and the policemen again endeavored to make a haul, but so desperate was the resistance that but two were taken into custody — William B.Zebley and William Brayson. The former had already been captured in the first on-slaughter on the Philadelphia at the fire, and had but a short time prior been bailed out by some political friend. During this squabble two of the Good Will were badly injured — one oi them, WiHiam McOtien was shot in the head, and carried to the engine-house, and the other, Charles Polt i, was badly hurt about the head ; he was taken to his home, Sixteenth and Race streets. Still these firemen were not satisfied. Shortly after one o'clock another alarm proceeded from Twenty-fourth and Spruce streets. This was done with the intention of again getting the Good Will in the southwestern part of the city, but on this occasion that company remained in the house, and by this preventing another riot, which undoubtedly would have resulted in murder. Towards evening the house of the Good Will was closed, per order Chief Engineer Downey. This was also done in the case of the Philadelphia Engine. This morning the police reported the following additional cases : Michael Lyons, a member of the Philadelphia Engine, was stabbed in the face at Fifteen and Race streets, during the fight. He was removed to his home. No. 1702 Barker street. Albert Gayit was arrested at Broad and race streets for firing a pistol shot and attempting to inci'.e a fresh riot.