Saturday, January 30, 2010

Riot in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, April 21.

A riot occurred at East St. Louis Saturday night, in which three men were injured. In consequence of the high water in the river, the inhabitants stopped up the culvert on the Ohio & M. RR., to prevent the town being submerged. The road master, learning the track would be washed away, proceeded with track hands to remove the obstructions. They were met by a crowd who ordered them off. The matter was referred to the Provost Marshal, who sent over a guard of sixty men to quell the disturbance, and protect the railroad men. They found 75 or 100 men assembled to prevent the removal of the obstructions. The crowd was ordered to go away, but refused. The guards advanced, when several shot[s] were fired at them, but no one was injured. The guard then charged bayonets into the crowd, and three men were injured, one seriously.

Yesterday, Col. Parsons and Mr. Bacon, President of the road, went over to examine into the matter. They decided to allow the obstructions to remain, as their removal involved the destruction of a vast amount of property.

It is doubtful whether the road embankments will prevent the town from being submerged, as the road is nearly overflowed in several places.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 23, 1862, p. 2

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