Riot on Railroad near New Market

Riot on the Rail-Road. — On Sunday evening last an altercation of a very serious character took place between the white and coloured laborers employed on the line of the rail-road near New-Market. It was quelled on that day without any great injury to either party, the negroes retreating into the town for shelter. On Monday evening, however, about 3 o’clock, it was renewed in consequence of some new provocation, when a conflict ensued of so violent a nature that the citizens of New-Market and its vicinity were compelled to interfere, who, after a vigorous and obstinate resistance, succeeded in dispersing the Irish and capturing about twenty of the ring leaders. The disrespected party, however, having recruited their forces until they numbered nearly 400 individuals, marched into the town for the purpose of rescuing by force the captured persons.

At this critical moment, which would, no doubt, have been followed by a bloody and murderous conflict, the Rev. Mr. McElroy, accompanied by C. W. Wever, Esq. appeared upon the scene. By a timely exertion of this authority, the former succeeded in quelling their angry and excited passions; and after going bail for the arrested individuals, placed himself at the head of the whole body and marched them off to their shantees, where they remained in perfect quiet during the night. Yesterday morning they peaceably returned to their work.– Many persons were injured during the conflict, some of them very seriously, and one or two, it is believed, mortally. Much praise is certainly due to the Rev. Mr. McElroy, for the prompt and fearless manner in which he acted in this affair.