Great Riot In Philadelphia!

Cathoèic Churcö Burnt! -Marti al Law proclai.med! We have not room for all the particulars of this appalling riot. lt appears that the mayor of the city was wounded; and the Catholic Church of St. Augustine, St. Michael's Church, the Catholic School Houses, the Nunnery, the dwelling of the Rev. Dr. Moriarty, and the houses of two Roman Catholic Priests were burned to the ground. We extracta few items from the correspondence of the N. Y. Sun, May 8th and 9th: "The mobsucceeded to-day, about 1 P. M., in obtaining possession of the ground in Kensington, and St. Michael's Church and Pastor's Houses, were soon destroyed by fire - thenthe Seminary of the. Sisters of Charity was burnt. : Many houses were destoyed by tearing down. On learning that Churches in the city were threatened, the Mayor made all provisión in bis power to protect the firstone threatened, the beautiful Church of St. Augustine, (Catholic) in Fourth, below Vine, in the city proper, but its destruction was inevitable; it was fired about half past nine o'clock and is now a heap of ruin; - the steeple presentsa fearfully grand sight, and ïlluminates the whole ci'y. I fear that more of the churches will be fired yet to-night, the mob is quite large and very much excited, and unless the military (vvho are now in Kensington) act with decisión, I fear we are to have terrible work. The citizenshave underthe advice of the Mayor organized in the various wards, but what can we do without arms against such an infuriated mob? So far as I have been able to judge, men of all sects, join in the strongest manner in condemning this unholy waste of propand retaliation for opinions sake. Destruction of Si. Augustinés Church. - During the latter part of yesterday afternoon, crowds beg.in to assemble in the vicinity of the Catholic Church of St. Augustine, on Fourth st. between Race and Vine sts. Between four and fiveo'clock, the mob proceeded southward to the Roman Catholic School House, at the corner of Second and Phenix st., which after being stoned was set on fire at the top. (We understand that a quantity of Camphine Oil was thrown upon the cupola, and the fire then applied.) This beautiful building was consumed without any effort being made tosave it - thefiremen throwing water only upon the adjoining buildings to guard them from the flames. At six o'clock, the bare blackened and rottening wal Is only remained. Mr. J. Corr's Temperance Store, on the opposite corner, north of the School House, was attacked during the afternoon.and its contents completely destroyed.ren tfame tlouses aqjoimngftt. Micnael's Church southward, took fire from the building and were totally consumed - the exception of one which was torn down to prevent the flames from catching to a brick house further to the south. Several buildings in the vicinity of the Church were somewhat injured by the heat of the flames and the flakes of fire which feil in showers. About this time, people inhabifing the houses on Second st. and on fhe streets for some distance around the market, hung out American fïags from their windows to show their adherence to Native American principies In the course of the aftertiown, fire was applied to a number of frame houses on Harmony Court, (a small street running outof Cadwaladar above Jefferson st) andbefor.e the flames were stayed lïpwards of fifteen houses were consömëcF. During the night,hostile demonstrations were made against the Cathedral Church of St. Johï), on Thirteenth street and against Saint Mary's Church on South Fourth street.At the former General CadValadar, at the head of his force, made a speech, declaring that he had been infórittetf that martial law Was pröclaimed,and allowing the crowd fïve minntes to leave the grouïid. The mob dispersed". At the Jatter, the United States Marines enfiladed the sti'eet,and were brought by the commanding officer to a charge. The mob dispersed. Several other houses were burnt during the afternoon and evening. POSTSCRIPT. In Philadelphia this (Thurday) morning, quietness pi'evailed. The military had taken possession of the cify - martial law was proclaimed - when more than five persons were seen together, they were dispersed - guards were set around thestreets. St.Michael'sCatholic Church, last night, shared the fate of St, Augustine's. The loss of property altogether is estimated at two hundred thousand dollars." It appears that fhe mob had almost indisputable possession of the city for several days. The eonflagration of the churches preseöted a grand and brilliant appearance In one square twenty-nine houses were burning at once, and the raging of the great sea of fire, the roaring of which was heard at a considerable distance, mingled with the crash of fallingtimbers and tumbling walls. "People were hurrying hither and thither, anxiously endcavoring tosave theirproperty and on the open lots adjaoent, piles of furniture were heaped up promiscuously. . Women and children, made houseless by the destructionof their.honies, were gathered ín the vicinity; and the whole scène had its appropriate climax in the artns and accoutrements of the soldiêrs the cannon and their guards, and the dense and dark mass of people by which the whole square was hemmed in." The whole nu'mber of the killed and woundedis not known. The names of about a dozen who were killed, have been published, and of as many more wounded. The riots originated at a meeting of the Native American party at a market house in Kensington. Whiíe peaceaWy assembled there, a shot was fired from the Hibernia Hose-housein thevicinity,when a rush was made towards it, and a fight ensued for about an hour, in which some were killed and many wounded. The next day the American Flag, muchinjured, was borne through thestreets, incribed with large letters: "This is the Flag that was trampled on by the Irish Papists." The Native American party met at Kensington next day, when they were again assailed, and the fight recommenced. The hose and entine were destroy. ed, and a house fired, and this was the signal for the conflagrationsthat followed, and the general attack upon the Catholic. dwellings, Nunneryj and Churches.