Riot in Lockport

Submitted by Richard Palmer

The Advertiser

Lyons Friday Jan. 10,1823


Buffalo Dec. 31

Riot. On Tuesday night last, a misunderstanding took place, between a
retailer of liquor and several canal diggers, at Lockport, Niagara
co. Which terminated in a general battle between the citizens, in
self-defense, and the diggers their assailants. It seems the villains
made free use of clubs, stones and whatever else they could lay their
hands upon.- About twenty persons are said to be more or less
injured, two of them John Jennings, a mason and Frances Postal, a
carpenter, are so much so that little hope is entertained of their
recovery. Postal was struck in the forehead with a stone so violently
that a small fragment of it was driven quite through the skull into
the head. The rioters were finally overpowered, and twelve of them
arrived in this village, ascorted an armed guard, on Sunday evening,
and were committed to the county goal.