The Wild 1892 Election Day Riot in Seattle’s First Ward

Election day passed off quietly in every ward but the First and the Fifth, where there were a few brawls. Nearly all of the Democratic heelers in the city centered in the First ward, and from noon until the polls closed at 7 o'clock, great excitement reigned and brawls were frequent. Early in the day, a report circulated that Republican workers were running in illegal voters. By noon, the rumor was that several men were stationed in a rear room of Clancy Burns' saloon, at the corner of South Fourth and Washington streets, with about 300 blank registration certificates, and that hoboes were being hired to vote on the strength of them. It did not take long for the crowd to center in front of the saloon, and everyone who came and went was watched and hooted. Ex-Policeman William Morris got into a dispute with John T. Kelley in front of the saloon, and Kelley hit him over the head with a cane. During the fight, a young man named Fred Lusthoff was knocked down by a blow to the back of the head. For a few minutes, a great uproar reigned, it being thought the young man was killed. A squad of police, under Captain Peer, hurried to the scene and scattered the mob. The victim suffered a painful scalp wound but was not dangerously injured.