Pawtucket Herald, And Independent Inquirer

THE CRATER OPENED:

We have said that free-masonry although defeated in this county, considers herself unconquered. When deprived of political influence and power, her mortification is manifested by violations of the laws of civilization in a thousand ways. This is uniformly the case in all places : but it has never been more fully manifested than at the court house on Saturday evening last.

The friends of Grand Master Wolf, Gov. elect, called a meeting ; one object of which was to get up a county festival in celebration of the triumph of masonry in Pennsylvania : while the other was to call together the scattered fragments of their destroyed Temple, that a few individuals may get a foothold upon the "hewn stone" an office from Gov. Wolf for the three years to come.

The court had scarcely adjourned, when the bell rung, a general push was made for entrance by the parties, who had their forces drawn up on the outside. Our venerable Sheriff was immediately nominated Chairman. He was chosen by a general howl. Remonstrance succeeded, and our Mayor was nominated when howling "and hissing tumult and confusion, became general." The orators of the day mounted the Judges desks, tables, &c. and the audience made a general scramble for the high places. The window-sills, benches, chairs, &c. became the footstools of the populace. generally, while some more aspiring, Zaccheus like, clambered the pillars. "Order" was now bawled in a boatswain's voice, from both the moderators; but no one obeyed. A volley of fisticuffs was then discharged and the war likely to become general, when the timely interference of some more moderate partisans, sent home the bloody noses, and effected a short pause. One of the orators commenced a harangue—but hissing, stamping, huzzaing, and contradicting, broke forth from all sections. The orators, Messrs. Porter, Buchanan, Champneys, and others, addressed the meeting in stentorian voices, amidst a confusion of sounds as great as that of Babel. This scene of confusion, riotous recrimination, and violence, lasted about two hours ; in which time, chairs, tables, benches, and orators, were over-turned—desks, tables, ink-stands, pitchers and glasses broken—when the riot was ended, by one of the parties withdrawing to a public house.—Lancaster Herald.