Baltimore (MD) Sun, "Trouble Among the Brickmakers," May 18, 1858

   Trouble Among the Brickmakers.––The spirit of lawlessness, and interference with the rights of others, which has exhibited itself in several sections of the city recently, broke out again yesterday morning among several brickyards located upon the Ferry road, Federal Hill. During the early part of the day a band of some twenty-five or thirty men, organized for the object, visited the brick yard of Henry Thomas, Esq. for the purpose of driving off the colored employees, and supplanting them in their places. The work-men were attacked with pistols, and in several instances guns being fired upon them. The colored employees in the yard of the Messrs., adjoining, were also assailed [illegible] shots. It was rumored that one colored man was shot.... Serious difficulty being beign apprehended.... Mr. Thomas induced to apply to the southern district police station for a force to suppress the riotous proceedings. Capt. Woods at once dispatched to the scene Lieut. Davis with Seargants Crouch, Rozenberry, Chambers, Sumberson, and a posse of about eighteen officers. This determined movement had the effect to disperse the rioters, and upon the arrival of the police they had disappeared. The aggression, however, caused a perfect stampede among the colored workmen, and in so much were their fears exercised that it was with the greatest difficulty they could be collected again. A number of police remained upon the ground during the day for the protection of the yards. To-day the authorities will exercise surveillance over the yards to prevent further interference.