The Daily Dispatch: November 15, 1860., [Electronic resource]

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Election Riot at Newfoundland.

--It seems that our neighbors of the British Provinces might take a lesson from the late peaceful Presidential contest in the United States, in regard to the manner of conducting elections. At Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, as we learn from a telegraphic dispatch in the St. John's Daily News, the occasion being the election of a member of the Island Parliament, a mob collected at half-past 7 o'clock in the evening, and commenced operations by tearing down the telegraph line. They then paraded the town, insulting every person they met, yelling, hooting, &c, till they came to the Wesleyan Chapel, where the congregation were assembled at their devotions. They pelted stones at the windows, and then returned to town, where they kept up their performance till a late hour. The next morning at 11 o'clock, Mr. Higgins was put in nomination as a candidate, and shortly after the mob — numbering about 500 of what are known there as the "River Head boys," and other ruffians — proceeded to Mr. Higgins' house, which they surrounded, and brought him out. They made threats to himself, family and property if he would not come at once and resign, which he was compelled to do, and Prendergrast, the government nominee, was therefore declared duly elected. This Prendergrast was returned in a similar manner last year, when his seat was declared void by the House of Assembly.