The Irish War

Prepared by the staff of the Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County 1953
One of a historical series, this pamphlet is published under the direction of the governing Boards of the Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL CITY OF FORT WAYNE
B.F. Geyer, President Joseph E. Kramer, Secretary W. Page Yarnelle, Treasurer Willard Shambaugh Mrs. Sadie Fulk Roehrs
PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD FOR ALLEN COUNTY
The members of this Board include the members of the Board of Trustees of the School City of Fort Wayne (with the same officers) together with the following citizens chosen from Allen County outside the corporate City of Fort Wayne:
James E. Graham Arthur Nieneier Mrs. Glenn Henderson Mrs. Charles Reynolds
Irishmen who had recently immigrated to the United States were the chief source of labor for the construction of the Wabash-Erie Canal. Much strife among the canal workers stemmed from regional antagonisms in their homeland, and personal violence resulted on more than one occasion; the so-called “Irish War” was one such episode.
David Burr, one of the canal commissioners, made the following report on the incident. It was printed as an Indiana state document and is often quoted as authority for statements made about the “Irish War.” It is now out-of-print. Because the Boards and staff of the Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County consider it valuable source material, it is reprinted here, together with the accompanying letter of transmittal. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation have been changed to conform to current practice.
STATE OF INDIANA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 31, 1835 Read and referred to the Committee on Claims
Executive Department