A massive brawl breaks out between native-born Protestant volunteer fire fighters and Catholic Irish immigrants on this day — a Sunday — in Boston. Drunken fire fighters start a fight with a group of Irishmen on their way to a funeral procession. The firemen retreat to their station, and the commander rings the emergency alarm. A responding fire truck collides with a procession of mourners, and total chaos erupts. Nearly a thousand people fight in the streets. When the Irish retreat, the Yankees mob the Irish neighborhood, ransacking and vandalizing homes, and beating the occupants. Many on both sides are injured, but no immediate deaths are reported. After three hours, the state cavalry rides in and quells the riot.

In the coming months, Boston establishes a professional fire department.