Election day October 8, 1856 was marked with violence in twenty city wards in Baltimore. Democrats incited a riot in the eighth ward, nicknamed "The Irish Eighth," when Democrats tried to drive Know-Nothings out of the eighth ward's polls, and a shootout occurred on Monument Street. 3 Democrats were killed. The same day another riot took place when Know-Nothing affiliated Rip Raps plundered the Democratic New Market Fire Company firehouse in the Lexington Market Area. 2 Know-Nothings died in the crossfire. Historian Tracy Matthew Melton argues that the widespread riots of the day signified the deadliest outburst of violence in Baltimore history at that point.