The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-08-15
N @. H..

cession of negroes, preceded by band
of music, came marching up from the
French quarter. The crowd in font OF
the Institute cheered them heartily rs
they approached, to which they respon-
ded, amid tho curses and jeors Of the
whites on Canal Street What next fol>
lowed no man can now undertake to
affirm. The negroes say that polIce-
man wantonly fired into their column -
The policemen say that the negroes
raised the cry Of skill the id rebels"
as some of them were attempting to
make needtul arrest. Still others say
that white man, accidentally or inten-
tionaly jostled from the curbstone by
member OF the passing procession, fred
at the offender and drew ont return
shot 1t is certain that in a moment or
two shots came to be exchanged, and
both negroes and whites began those
surges to and fro, rushes around the
corner and rallies down the street again
which generally mark the inception Of a
street fight. One or two negroes fell;
the policemen continued to discharge
their revolvers into the corpses, and the
sight of lood inhamed all alike.
Meantime, that which happened in-
side the Mechanics Institute, which had
thus become the nucleus OF the opening
riot-the only available point OF refuge
for the negroes, and the central object Of
attack to citizens and rebel soldiers in
the uniform of policemen, may be moro
definitely stated.
Within a few moments after the first
shot, balls began to strike the building,
and under the impulse of the excitement,
the members of the convention all aprang
to their fet On the appeal, however,
of some one cooler that the rest, they reu
sumed their seats, determined to await
with dignity the expected attack. Pres
emily rush was heard at the door below,
and then tho haSty trampiug of many
feet on the sta,rways. Every one sup,
posed this to be a body Of the police,
though it is now known to have been a
party Of negroes running from the heavy
fire suddenly poured down the street
from the citizens and policemen at the
corner OF Canal. Momentarlly therefore
expecting rush of policemen into the
Hall to arrest the members, the Conyen,
ton deliberatel what to do. After few
words, the proposition Of Mr.. Alfred
Shaw, Sheriff Of New Orleans, and
gentleman of character, prevailed. lie
was therefore, deputed to inform the po,
lice that inside the Hall no resistance
would be made to any legal officer claim
ing the right to make arrests. With
this message he passed out from the
door which he was not destined soon 10
enter again.
With white handkerchief in his hand
he crossed the outside passage and starts
ed down one of the winding stalrcases.
By this time a strong body of police had
driven the negroes from the front Of the
Institute by sudden dash, and a dozen
of them, gaming the building, were.
rushing up the stairs, when they met
Mr.. Shaw coming down. Kill him.
There's Shaw, the scoundrel, shoot him
down. Let me at him. were the first
exciamatiUns, and those below sought to
crowd up till they could see to shoot at
him. Others said No, he has white
handkerchief take him to the station
house. Through the hubbub and scuf.
de Shaw sunceeded in making them un,
derstand his message. That's right, let
them surrender peaceably,' said some.
Kill that id scoundrel Shaw ex-
claimed others. Meantime two police-
men, seizing him firmly, and another
forcing q way through the crowd ard
keeping assailants off, they succeeded in
reaching the pavement. Here mingl-
ed moD of citizens, policemen and negros
the latter mostly IN the side alleys or
in door yards--were exchanging shots.
A rush was made for Shaw the moment
he appeared in the custody OF the DO.
licemen, and the fire vas concentrated
upon HIM. Presently ball struck him
in the shoulder, and there was every
indication that In moment or two longer
he would certainly be killed, when the
policemen, dodgng around srner
hustled hun off to the Jail, when, without
charge or commitment, wounded and
exhausted, he was thrown into CELL
.. The firing continued about the Me,
ohanics' Institute, spread towards the
river along Canal and Common streets,
and even broke out in the square back Of
the Institute, along Carondclet The
fighting negroes did not scatter IN this
way, but the mob followed every prs,
oner whom the policemen led off, and
attacked, on sight, every negro found in
the vicinity. The body servant of
Humphrey Marshall was thus pursued
and fred at along Carondelet, in his
masters sight. Amoment latter, another
unarmed negro, apparently belonging
to one of adjacent offices, seeming to
think the street no place for him, began
to run. In an instant two policemen
and q score of citizens were after him