Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-08-02
A TERRIBLE DAY.


Yesterday, while the members Of the
Convention Of 1854, were in session, an
immense congregation Of negroes, armed
with clubs, was arrayed in front Of the
y ate House, where tho Convention was
assembled. Onevery thoroughfare, blacks,
with clubs in their fists, were tending in
tides TO the capitol.
Between IL and O'Clock procession Of
black people armed with sticks and headed
by band Of music, crossed Canal street in
the direction Of the State House. gen
tleman, In passing them, was knocked
down by one of them. Mr.. Creyon, aid
Of the chief of police, witnessed the out
rage, and although assaulted by several of
the negroes, arrested the person who broke
the peace and secured his imprisonment.
The procession marched on. In the vi
cinity of the State House, as we have heard,
some white and colored boys got into a
quarrel. White men, standing on the
steps Of the State House, exhorted the ne
groes to kill every white person = man,
woman or child-who interfered with
them.
About this moment the police, apprised
by Mr.. Crevon of the dangerous state of
affairs, came on the spot. The doors of
the State House were Immediately closed.
Shots were fred on the police. Some five
or six hundred persons, black and white,
made fortress Of the state House. Twice
or thrice they made offers of surrender,
and, when the police advanced to receive
the surrender, they were met with pistol
shots.
A terrible excitement spread abroad. Il
seemed as if II war Of races was precipitated
upon the people with all its horrors 1t
was day Of anguish TO every citizen of
New Orleans. But in the midst of al that
excitement we witnessed some beautiful
instances of charity. A negro who had
but one arm, and who, it may be supposed
lost his other arm in the Federal army,
was pursued by some boys, and the poor
darkie was protected by gentleman who
had been So called rebel in the Virginia
army.
The conflict in front Of the house might
be called a battle. The people inside were
in desperate situation. Occasionally
sally was made, with desperate resolution,
but no sally could drive those men from
their place. 1t was field Of capture or
slaughter, where resistance was offered.
The contest was carried OF for about
two hours.
Wesaw gentlemen wearing the uniform
of the United States, conspicuous among
the gallant men who assailed the State
House. DR.. Dostle was severely wounded,
and his worst wound was from this Mas
sachusetts gentleman, who proclaimed
that the white should be the ruling race of
this continent.
Some twenty or thirty negroes were
killed in this encounter.
The universal expression of sentiment
was that the poor negro who was melted |
to demonstrations of violence, was the vic
tim Of the contest, while the white men,
who had inhamed him, escaped. Never
theless, few of those who seemed to love
incendiarism, met their fate.
DR.. Dostie is believed to be MORALLY
wounded.
The life Of Mr.. Shaw, member of the |
vention, and an office holder under I
Gen. Better, was saved only by the most
strenuous exertions of the police. He was
brought to the police station with slight /
injury.
Mr.. Michael Hahn was also somewhat |
injured, but very slightly. In the melee
he received u slight wound in the head.
Mr.. Il. King Cutler was arrested on the I
roof of the building, concealed behind F
some bricks, and did not look 30 brave as
either Hahn or Shaw.
Mr.. c. B, Dup!essis, one of the secreta-
res Of the convention, was wounded-it is +
supposed MORALLY.
Mr.. Edgar Henry Cenas, only son Of one
of our most respected citizens, was shot
whilst entering the Mechanics Institute
with the police the ball entering the T
right cheek, half an inch above the corner
Of the lip, and passing through, made an
exit near the vertebral column.
Police officer Sokalowski, an excellent
public servant. received wound in the
abdomen as he approached the State
House. His wound is regarded as danger
Gus.
officer Hennessy, very efficient officer,
was also badly wounded.
DR.. w. Il. Hire, member of the Con-
vcDtion, received some Injuries.
DR.. Mercier and DR.. Hart and one or
two other gentlemen of the medical pro-
fession, whose names we did not hear,
were at the Station House attending to the
wounded with tender assiduity.
Mr.. John Henderson, J r., was there, and
he seemed to be in hopeless condition.
To sum up the casualties of the day, so
far as we have been informed, about thirty