New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-10

two engines turned out and repaired to the scene
of the riot. Firemen were seen acting as and with
the police, and lending the assistance of their iron
wrenches in the congenial occupation Of dispatch
ing the wounded Whether this was in pursuance
ofany previous orders, private or otherwise, the
board regard as immaterial. 70.
There can be no doubt that the signal was recog-
niZed throughout the city ms indicating that the
attack had commenced, and as, call, to arms to
ali who might desire to participate therein "Look
out for hot work now is the cry of the streets rs
the first strokes of the bells resound. 1t sin evil
dence that in one instance orders were given to
stop a saw mill on, hearing signal. y 1t is under
stood that during Confederate occupation this
number of strokes was the alarm signal to the
military in case of anticipated attack and it would
almost seem that the stirring appeal had not yet
lost its power, since, according to the testimony
of one witness, it evoked at least Confederate
officer full uniform and side arms, to report for
a6tiye duty.
INSIDE THE HALL.
The condition Of affairs and occurrences in the
inside of the buildingare described by great num-
bers of those who were present. The witnesses
eorroborate and support each, other in all essen
tial points, the difference being such as must be
expected by the accounts given by the actors in
scenes of excitemeltand terror. and which yaria-
ton, in fact strengthen the general case by show
ing the absence OF any comparison or prearrange-
ment of testimony The important facts are, that
when the first fighting in the street had ceased,
and the fire of the besegers was directed ut the
WlHuUN. PROMINENT lueu1DSTS bHb GUuESuuOl
requested and ordered all spectators white and
black to come at once within the railing or bar OF
the house, and sit down. This was effected. Those
who could not find seats seated themselves on the
floor, and the doors and windows were ordered to
| be, closed. W.,
Before this was effected, it is probable that the
returno shots, so yarioqsly estimated, were fired
| from the windows, This, however, was soon
stopped by orders from those of the whites, who
retained their presence of mind. The police
then made theirfirst entrance by breaking open
the doors and, according to.almost universal ties
timony except their own, opened an indiscrimi
nate fire into the room. This was instantaneous
and preceded by no demand or call for surrender
When they had emptied their revolvers, theywere
driven out with chairs by the negroes, and an at
tempt made to barriGade the door, but nnsuccess
fully, as they again repeatedly gained an en-
trance and the same occurrences took place
the police emptying their revolvers and being
| driven out by the negroes. Rev.-Mr. Horton. was
shot while imploring a cessation Of fire from the
| police. ~
THE NEGROES,
| During these repeated attacks, a few shots
| were'returned by the few negroes of the process
| sion, who, as before stated, had revolyers, ani
1 two policemen were wounded in the building
though whether by these shots or the careless ant
4 excited fire Of their own side, seems doubtful
| The police testify that fire was opened upoi
them first, in every instance, but without consid
ering that any different testimony would have tht
| effect Of eliminating themselves, and regarding
their credibility eqpalto that of the other wit
1 nesses, yet the mass of opposing testimony il
| considered as SO overwhelming that the boar(
feel compelledupon this point to reject the police
4 evidence as invalidated and worthless, The gen
I eral value of their testimony may be estimated BY
the fact that, out of the large number examined
as witnesses, but three are willing to admit hay
ing actually seen firearms on that day carried o.
used by tie police.
| A WHITE FLAG. .
At some point of time not definitely fixed dur
| ing these charges into the hall, a white flag wa!
displayed from one of the windows. This l0e
not, however, seem to have the effect of checking
the fire from the outside and according to the ties
timony Of the witness O'Connell and another, thu
| police, obtaining access to the room OH the prom
Use of protecting inmates deliberately opened fire
on the survivors as before. The police them
selves state as above, that on thisoccasion, as be
fore, they were first fired on from the hall. Ii
nearly all these rruptons into the hail. the police
1 were accompanied by the mob and member o.
the State legislature, Mr. James Phillips is identi
4 fed as prominent in the attack.
Finally, the assailants obtain full possession oil
| the building, The negroes in the hiding are
brought out and dispatched; Others perched for
safety on cross beams and rafters are picked of
like game by well-aimed shots; the whites takeI
to the station house with blows and abuse, and a
| last,just as the advancing bayonets are seen t.
glsten on the leyee, the riotn is over for lack o
| victims. 80 sE
| 4 THE NEGRO PROCESSION AGAIN. ID.
| On the subject of the character of the negr
procession, whose ill-timed and unfortunate an
4 pearance was the immediate occasion of the out
1 break, the board are unable to see any eyidenc
in support of the hypothesis that it was anythn,
] deserving the name of an armed organization
Nest of its members had such canes and clubs a
/ negroes carry on all holiday excursions, and per
Ehaps dozen had pistols. No doubtfmany O
these were carried with the idea that an attacl
4 upon themselves was by no means improbable
but that the procession itself could be regarded
| arbody organized to- fight would seem to persons
| of military experience to have been disproyet
| by events, over thirty negroes being shot dea(
during the firing, while the supposed organization
| cannot succeed in killing in return q single as
sailant young Cenass >the only man killed on tina
! side, being supposed to have received stray sho
Efrom his own party. 1t is true that according K
one witness, armed organizations re.alluded 70 al
existing by Dr. Dostie; but if this procession ma,
| be considered a. fair specimen, the board canno
\ consider the civil government of Louisiana as il
much danger of being overturned thereby. TIL
only evidence tending to show a previous hosti
intent on the part of the negroes is that Of Mr.
| Sauve, the planter, who, by the way, is the on
witness who hears the screams Of murder tn
white men" and who testifies to having been toll
| by one Of his servants that white man had bee
on the plantation taking names and telling til
negroes to prepare fer war;n and that the ne
4 groes of the procession said they had been OF
4 dered to come to defend the convention. What
ever the purpose with which these negroes came
| Rev. Mr.. Henry is told by the procession of he
grees that they are pledged to have no trouble Of
4 their part.
| H- INSPECTION OF THE HALL,
On the personal inspection of the hall by thi
board, there were found on and around the door
the marks of six pistol shots which had been fire.
by the hesieged upon their assailants. That thu
arms were OF small caliber, appears from the fac
that Of two which struck the pine panel Of thu
door, but one had sufficient force to enter it. Oh
. fIa'6 nn xua1 Ivhinb rena
the assailants as missed their aim, TWENTY-FIVE
shots were counted. The fact repeatedly testiffe,
to- that the police, when emptying their feyolyers
were attacked with chairs and driven from tn
khali, the board considers as establishing beyont
A the shadow of a. doubt that except the two o
three pistols in the hands of the procession of ne
groes the besieGed party were totally unarmed.
TREATMENT OF THE WOUNDED.
i Ofthe further occurrences OF the day of riot
the board would respectfully call attention to til
| brutal treatment and almost inhuman neglect Q
the wounded and dead prisoners at the variou
station-houses, before they were, by military or
ders, removed to the hospitals. The evidence O
f4ieut-Col. Crosby, Major Sheridan and DR.. Aver
on this pointshows as horrible scene of sufferin
and neglect as could have been presented on
lost battlefield.
They would also call attention to the evdeue
on the subject of the renewal of the attack on ne
groes, and the shooting of them in their dwelling
by both citizens and police, late on, the sam
night, in Victory street.
THE PRESENCE OF THE TROOPS.
4 The board will state it as their firm conviction
that but fer the declaration of martial law sane