New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-14

ground ttheir front being about opposite the pile
OF bricks previously referred to- about ten OF nl,
teen minutes during this time l saw several
negroes with pistols firing in the direction OF
Canal street. About this time | saw TWO negroes
fan on the opposite banquette, apparently shot.
The colofed crowd gave way ana retreated TO-
wards the Institute building. The crowd from
Canal street then entered DFyades street and ad-
vanced towards the Institute, and came up in
front Of the Institute. The colored crowd by this
time had disappeared from the street Immediately
in front Of my office. On the crowd from Canal
street coming up in front Of the Institute noticed
large body of policemen in advance, accompa-
MED by large body Of persons dressed in citizens
clothes. heard shots as from within the build
ing Though did not see any person fire theIn,l
and saw the policemen firing up towards the open
ings IN the front of the building, from whence
apparently, the shots came. also hearq shots
coming as from within the building on me sac
nearest TO Canal street; shortly afterwards wy
front fence Of the vacant lot towards CahI street
from the building was broken down ana ghe pollce
entered; the firing, apparently between me croWa
inside and the police and crowd OUTSIDE continued
should think, as much as nan nouI. an 1sl
this time, considering my position an unsafe one,
from the enfilaGng fire of both sides, concluded
the hest course to be to make my escape from the
building, which did by jumping ont of the win
dow snd was not molested. lmade my exit from
fbe street by the way of Common street, and saw
notbige more of the riotof material consequence.
Mr.. Shaw, q member Of the convention, also
came into my Office during the morning. ] made
depreeating the assembling of the negroes. He
did not seem to take it as seriously as Judge How
ell did. l asked him if he knew what was 10 be
done. He said he expected that the members
meeting in convention would be arrested, proba-
bly, the day after their meeting; would go TO jail
and be discharged in three hours on habeas corpus,
thus getting the benefit of the Presidents dis
patch that the military should not obstruct but
sustain the courts. My attention was called by
Mr.. Oscar Penteeln, a clerk in the office. who
was standing at the slat door entering into the
vestibuieof the hall looking through the stats. On
coming mp to see what he wanted, he asked me II
/ knew the name Of the white man standing in the
vesdbule and speaking 70 some SIX or eight ne
groes, standing around abouthim. The person he
pointed out to me recognized as Oscar P0ynot, O
member of the convention, who appeared to be
greatly excited, but speaking in French, | could
not understand what he said 1t was translated
by Mr.. Ponteeilin, who said it was a shame for q
man to use such language, He translated him tt
be saying: Don't you strike until they CEN
rence ii, but then kill every damned rascal OIL
scoundFel = or words to that effect that YOU SET
with a rebel face.r The persons in the office dur
ing the ARRAY were Judge Howell, Shaw Pier,
SauFe, 7. N. Wells, and Noble (reporter,) Pont
eeliin, Jules Leblanc, tSt Tammay,) Trinchard
r. F.. Daunoy, as far as remember.
r. f. Dauney returned to my Office on Wednes
day, and, looking round about the Office, ht
pulled out a large pistol from under an armor
saying it was his pistol, and that he had hid j
there during the riot on Monday. He also looked
about, he said, for another pistol, which he dix
not find saying he had left it there, also; it be
longed to some other person. At first, the Office
in command would not let him take the pistol he
however, afterwards obtained an order for it. am
took it. When came out, the police in front o
the building seemed orderly, and I saw NOTHING
indicative Of any high degree of excitemen
among them. There was still some firing goin
on from the windows on the side of the building
and the police on that side.
(signed) \. c. sNErHEN.
CHARLES 4. NOBLE SWORN.
Resides in New Orleans, No. Old Magazine
street-merchant. On the 30th Of July, 1866
went into the hall of the House of Representa-
tiYes, In Mechanics Institute, about 1890 P. ".
left there about the time the band of music, will
a colored procession, arrived. While in the hall
] heard shot in the direction of Canal street
After came out went to cOheehouse, corner
of Canal and Burgundy streets, and there hearl
shot and saw the smoke over on Dryades street
At this time saw c0lored men throwing brick
towards the police, and from up Dryades street
Firing soon became general from both sides
that's, from the negroes in the direction Of thu
hail, and from the police and some white citizen
cooperating with them. saw white flag hum
out Of the window of the Institute the policl
then entered the building. ] heard heavy ffrinJ
in the building Immediately afterwards, and tn
police came rushing out with several Of their mum
her wounded. The firing was then continue
from the building and from the streets. noticed
cooperating with the police very actively,
United States officer. When was in the hall,
noticed a large number of colored men--som
two or three hundred in the hall-most of whom
had large sticks and canes in their hands.
remained in the neighborhood until every
thing was quiet-whieh was some time before TIL
arrival Of the military.
saw the police commit no excess; noticed
them protecting their prisoners from excited per
Sons; away from the immediate scene of the riot
saw no attacks made by the white citizens or DO
lice on colored persons, although saw large mum
beers Of them tcolored people) walking through
the streets,
Signed Oh NOBLE.
JOIN G. SHIRLEY SWORN.
Resides in New Orleans, corner Of Elysia1
Fields and 5ired streets. / am engaged now il
the grocery business. I was in the United States
army Tor three years and a-half; was mustered
out last January On Monday, the soul
Of Juy, 1866, | passed the Mechanics
Institute about IL; little before there was a
large crowd OF negroes in front of the hall iii the
street and on the sidewalk. Some gentleman
tWmte mani was addressing the negroes, and from
what could understand he was advising them to
go home, that all would be quiet Came on down
towards Canal street; crossed Canal and stood on
the corner Of Burgundy there was crowd Of
White men on the two corners of Burgundy; they
We're quiet and peaceable, In a few minutes a
procession of negroes, with music and q flag.
came up Burgundy; about two-thirds of them
carried canes, or heavy walking-stieks or clubs.
When the head Of the procession came up the
men standing in the street stepped back on the
:
as the latter end of the procession passed negro
IN 1t either pushed against a young
man, or trod on his foot; the young man was
standing very near the eurb-stone of the sidewalk
the young man approached towards the negro as
y ne was going to kick him, making a motion
VIVA ms loot; cannot say whether the young
Z man struck the negro or NOT; ! do not think he
d1d. IAe crowd Immediately around the young
man arg on the outside Of the procession joined in
pleasant laugh at this incident; no more grew
OH q ihis circumstance, that saw. Immediately
alterEafds, and near the middle of Canal street.
observed one Of the negroes ia the procession
ana white man engaged In a sort Of fight; saw
me negro attemptt to strike the white man which
struck hfst cannot say. At the appearance Of
LES light the crowd gathered towards the scene
Of H. eDd large number of negroes came down
anai street and the procession returned to the mid
ule o. Canal street.. There then seemed TO be a
general disturbance in the middle of Canal street
could NOT from where ] was, see very well
y Wnss was going on; ] heard pistol shot and i'm
A!sAiateiy AlterWards saw policeman and some
seltzsns taxing Off negro whomI recognised as
one mao seen in the procession; saw several
neg1ots Kun from the procession as IL to rescue
TINS prisoner; another policeman then came up !;
" naa revolver III his hands; they left with the
prisoner. lhe procession went up towards the
elSsAahles institute; about the time Of the diff
ES.nslty; Jasg mentioned She drums beat something
Pc quiet, and / left There was ne disnositiar
3ylnced On the part Of the crowd Al fe earner of
Bgrgundy 70 Interfere with the prooession M in.
snaqng remark made by them and thev' stennad
esi1es ailsW wing the procession as much room a
1leesssaEy tor them TO pass by.
lSigned1 Ious = ,,,,.