The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-08-08
RIOT In NEW ORLEANS.
a
FULL PARTkI;xARs.

TIC tUUat uioastIUuS utStuluHlCtS VI Ltt
public peace which ever diseraced the city.
and attended by moreloss at fife and MAIN
I inc otbody than any similar occurrence in
: the history ofNew Orleans Below will be
found such particulars of tile affair as our
corps OF reporters was able to CLEAN
X X Il
I Simultaneously with the adoption ofthe
motion to take recess, a band heading five
understand procession of1,egroes. came
up Philippa from Canal street. and was re-
cpived by the black crowd outside with the
widest and most excited cheering. The
excitement was communicated to those as
sembled inside the lobhies, and the cheers
from the street were responded to.
In a moment alterward the band marched
into the representative hail. where the Con
vpntion members met, and it was stated
difficulty had occurred on Canal.
While this event was being discussed, a
a tumultnous shout arose from tie street
and rushing to the windows on canal street
lside of the building. we saw about dozen
negroes standing at brick pile throwing
these missiles in the direction Of Canal
Street, while two apparently leaders) were
firing new. .glistening, long barreled re.
volyers. Other shots were being fred from
the front of Mechanics Institute, but the
crowd here was out ofrange OF our vision.
! In probably minute and half the ne
groes fell back, and the police and citizens
came in sight. having up to this time been
hidden from view by new building that is
going up next to the Hall.
A rush was made up to the assembly
room by both coored and white men from
the street, and asking what had occurred,
were answered by colored men as follow
ers:
"a light colored mulatto was standing
in front of the hall, haranguing party of
mixed colors. He called the police rebel
sons of -, and said any black who per-
mitted himself to be arrested by them was
a coward"
After continuing in this strain for some
time, policeman, who had been behlfd
him all the while unobserved, arrested him
for attempting toincite disturbance Of the
peace He resisted and at this moment
aboy (of about IL years. began swearing
at the negroes.
The boy was knocked down, and as the
policeman endeavored to run away he was
struck with a brick. Almost simultane-
ously he turned and fired, and black man
fred at him from across the street.
/ The shooting then became rapid from each
side.
While listening to the statement there
had been lull. DIR. Dostie encouraged
the party by repeating remark lie had pre-
viously made, viz:
There is not negro In New Orleans
who is not organized and prepared" This
was received with marked satisfaction.
The next evidence Of fighting that we
saw, came from the yard of colored wo-
man next to the institute. toward Canal
street. This old woman was apparently,
Iexorting number Of black men to 90 in the
street and Eight, but as they refused, she
locked the gate and put the key in her
pocket.
This seemed to give the men confidence.
for they seized bricks from pile lying in
the yard ahd threw them in the direction of
the police who were again concealed FROM
our view.
/ A rush was then again made from in
| front Of the hall, and the firing from both
sides became rapid The negroes as a body
soon again fell back, but two or three, with
reyolyers, stood their ground. Finally. one
black man fell apparently dead on the ban
quette nearly opposite the hall and in sight
OF the window where we stood.
! Mr.. Cutler was asked what he thought
Of that meaning the body. He replied:
That fixes us. and ends the power of the
did rebels" OF words to that effect.
! No one apparently, at this time, antici-
| pate an attack upon the hall, and the crowd
rossessed anything but a serious air. Fl
nally shots were fred from the door-ways
down stairs land it is also said from the
upper windows) and the police and citizens
turned the attack upon the building.
Several wounded were brought up to the
main hall, the name of only one Of whom
we learned; Adolphe Barbarin, shot
through the shoulder.
/ several bricks then broke the windows.
and persons inside began to draw their
weapons. These were both white and
black persons, but how many we cannot
say, as the excitement inside began to grow
intense.
MIR John Henderson Thought the best
plan would be to rush out en- asasse, and
all who were not armed procure weapons
and return to fight it out
/ Both Messrs. Cutler and Dostie were at
this time upon the pla form, ordering the
| doors to be shut and fastened. This was
| done, but we cou not gather what else
they said, for the confusion, which had now
/ become intense.
! One poor frightened darkey attempted to
pray, but being stopped in this, he en-
deavored .unsucc ssfully to get a hymn
sung.
Bullets and bricks now ,rained through
the hall, and few were returned but as the
windows opened to the floor little protec-
1tion could be had from behind which to
shoot.
4 The ma n crowd gathered IN the centre
I'of the room, but we are unable to give a
description Of The fearful excitable scene.
4 1t Was less than a miracle that We escap
j ed unhurt, as we fell into the hands Of the
exasperated crowd upon the stairs, but our
note book aud pencil and the club Of a
4 friendly policeman who recognized US,
turned aside the pistols that were pressing
/ unheathf y against head and breast
/ We got away, and what followed NO pen
can tell The blood splashed walls, the
masses OF clotted gore, the wrecked furni-
ture, and other evidences Of mob passions
tell fearful story whichis sickening now
4 to think of.
As our people well know, the Mechan-
les Institute building stands about the
centre OF the square on Dryades street, be-
tween Canal and Common. When the pro-
cession OF negroes had le't the corner Of
Canal amp Dryades streets, they massed
). themselves ii crowd around the pertico