New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-26
Another Street Conflict.
ASSASSINATION OF COLORED MEN.
Great Excitement Saturday Night
SEVEN COLORED PERSONS KILLED
Two White Men Killed.


filed into Canal street from St.Charles street.
, When the Sheridans were marching down
Carondelet street, the Workingmen's Tenth
Ward Democratic Club were on Poydras
} street, and each club good-naturedly and
, vociferously cheered as the Sheridans were
moving down. ..
The Republican clubs moved along the
north side of Canal street and according
to one reporto of an eye witness, as they
were crossing Canal street from Dauphine
to and on Canal beyond Baronne, with the
rear near the corner of Dauphine, white
club was marching along the south side of
Canal toward Baronne street. Both pro-
cessions were then cheering. Suddenly the
white club charged upon the column of the
Republican procession and opened fire upon
the members, who ran to save their lives.
At the corner of Baronne street the
dead bodies of three colored men and one
colored boy were found. Another colored
man, James Williams, who resided at No.
1856 Philip street, was picked up on Canal
street, near the scene of conflict, and taken
to the main station in dying condition,
having been severely wounded on the
head, evidently by some blunt instrument.
He could not give any information about
who wounded him or with what the iniur-
les were inflicted. He. was not in the pro-
cession, but was standing or walking along
on the banquette.
We have this semi-official statement.
made by a.party holding position which
renders it necessary that his name should
be withheld from the public. He says
Having been an eyewitness of the "riot"
which occurred on Canal street, near B, i.
rome, on Saturday night, and having read |
the accounts of the same as given in some |
of the journals of this city, which are en-
tirely different from what l observed of the |
affair, wish to give my version:
The Workingmen's Club ran their horses |
into the rear of the colored procession and |
threw it into disorder, whereupon to save |
themselves from being run down, the col |
ored men struck at the horses with their |
lamps to turn them aside, and the firing
then commenced from the Workingmen's |
Club, by whom volley was poured into
the colored procession which broke, and in
retiring returned few struggling shots.
We have the following account from an
other observer ofthe unfortunate conflict
Learning Of the display to be made by
several political clubs, and being DESTROYS
of ascertaining the relevant interest mani
tested by each party, l passed the entire
evening upon the streets, with friend, to
witness their parade. .'.
About ten o'clock l observed colored
Radical procession approaching from
toward the river on the north side Of Canal
street. We tarried awhile and saw them
turn from Dauphine street to Baronne and
file up the south side of Canal street.
When the head of the column reached the
hall of the Constitution Club, the foot still
on the north side of Canal, making the
form of the letter S, saw the Democratic1
Workingmens Club approaching on the
south side of Canal street from st. Charles,
at quick pace, and remarked to my
friend that l apprehended trouble.
when he replied "You are
quick to discern the temper of the
people, and scarcely had the words passed
his lips ere the white club dashed into the
centre of the colored line, when the firing
Being unarmed, and in no way prepared
for this attack, the colored men fed preci-
pitately, not, however, till several shots j
had been fired into their ranks, they appar-
sptly being unaware of the true nature Of
heir situation. ,.,.s-
Such yells and hurrahs as accompanied
heir triumph over four unarmed men black
men whom they left in the cutters riddled
With bullets, could hardly be exceeded by !
he warrantable clamor Of q victorious :
lrmy. " r... +
A mere child, boy Of perhaps ten sum- i
ners, was struck with club, breaking his 1
leck and killing him instantly. His corpse
vas left between those of two colored men, t
md was by my friend picked up soon after g
md laid upon the banquette. s.
The white club then turned and marched p
oward st. Charles street in confused order. 3
That it was an unprovoked assault is 2
certain, the Democratic journals to the con- =
rary Notwithstanding. :
Numerous anxious parties were assem- a
lied as near as safety allowed, awaiting the I
of quiet, and for half hour i
lever knew such an excitement. Al
Squads of men were hurrying to and fro Il
ring their pistols, yelling and making night n
ideous with their wild demonstrations, ii
nd while We were gazing upon the result p
f their demonstration, firing was heard at | y
he corner of Basin and Canal streets, to q
which point they all ran crying skill EN-, y
i'll 'eh, "white men to the rescue!n Anx- i
BUS, Of course, to ascertain the true result, ],
fastened there, but was too late, as q bc
ian had been carried from there either
filed OF wounded, / could not learn &C
7hieh. s...t A
At this moment shot was fred at the IA
0rner of Common and Basin streets and | b
here was a general rush for that point, but
did not go there. Five men In citizens 81 8
ress then ran back and deliberately fred =
J many bullets into the lifeless body. and y
gain rejoined the Sentinels, of whom be 90
said none Of them participated in this u
orrible tragedy. N
Twenty or thirty, besides myself, drew q
round the spot, when a policeman came
p and ordered the crowd to dispense. m
hen they set upon him, driving him away o.
i'd taunting him with, where's your Me- ri ri
opelitan's :" where's your Yankee ~
oops ?" "Oome back and carry him OF, Of
Hes your brother" andeuch like jeering. Ii
We have another version Of the affair. tn
var the corner Of Canal and Franklin Be
reefs. 3
A policemen stated that when the Demo- o.
ats in uniform were passing along on the
nth side Of Canal street, near Franklin, :
ID cheering for Seymour and Blair, col
ed man, barefooted and not in uniform,
DO had Just come up Franklin from Gus