New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-09
THE nEETROPOLrTAH aOLICE,

m0il in our city has proves another strong
argument in favor Of the existing Metro
politan system. 1t is unnecess ary 10 re-
eapitulate the events of the last few weeks.
for they are fresh in the minds Of our read
ers, bat the public may be interested to
know some hing concerning the details OF
police business during that time. and the
personnel Of the force
At the commencement: &c the HcEnerv
rebellOn-we are at a less Just now for
better name for tit became manifest
that attempts would be made by the NAL
contents to seize public property, if not to
sacrifice life. Upon the police, then, de.
volyed the additional duty OF preventing
such calamity. Without materially dinin-
ishing the force on the streets, a strong
| guard was placed at the State House and a
| sufficient number of men retained at the
armory to prevent surprise and capture.
| As offensive demonstrations became more
| probable, it became necessary to strengthen
certain important points, and to do this
other points and outposts had to be almost
entirely aband0ned and, finally, most of
THO DtdlS WCl6 oCA4pHCO Vi uIlIOEHGO
officers. Captain McCann, of the harbor
precinct, was placed in command of the
detail at the State House; Sergeant Wilson,
with his entire force save one man and
station clerk. was drawn in from the
seventh precinct. Captain Rapp and most
of his men we're sent to report to Captain
Flanagan at the armory. Sergeant Tay.
Iar's mounted force, in tae suburbs, wae
needed on other duties. The entire force
was placed under arms, and remained con
stantly on duty Captain Schreiber was
required to hold the station at jackson
square, Captain Boyd Robinson that on
Rousseau street. Sergeant Peter Joseph the
IRENE and Sergeant Caster the Paecanier,
az all hazards. Flanagan had the arm0ry
and the Lafayette square station to look
after, and McCann the State House.
Then il was that Father Malone was
called upon to exercise the EXTREMIST vigi-
ience in his depar tment. His detective
corps was increased by the addition of
several officers in citizens garb, and while
the police were absent from their beats ad-
ditional and stringent precautions had 10
be taken to prevent the commission of
crime by the ordinary city outlaws. How
well the old veteran succeeded, the recort!
of offenses comm tilted a.ld arrests made Is
in evidence
This was the condition cf affairs up 20
last Tuesday night Colonel Badger Rad,
meantime, established SO complete system
i,
even canvassed by the revoIuti0nlsts was at
once known to him. 1t was known that
Calvin, .Cavarac, Sheehan, Carroll, Guillotte
and others, had been commissioned by
Colonel Davidson B. Penn as police cap
tains, that they had organized their gangs
of followers, and even who those followers
were: it was known that Colonel Landry
had ordered them 70 capture the station
houses, and night after night the officers
of the stations were prepared for Il
demonstration. Il was known what infu.
ences we're brought to bear to delay pro.
ceedings until the festivities Of Mardi Graz
and the firemen's anniversary were over.
But the latter even. had hardly passed
members OF the police force who belonged
to the fire department. had hardly time to
change their uniform before the aggressive
movement of the McEnery party com.
mencedo Captain GuiIlotte and Sergeant
Seymour Rapp, at the head Of about a huL
d.ed men. armed with shot guns and
riee, wrested tho seventh precinct police |
station from the hands Of the lame turn
key and station clerk. This victory was
Haunted in tho faces OF tEs downtown
men, as tho saquero Sourishes his red !
flag On the face of the angry bull, |
and they were nerved to speedy. but |
squad, Hnder the immediates command Of |
Crptain Flanagan, . few mounted officers, |
of Sergeant Phil. Taylor's squad and a sup |
port Of So patrolmen. armed with Winches- |
indiscreet action. The sortie Of eight |
or ten hundred Of them on the Jackson |
square station was the result. The doors |
and windows of the station house were |
punctured and riddIed with bullets. One |
police officer was wounded. Then the |
serious work commenced. The police had |
made no offensive movement. They had !
been beseiged in their citadel. The police |
wires flashed the information 20 the SUPER |
intendent at his headquarters. Taking |
with him ono Ma poleOH gun and gun |
ter rifles. he marc he'd down and promptly |
put an end 10 the riot. Returning shOrti! |
after with force of lI8 men, he moved up !
to Jefferson, and leaving his main column |
two blocks away, sent five men, Corporal |
William Sullivan, Officers Otto Burrandt. !
Thomas McAlpine. VI. Coleman, Williara |
H. Murphy and Lewis g. Arson, forward |
He then advanced himself in their support |
with Sergeant tawIer and twenty men. |
The station was retaken. Odd Fellows |
Hall was occupied that morning by Cap" |
tain Boyd Robinson and squad Of the |
sixth precinct police.
The city has resume d It's wontei quiet. |
the officers are again in their places on the |
streets. The mo spirit ia crushed out; the |
decree has gone forth, and the rebellion Is |
ead-dead-dead.
Unquestionably this result rs mainly due !
to the nerve, skill and promptness displayed
by the Metropolitan Police. and to them we
are disposed to give full credit. The publlc |
have learned the lesson. and they know i
now. that the police force, 81 at present |
organized, discip lined and handled. stands
as a bulwark agaiRst riot and disorder; that |
il is the strong right arm of tire State gov.
eminent. which will be in the future. is it
has been just now. and was year ago,
raised to repel ln.urrec tioD and revolution |
Ihe police force .e eOmnOaed mainly OF old |
soldiers who fought on the federal and on the !
Confederate side during the war. Perhaps
they are nearly equally divided. They ara !