The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-03-15
The Politicians War.

The New Orleans Republican repOr-
ter, in that paper Of the 9th inst, gives
the following brief account of the fight
that occurred the night previous in that
city, between the Metropolitan Police
and the Fusion troops:
There were exciting rumors yester-
day, following the announcement of
the capture of the Jefferson City police
station, that several other police sta
tons had been captured by the McEnerv
militia, which proved to be untrue. 1t
was given out that the organization of
the friends of McEnery was perfect,
and their leaders prepared to capture
the Jackson square police station, the
courthouse and the Mechanics lnsti-
tute, and that the Kellogg State gov
eminent was 10 he Obliterated.
Our reporters narrate the events
which actually occurred:
Last evening superintendent Badger
was informed that u general attack
would be make on the stations, espe-
cially the third and fifth. Every
preparation was made to repel the as
sault. The galTisOns Of the several
precincts were kept under arms and in
constant communication by telegraph
With the CentTaI station. w
General Badger remained at head
quarters receiving dispatches from the
different precincts until the fact was
developed that the third precinct
Jackson square) station was the place
selected for the first attack. From all
the surroundings it is probable, i'll a
military point of view, that this offered
the best point for commencing hostile
operations. This idea may have been
correct, but subsequent events seem to
have proved the fallacy of this plan.
The mob commenced it's operations
by assaulting and taking the revolvers
from five men of the third precinct.
At the corner of Royal and Esplanadc
streets Il detachment which was pro-
ceeding to the armOry on CarOndelet
street, were surrounded by a large mob
and the revOlvers taken from them.
At about half-past nine the gun store
on Charities street, Q jackson square,
was broken open and its contents dis
tributed among the mob.
AS soon as General Badger became
satisfied that it was the third precinct
that was menaced, he went to the az
mOry and took one of those excellent
field pieces known az a tWelve-pOund
Napoleon gun. AT the head of the first
precinct force he started for the scene
Of action.
Proceeding down Charities street
shots were fired upon his force from the
second and third stories of buildings on
both sides and from a gun shop.
On this gun store the police fired and
cleaned out that portion Of the moi
which had taken possession of it, and
were only restrained from arresting the
parties by the orders of General Badger
Mounted men were sent forward tC
order the mob out of the streets anC
clear the way. These men were cap
tured by the mob, who then opened 8
fusilade on the advancing police. The
shots came from Jackson square, from
the trees and shrubbeTy, and from the
second and third stories of the sur,
rounding houses, and, by the sound
seemed to be from all sorts of arms
pistols, rifles and shOt-guns.
The police returned the fire from theil
Winchester rifles, and stood facing the
scattering but incessant storm of bul.
let's as firm aud solid as if on parade.
General Badger at this time, hiI
mounted pickets not having returned
opened fire with a blank cartridge from
his twelve-pounder. AT the sound OF
this discharge the beleaguTed police il
the station sent up o cheerful hurrah
and the previously defiant mob bega1
to melt away. Their fire diminished
but many shots were still being dis,
charged. Another tremendous repor
of an equally harmless cartridge scat
tered the crowd still more, and though
a few shots came from the square, APP
parently fired at the police, the way wa
open for the relieving force to enter the
station. The men then gave three
cheers for General Badger, and TIL
riot WAS over,