The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-22
iOred Troops Parade the Streets

Shots Fired into their Ranks.
SEVERAL OF BAxTER,s CROWD
WOUNDED.
All Quiet at Last Accounts.
LITTLE ROCK, April 20.-Up to o'clock the
position of the forces on both sides remained
the same and the Federal troops still occupied
their position at the Gazette buildings. 1t is
generally understood that there was truce up
to that time. About then some little demon
stration was made in front of the State House.
The Federal troops were rapidly marched to
corner of Markham and Louisiana streets, one
hundred yards east of the State House This
movement gave rise to report on the Baxter
side that the Federal troops had withdrawn,
and cheering went up from the Baxter side
Gems. Newton, Churchill, Barton and their
staff mounted horses and by rapid movements
put their troops into position A company was
thrown across Markham street at the intersec-
ton OF Main street ready to receive an attack
or advance. Colored troops filed out of the
Anthony House, Gov. Bakers Headquarters,
amid the widest excitement, and marched rap
idly to the corner of Main and Second streets,
and other forces were distributed around at va
riOus avenues
About this time the steamer Stallie arrived
from Pine Bluff with 500 colored Baxter men
under Fred Harris, col1re Representative, and
also company of 80 white troops They march
ed up Markham street with drum and fife, and
appearing in the midst of the city, the widest
enthusiasm prevailed among Baxter's follow
ers.
1890 D. m.-The Federal forces have driven
back the sentinels of Gov. Baxter on Second
street, from Main to Scott, to night. They re-
fuse to let any of Baxter's men pass beyond
Main street, or any of the State House party to
come further towards Baxter than Louisiana
street Federal forces are being stationed on
the latter street between the two parties Be-
yond this no special change has taken place.
A despatch from Pine Bluff states that an
attempt will be made to forward to Brooks
company OF colored men from there and that
Baxter's men will prevent them from leaving
The Bro oks men are housed in the Court House.
The city is unusually quiet for this hour Be-
| yond the steady tramp of sentinels and chang
| 'ng of guard all is quiet. Business is entirely
| suspended, and the city is nothing but q mill
| tary camp.
LITTLE Rock, April 21.-Gov Bakers
| forces were increased by the arrival of several
| companies this morning The State-house
| party also received some reinforcements. One
| company of United States troops are now sta
| toned at City Hail. the others are back on 9th
! street, and the cannon has been withdrawn to
a more eligible position. A temporary armis-
| tice is now in force, but an outbreak may occur
| at any hour
Since the truce this morning little of interest
| mas transpfred. 1t was only by diligent watch
| ing that conflict was prevented last night.
One or two companies have arrived since the
| last report One company of the Federal force
| is stationed at the U. S. Court room with two
| plecos OF artillery commanding Main street.
Another company is at City Hall, and on max
ing a Reconnaissance of the two sides a heavy
| guard was found stationed at Bakers head
quarters at the Anthony House. just opposite
| company was stationed in the Wait block,
another in the second story of the Odd Fellows
building, regiment two squares below on the
same street, and another regiment on Scott
| street, between Second and Third. A battalion
OF coCred troops was stationed on Second, be-
| tween Scott and Main streets. Several of Bax-
ter's men who were caught beyond Main street
| were arrested and takeu to the State House,
among others, one OF Baxter's aids, Col Pom
eroy.
On the other hand, several CT Brooks men
| who encroached on Baxter's line were arrested
and disarmed. Moses Reed, a son-in law of
Brooks, was arrested about o'clock this morn
| ing at the Cairo Il Fulton Railroad depot by a
| detachment of Bakers men. At the State
/ House no guards were to be seen outside the
| enclosure. Inside the barricade large num-
Der, two hundred perhaps, of negroes were seen,
among them few women. Considerable ad-
| ditions were made to their commissary depart
| ment A few men could be seen on the rear of
! the building, but the main force were in front.
| Occasionally the head of man could be seen
in one of the upper windows. 1t is stated here
| tudt IuOIc Itucidi bIOOpS Will arrive al
morning. This makes the Baxter men anxious
| to advance before sufficient troops have arrived
| to prevent them. 1t is said that boat load of
| Brooks men is coming from Pine Bluff and
that the Baxter men will capture it if it at
tempts to land
| About O clock the colored troops under COM
| mand of Col. King, white, paraded the street,
| preceded by brass band After marching
through several streets they were halted in
| - ~ A-4- III Il L.
| played lively airs and the troops fronted the
| hotel and yelled for Gov Baxter, who appeared
| upon the balcony and made them speech
amidst the widest cheers. He said an insur-
rection had broken out and the archives of the
| government were in the hands of the insur-
gents; that they had been called together for
the purpose of indicating the rights of the
| people of Arkansas, not the rights of Elisha
Baxter. He stated he was making preparations
| for and intended to assert his rights as Cover
| nor of the State. He counselled them to be
| patient and quiet. and conduct themselves Or
derby, and in due time the proper order would
| be given them to assert the rights of the peo-
| pie.
the "Red, White and Blue" By this time
Main street above the head of Col Whites
| column at the intersection of Main and Mark
| ham streets was filled with men, principally
| Brooks sympathizers who were looking on.
| The sidewalks were also crowded, and the up
per stories of all buildings around either had
armed men in them or citizens, Col. Rose
| was sitting on his horse in the centre of the
| street when the band ceased. Three cheers
were given for Col. White and he made short
| speech. Addressing the Governor he stated
| that the colored men had come here to see that
Baxter was reinstated in the State House and
let 1t take one day or one year they would stand
| oy him. All they prayed for were ORDERS to
take the State House.. Three were again the
widest cheering and the band commenced
| playing.
just then Col Rose rode up to Col. White
and said something to him about making hos.
tile demonstration. When some one in one OF
the upper windows of a buildi fired shot
into Bax er's crowd, which was rapidly fol-
lowed by others from the direction of the crowd
standing in the street near Metropolitan Hotel.
This action caused Bakers men to return the
fire. The colored troops rapidly reiterated from
the streets. The firing was very lively for a
few minutes. the Baxter men running up the
street and the others giving way. Amidst this
Col. Rose rode rapid y to the Cily Hall, called
out his company and barricaded the street tenn
porarily with hook holder truck and formed
his meD behind it across the street and in
solid column to prevent an advance by the Bax-
ter men. About two hundred shots in all were
fired. The street was cleared of men a short
time. Several of Bakers men were wounded,
Major d. +. Hall, who was at the Anthony
| House, received wound in the head, from
| he is not expected to recover. Gen. w. A.
Crawford received a painful wound in the head
| though it is not fatal. One or two others were
| slightly hurt.
In the midst of the excitement the United
| States troops at the Federal court room, and
the Two pieces of artillery, were removed to the
| corner of Second and Louisiana streets and
| prepared for action. Gen. Newton mounte a
| horse and got all men out on various streets
| ready to repel any attack. Since dark the men
| have been been marched back to their quarters
| and the excitement is about over. During the
| excitement a colored woman jumped out of a
| I'd story window aed broke her leg.
Steamer Sunk.
! EVANSVILLE, April 81 The steamer Comia
| was perforated by floating log which caught
! between her and the bank at Raleigh last
night The steamer Immediately went to
pieces and sunk in 40 feet of water. The boat
| and cargo is total loss. No lives were lost,