The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-17
OUTRAGE ON A PLEASURE
PARTY.
Several Young Men Bratally
Beaten.

On Sunday morning the young men of the
Sports Social Club started out from the city
on the Jackson Railroad for the grounds, tive
and half miles above Ponchatoula. The
party was very pleasant one, and consisted
not only of gentlemen, but great number o
the fair sex.
Arriving at the depot in the city the com
mittee of arrangements informed the gen
tleman from whom they purchased tickets
that there were several Objectionable partie;
who had expressed their intention Of going
along with the avowed purpose of breaking
up the pleasures of the day, and that the
crowd were brakesmen employed by the rail
road, as we'll as the fellow known on the train
as the "pie butcher"
just after the train started from the city the
rain fell in torrents, and continued until ii
arrived at Ponchatoula, which necessitated
the club going on to Hammond Station,
where they could obtain shelter from the rain
for the ladies. They arrived at their destina-
ton with every hope OF having pleasant
time after the rain had ceased; but the roughs
who seemed determined to carry out their
Intentions were there also
Half an hour after they arrived it was
ascertained that this lot of roughs, Wilkin-
son, alias Red Bill, and Steve Bowling. brake
men, Tom Condor, the pie butcher, Jim
Picket, John and Billy Eagan, were still
along and eager for the fray. They had
brought along with them one Steve Darling,
whom they intended to win the prize offered
for the best dancing, either by fair or foul
means, and one jim Picket, WHO was to win,
at all hazards, the foot race.
Nnt fhio the info-,fiayo Of tho
roughs, but they came to make money, for
along with them they brought paddle wheel,
with which to rake in the stray nickels of all
suckers. A certain unfortunate put some
money down on the turn of the wheel, but
before the needle had finished its revolution,
one man on the inside picked the money up
and pocketed it. This of course was not
pleasant, and the seeker after fortune raised
an objection.
Young viii Usher, a good and honest
young man, not wishing to see this swindle
go on, pointed out the fellow who pocketed
the money. This was starter, and ell that
the roughs were wishing for. Immediately
weapons were drawn, and certain members of
with base ball bats and other weapons, had
it their own way.
The object of their vengeance was young
Will Usher, whom they bounced upon. He
made a good fight, but was obliged to retreat
in doing which he fell on his back, and while
in this position was struck across the face
with bat, knocking out several of his teeth
and mangling his face in the most terrible
manner.
Tom Usher, his brother, and young thir-
teen year old boy, William Hiise, tried to
stop the roughs from their brutal treatment
when they were attacked, and Usher beaten
severely, and the boy had his arm broken
from blow inf1lct by base ball bat. The
crowd of roughs then obtained horses, and
armed with various weapons, secured the
woods in search of the young men who had
taken refuge there.
Returning from their search, they entered
the cars were the gentlemen and ladies were,
and used the most obscene language, threat
ening the lives of several, among whom was
Mr.. John Dempsey, who was struck over the
nose with club and severely hurt.
The whole pleasures of the day were broken
up by their high-handed actions and drunken
debauchery.
After the train arrived in the city they
again renewed their row, and attacking Dr.
Schupert's son beat him severely. and would
it not been for Special Hennessey, who gave
them to understand that this business must
be closed up.
If the pic-nics given on the road are thus to
be broken up by parcel of roughs, the va
rious members Of the club express their in
tention of leaving the road as a place for
pleasure. Some one, perhaps, might put an
end to it by few discharges.