The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-24
POLITICAL.
Third Ward Democrats.
War in the Camp.
A Pitched Battle.

| Last night, at the Mechanics Institute,
there was meeting of the several Democratic
clubs of the Third Ward, which compose, or
are supposed to compose the Central Club OF
the ward. The meeting was held in the old
Senate Chamber, in response to published
| call.
It was known that there was division in
the ward, and it was expected that at the
meeting CT the Central Club this division
would result in
DISTURBANCE,
! and these expectations were realized, for
there was the worst rough and tum BILE fig hit that
ever took place at any political meeting of the
| Third Ward Central Club. At the appointed
hour Mr.. J. r. S. Selleck, president Of the
| Central Club took the chair and called the
meeting to order.
10 the absence of the regular Secretary, DR..
| f. H. Knapp was called upon to take the po-
sition, and did take it amid yells and shrieks.
A motion was made that the President have
the appointment of commissioners and judges
| of election. This motion was received with
deafenng yells, during the continuance of
which W. II. Rogers, Esq, took the floor
and stated that he had resolution to offer as
an amendment to the previous motion, and
requested that everybody keep quiet until he
! could read 1t. More yell5.
The President put the question: cit is
moved and seconded that the President have
power to make the appointment of judges
and Commissioners Of Election" [great con-
fusion and yellsl.
Mr. Rogers took the floor and said that he
had resolution that he thought would satisfy
everybody, and attempted to tell what that
resolution was, but his voice was drowned by
the cries of those who surrounded him. While
he was endeavoring to make himself heard
the cry was raised Make room for the
retary" and Thos. Egan, Jr., was pushed TO
the stand and took possession of the chair,
which DIR. Knapp vacated.
Mr.. Rogers again attempted to speak, but
could not make himself heard.
Mr.. Selleck rose and, after using the mallet
and gavel, said: ct is impossible to give
satisfaction as long as there is so much con-
! fusion; ii you keep quiet everything will be
satisfactory; if you will only listen l think
you will all have perfect satisfaction" [Cries,
of Eyes! yes that's it; listen listen " Just
about this time some parties proceeded to
clear the platform which the President occu-
pied, and succeeded in doing it, when Mr..
VIM. Hart, who was Standing near the plat
form, said he wanted to know what DR.. Knapp
was doing on the platform, and said he
wanted square deal; that this was no postal
card meeting. [Cheers
Somebody suggested that he clear the plat
| form. He said that he would act as police
mau and do it.
President Selleck said: +" You all know that
I have always done justice as President of
this club. Nothing can be done while this
confusion prevails
Somebody cried: 'Let the resolutions be
read
Mr.. selleck responded: eff you keep quiet,
| the resolutions will be read"
Just at this time disturbance took place
at the door, and Immediately all was con-
fusion. This disturbance resulted in
A FREE FIGHT,
in which blows were given and received. At
one time there were fair prospects of work for
the Coroner The fight lasted for about
fifteen minutes, and during the melee the
| heavy doors that close the Senate Chamber
were lifted from their hinges and thrown to
the floor Sone half dozen men were piled
upon the floor, but nobody vas seriously in
iured. No weapons were drawn and the fight
was merely fist fight.
James Flynn, Esq, received painful in
juries while endeavoring to quell the dis
turbance.' One of the heavy doors which, as
above stated were thrown down, fell on him
and mashed his left leg and both feet.
The cause Of the difficulty was as follows:
The Bulletin Gaards headed by a brass
marched to the meeting room, on reach
ing which an effort was made to prevent their
entering, and Immediately the fight com
menced and lasted as above stated, Tor about
fifteen minutes, and it may be remarked that
the band left.
THE BULLETIN GUARDS GOT IN,
and backed by their friends of the Crescent
City, the Riversides and the Peoples Club,
took possession of the room. The opposition,
|
every prospect OF renewal of the fight; in
deed, difficulties between the opposing mem
bers of the two factions we're occurring every
minute. At this juncture q motion was made
to adjourn to the Cotton Exchange, and Pres
ident Selleck entertained the motion, put it,
and declared it carried.
He left the stand followed by the Bulletin
Guards and the supporting clubs
After he had retired, Will Stevenson, Esq,
took the chair and called
THE MEETING TO ORDER.
He said that, as President of one of the
auxiliary clubs of the ward, he would call the
meeting to order, as the President had vacated
the chair. Cries were raised for the Vice
President to take the chair, and in response
Chs III. Byrnes came forward and took the
chair.
He said that there was diversity of opinion
as to whether or not the club had adjourned,
and he desired to know the voice OF the meet
ing as to whether he was legally entitled to
the chair. [Cres of eyes, you are; yes, you
are y
4 Mr.. Rogers took the floor, al advised the
adjournment of the meeting. He said that
Mr. SelIeck, President of the Central Club.
had declared the meeting adjourned, and as
President of the Central Club, he had the
right to declare the meeting adjourned.
He thought that they should adjourn and
present at the Convention their credentials.
He begged that he would be listened to, and
said that the selection of judges and commits
sioners might control the election of dele
gates, but he besought them rot to present
the pitiable spectacle of division in the Dem
ocratic ranks Not By revolutionary proceed
ings to create disturbance, but to quickly
, retire and leave the club meetings to decide
the question at Issue.
, motion was made to adjourn and was lost
{ Following this several resolutions were
eff anoop1 rh wzra tha follow no