New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-08
Local Intelligence.

the streets yesterday. Mr.. Louis j. Souer,
member of the House Of Representatives
from Avoyelles parish, was quietly walking
along St. Charles street, near Clay Statue,
when he was assaulted by Mr.. H. L. Smith,
q reporter on the Times, and five shots we're
exchanged
Several days ago Mr.. Souer visited his
parieh, and while he was on his way to this
city, via the river, in an open skiff, was at
tackled By party of horsenen who fol.
loVed along the bank, evidently with the
intention Of harming him and those in his
company. This fact was reported to
acquaintancss in this city, and the Times
took up the report and ridiculed il Yes.
terday morning Mr.. Souer advertised tina:
publication a. entirely false. About one
o'clock last evening, a. Mr.. Souer was pro-
ceediug up St. Charles street, near Crescent
Hall, Mr.. Smith approached him in .
threatening manner, 80 that there could be
no Misunderstanding his meaning. On this
Mr.. Souer drew his revolver and began dis
charging it at Mr.. Smith, who moved toward
the statue, at tho same time endeavoring to
draw weapon; but it appeared that he
met with some obstruction for q second,
giving his opponent time to fire once. I'm
mediatsly after the first shot, four more
were fred. It is asserted by witnesses that
Mr.. Souer took the first shot, and perhaps
the second and third. and that Mr.. Smith
got in only two discharges, making five
loads, and all the bullets taking effect. Mr..
Souer was wounded, first in his left leg,
half way between his knee and thigh, the
bullet passing entirely through the heshy
portion OF his leg, inhicting only . flesh
wound. The second wound was worse, be-
ing on the right side of his neck, ur com.
fortably close to the jugular vein, and the
ball hid itself, but not giving much trouble
at the time.
Mr.. Smith received three wounds, two in
the feshy part Of his right leg, near his
thigh, and the third close to the lower ribs,
right side, which latter may prove trouble
some. The wounds in his leg amount to
almost nothing, the bullets having cut
nothing but flesh.
Mr.. Souer, accompanied by some friends,
drove to his homo on Villers street, close
by the Charity Hospital, and was visited by
DR.. Smyth, who attended to his case. Mr..
Souer, Just then, learned that his antagon.
ist had been sent to the Charity Hospital,
suffering severely; he suggested to the doc
tor that perhaps he (the DOCTOR might be of
more service to Smith than to him, there.
fore he should go to the hospital DR..
Smyth told him that there were eaough sur.
geons in the hospital to attend to all the
patients.
Gentlemen who witnessed the entire
affair state that the shooting was about as
rapid as any they ever heard, and that
when Mr.. Souer was wounded in his neck
he fell to the banquette, stunned for half a
minute, after which he arose, ready to de-
liver his last load, but by that time many
people closed in. thus putting stop to the
duel.
1t is matter of considerable surprise to
Mr.. Souer why Mr.. Smith should have taken
up the challenge issued by him, as he did
not know Mr.. Smith in the affair, and was,
therefore, entirely unprepared to meet an
OppOueul III uAH. AJAX. CAA1eA was aCcom-
panied by several friends, while Mr.. Souer
was entirely alone.
At q quarter past twelve O'Clock last
night our reporter visited the Charity Hos
pital and found Mr.. Smith sleeping toler-
ably easy. During the night Drs. Smyth,
Stone and Devron held q consultation, but
their conclusions were not given. out. 1t
was understood that Mr.. Smith sank quite
rapidly after dark and suffered from the
wound in his side.
Mr. Souer, at his room on Where street,
rested we'll all night, and his physicians
had no fear of consequences. He suffered
but little, and was perfectly easy in his
mind.
q NED,