The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-01-10
LOUISIANA.
A Democratic Mob SeiZeS
the Supreme Court
House.
SEVERAL SHOTS FIRED into
THE STATE HOUSE.
The Building Besieg-
ed by Nichols Mill
tia.

New ORLEANS, Jan. 9, a. NAT this hour
members of the White League, which has been
mustered in by the Nichols government as
militia, are assembling with arms at Lafayette
Square, with the ayowed purpose of maintain
ing the Supreme Court abolished by the KEEL
logg government.
$50 a. m.-The streets are filled with armed
men hurrylng to Lafay cite Square, where or
derlies are dashing about on horseback. pre-
senting all the appearance of an army on the
eve of battle. Armed men are reporting to the
sheriff, whose purpose, it is stated, is to take
possession of the Supreme Court room, now in
charge of the metropolitan police, and install
the judge of the Supreme court newly appoint
ed by Nichols 1t is more than possible that
an attempt will be made to capture the police
station.
An advertisement appears this morning Or
dering the members of the Washington Artill-
cry to assemble at the armory at 10 o'clock.
1880 3. m.-Armed men are still hurryng
through the streets to Lafayette Square, where
they report to the sheriff, who, it is said, will
move them at IL to the Supreme Court build
ing facing jackson Square, and endeavor to
take possession Of ii. Chief Ludeing is there
on the bench, and Capt Gray of the metropoli-
tan police, with strong force is in possession
of the building under order of the Chief JUS
tice. 1t is stated that the Chief Justice will
remove the present sheriff if he attempts to
take the building by force, and appoint another
sheriff.
Governor Packard is at the state house, cool
and calm. He has telegraphed President Grant
for assistance
While the men under arms disavow any in
tention of provoking collision, drunken
man or an accidental shot may bring on a riot
surprising those of 1866 or 1874.
Governor Nichols is at st. Patrick's Hall
IL a, m.-Armed men are moving in differ
ent directions from Lafayette Square. About
500 are moving down st. Charles street, and are
10 I'M ouiy f1,a Gra
others are marching south and west, facing
Jackson Square, endeavorlng to take possession
of it.
II 45 A. MA demand has been made for
the third precinct station house in the Supreme
Court building and refused. About ten thou
sand persons are assembled and the excitement
is intense.
Gov. Packard reports the metropolitan wire
cut and he has established communication with
U. s. Marshal Pitkn at the custom house, by
means OF the United States signal corps. The
metropolitan police at the State House are be-.
ing armed with Springfield rifles
The shops in the French quarters are all clos
ed.
The United States troops are at the Orleans
Hotel. two blocks away, watching the crowd in
the square, but are not under arms.
The excitement increases with every new
movement
Noon.-At 115O D. m. the Nichols militia
took possession of the Supreme Court bulldog
and installed their judges. All the police sta
tons are in possession OF the Nichols govern
ment. Not gun has been fired.
IL .20-The PIcayune extra, issued at noon,
says of the assembling of armed bodies this
morning: Few were aware that the legal state
militia had been organized and armed for the
execution OF the orders OF the Governor, aud
that these men 10 the street were there in obe-
dience to their call on the state militia.
o'clock The Nichols government is in
possession Of everything except the State House.
As yet no effort has been made to take possess
| sion of that building, around which thousands
| OF unarmed cltizeUs are coDgregated, blocking
| up the streets for squares and rendering it i'm
possible to reach it. A company of about 5000
| OF Nichols militia are under arms on the levee
at the foot of Decatur street, and it is reported
that demand for the surrender of the State
House will be made this afternoon, and as the
| Republicans are in the hopeless minority il is
hardly probable that armed resistance will be
made The force under Gov. Packard there
| will not exceed 300 The commander of the
United States sloop Ossipee has established the
signal station in the custom house in order to
! communicate with officials there. The Ossipee
and monitor CaDonicus are lying off the foot of
Poydras street. U. S. Marshal Pitkin is in
constant communication with Washington,
giving every phase of the situation.
Chief Justice Ludeling this morning issued
an order removing civil sheriff Handy, and ap-
pointed Alfred Boweyes to that position. Han
| dy was acting under orders of Nichols, and
hence this action. Up to this hour not shot
has been fired or accident reported Great
er principal streets. Republicans report two
regiments from Mississippi and one from Ala
5ama are with Ogden.
2.15 p m-There is no important change in the
situation. Oeden's militia are massed within
the square of the state house and have been re
inforced by company of colored militia num-
bering 100. Governor Packard says he will re-
slst any attack made upon the state house. The
signal corps on the top of the state house are
constantly signalling the custom house
Nichols judges Of the Supreme Court, after
spreading their commissions on record and ap-
pointing Alfred Roman clerk, adjourned the
court till Wednesday.
240 p. m.-The Democratic leaders now as
sert that they have no intention OF attacking
the state house. The following has Just been
issued:
Executive Department, Neao Orleans, Jan. g.
To the People of louisiana should bemost
profoundly surprised and disappointed should
any citizen ofLouisiana at this moment so forget
himself as to be guilty of any excess whatever.
There is danger in collecting together in large
bodies. l urge you, therefore, to return at once
to your homes. The greater the wrongs to
which you have been subjected the greater to
your credit should you recognize and recolect
your own simple and plain duty as citizens.
may be. Let the pople of the whole country
see that we are law-abIding, just and moderate.
(Signed) FRANCIS +. NICHOLS,
Gov. of the state of Louisiana.
80 p. m.-About 30 o'clock someone in
the crowd in st. Louis street fred two shots
with pistol into the auditors Office in the
lower portion of the state house, md three
shots were returned from Within which caused
great excitement. No one was hurt, however
Soon after Mayor Austin drove up in a car
rage and read Gov, Nichols proclamation to
the crowd. A part of the crowd dispersed, but
t,o1 orr Nnrf nod
and Chief of Police Boylan are now endeayor.
ing to dispense the crowd
Nichols militia about 5000 strong had re-
view at about O'Clock to night. They were
loudly cheered as they marched through the
streets. They were principally armed with
Springfield rifles, with bayonets and cartridge
boxes, though some were armed with carbines,
shot guns and old muskets, and marched in a
manner that showed they were familiar with
the school of the company. After the review
the companies were detailed for duty and
marched off TO different points Some are pa
trolling the city. tonight, but most of them
were disbanded for the night. All ages from
16 10 so years are represented in the militia.
As they passed the custom house this morn
ing on Their march to jackson Square, the win
dOws on old Levee street were filled with Unit
ed States soldiers. The militia brought their
guns to carry arms and gave three cheers,
which were responded to by the soldiers
At 8 o'clock tonight the agent of the Asso-
clateu FfeSS attempted toeuter Tue state House
to interview Gov. Packard, but was halted by
Nichols police and refused admission
Gov. Packard and the Legislature are in the
State House, but the new police have refused
to allow provisions to be carried inside, and
Gov. Packard and the Legislature are in state
of siege.
Ali kinds of sensational rumors are af1oat to-
night, notably one that the state house is to be
attacked. On this subject prominent Demo-
Gratis state the plan of the Democrats was to
have the Supreme Court enjoin Packard from
usurplng the function of governor, and in the
event of his refusing to have him arrested for
contempt,
J. Il. Eustis Elected U. 9. Senator by the
Democrats.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 9-The Democratic
legislature with quorum in beth House voted
for U S. Senator today. j. B Eusts received
a majority of the votes cast for the term ending
in 1879. There was no choice for the long