Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-29
Riofous Proceedings in Washington.

kiOfOuS proceedings Ill NSSNiNsIOHs
There was some excitement 10 Washington
on Saturday, caused by the interference oil
crowd Ct idle roughs, mostly negroes, with
some men engaged upon government work.
The correspondent Of tho Baltimore Sun says:
AS early as six 0 clock the ncighborhood OF
3 street, in rear Of agricultural grounds. began
to be thronged. 1t was stated that men were
employed on the work at IS cents per day, and
that no one would be permitted to work at less
than 81. so per day. "a the other hand it was
said that the men we're to DO paid 81 and 81. %
per day, and it is now certain that the oontrac'
tors intend 10 pay none Of the laborers less than
81 per day.
Almoss as soon as these crowds gathered
squads of police reached the ground, and very
soon there were upon the ground force OF
over one hundred policemen, some ten or
twelve of them mounted, all under command
of Capt. Brock, with Licutenants Hurley, Cess
ford, Noonan, Kelly, johnson and Austin. -
The crowd continued to increase, and at seven
o'clock the contractors, who camo upon the
ground in buggy, called upon their men to
20 to work, and appealed to Capt. Brock to
clear the ground so as to enable them to do So
Lieut. Gesstord, with some fifteen policemen,
then moved over the site Of the building, clear
ing the ground. the crowd readily yielding TO
the pressure OF the police and taking to the
sidewalk. Here, however, the yielding seemed
to stop, for as some went away others came up.
After several orders to clear the way, dis
perse, No.. Lieut.. johnson, with the mounted
police, rode into the crowd, and sudden dis
pcrsion took place. A lew wheellngs OF the
horsemen, and the ground was nearly entirely
clear, The crowd leaving cast by Is street and
north by Fourteenth street, many leaving also
by tho agricultural grounds, which, with the
Smithsonian grounds, make up the entire north
boundary Of Is street. Whenever there seemed
disposition to make stand the police on loot
made a move and used their batons. so that the
stampede was soon complete. a coored man
named George Duvall. who had been arrested
for disorde1y conduct, was sent oil to the police
station, and SIX or seven men took picks and
shovels aud went to work loading the dirt into
few carts. that carried it down Fourteenth
street to tho White lot, 10 rear Of the executive
mansion. These carts Wero guarded, and as
from timo 10 time men would come and hang
about the ncighborhood they were ordered oil
by the pollca.
Tllclc is uuIy que utticr public work onlploy
ing laborers in tho city nov in progress, and
that is the reconstruction OF tho Fourteenth
street sewer. There +. }. Coylo e Co. have
some twenty five lab6Tcrs aud 4 number 81 me-
chauics at work, the lahorers receiving $ per
day. TO this sewer, the crowd driven oil from
the treasury extension work next proceeded -
notice was posted that no one should work
for less than $3.50 per day and some disorder
Ccanrrcl, and as there were some w0rkmcn in
deep pits who might have been easily IT. urel,
it was deemed proper Ia suspend work Tor
awhile Before any violence mad been offered
the workmen Lieut.. JohDson's mounted police
dashed into the street and cleared oil the crowd.
The sama crowd marched down to Seventh
street and hence south to street, up which
they turned in tho direction Of tho printing
bureau excavation again.
was learned by tie ne I6li0e Just at this time
that Cody men were again approaching the
grounds irom Seventh street. and Lieut.. Cess
lord and ten policemen we're detailed to warn
them to keep away, and II necessary to pre-.
vent them from coming up. THIS detail had
gone but few hundred yards when at The
southwest corner Of the Smithsonian grounds
they met the crowd, white and cOored, coming
up Il street, apparently under the lead OF q
youog man Damed Herbert Paris, who has the
reputation of beiog assistant to Cohen, the
/
upon the crowd to 60 back, but they still al,
yanocd: some of them threw stones, two colored
men, Austin and Turner, being recognized as
stone throwcr5 and one Of the stones struck
Lieut. Gesslord. The command was given to
fire, and the police gaVo one shot with their re-
yolvers, the crowd scattering 10 every direction.
Just before the firing began Austin and Tur.
ner had been arrested and the stone throwing
seemed to be part of an attempt to rescue them.
Paris was also arrested. lie is by trade
printer, but has worked very little OF his trade
in Washington. As soon as the crowd scattered
it was learned that none OF them had been
struck, but that q colored man named David
Snowdcn, who was On the Smithsonian grounds,
had been wounded 10 the slde lie was cared
for and his injuries found not to be dangerous.
Work continued both at tho printing bureau
excavation and the Fourteenth street sewer
during the residue Of The day, and was resumed
as usual this morning.
Commissioner Phelps, owing to Commits
soner TWiDiugs absence and Commissioner
Dents illness, had yesterday sole charge Of the
execution Of the laws of the District. As soon
as he came to the District building in the morn
ing he issued an order to Chief of Police Nor
gan reciting that complaints had been made Of
unlawful assemblies in the streets OF the city,
aud directing that measures should be taken
for a strict enforcement Of the law on the sub.
jcot. A conference of the major and officers Of
the force was held and orders given to keep the
streets clear, and permit no assemblage on
them without permit from police headqusr.
ters. Communication had previously been
opened with the commandant Of the army, and
the United States troops were placed at the
disposal of the District authorities for the pre-
selvation Of peace and the enforcement Of the
laws. During the day United States arms and
ammunition for the use Of the police were sent
to headquarters, and arrangements completed
by which the best equipned force that ever
patroled city, with Gatliug guns and other
all appliances for keeping order can be called
into rcquisition in a momcu'. The Chief Of
police announced his determination to follow
the first disobeycd order to dispense with
volley, and to allow no meetings 10 be held in
the city except by citizens known TO be honest
and reputable men.
T,J ,bo hot