The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-04-24

1oyS1auuefS ufOWHeu DaluWln voice
with their whoops and cheers.
"While I was gazing at the scene"
said the major, II saw captain of
an. Alabama cavalry regiment, with
whom / had a slight acquaintance.
We were both in uniform. We
agreed that something ought to be
done to restore order and stop the
robbery. At his suggestion we sta
toned ourselves at the door of a store
already overrun. In a few seconds
d virago tried to pass US. can see
her now. Her cheeks and lips were
red, but she had pinched, starved
look, and an eye like a hawk. She
carried in her arms half dozen bars
of yellow soap, a piece of dress silk,
long box of stockings and some
raisins and behring's. I said:
"Madam, beg your pardon; but
you are forgetting yourself. These
goods are not yours. You have not
paid for them, and you will not be
permitted to leave this store with
them.'
s'She looked at me-" said the ma.
jor, in wild way, as though endeav.
oring to comprehend what I had said
and then went to the counter and
threw down the goods. AS SIZE came
back she deliberately took be by the
arm and slung me from her with
such force that I went spinning
around like a top, and struck the
front of tue building 50 hard that it
took the breath out of me. She then
quietly gathered up her load, from
the counter and walked out. The
Alabama captain looked at me and
laughed, but kept his hands in his
pockets and said nothing. I told
him I thought we were out of place,
and he nodded. We concluded after
that to remain simple spectators"
Meanwhile the women were ap-
preaching the Jews quarter. The
Hebrews were credited with great
wealth. 1t was said that they had
made barrels of money out of the
Confederacy, and the female commu
nists went at them without qualm
of conscience. Moses and Isaacs
however, had heard what was going
on above, and tried to protect them
selves. They put up their shutters,
barricaded their doors, ran up stairs
and watched the proceedings from
the second story windows. But the
women were not dismayed. While
some of them ran for axes, others
found long piece of scantling and
used it as battering ram. The first
door flew open amid the cheers of
the outsiders, followed by vail of
sorrow from the Jews. .Oh, mine
Kott! mine Kott! ish ruined! I
ish ruined!' was the cry. But they
made no further defense. Indeed it
would have been dangerous for them
to attempt it, for if one of the female
robbers had been hurt the crowd of
husbands and brothers would surely
have avenged it.
"And so,' said the Major, "the
spoilation continued. At last ru-
NOR ran through the street, the
Governor is coming 1t proved
true. Down the hill came Governor
Letcher, accompanied by his staff
and few friends. He assembled a
cart and made speech, which had
as much effect as such speeches usu-
ally do have. The mob of women
kept steadily at work, and the Gov
ernor pumped himself dry without
producing the least effect. The
crowd ON the outskirts opened res
pectfully for him to pass out, and
the Jews moaned more pitiful than
ever. The women pitched in with
renewed vigor, and shawls, sugar,
poplins, bottles of pickles, ribbons,
washing soda, muslins and bags OF
hominy were pitched into the wa
lyons at the door. Then second
rumor spread over the crowd. The
President was coming. This also
proved true. President Davis rode
down from the Capitol, followed by
Captain Gay, with 1oo.of the guards.
He mounted wagon, and everybody
was silent. I had seen him several
times, but had never heard him
speak. So I forced my way within
ten feet Of him, and stood spell
bound. It was the most eloquent
speech ever heard. Tall and slen-