The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-05-01
The burnside Strike.
The Leaders Sent to the District Court for
Trial-Unf0unled Rumors Of Threat

The Leaders Sent to the District Court for
Trial-Unfounded Rumors of Threat
ened Disturbances.
On Saturday last, Sheriff P. A. Jones
and Deputy Sheriff. w. j. Means pro-
ceeded to the Burnside plantations in the
fifth ward and executed warrants issued
by Justice Dennis Butler of Donaldson
Vile for the arrest Of Prince Whitesides,
Powell Cartwright, Henry Hayes, Sanders
Carroll and James Howell, leaders of the
gang Of strikers from the Conway and
Orange Grove places who visited the
Clark, Donaldson and Riverton places
and ordered the hands there to stop work.
The Sheriff and his deputy met with no
opposition whatever, the strikers avow-
ing that they had no desire to do any
thing unlawful, but simply sought to
exercise their right of peaceably demand
ing an increase of wages.
It was reported that the prisoners
would have q preliminary examination
on Tuesday, and on that day large
crowd of colorcd people congregated at
the river ferry opposite Donaldsonville,
giving rise to the rumor that an attempt
would be made to rescue the accused by
force in case the Justice of the Peace
failed to discharge them from custody.
This really groundless apprehension
caused considerable excitement and the
Captains of the Cannoneers and Cofeld's
Battery were requested to hold their
commands in readiness to act as a Sher-
ifs posse in case of emergency. We felt
confident from the first that there was
no danger of an outbreak, and inquiry
and observation convinced us that this
conclusion was correct. The strikers,
moved by sympathy for their imprisoned
friends, had come to the ferry in order
to be near the scene Of the examination
where they could readily receive news
Of it's progress, and there was nothing i'll
their appearance or department to ,justi-
fy an opinion that they would attempt
to obstruct the progress of justice by vio-
lence and lawlessness. A committee of
strikers crossed the river to inquire into
the status Of the case against the pris-
oners and endeavor to have them released
OH bail. District Attorney Earhart, Rep
rcscntative Landry and Sheriff Jones
made the situation clear to them, 'and
learning that the examination had been
fixed for Thursday the committee retired
perfectly satisfied that their friends were
being subjected to the ordinary course
Of legal procedure. =~s.M i
On Thursday the preliminary exami-
nation was held at the Court House be-
fore Justice Butler attracting a large
attendance of people, white and colored.
District Attorney Earhart and E. N.
Pugh, Esq. appeared for the State, while
the accused were without counsel, Six
witnesses were examined on behalf of
the prosecution and six or seven for the
| defense. The facts Of the strike, as de-
veloped by the testimony elected, are
simply these: Thursday night Of last
week, about forty labore1s, including
representatives from all five of the Burn
side places, met at the bridge between
the Orange Grove and Conway and
agreed upon the strike. A written docu-
mcnt, called a constitution" was drawn
| mp and signed, by which the subscriber
agreed to submit to tllirty-nine lashcs in
case of failure to continue the strike ,ln-
! til the desired increase Of wages should
| be conceded. The plan of operations
mapped ont was carried into execution
next day, when the Conway and Orange
| Grove hands formed their procession and
marched through the other places and
summoned the laborers there to join i'll
| the strike. No actual violence occurred,
and no open threats seem to have been
| made, but it was understood among the
| laborers that the penalty for refusing to
strike would be the dreaded nine-and-
thirty" and Il number expressed to the
managers of the plantations a perfect
willingness to resume work, but for the
fear of punishment and violence at the
hands of the strikers. The leaders of the
movement certainly acted with more
caution and prudence than might have
been expected under the circumstances
and they are evidently sincere in the
declaration that they did not believe
themselves to be transgrcssing any law
Their impression was that, as all the
plantations visited belong to one planter
and he their employer, they would not
commit trespass by marching through
the snbdivitled tract which forms the
Burnside property.
Justice Butler deemed that the evi
dence established probable cause of TIL
guilt of the acc1lsed-who are charged
with conspiracy and trespass-and h
sent them before the District Court TO
trial, fixing their bonds at 500 eacl,
I Richard Story was implicated in the con
spiracy, and was arrested at the Court
House during the progress Of the exani
nation. All the accused are still confined
not having succeeded as yet in furnish
ing bail. They will doubtless be release
iii a few days. @&