The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-11-30
Butler in New Orleans.

\ gentleman who was in New Orleans
ut the time writes to the Chicago /! erald:
\ correspondent of the Herald yester.
day asked to be informed who it was
that Gen Butler hanged in New Orleans
for treason. The man was VIM. b. Mum.
ford, prominent New Orleans sporting
man, and the circumstances were these
After Farraguts feet had pass4d the forts
below the city and anchored of the leyen
Captain Morris, of the Pensacola, was Iii.
lected by Farragnt to land a boats crew,
take possession OF the United States Gus.
tom House and Mint and hoist the Union
flag on both buildings. The rebel troops
under Mansfield Lowell had fled the city
out Buffers forces had not vet arrived.
The flag was hoisted on the mint on
April q, and within two hours Mumford
had collected q posse OF followers as
reckless as himself and proceeded to tear
it down. The fag was cut into strips and
distributed among the drunken crowd
as trophies. Tue next day Butler lnEded
with his troops. The rebel papers OF
that morning were filed with glowing
accounts Of Mumford's deed, and he was
applauded as IL patriot. lhe "eneny"
were defiantly assured that tine act was
the act of the city, and that the whole
people would stand by Mumford and
defend him with ''thelr hearts blood f"
This and other twaddle in the Picayune
forced Butler to take greater notice OF
Mumford's act than he might otherwise
have done. He arrested Mumiord and
brought him before the provost guard.
His object was to punish him for drunk.
enness and disorderly conduct. The
next morning the Picayune and True
Delta fairly screamed their defiance,
"Mumiord must be rescued" 1.-THE
Yankees must be driven out!' they
yelled. That was too much for Ben. He
sent guard and took possession of
both newspaper offices put
their proprietors in the guard house
called ior volunteer printers and editors
from the ranks OF the army, and next
morning both papers Appeared as bang
up Union sheets, and cratn,neu with 10.
cal news such us New Orleans papers
had never printed before.
"What are you going to do with Mr.,
Mumford?" dsfantly asked the rebel
mayor, as he strobe into old Ben's pres.
ence.
~ am going to hang Mr.. Mum.ord,'
said Butler, sarcastically, land if you're
not mighty careful I'll hang you. As it
is | am going to send you over to Ship
Island for your health. Caps,,in--'''
to an aid, "tell Genera! Strong to come
here" When the general came, Ben
said with pleasant smile, "His Honor,
the Mayor, thinks that after the ,ur-
MOL ana excitement Of tile past
few days he would like a
brief period Of rest at Ship Island. You
will have boat ready to sail ut 20 clock,
and see that his Honor takes passage in
her. ! have given him permission to
take his family" and with that the Cen
eral leered at the Mayor in lis peculiar
way. Expostulation was in yam, and
the Mayor went.
Two days after Mumford was arranged
before military commission OH charge
OF treason, and WAS convicted and sem
fenced to be hanged. fhe most stren-
nous efforts were made to save him;
even Farragut counse!!e,l caution, but
old Ben only said, 81 mean to convince
these people that this is war, and no
chid's play" And he did. Mnmlprd
dangIed from the gallows in less than
ten days after the commission of his
reckless act.