Huntsville gazette., 1883-12-22
PISTOLS AT THE PRIMARIES.

nation of a Bitter Contest Between the
Ogden and McEnery Factions.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Dec. IA.
The exciting political contest which has
been going on in this State within the Dem
ocratic party for the nomination for Gov.
ernor resulted to-day in shooting affray
and riot in which number of lives were
lost. The contest is between S. L. McEn.
cry, present Governor of the State, and
General Fred Ogden, quite prominent in
Louisiana history. 1t has been character
lied by the most intense bitterness, and
has threatened to disrupt the Democratic
party in this city. This city to-day held
its primaries for the election of delegates
to the nominating convention. The con-
test has aroused as much excitement as a
Presidential election, and faction feeling
ran so high that difficulty was very gen.
orally feared.
The hottest contest was in the Seventh
Ward, where the two factions are evenly
matched in point of numbers. Bitterness
and bad blood prevailed there all the morn
ing and only spark was needed to cause
an explosion. About one O'Clock one Mike
Brennan presented himself at the polls
there and tried to vote. He was challenged.
One side insisted on voting him and the
others protested against this. In the midst of
the discussion Tom Buckley, Harbor Master,
struck the man over the head with a
heavy cane or club, causing a serious
wound. Brennan fell and Immediately a
pistol shot was fired by some one in the
crowd, which was very dense. This was
the signal for general battle. There were
several hundred persons in the crowd and
nearly all of them must have be n armed,
for revolvers were fiouriShed in the air, and
shot after shot was fired. For twenty
minutes the firing was kept up, over 100
shots being fired. Terrible excitement pre-
vailed and the stampede was frightful.
The Judges and Commissioners of Election
fled into house near by. The police, who
could do nothing to quell the fury of the
combatants, fled from the field. Around the
corner from the polling booth a shot now
and then was heard, showing that the
skirmishing was going on with pursuit and
defense.
When the smoke cleared away it was
found that Captain Michael J. Fortier, one
of the most promising creoles in this city
and the leader of the Ogden movement in
the ward, was killed Gus Renard, Super
intendent of Schools, was picked up uncon-
scious with four mortal wounds, from
which he expired few minutes afterward.
Gabriel Mason, Deputy Constable, was
WOunueu tnTce places, TWO OIL Une wounds
being fatal. He survived only few min
utes.
The wounded were: Robert Brewster,
Criminal Sheriff of this city, shot in the
lho it1iLobn. BraYster, his brother, wounded
Gus Peardeau, wounded in the head; David
Krackerman, wounded in the thigh; Larry
O'Donnell, assistant City Attorney,
wounded in the arm; Peter Brannon,
wounded in the head; Mike Early wounded
in the head; John Dominicl1, wounded in
the leg; Charles Fagio, wounded in the an
kle; David Deckinn, George Tuado; John
Astrado aud Charles Falco were also
wounded, and several others are known to
have been injured, but have not yet been
reported to the police.
Captain Fortier was commander of the
Louisiana field artillery and was quite well
known to the militia throughout the cOun.
try, having taken his company to the mill
tary contests at Indianapolis, Louisville
and Nashville, and carried off prizes for
the best artillery drill at these places.
After the shooting, Sheriff Robert Brew
ster and Deputies John Dominick, Dan
Glous and Mike Early, who had pistols in
their hands, surrendered to the police and
were locked up.
The effect of this affray was to quiet the
political excitement i'll this city. The gen.
eral result of the election is favorable to
the denomination of Gov. McEnery.
SHERIFF BREwsTER's STATEMENT.
Late tonight Sheriff Brewster decided tc
make the following statement: John
Dominick and | and two others went from
the Sixth to the Seventh ward. When we
arrived at the poll there was some one chal-
lenging a voter, and a large crowd was
present. The police were moving the
crowd back to make room for the voters,
when Mike Early struck man named
BRENNAN. While in their charge Tom
Buckley raised loaded stick and struck
him over the head, then jumping into the
street began firing. | Immediately drew a
pistol and pointed it at Buckley, but it snap
ped. Buckley ran by me for Bagatelle
Street. | felt l had been wounded but
walked toward the poll. Before | got there
the shooting was all over. Subsequently
went to DR.. Mentions office where the
wound, flesh one in the right thigh, was
dressed. | took occasion to show the pistol
to the doctor and he can testify it had not
been discharged. After the wound was
dressed l went to the Sixth ward poll,
where [ was arrested by Detectives oUah-
ley and McDonough.
The above statement of Brewster was
corroborated by Dan Douglass, Mike Early
aud John Dominick. The latter received a
wound in his right leg below the knee and
ia suffering considerably. His statement
is in substance the same as that made by
Brewster.
Geo. Schroth, an Ogden man OF the
Seventh ward, told Police Captain Gill that
lanes d. Houston, prominent McHenry
SUPPORTER, had revolver in his hand; tnat
he saw him shoot, but did not see at whom
he fired. He refused further statement
until called as witness. Chlef OF roilce
Rowley ordered the arrest OF Houston upon