The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-22
jury were hooted by few as they crossed
Lafayette Square before dispensing.
THE GATHERING STORM.


place in the hearts of the men of New Orleans.
Those citizens who had taken it upon them
selves at the time of the murder to restrain
popular vengeance and leave the matter to
the courts were doubly infuriated to see their
hopes blighted and to see the prediction of
justice which they had made to the populace
turned into bitter mockery by the Infamous
verdict.
There were secret meetings. The commit
tee of fifty was active during the long night
hours A mass meeting was called at 10
O'Clock Saturday morning in the heart of the
city.
And the street boys call to one another:
"Who killa de chief , Who killa de chief?
The Saturday morning sun shines bright
and clear upon the statue of Henry Clay. At
$3.50 o'clock the corners Of the streets which
intersect at that spot are occupied by large
groups of men. Although it is far from an
Unlocking crowd, yet the chronic lounger is
the most predominant type. As the minutes
pass the aspect of the growing multitude
changes with startling rapidity. Prominent
business men of all ages, brokers, lawyers,
men of culture and rank, come pouring down
the side streets from every direction and
range themselves about the pedestal of the
statue.
A wild yell announces the arrival of Parker
son, Wickliffe, and their friends, who march
twice around the statue in order to make
every one aware of their presence, and then
mount the side of the pedestal which faces
toward Royal street.
What is going to be proposed? Are we
about to listen to a series OF denunciatory
resolutions appealing to the authorities to
amend the jury system
Many think so, and seem to be clearing
their throats in order to shout "Aye,n when
approval is asked for prepared document.
They are mistaken. BY the time Parker
has spoken for two minutes the meaning of
the ominous words, 'Come prepared to act"
in the proclamation of the vigilance commit
fan ic fInian anf1 nj oiy,
The crowd yells, ''To the prison. To the
prison! Stop talking and give us leader I"
Two other speakers follow him. The last
one finishes his harangue amid an indescrb-
able uproar Parkerson and his associates
rush down from the pedestal and the crowd
surges behind them toward the prison, Guns
seem to spring magically into existence and
are seen fourishing at the heads of the
columns which in order to make more rapid
progress turn Off down every side street.
"Get your guns" one of the speakers has
said, land meet us at Congo Squore."
Within ten minutes Congo Square is black
with the multitude. Orleans street, upon
which the prison fronts, is thronged. Men
with cooked shotguns and Winchesters guard
every entrance to the Jail to prevent the
Italians escape.
AS your correspondent hurries across the
square with his overcoat pockets swinging be-
meath the weight of the pistols which he has
hurriedly brought along :sto prevent mistakes'
he notices an incident which few observe in
the general uproar. About twenty men,
armed with guns and revolvers, rush out of
Orleans street and turn up town, looking
wildly and anxiously about them. They have
heard flying rumor that one of the Dagoes
has escaped in that direction. They see no
fugitive and are satisfied that they are mis-
taken; but what might not have happened in
the fury OF the moment to any suspicious
looking stranger?
And now the physical and moral force of
i've thousand citizens is brought to bear upon
the tottering old jail. Blows upon blows are
rafned upon the Treme-street entrance.
stout negro attacks it with cobble- stone:
cordwood sticks beat lively tattoo upon the
heavy little door. A yell announces that its
forced. The armed men swarm inside and are
heard assailing an inner barrier.
THE TRAGEDY HAS BEGUN.
Soon shots are heard. but SO muffied are
they that many bystanders mistake them for
pounding upon the doors within, and declare
that the assault is not yet sure of success.
For moment there is lull. Then follows a
commotion on IRENE street. Polizzi is being
dragged from the prison toward the st. Ann
street corner
A rope with a moose, or rather sling at
one end is thrown about his neck by a double
turn.
1t is not necessarily for strangulaticn, but
merely as guarantee of good faith.
| And the lamp post bears fruit.
| Polizzi struggles and lays one hand upon
! the rope whereon he bangles. He is lowered.
His hands are securely tied and up he goes
| again. When he is we'll clear of the heads of
| the crowd half dozen shots ring out The
| wretched Italian makes one violent spring
| and is dead
His body stiffens rapidly, but such is the
| contortion of the facial muscles that at the
| end of five minutes the visage bears much
| more resemblance to that of decomposed
! and flabby corpse than to that of one Just
| killed.
The writer is taking look at the body and
| at the surrounding crowd when his attention
| is recalled to the spot on Orleans street which
| he left not ten minutes before. From small
| tree at that place Bagnetto is now hanging,
| as dead as stone, and already turning to
| dull purplish color with almost visible ra-
| pidity from the effects of strangulaton.
| His face, although bruised, wears a quiet
expression, probably owing to the fact that
he was stupetied by gun-shot wound before
being dragged by the neck out of jail. He is
far less oathsome in death than is Polizzi.
No others are brought out, although it was
probably the intention of the vigilance com
mittee to execute all in public if possible.
CHEERING FOR PARKERsoN.
Parkerson, with some of his comrades, reap
pears amid wild whooping and cheering and
informs the crowd of what has taken place
within the jail. At the conclusion of his
speech men surround him and bear him on
their shoulders.
A few voices shout, ''And now for the
juryW But the committeeman pay no atten-
tion to them, and the backbone of the crowd
is speedily weakened by the departure of the
citizens who are openly bearing weapons.
These march away in two or three squads, and
disperse upon arriving at Canal street.
1t is about ll:30. The meeting at the foot
OF the Clay statue broke up at 1l:15 Then