Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1894-11-10
new ORLEANS IN TERROR
Militia Called Upon to Guard the
Cotton Wharves.
LABOR RIOTS ARE NOW IMMINENT.
The white screwmen VIII Not Work
with the Black sorewmen, and Arson
and Murder Have Already Been Resort.
ed To-The Cause of the Trouble.


and Murder Have Already Been Resort.
ed To-The Cause of the Trouble.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 10.-Four compa- |
niles Of infantry and battery of artillery, |
with three gatlings, are quartered today |
in the armories of our local militia, and |
railroad and steamship property Is being |
guarded by United States marshals and
special police against possible incendiary
attempts as an element of the labor trou
bles which have been existing here for two
weeks past
The trouble is not in the nature Of
strike but grows out of the refusal OF
members Of the White Cotton Screwmen's
association to allow the colored screwmen
to engage with them any longer in that
business The screwmen's association
here has existed for 40 years and IS hnan.
cially, as we'll as by reason Of its influence
and we'll disciplined organization, one Of
the most powerful bodies Of labor in the
world
So well have they controlled tho com
mercial situation that 70 bales is days
stowago Tor each gang Of five mon, and
for which the gang foreman roceives 50
and each Of the remainder Of the gang SO
per day. Tho organization has a heavy
surplus in its treasury and reserve in
strike emergencies or other critical times
Refused TO Work with Negroes.
In attaining its present control Of the
situation the white organization has foi
years cultivated and received the support
of the negro screwmen. At first all were
members Of one body but were subse-
quently divided and the negroes and the
whites worked separately, but at times on
he with N xy4ax 40,
ling entirely the situation tho white assoc
citation recently issued o circular to ship
ping agents that they would no longer
work with the negro sorewmen, and, when
the question came to an issue, struck, but
afterward made an agreement that cor
| tain lines of vessels would be permitted
to uss the black labor.
The understanding was only reached
| after q small riot on Oct. 26, ia which
four negroes were shot or driven into the
| river and drowned. the city police stand
| ing idly by and protesting inability to
recognize the offenders. Previous to this
squad of the white screwmen had gone
to the leveo at night and. taking the few
| private wharves by SURPRISE went aboard
the ships and threw the tools used by the
negro gangs into the river, thus destroy
| ing about $4. 600 worth of property.
M. J. Sanders, agent of the West India
/ and Pacific Steamship company, had en-
gagged the negro screwmen to work on
the vessels OF his line due here this week,
and the announcement was treated as q
piece of local news in Sundays papers.
About 6, 600 bales OF cotton and a large
| quantity of oottonEeed meal and cake be-
sides slaves and 900 barrels of molasses,
were on the company's wharf Sunday
afternoon, when fire was discovered in
the very middle Of the cotton shed.
Set Fire to Cotton wharves.
There was large detail Of police guard
ing the property at tho time but un-
fortunately no precaution had been taken
to guard underneath the wharf Some
one had gone below tho planking and sci
fire to the cotton overhead. In wharves
cotton and other property destroyed thu
loss footed UP about s150,ooo, and thu
unanimous opinion Is In accord with this
police theory Of incendiarism by som'
member of the White Screwmen'a asso
citation. Be this as it may, the negroes
did not 60 to work on this particular cot
ton on Monday.
The proximity Of the election probably
prevented & public demonstration Of the
sentiment Of the community, but the mat
ter was only temporarily deferred and TIN
negroes given every assurance Of ampl
protection The test accordingly beRar
J Friday In Southport, the export terminu
of the Illinois Central and Mississippi
, Valley railroads on the river, just aboy
tho city limits. Tho steamship William
Z Cliffe began taking cargo with negro la
) Dor. and a German steamer at the sam
. dock was being worked by whites.
The steamship agents had applied {
the United States authorities, and /
deputy marahals and some 40 special pc
lice officers were on duty all day. n
! demonstration was made although it
certain that trouble will develop YER
Q shortly, and that, too Of a most seriou
I character 1t is fully expected that rC
: sort to arson will be had as a retaliatio
G upon the shipping interests and railroa
Q companies.
Militia Ordered on Duty.
In Southport there are two grain o.,
vators and some ESQ carloads Of cotto
Z oako and meal All along tho city fror
!, the wharvos arc full OF cotton awaitin
Q shipment, and in the same vicinity al
b the cotton presses full TO their utmost q
Is pacity. A fire of any magnitude woul
: mean the loss of hundreds Of Thousand
Z Of dollars, and the city Is cursed with
10 police force OF dwarf proportions and y
ter unreliability.
The levee and yards of the Illinois Cel
trail railroad are full Of cotton and ha'
y been under nightly patrol OF trusted on
IS ployees in addition to the hired polil
= force all the week. It is feared that a
, tempts will be made at either or bot
3 these points TO fire the company's prope
q ty and thus destroy the cotton,
"a Governor Foster Is in the city and hi
consulted with the legal representativ
OF the company and late yesterday afte
noon ordered the details Of militia Q
al ready mentioned on duty In the armori
20 TO be held In readiness About 90 81
ployees of the Illinois Central arc I
40 duty at Southport and some 40 at &
s. levee depot--a sufficient force to hold
check any attempted movement until I
: lief could reach either point. The ne
~ developments cannot be predicted, b
y the next few days can safely be expects
~ 70 bring forth some sensational develo
" ments
Mr. Sanders has obtained from Jud
Pardee, in tho United States court, an
junction restraining the screwmen q
1. IT, frr