The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-15
NEGROES ARE PROTECTED
Under the Guns of the Mill
tia Their Work Is Re-
Sumed.
WHITE sCREWMEN YET IDLE
Further Disturbances Prevented by
a Display of Blue Coats and
Calling Guns.

NEW ORLEANS, March 14.-The stormy
scenes along the river front of New Orleans
have been succeeded by a calm and some
thing approaching the normal condition
OF affairs is restored. Work was resumed
on the wharves to-day, at least partially,
but it was only the colored screwmen who
took up their tools, and then only under
the protection of an armed guard.
Where there were no troops there was no
work. The white screwmen held aloof
and preserved a threatening silence, but
none made move which would cause the
militia to use force to suppress it. Though
still strained the situation is much i'm
proved tonight. Governor Foster is still
in the city and has announced his deter
animation to remain here until the trouble
is finally settled. Negotiations are IN
progress which may produce this happy
result, but their outcome cannot be pre-
dicted at present. Meanwhile the State
authorities are taking no chances. The
troops, who have been on duty all day, are
sleeping off their fatigue and are under
orders to report for duty tomorrow morn
ing, when work on the shipping will be
resumed.
BY 6 o'clock this morning all we're astir
IN the armOrles, where troops have been
quartered for the last few days. Marching
orders were received from headquarters at
IL \. NJ, and the militia, divided into three
sections, were marched to the levee and
took up positions at the Harris line wharf,
at Third and Sixth streets. The entire
force numbered something over 600 men,
commanded by Brigadier-General Bar
tand, under the supervision OF Major-Gen-
eral John GIynn Jr. The men were in
full service uniform with cartridge belts
filed with ugly looking missiles. At the
point where the greatest danger was APP
pretended Hotchkiss and Calling guns
were unlimbered in such position as they
could be quickly trained up or down the
wharves on advancing mobs.
The headquarters of the screwmen at the
apex OF the French market triangle, in the
upper stories of which were stored duanti-
ties OF ammunition, was surrounded by the
Washington battalion of artillery. whose
howitzers were trained on it and prepared
TO destroy II at the first hostile movement.
Stationed along the river front at intervals
were picket lines of police, mounted and
dismounted, who were under orders to CO.
operate with the troops and who seemed
to be in hearty sympathy with them. Oc-
casionally crowds gathered at one point or
another and the police were called On to
disperse them, which they did without
trouble. Not shot was fired at any point
nor was there any violence. The negro
screwmen went to work without hesitation
wherever troops were stationed.
They also started to work at Outhport
during the morning, but as neither militia
nor police were on duty there they soon
abandoned the work, though there was no
prospect of trouble.
AT o:3O P. NJ. the Screwmen had all fin
ished their days labor, and the troops
were ordered TO report again at o'clock
tomorrow morning. The conference of
delegates of mercantile bodies resumed its
session to-day, but took no action, having
practically decided to leave the settlement
of the trouble in the Governors hands.
Discussing the matter this evening, re-
ferring particularly to the calling out of
the troops, the Governor said it was very
unfortunate that it became his duty to use
such harsh measures, but there did not ap-
pear to him and to many others any prac-
ticable and effective plan to adopt. He re-
iterated his statement of yesterday that no
matter what happened he would protect
the lives of citizens and commerce at this
port at any cost.
"This step was decided upon last night
late" said the Governor, latter every
phase of the situation had been thoroughly
considered by the Police Board and other
bodies. 1t was almost the unanimous
opinion of the board that it was the only
thing to do and it was generally the
opinion of all other bodies affected by the
disturbing and rioting element. Although
everything is now quiet on the levee there
is still no assurance of safety felt by
the 1aborer as he goes about his work.
Therefore, for the present it is quite neces-
sary to keep the soldiers on duty"
Glow long do you expect to maintain
military vigilance?" queried the reporter.
II cannot say, but as long as may at all
seem necessary"
Governor Foster is quite unwell and just
able to be up, but will remain in the city
If his health is no worse until all trouble
has subsidized.
Judge King, in the impeachment pro-
ceedings against Mayor Fitz patrick, to-day
decided in his favor on three charges.