Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-14
Militia Sent to, the River Front at
New Orleans.
NO REPETITION OF VIOLENT ACTS
Negro Laborers Again at Their
Work.
THE LYNCHING OF '91

NEW ORLEANS. La, March 14.-Four
years ago today New Orleans was the
scene of widest excitement. On that day
a mob of several thousand determined
men, under the leadership of number of
prominent citizens, marched to the old
parish prison and shot to death eleven
Italians, who were implicated in the as
sassination of Chief of Police HenneSSy.
Today. the fourth anniversary of this ia
nous event. New Orleans is again passing
through a siege of excitement. Its militia,
the flower of the youth of the city, have
been ordered to the levee to protect the
negro laborers from mob violence. For
two days the soldiers have been resting on
their arms at their armories, and it was
not known at what hour they would be
called out.
Governor Foster issued his proclama ton
yesterday afternoon. and as soon as the
word had been received at the various
armories that the proclamation had been
issued the troops knew well that the next
order would be for them to march to the
river Consequently all was hustle and
excitement at the different armories. ON
GERS sent for dereiict men, and by nlght-
fall, when orders were received by the
various commanders of the respective ba'-
talions to ne ready to march to the river
this morning, nearly all of the soldiers
had reported for duty.
At I o'clock this morning the wharf in
front of the Harrison line of steamers pc-
gan to present an animated appearance
The stevedores of the various gangs OF
negro screwmen and 'longshoremen had
sent word to their men to report at the
wharf at the regular hour to begin work
Notwithstanding that military protectlon
had been promised them, some or the
coIored workmen were dubious about visit
ing the scene of the late slaughter for
they feared that the whites could easily
hide behind cotton bale and pick them
IT. t1Ar oil m
reach them.
However, about fifty men made their ap-
pearance at the time mentioned Al that
hour the levee swarmed with pohcemen'
but not a man wearing military UNIFORM
was in sight. When the negroes ascertain
ed that the troops had not reached the
scene many of them became frightened
and wanted to return to the shelter of the
more thickly populated portion of the
city.
The policemen told them that they need
have fear. and it was all the stevedores
could do to hold them. Notwithstanding
that the soldiers had not put in an ap-
pearance the stevedores were willing to
begin work under the protection of the po-
lice. They had received word from Gen.
Glynn, the commander of the entire militia,
that the troops would reach the levee by
S o'clock.
Therefore they felt that by the time they
had the work of loading the vessels well
in hand the troops would arrive.
Another fact which gave them encourage
ment was the absence on the levee of any
crowds OF suspcouS-looii white men.
However willing the stevedores were to go
to work. Capt. Woods of the Engineer the
steamer which was attacked by the armed
mob on last Tuesday, would not listen to
the men going to work until the troops ar
rived. Communication was then had with
the various arnlories. Word was sent that
ii would be 10 o'clock before the troops
&C uid reach the scene. Consequently all
idea of work was abandoned until that
hour. and the negroes were ordered to re-
Tain around. They did SO, but they hug
Sed the police very closely
The troops subsequently reached the
scene and labor was resumed
AT III O'Clock the third and fifth battalious
Oh troops. under command of Maj Violet
and Maj. Bouchereau numbering 80 men
left the armories and marched to the head
of Josephine street, where work of loading
the West India line of ships began at noon
There were no demonstrations anywhere
illnue the linz. of