River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-03-21
SHOT DOWN LIKE DOGS.
Race War In New Orleans Five Mer
Were Killed.

NV ORLEANS, March l4.-There were
two separate and distinct riots here
Tuesday, both probably resulting
from the same plan. One occurred on
the river front, near the French mar
ket, where the ship Engineer was
loading for Liverpool. The other oc-
CURED about miles distant, in the di-
rection of Carrollton. at the foot of
Philip street. Only one man, William
Campbell (colorcd), was killed in the
latter affair.
The names of the dead are: William
Campbell (colored); Jules Carrabee.
Leonord Mellard and two unknown
negroes, who have not been identified.
A total of eight were wounded.
Doubtless a number of other negroes
were slightly wounded. but ran away
and cannot be identified.
The riot was far more serious than
the loss of life indicated, for it showed
the mob to be in complete control and
able to defy and override the police
and hold the commerce of the city
completely AT its mercy. IL marched
along the entire city front. some
s or 10 miles, in two armies.
equipped with rifles, shotguns and
pistols, dispensing all companies
of negroes at work there and shooting
all who opposed il without the sight
est check or hindrance or the least at
tempt at resistance on the part of the
laborers or police. The mob was COM
pletely master of the situation, firing
right and left at all who got in the
way and at many points even the yes
sells lying at the wharf received show
ers of bullets.
The negroes were taken completely
by surprise. They ran about like
lot of wild animals, and their cries
were pitiful. Many sought refuge
aboard the ship while some ran
down the wharf and made their
escape. One negro, it is stated,
jumped under the wharf. IL is
impossible to estimate the num-
Der of shots fired, but it is said
that there were about 200 The firing
was reckless on all sides. not caring
whom they shot. After their bloody
work the attackers hurried off as fast
as they had come, moving along the
levee up town unmolested.
the beginning OF the commercial in New
Orleans. and which originated over labor mat
tiers, has in time changed tos bitter race war.
The white screwmen who load cotton on YES
sells and who constitute one OF the strongest
labor unions in this country have heen mas
tiers OF the cotton situation In New Orleans fo'
years. They decided that there was not enough
money in the business for them and the ne
groes, and prohibited the latter from loading
cotton vessels The negroes replied by reduc-
ing the rate OF pay, which had been five
and SIX dollars day for seven or eight
hours work, and in this we're supported
by the ship agents. The war has ragged
ever since The wharves OF the West
Indian line. the first to use negro labor.
we're burned down by an incendiary fire with
a loss of s250.00o The wharves % the Texas
& Pacific with Is coo bales OF cotton were de-
vaded by the white laborers. the negroes run
into the river and their tools thrown after
them. The negroes were fired on at Gretna
and Southport bombs were placed in the cot
ton and various other means used TO brighten
them on
INV ORLEANS, March l5.-This city
will have its hands full paying dam
ages to foreign claimants as the result
of Tuesdays riot The foreign consuls
held M meeting, which was not ended
until late hour Wednesday morning,
at which il was decided TO confer with
the various amba ssadors and ministers
at Washington in relation to the steps
that should be taken in the matter of
securing the payment of indemnity ana
urging the immediate punishment of
the offenders.
To that end full statement of the
riot and its results was made out and
sent to the diplomats at Washington
representing the various foreign ma
tions interested. The British ambassa-
dor at Washington has instructed
his consul here to collect evidence con-
corning the murder of Purser Balm, of
the British steamship Engineer, to be
used in the suit which is to be insti-
tuted at once against the city of New
Orleans.
James Bane, the purser of the steam
ship Engineer, who received five but
let wounds. rests easily and the sur
geons of the infirmary declare the
chances are in favor of his recovery.
NEW ORLEANS, March 16.-Thursday
morning the Washington artillery,
commanded by Col. Richardson, and
consisting of two Hotchkiss guns and
about 100 armed men, proceeded to the
site of the disturbance. The Second,
Third and Fourth battalious of state
troops were sent up town in the direc-
ton of Carrollton and stationed at
various points on the levee front. I'm
der the protection thus afforded many
colored men started to work at clock,
and no further trouble occurred.