The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-16
TROOPS STILL ON THE LEVEE.
NEGROES AFRAID To BEGIN WORK
BEFORE THEIR ARRIVAL.

other FusiIade From the Whites in
the Early Hours Of the Morning.
No Attempt to Interfere with
Them Made During the Day or
when They Knocked on at Night.
New Orleans, March 15.-One of the
evil effects of the labor disturbances is
having on the commerce of this city
was shown to-day when it was rumored
that when the steamer Niagara finishes
unloading she viii not remain at this port
TO take on her cargo Of cotton, but will
20 to Galveston for it. The Niagara is
living at the wharf near the head of
Phillip street and in the vicinity of the
place where the party of rioters fired upon
negroes and killed one of them last Tues
day. Yesterday she was being unloaded
by non-union men. and it is expected that
the unloading will be completed to-day
The Elder, Dempster Company are agents
for the vessel, and as the rumor got
abroad that the craft was to be sent to
Galveston for her cargo of cotton, the
inquiry was made there If the vessel was
to be loaded there and the reply was in
the affirmative. The question was asked
if the labor troubles on the levee were
the cause of this action being taken. The
answer was partly because of the situa-
tion. and it was further added that the
steamer is to leave her moorings to-mor-
row morning and start out for the port
on the Gulf Of Mexico. Nothing further
could be learned.
The riot of Tuesday morning is not be-
ing investigated by the grand jury. The
inqusitorial body met this morning with
Foreman J. A. Chalaron and thirteen
members in attendance, and went into
session with the matter Of the riot before
them for investigation. A large number
Of witnesses have been summoned from
the police force. and among the negro
screwmen who were present at the scene,
and who were the targets for the pistols
and rifles of the attacking party. At
O'Clock Judge Noise sent for the grand
Jury and delivered a special charge, urg-
ing them to probe the affair to the bot
tom, in order to discover the perpetrators
Of the outrage.
Those who went to the uptown river
front this morning before 7 o'clock in
anticipation Of either Witnessing a bloody
TlOL OF LIlt tnNlIt IGSulllp pAAgAA Va VIC NaNesA
activity on the levee. were sorely disap-
pointed for neither one or the other oc-
eurred. Although it was known that the
state militia would be on the scene, work
was not begun at o'clock. not because
of the absence Of negro workmen, for they
were out in great numbers, but rather be-
cause the soldiers did not put in an ap-
pearance until some time after O'Clock.
AS early as fifteen minutes after 8 o'clock
the street corners in the vicinity of the
disturbances Of Monday and Tuesday
thronged with white men, presumably
screwmen and levee laborers; but these
did not talk of riots or trouble.
The coming of the militia was the one
tonic discussed, and il was admitted on all
sides that no turbulent scenes were like
" to take place as long as the boys in
blue were kept on duty along the river
front. Many uncomplimentary remarks
were made of the soldiers, as TO their
ability to do battle; whether they would
run if a mob 1000 strong should come up
the leyee, but it is safe to predict that
no mob will organize to face the rliles
of the soldiers.
The police were patrolling the levee
early this morning, and the only no
ticeable activity among them was When
a batch would be sent to breakfast and
then when they returned, another batch
would be relieved in order that they
might eat 1t is needless to say that the
officers look forward to the meal hour
with much delight, and when they are
relieved they hurry off to their homes as
fast as their two legs can carry them.
On the way back to duty the same pace
is not discernible, and this leads one to
believe that they leave with
,,,oro e-1adnass than they re-
turn to the river front. Almost as
whole the police wish the screwmen
trouble were at an end, and the hour
when they will be returned 10 thelr ola
beats will be welcomed with much JOY.
It was as late as 6:45 o'clock when the
first gane. of negroes to work on the
vessels arrived, and when they had reach
ed Water and Sixth street they matted
and looked up and down the street. one
of them asked q bystander II the mlitla
had arrived. and when he was Informed
that if had not some turned or walked
out Sixth street and others went over 10
the wharf and stood behind number or
police. The negro who had asked II the
militia had arrived was one of the number
that turned to go back to MS home. he
was asked where he was going ana MS
answer was, Home" He sad ne was
not going to take any chances on the
wharf "The soldiers might be all right,
he said but l would not feel safe work
ing on shat wharf, and as / have wife
and two children 1 don't want to die Just
yet; I'll try to get work at something
else until all the trouble is over; but L
won't work on the levee now"
You will be safe from harm as long
as the militia is here"
It's not here now, and I'm not going
to take any chances"
He caught up with his companions, who
were soon lost to view by turning into a
street some distance away
It was amusing to watch the negroes who
came to the levee on cotton floats. As
crowd on a corner was passed, 1t would
be steadfastly gazed upon, and when the
float had passed on up the street, the man
would turn around every second, presum-
ably to notice what movement the crowd
OF white men would make. Once on the
wharf in safety they would stand in
group behind an officer or a bale of cotton
or some other protection, and it seemed
they were afraid to expose themselves.
Coats were not removed and a bandana
handkerchief containing food was not
laid aside. Apparently they knew not
what to do. and it looked as if they would
not attempt work until the soldiers should
come
At 715 O'Clock the Fifth battalion. un-