The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-16
GRAND JURY AT WORK.
INVESTIGATING THE RIOTIYG ON
THE LEFEE.
The Disturbances Having q Bad Effect on
Commerce-Both tho Military aud
the Police on Duty.

she Will not remain at this port to take
on her cargo OF cotton. but will go to
Galveston for il. The Niagara is lying
at the wharf. near the head of Philip
street, and in the vicinity, of the place
where the party of rioters fired upon
the negroes and Killed one of them last
Tuesday. Yesterday she was being un-
loaded by non-union men, and it is eX-
pected that the unloading will be con-
| cluded to-day. Elder, Dempster AZ Com
| pany 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 of that
| firm If the vessel was to be loaded
there, and the reply was in the afiirma-
| tive. The question was asked il the
| LABOR troubles on the levee were the
cause OF this action being taken. The
! answer was: Partly because of the sit
uat.on," and it was further added that
! the steamer is to leave her moOrings to-
morrow and start out for the port on
the Gulf of Mexico. Nothing further
could be learned.
GRAND JURY INVESTIGATIONS,
The riot of Tuesday morning is now be-
ing investigated by the grand jury. The
inquisitorial body met this morning, with
foreman j. a. Chalaron and thirteen
members in attendance, and went into
session with the matter of the riot be-
fore them for investigation. \ large
number Of witnesses have been summoned
from the police force and among the
negro screwmen, who were present at the
scene. and whose bodies were made the
targets for the revolvers and rifles of
the attacking party. At l o'clock Judge
Noise sent for the grand jury and de-
livered a special charge, urging them 10
probe the affair TO the bottom, in order
to discover the perpetrators of the out
rage.
Those who went to the uptown river
front this morning by 7 O'clock IN an
ticipation Of either witnessing a bloody
riot or the entire resumption of the us
ual activity on the leyee were sOrely
disappointed. for neither one nor the other
occurred. Although IL was known that
the State militia would be on the scene
work was not begun at z o'clock, not
because of the absence of negro wcrkmen,
for they were OIt in great numbers, but
rather because the soldiers did not put I'm
an appearance until some time after Z
o'clock. As early as fifteen minutes after
6 o'clock the street corners in the vicin-
ity of Mondays and Tuesdays distur-
Dances were thronged with white men,
presumably screWmen and ievee laborers,
but these did not talk of .'iOts or trou-
hle. The coming of the militia was the
one topic discussed and it was admitted
on all sides that no turbulent scenes
we're likely 10 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 one thousand strong should
come up the leyee, but 1t is safe to pre-
dict that no mob will agree to face the
soldiers rifles.
THE POLICE or UNWILLING DUTY.
The police were patroling the leyee ear
ly this morning and the only notlceaDle |
activity among them was when Datch |
would be sent to breakfast, and then |
when they returned another batch would |
be relieved i'm order that they might |
eat. IL Is needless to say 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 will carry them. on the way /
hack TO duty the same pace Is not as
and this leads one 10 believe |
tbev leave with more gladnesS than they |
return to the river front Almost RS
whole. the police wish the screwmehs
trouble was at an end, and the hour when
they will be returned to their old beats
will be welcomed with much JOY.
II was as late as "A quarter 10 seven
when the fitst gang Of negroes to work on
the vessels arrived, and when they had
reached Water and Sixth street they halt
ed and looked up and down the street,
and one of them asked a by-stander II
the militia had arrived. When ne was
that they had not, some turned
and walked out Sixth street, ana others
went over TO the wharf and stood behind
n number of police. The negro who had
a sked if the militia had arrived was one
of the number that turned to go back
To his home He was asked where ne |
was going and his answer was nome
He said he was not going to take any
,hances on the wharf. The soldiers might
be all right, he said, but would not feel
safe working on that wharf ana as l
have a wife and two cnildren' uon
uant to die just yet. I'll try TO get
york at something else, and until the
rouble Is over. but l won't work on the
evee now. ,...
..you will be safe from harm as long as
he militia is here"
IT'S not here now, ana I'm NOT COINS
n take any chances" He caught up ,
With his companions who were soon lost
0 view by turning into street some
distance away.
NEGROES VERY UNEASY. ,
II was amusing TO watch the negroes
Who came to the levee on cotton hosts.
\s a crowd on a corner was passed IL
gould be steGcf fastly gazed upon, ana
vhen the float had passed on up the
treot the men would torn around every
econd. presumably 10 notice what move
nent the crowd of white men would
,ake once on the wharf. they would
tand In a group behind an officer or
ale Of cotton or some other protection, |
nd IL seemed they were AFRAID 10 expose
Coats were not removed, ana |
bandanna handkerchief containing food |
as not laid aside. Apparently they |
new not what to do, and IT looked as II
,ev would not attempt work until the
)ldiers should come.
At a quarter past seven the Flfth Bat
lion. under command OF Major l.. +. !
ouchereau, appeared at jackson street I
1d the levee, and turning down marched e
/, Morris bath-house, Celeste street and b
,e leyee and was met therc by the o
ourth Battalion, under command OF | II
ator Elmer Il. Woods. The two entered | r
e bath-house, which is being utilized as I.
1 armory, and later pickets were place1 y
-ound 1t. This ceremony occasioned con- !
ierable laughter among the crowd or =
en- and boys who had gathered, as the -"
ckats were relieved of novels from the u
side coat pockets and newspapers from
q hlp pockets. which they had brought
th them to pass away the long and
liIous hours. The appearance OF the | "a
Ilitia enliyened the river front To some e
tent. but not as much work was begun | [.
was expected. and this was said to la
on account OF the late arrival OF the al