The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-12
AN ARMED MOB.
The Levee in the Hands of
LawIess Men.
Police Are Powerless and Unable 10
Cope With the Trouble.
New Orleans the Scene of Wind Race
War Today.

New ORLEANS, March 12.-The leyee
front from Louisiana avenue to Name
vile street is in the hands OF an armed
mob. The police, with their scattered
numbers, are powerless and unable 10
cope with the armed workingmen.
Two men have been killed while several
others have been wounded as result of
attacks which have been made upon the
negroes.
The white men are completely in con-
troi OF things, and have declared that no
negro shall appear on the levee front. As
result OF this, ali work on the
levee is practically at stand
still, while not negro can be seen any
where among the shipping. The work OF
riotine and bloodshed began this morn
ing at O'Clock, and resulted in the kill
ing OF two men and a wholesale dis
charge OF firearms in two different Sec
tions OF the city. After O'Clock last
evening, though there was intense ex-
citement along the levee and many
drunken men were present, there were no
deeds of violence.
The police were massed in the Sixth
Precinct police station and remained
there all night under command OF
Acting Chief of Police John Journee.
Everything was reported quiet and they
hoped that everything would remain so,
when there cane report that dozen
men had been killed at Jackson Square.
The police were at once hustled into the
patrol wagons which were at the stations
and were hurried away TO the
scene of the trouble. They had
barely left when Sergeant Walsh
in command of the precinct, heard a vol
ley of shots from the direction
OF the levees front of the
square. The morning was exceptionally
foggy and when Sergeant Walsh heard the
shooting he rushed to the scene. Among
N tHAt trskg -. f...~a -.
Phillip and First streets, he found
crowd of negroes. They surrounded their
wounded companion. The man who was
shot in the mouth was unknown. He was
taken to the station. Those who were
about say as he was crossing the levee,
a mob came along and fired volley at
him killing him instantly.
When the negro's body WAS received
the sergeant and a squad of officers
went up the levee and found a mob
OF 250 men armed with Winchester
rifles and OF her guns. They marched along
the levee up to Eighth street ana back TO
Jackson. Then they dispersed accord
ingly to what seemed TO be a part of the
plan.
Among the leaders was man from
down town, named Walter Owens.
At $50 o'clock everything was COM
paratively quiet, and but very few wea-
pons were in sight All negroes had left
the levee and none could be seen any
where.
While this was going on the vicinity OF
French market was in excitement. A
bloody riot mad occurred. Four negroes
had been shot and one killed. The
trouble occurred on the levee at the
landing OF the Harris line eamship, OPP
posito the Jackson square. In the fog
which prevailed mob of 100 armed men
got through the guards of the police
and opened fire upon the negroes,
who were at work. They fled in terror,
some jumping into the river. Those who
ran acrrss the lovee IN the direction Of the
Square were subjected toa deadly volley.
Each man then ran in different direc-
tion and the poor creatures seemed
panic-stricken. Those in the crowd
OF whites who were not armed with
pistols used clubs and stones and
attacked the crowd OF negroes. 1t is inn
possible to say how many were shot.
Later II was ascertained on reliable
authority that one negro had been Killed
outright ana number wounded, several
Confined or Page 81