The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-27
500 SPECIAL POLICEMEN
One Negro Beaten to Death and Scores
of White and Black Wounded.
SEVERAL WOMEN ARE INJURED
Col. Wood Who Commanded the First Louis
lana Regiment is in Charge Of the
Poice and viii Take Vgor-
Gus Action.
GUS Action.
(By the Associated Press)

New Orleans, La, July 26.-Disorderly
scenes following the rioting of last night
prevailed throughout the city today and
resulted in the swearing in by the Mayor
of 500 special policemen and the ordering
out of 1,500 State molitia. Governor
Heard responding promptly to the appeal
of Mayor Capdeveille fer assistance in
suppressing the existing lawlessness and
in preventing tonight a recurrence of
the violence of last night. Throughout
the day attacks we're made by irrespon-
sible mobs Of whites upon the black ele-
ment and the negroes before night-fall
had been effectually chased from the
streets The effect of the disorders was
to put a practical stop to business in
the wholesale districts and on the levee
front. S this meant a serious cripplirg
of the trade of the port, the business ele-
ment rallied in force and hundreds of
the mostp rominent men Of the city re-
sponded to the appeal of the Mayor for
assistance in preserving order.
summary Of the casualties growing
out of the disturbances last night and
tonight shows that one negro was beaten
to death, six were so badly wounded that
their lives are despaired of and about
score of people, white and black, male
and female, have been more or less Sc
riously wounded
In order TO prevent the miscellaneous
distribution of arms the Mayor this
evening ordered the closing of gun shops
likely to supply the baser elements and
early in the day for the better preserva-
tion of the peace issued orders to the po-
lice to close up every saloon in the city.
Colonel Wood who commanded the First
Louisiana regiment in the Spanish war,
was placed in command of the special
police The police have been practically
helpless during the disturbance. The
force consists of some 800 men, including
clerks and telegraph operators, and this
is manifestly inadequate to the preserva-
ton of the peace of city of 100000 peo-
pie. But aside from this the Indignation
among the members of the department
over the ruthless murder of Captain Day
and Patrolman Lamb by the negro Rob-
ert Charles, to some extent made the po-
lice sympathetic with the mobs in their
pretended efforts to avenge the murders.
The fact that there has been a strong
resentment on the part of the working
people against steamship agents and con-
/ tractors in the employment of negro labor
to the exclusion of whites on public works
and on the levee fronts, also contributed
somewhat, it is believed to the disinci-
nation Of the police to do their full duty
Mayor Capdeveille was at Ocean
Springs last night when the mobs swept
over the city, but when he arrived at his
office today he came with full determi-
nation to take hold of the situation with
a firm hand. He found awaiting him a
delegation of the leading merchants of
h1 off xy,,o cai1 tho -
community and it's commercial welfare
demanded prompt and vigorous action.
About the same time Lieutenant Gov
ernor Estopinel who had Witnessed the
scene of outrage upon negroes on Canal
| street, joined the conference at the hotel.
| A joint conference was held with Governor
| Heard at Baton Rouge. The long dis
| tance telephone was used and the Cover
| nor said he would order out all available
| troops. Without delay he sent messages
| to Colonel Hodgson commanding the First
| brigade in the absence of General Glynn
and had him Immediately order out the
Washington artillery, the Louisiana field
and the First regiment. At twilight
| there were 800 men congregated in the
armories. At the same time the mayor
| in proclamation appealed for special
police. Before p. m. 400 of the repre-
sentative citizens of the community had
been sworn in. The mayor made requl-
siticn on the leading hardware and am
munition establishments of the city and
the specials were heavily armed and
sent to various sections of the city
Hoodlums prowled the streets through
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