The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-28

perate Dattle lasting for several hours
in which he succeeded in killing Sergeant
Gabriel Porteous, Andy Van Kurem.
keeper Of the police jail, and Alfred ].
B. Bloomfield, a young boy, and fatally
wounding Corporal John F. Lally, John
Banville, eX-Policeman Frank H. Evans
and A. s. Lochelere, one of the leading
confectioners Of the city, and also wound
ed more or less several other persons,
the negro desperado, Robert Charles,
who killed Capt. Day and -Patrolman
Lamb and badly wounded Officer Mora
was smoked out of his hiding place IN
the heart of the residence section of the
city this afternoon and literally shot to
pieces
REMARKABLE TRAGEDY.
The tragedy was one Of the most re-
markable in the history of the city and
10000 people, soldiers, policemen and citi-
Zens were gathered around the square
in which Charles was finally put to death.
Tremendous excitement reigned in New
Orleans as the battle went on between
the police and citizens and the negro
with his Winchester. After the tragedy
was over and Charles was dragged out
from the mud and slush in which he had
fallen with the mob bowling for the
burning of his body, statements were
made that the man killed was not really
the desperate who had killed Day and
Lamb, but papers were found on his per-
son and the fact that he fought so des-
perately for his life, and shot so accu-
rately seems to leave little doubt that
the right man was killed.
SURPRISED THE OFFICERS.
Sergeant Gabe Porteous, one of the
best known officers on the force and
Sergeant John F. Lally, who has a fine
record for bravery, were informed dur
ing the day by negro that Charles was
in hiding in a house on Clio. near Sara
toga street. Determining to take him
alive. If possible, the officers summoned
a number Of patrolmen to their assist.
ance and went to the house. The negro
informant of the policemen accompanied
the officers. They entered the side alley
of the house and were surprised In prac-
tically the same way as were Day and
Lamb. Before the officers were aware
of their danger Charles, who was hid
den behind a screen on the second floor
and began a furious, but accurate fire
Lally fell with bullet in the right side
of the abdomen. Porteous was shot
through the head and dropped dead
across the body OF Lally. The other off,
GERS and the negro fed from the scene.
The reports Of Charles, Winchester and
the fact that two policemen lay bleeding
in the yard, raised tremendous excite
ment. Hurried calls were sent to the
mayor, the chief of police and Col. Wood,
in command of the special police and as
soon as possible armed help was rushed
to the scene. In a little while there was
an immense armed crowd circling the
square in which Charles was located.
HIS THIRD VICTIM.
In the meantime Father Fitzgerald, Of
st. Johns church was summoned to adj
minister extreme unction to the police
officers who were lying irr the alley. The
priest responded promptly and he was an
nointing the body of Porteous with
Alfred G. Bloomfield, a young boy,
standing by his side. when Charles again
appeared at the window. The lad saw
him at once and begged the desperate not
to shoot him. Charles Immediately fred
his Winchester again and Bloomfield fell
dead.
The priest unhurt left the scene after
pluckily performing the last Offices for
the dead officers. At this time the am
bulance arrived and two men volunteered
to go into the alley and bring out the
body of Lally They entered, and while
they were attempting to take the body of
eEs< - - fI,ok ~ - hfo NOI
league, Charles fired again. The men
nevertheless got Lally's body out of the
alley, and afterwards took Porteous'
body out also. In the meantime an I'M
mense crowd had gathered in the vicinity
and schemes were set on foot to get
Charles out OF the building Charles,
however, did not propose to be captured
without selling his life dearly.
Time after time he came to the window
and as men, one by one, entered the alley,
he blazed away at them. In this man
ner Confectioner Loclere, who was one
| Of the special police squad; ex-Policeman
Evans, John Banville (not Baoille) and
George H Lyons, son of the head of a
big drug establishment, were wounded.
POLICE OPENED FIRE.
At this time the extra police began to
fire at the negro, and he returned their
fire. Andy Van Kuren, keeper Of the
police jail, got bullet in the body and
| fell dead Just afterward, H. H. Bait
aged sixty, working for the Mutual Be
| nevolent association, which does business
in this vicinity, was hit and mortally
wounded. About the same time Frank
Brutuzi received a shot in the left shoul-
| der, and ]. Beitel in the right hand. Ul-
timately 1t was decided that the only
way to get Charles WAS to burn the
| building in which he was entrenched
| There were, however, some scrupIes
against resorting to this method of get
! ting him owing to the section in which
| the house was situated being densely
populated. Nevertheless 1t was deter
mined that the fire department should be
| called out in order to protect surround
| ing property in case 1t should be resolv-
ed to burn the building. At a moment
! of apparent decision some one went to q
neighboring grocery, purchased a can oi
| cI and pouring it over the rear steps OF
| the building applied a match and sooI
| had the building in flames. So fiercely
| did the fire burn that 1t became eyident
| that no human being could live in the
building, and picked men from the police
| force stationed themselves about the
| building in order to pick of the despe.
rado as he attempted to leave the house
| A member of the Thirteenth company Of
/ stEte militia named Anderson was tn