Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-28
ADESPERATE NEGRO

After a desperate battle, lasting sew
eral hours, in which be succeeded in
killing Sergeant Gabriel PorteOus
Andy Van Kurem, keeper of The police
iail. aud Alfred J. Bloomfield, young
boy, fatally wounding Corporal John
+. Lal Y, john BonOille, ex-pollceman
Frank h Evans, &. 5. LOclere, one OF
the leading cODtectioners OF New o.
leans. and more or less seriously shoot
ing several citizans, the negro despera'
do. Robert Charles, who killed Captain
Day and Patrolmsn Lamb ano badly
wounded Officer O'Brlen, was smoked
out oth.s hiding place in the heart Of
the resident ssc,iUn of the city yester-
day aud literally shot to pieces.
The tragedy was one OF the most re-
markable in the history OF the city, and
twenty thousand people, soldiers,
policemen aud citizens 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 aud Charles was dragged from the
mud and ush IN which he had fallen,
with the mob bowling for the burning
Of the rody, statements were made that
the man killed was not really the des-
Dorado who mad killed Day and Lamb,
bot papers found on his person aud the
iact thst he fought so desperately for
his life and shot so accurately, seem TO
leave little doubt that the right man
was put to death.
Sergeant Gabe PorteOus and Sergeant
Jonn F. Laily, were informed during
,he day by a negro that Charles was Ia
hiding in house on Cho street, near
Saratoga street. Determining to take
aim alive, if possible, the officers sum-
moned number Of patrolmen to their
assistance and went to the house where
Charles was supposed to be in conceal
ment. The negro informant Of the
policeman accompanied the officers.
rhey entered the side alley of the house
and were surprised in partically the
same way as were Day and Lamb. Be-
iore the officers were aware of their
ianger, Charles, who was hidden be-
Dind a screen on the second floor OF the
building, raised his Winchester and be-
an q furious but accurate fire. Laliy
iell with q bullet in the right side Of the
abdoman. Porteous was shot through
tne head and dropped dead across the
oody of Lslly. The other officers and
the negro fad from the scene.
The reports of Cnarles's Winchester
and the fact that TWO officers lay bleed
lug in the yard, raised tremendous ex-
citement. Hurry calls were sent TO the
mayor, the ctltt OF police and C)lonel
Wood, in command ofthe special police,
,ud as fast as possible armed help rush
ID TO the scene. 10 little w-lle there
was an armed crowd encircling the
duare 10 which Charles Was located.
While a priest was amounting the
oody of Porteous, which lay 10 an al
lev, Alfred J. Bloomfield, young boy
vas standing by his side, when Charles
gain appeared at the window. The
iad saw him at once, and begged the
desperadO not to shoot him. Charles
immediately fred h 8 Winchester sRsi
and Bloomfield fell dead. The priest,
uuhurt, lett the scene, after pluckily
uerforming the last offices for the dead
officer. At this time the ambulance a.
rive /, and two citizens volunteered
20 into the alley and bring out the oody
of Lally. They entered, and while
they we're attempting to take the body
of the dead officer from that OF his COL
league, Charles fired again. The citl'
zens. nevertheless, got Lally's body out
of tne alley and atterward succeeded 10
iaking Porteous's body out also.
10 the meantime Oh immense thfone
aad gathered in the vicinity. aud
.cpemt s were set on foot to get Charles
1ut of the building. Charl ., however
aid not propose to he captured without
selling his life dearly. Time sf.er time
ne came to the window, and as citiz7Ds
one by one, entered the alley, he
Dlszed away at them. In this manneI
policemen and others were wounded.
At this time the extra police bagar
70 fire indiscriminstely at the negro
VINO shot him will probably never b'
known. Andy Van Kurem, keeper o
the police Jail, got bullet in the body
| and fell dead. Jus aiterward ID. ii
Ball was hit and morally wounded.
About the SAM time, with Charlie
firing his Winchester indiscriminatey
several Others were struck by bullets
Ultimately it was concluded by those
VINO were handling the situation ths
the only way to get Charles was to burr
the building in which he was entrench
ed. There were, however, some scru
piles about resorting to this me hod o
getting him owing the extremely thick
ly populated section 10 which the hous'
was situated. Nevertheless it was de
termiDed that the fire department
should be called out 10 order to pro
tect surrounding property in case
should be resolved TO burn the build
ing.
AT the moment of apparent indecisiol
some one went to neig lbOring groce
nv. purchased can OF oil and pourin
il over the rear It ps OF the building
spplied a match, and soon had tn
huilding in flames So fisrcely did th
fire hurn that it became evident tina
no human b ing could live in the bullc
lag. aud picked meu from the police
special guards and members oi the mi