Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1902 — RIOT IN NEW ORLEANS. [ARTICLE]

RIOT IN NEW ORLEANS.

Attempt to Run Street Care Results in a Battle. In New Orleans a bloody street riot followed the street car company’s attempt to operate its cars for the first time since th 4 strike began ten days ago. Policeman Schlessinger was shot through the head and mortally wounded. M. L. Kennedy, a non-union conductor, was wounded in the hand. Motorman Ferguson, one of the strikers, was shot through the left arm. A score of policemen and bystanders were painfully wounded by bricks and other flying missiles. Fifty shots were fired before the excitement subsided. * A platoon of police charged the crowd with drawn clubs and a number of arrests were made. The first car which started from the barns was in charge of Motorman Nintz, who came from Chicago to take the job, and Conductor Kennedy. An immense crowd of people, including strikers, their sympathizers and curiosity seekers, was in Wells street. As the car approached Dorgenois street the mob rushed out, tore up the sidewalks from each side of the street and threw the boards across the track, to impede the progress of the car. Bricks and stones were hurled at the car as it came to a standstill near the obstruction pile. The crowd made a rush for the non-union men on board. The policemen in the car fell upon the floor to protect themselves from the rain of missiles. There was not a pane of glass left in the car. The bluecoats finally escaped from the car and charged the crowd. A shot was fired. Then many shots followed, both the police and men in the throng using revolvers.