Having this day received from His Majesty’s consul at New Orleans a
detailed report of the deplorable occurrences which took place in that
city on the 14th instant, I herewith send you a copy thereof. This
report shows still more clearly that the conduct of the local
authorities, to which I called your excellency’s attention in my note of
the 15th instant, is censurable in every respect. Those authorities were
entirely recreant to their duty to protect the lives of the King’s
subjects, which is guarantied by existing treaties, as you were pleased
to remark in your telegram addressed, in the name of the President, to
the governor of Louisiana with that spirit of lofty justice which I have
always had the satisfaction to appreciate since my duties have brought
me into official relations with you and which I am happy again to
recognize on this occasion.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Consul Corte to
Baron Fava.
New
Orleans, March 15,
1891.
Mr. Minister: I have not time to describe
the horrors of the slaughter which the populace, under the
leadership of the principal members of the vigilance committee, has
committed against the unarmed prisoners, some of whom had been
acquitted and some of whom had not yet been tried.
As early as the evening of the 13th instant the hisses and the stones
thrown by the urchins in the street at the carriages in which the
prisoners were gave ground for the apprehension that something
serious would happen on the next day. The violent articles which
appeared in the newspapers, such as the “Daily States” and the
“Delta,” which papers, in the name of the committee of fifty,
announced that a meeting would be held on the following day to take
vengeance, left no doubt as to the choice of the means of which it
was proposed to make use.
It would have been sufficient, in the night, to change the lodging
place of the prisoners in order not to expose them to certain death.
Also, yesterday, when men armed with Winchester rifles began to
collect at 9 o’clock in the morning, a word directing them to
disperse would have been sufficient to prevent the butchery.
Hardly had the meeting commenced when I called in all haste at the
city hall in a carriage, but neither the mayor nor his secretary was
there, nor could anyone tell me where I could find him.
I found, however, in the mayor’s room the attorney-general, Mr.
Rogers, and Mr. Villère, the deputy sheriff in charge of the
prisoners, who told me they had come for the same purpose; but they
appeared to me to be very calm and to be anticipating what was about
to happen. I told the object of my visit, but they replied that they
could do nothing without the mayor. I then made inquiries for Mr.
Mcholls, the governor, and was told that he was not far away at a
lawyer’s office. I went there at once, and found him with the
general in command of the troops and several other persons.
In view of the immediate danger for the prisoners and the colony, I
requested him, in my official capacity as consul, to send troops or
a guard of police to the place in order to prevent the massacre. He
told me that he could do nothing until he was—requested by the
mayor. All that I could say was of no use. He asked me to sit down,
saying that the mayor was at the Pickwick Club, and that he had
telephoned to him to come at once. Twenty-five minutes elapsed, when
the telephone announced that the mob was already at the prison
doors, and that they had already hanged three of the prisoners. I
went down and drove in my carriage at full speed to the prison,
which was at a considerable distance. When I came near I saw a
number of dead bodies hanged to trees; I saw that the massacre was
over, and that the crowd was returning. I returned to the consulate,
and at the door three colored men rushed at me, and, in order to
keep them off, I was obliged to draw my revolver. A moment later Mr.
Papini, clerk of the consulate, made his appearance, pale and
greatly
[Page 670]
frightened, and
told me that he had heard the crowd raise the cry of “Kill the
Italian!” in consequence of which he had been obliged to take refuge
in a store.
The crowd now started for Poydras Market, which is almost entirely
inhabited by Italians. In the meantime the relatives of the victims
and other Italians rushed to my office, desiring either to obtain
the bodies through me or to seek advice as to the proper course to
take. I told them to lock themselves up in their houses; and I went
to the governor’s office, in order to comply with the desire
expressed by the relatives of the victims. I did not find him, but
all that was asked for was obtained otherwise.
A number of low fellows came in the evening and pounded on the back
doors of my house and violently pulled the front door bell of the
consulate. They declined to give their names, but their intentions
were manifestly hostile.
I inclose a copy of the letter which I have this day addressed to the
governor, in pursuance of orders received by telegraph directly from
his excellency the Marquis di Rudini.
I will thank you if, after reading this report, you will have the
kindness to send it, with its inclosure, to the royal ministry, for
which I offer you my thanks in advance.
[Inclosure in Consul Corte’s
report.]
Consul Corte to Governor Nicholls.
New Orleans, March 15, 1891.
Dear Sir: The killing yesterday of
defenseless Italian prisoners, a part of whom were acquitted and
a part not yet tried, has affected the civilized world. His
excellency the Marquis di Rudini, minister of foreign affairs,
whilst he informed that he has made due steps to the United
States Government to provide energetic and immediate
precautions, orders me to apply officially to your excellency to
be assured that similar acts are not to be renewed.
Interpreting faithfully the minister’s instructions, I beg of
your excellency to kindly take, together with the judicial and
municipal authorities, the necessary measures for the safety of
surviving Italians—Incardona, Pietro Netale, and Gaspare
Marchese.
I can not omit to state to your excellency that last night an
attempt was made to break in the back door of this office, and
the bell on the front entrance was continually rung by persons
who refused to give their names. I would therefore be greatly
obliged if your excellency would request the proper authorities
to detail, until at least the excitement is abated, a few
guardians in the immediate vicinity of the consulate.
Yours, etc.,
