New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-09-21
A NEST OF THREE HUNDRED DESPE-
RADOES BROKEN UP.

! In Tie VermWionrile Echo of the 10th, of Ls-
fayette Parish, Louisiana, we find the following:
"A stranger coming into our town early last Sstur-
! day morning would have been considerably surprised
at seeing armed horsemen coming from all directions,
and hurriedly passing through, taking westerly di-
rection. There fixed determination il the face OF
each lie hurried by, which plainly told that he
had serious object in view. The facts are simply
these:
about ten days ago the Vigilance Committees of th,
parish were informed that powerful and well-organ-
lied band of desperadoes, headed by an individual
named John Jones John Bsptiste Chasson, and sup
posed TO number about 300 nien, were within about
twenty miles of this place and prepared to give the
Nisen,s battle. The Committees of 1t. Martini Yer
million, st. Landry and Calcasieu immediately
8ppized Ct the fact and Saturday morning, the 81
inst, each promptly at the place previously
agreed upon rendezvous. After the necessary
raDgements had been made, the Vigilants numbering
about 500 men, took up their line Of march for the
place where il wac known that the enemy would be
fouId. AS they marched along two or three men were
taken prisoners, all armed with doublebarreled guns,
which they said they carried with them TO shoot birds.
but drawing the charges from their guns, they were
found TO contain bullets instead Of shot,
About 10 clock, the vigilants came in sight Of
the house of Enilien Lagrange, where the deeper
ADDE'S he'd fortified Misunderstanding holes in the
walls of the dwelling and all the outhouses, through
which they intended TO fire on their enemy. When
the committees got within short distance of the forth
cations they halted and prepared TO batter the build
ings down. having with them piece OF cannon, but
Just then they learned that there were several women
and children the dwelling house. which caused them
to hesitate about firing, not wishing to harm them. As
the bellgerents the pointed toward
them, they became greatly confused, and the whole
number lett their forts and part of them off into the
woods, pursued by a company Of the Vigilants who
overlook and captured several of them. The balance
remained rear the houses, but made show OF resist
ance. deputation Of four men sent to order
their instant surrender which they promptly did, each
coming and delivering up his arms. Seventy. one
taken prisoners and il is supposed that about
equal number made good their escape. Their dag and
fy-'hree double barreled guns fell into the hands of
the Ngilants, together with number of pistols and
knives.
cone of the leaders of the desperadoes finding that
all was lost, shot himself through the head with his
revolver thereby putting end, with his hands,
to his worthless life. This so far as We could learn,
was the only life that was lost.
As soon as everything Yves quoted, regular trial
was gone into on the spot and the whole number were
condemned TO receive the lash, and given five days to
leave the State under penalty Of being hung if caught
after the expiration CT that time.
There is not the least doub. but that few Of the
unfortunate wretches, aforementioned, were msled
by some black hearted scoundrels who had induced
them TO believe that the Governor bad ordered them,
IN his proclamation TO oppose the Vigiants and that
too with arms in their hands; but most of them were
there for rome mean, rascaly purpose. More than
twothirds OF those captured had never, In any way
been molested by the Committees.
From disclosures made by some OF the despera-
does, il evident that if they had rumphed over the
Committees they would have excited the negroes to
revolt, ard God only knows what would have been the
consequences.
" " deeply depore the state of affairs which has
forced our people TO form themselve into an assoca.
ton tor mutual protection, and which has compelled
them to deal so severely with creatures which were H.
tended by nature for men. AS much as the existing
state Of affairs pains u.s. are nevertheless glad to
see that the cowardly villains have received Lesson,
which they will not coon forget