The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-03

OPELoUsAs, Sept. 20, 1868.
We have just in this village passed through two
days of more intense excitement land alarm TO
many than has been experienced since Bsnks's
two successive raids, and will endeavor to give
you, intelligIbly as can, briefly the cause that
oo casioned it. You, perhaps, may have noticed
that the Radical organ in this parish, the st.
Landry Progress. has revived again 10 the last
few weeks under the prospect of legislative pap.
Its editor, one Emerson Bentley, regular con-
tributor of the most outrageous and improbable
lies to his great exemplar, the Republican, some
week or two since published an insulting and
mendacious article against two gentlemen here
who yesterday morning proceeded to his school.
house flor he combines the vocation Of pedigogue
with that Of scribbler) and administered to him
sound and well.merited cowhidng. Whilst the
fagellation was going on, his scholars, who we're
mostly full grown negro wenches, filed the air
with outcries and objurgstions, and the news was
speedily disseminated through the colored popula.
ton that their great apostle had suffered almost,
If not quite, martyrdom in their cause.
In less than half an hour the leaders OF the Rad.
icals here, chief among whom are two mulattoes
of the name of Donate, lone of whom was the
senatorial representative from this district in the
black and tan convention,) had dispatched cou.
rers to all parts of the parish summoning the
negro clubs to repair to Opelousas Immediately,
armed and prepared to wash out the insult in
the blood of its inhabitants and lay the town In
ashes. Most providentally, one of these couriers
had the inspiration to turn back from his he'll.
lish errand and reveal its nature to q prominent
citizen. Double quick time was now the order,
and by IL NJ, two or three hundred white men
were mustered and patrolling the country round
0pelousas in every direction. Nor were they a
moment too soon, for armed and mounted
squads Of negroes and coored men were met
IN several directions concentrating according to
orders. The first collision took place at the
plantation of an I. m. c., named Pallet, about
mile from town, where the patrol was fred
on as they advanced to the town, and the
leader, Captain May, severely, if not NOR
tally wounded by rifle ball in his breast. Mr.
A. B. Anderson, nephew of our senator, made
narrow escape, ball grazing his head and
tearing the scalp. Mr.. l.. 8. King, son of Hon.
John E. King. had q horse shot, and two others
of the party were slightly wounded.
By this time achievements arrived and the DO
who survived were captured and brought
into town. A number of similar or some.
what similar affairs took place in other
directions near town. The whole negro popula-
ton have been aroused, and no doubt had not our
citizens been prepared for such an emergency
which all have expected and been alert as we'll
as brave, the blood of many of them would have
been slsked In the ashes of their homes. This
was to have been the Radical revenge on a tclole
community for wrong, call it, even, on one indi.
vidual. / have not time to enter into details
Several white men on our side are reported killed.
two or three, and some six or eight negroes on
The affair commenced yesterday, Tuesday.
about ii O'Clock, and now, Wednesday night, the
negroes are disarmed all over the parish and
many Of the leading ones and hitherto most bitter
Radicals have come 10 to-day and surrendered
their arms and made public and full recantation
Of their mistaken opinion. Among them have
heard the names OF John Simms, brother of the
Simms who ousted Dupre in the Legislature from
this parish, Hiaire Frelot, elected member of the
police jury at last election, and VIM. g. Bell the
candidate for state treasurer on the Taliaferro
side. but who afterwards supported the whole
Warmoth ticket. and several others. The Donates.
owners Of the Progress. both of its editors, Bent
ley and Dursnd, and good many others are non |
est tarentus, and whether they are gone up or
down nobody seems to know, but one thing is |
sure IS shooting: Radicalism is done in 81, |
Landry for this presidential campaign
Yours, in haste, T.G.C.