New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-25

LDIIOk hEfUbLltAN
One of the most outrageous and barbar-
GUS acts ever committed in this country or
in any civilized community was committed
by the rebel Democrats Of the Ku-Klux
Khan on the person of an innocent and in
offensive man by the name of Steward, a
white man, Republican, and member Of
the Union League. Mr.. Steward is man
that would not harm even child. He has
for the last year been teaching eolored
school in the neighborhood of Washington,
in the county of Adams. This, in the eyes
of the rebel Democracy, was another great
offense.
l will give you the statement of Mr.
Steward himself and you and the public
can Judge of the enormity of the crime Of
those fends in human shape:
l live near Washington, in Adams county,
Mississippi, on the Ferguson place. Some
time before daylight on Sunday morning,
july 10, l heard voices on the front gallery,
and heard my name mentioned several
| times. One of the voices. I recognized as
that of my neighbor. He was asking
what is the matter. The reply was, "Is
Steward up? We want to see him. We
have got into trouble in Natchez, and want
his advice and assistance. am an old &C
ouaintance of Stewards, of Tensas, in
Louisiana" On hearing this l opened the
door, and stepped out on the gallery. |
had on no clothes but my night shirt and
! drawers; and as stepped out saw my
neighbor standing in his door, one man
standing near my door, the other on the
| gallery at the head of the steps. As l
stepped out asked, "What is the matter?"
The man nearest me replied, "There has
been q great row in Eatohez tonight and
four coiored and two white men have been
killed, and we were mixed up in the scrape
and we want your advice and help
to get away" l replied, 81 know
nothing about 1t, and can't give you any
| advice what to do; and have no means
to help you with thought at that time
they were colored men; for it was dark
so dark that one could not, unless 5y close
observation, distinguish between persons
The one nearest me then said, "Come down
the steps, want to say word or two pri-
vately.'
replied, "Wait moment until put on
my pants and shoes" He said, "Never
mind your pants and shoes,we have no time
to lose; it is near day and we must be off
from here; come, won't keep you an in
slant" started down the steps with him,
and when we were down at the bottom the
other followed. was drawn a little to
one side, under tree, when third party
stepped up TO me and placed pistol to my
breast, and said, Zone loud word and I'll
blow your brains out" The other two
took each one of my arms and placed
pistols at the side of my head, and said
keep silent or you die on the spot" l
discovered then they were white men in
disguise and was satisfied they were Ku-
Klux. They led me forward some distance
to the road. On both sides of the road
there is a hedge, in many places very heavy
and thick. As we passed along the road
others fell in and Joined us until the mum.
Der increased to fifteen or twenty. was
marched along the road some considerable
distance, surrounded on all sides by men
in disguise, and each man with revolver
in his hand. was halted, and after some
Ku Klux cabalistic signs and motions, 1
was ordered to kneel down and say my
prayers. The man that was with me from
the start, when was on my knees stepped
to the side Of the road and brought
large can, and came up to me with it in
his hand, and from sign given another of
the Khan pulled back my head, and the one
with the can began pouring the contents
over my head and face. Another was with
large wisp Of hay rubbing the stuff over
my face and through my hair. One Of the
Khan said: Don't pour it all over his head
and face; pour it all over the body Of the
id Radical son Of - / kept
jerking my head about from one side to
the other 80 rapidly that the man with the
can became enFaged and swore at me, and
said he had me now, and he would give me
a taste of hell on earth before he got
through with nc. BE cursed me fer q God
id Radical son of -, and made
use of words and language that had been
spoken to me at q Democratic meeting a
few days previous 10 the election. re-
called the words, and at once rec
ognized the voice and the language
to be that Of. the same pers0n
who had threatened me. The man that
first spoke to me on my gallery, and the
man who was pouring the contents Of the
can over me, and the man that cursed,
abused and threatened me at the Democratic
meeting, are one and the same person.
The Ingredients were poured all over
my head, face and body, and my night
shirt and drawers were completely satu
rated with the Ingredients Of the can,
which have found out since were coal
tar mixed with turpentine and some other
in6ammable mixture. At this time the Khan
held consultation for a few moments, and
then one of them said: " This place does
not suit let's 60 further up the road.n
They then took me further out on the road,
and when they halted, the leader mean
the one that had been with me from the
first-told me to get down on my knees
aud say my prayers. One asked me if
had not said my prayers. said "no.n
BE said :" You had better say them DID
quick, for you will be too id busy in
few minutes to have time to say them"
The ringleader then stepped up and
ordered silence, and said 90 me: " You
are a member Of the Loyal League i" /
told him was. He then said g Give
me the signs and passwOrds.1 / told him
/ could not. He repeated the demand
several times, but kept sasRt. he be-
came enraged, and cursed and id me.
l again recognized that same familiar
voice and the same words that had been
made use of to me on a former occasion,
After be cursed and swofe at me, and re-
peatedly demanded OF me the signs and
passwords of the League, said, 'You
have me in your power; never harmed
you nor any one else inmy life. You have
already tornented me almost beyond en-
durance, but II you are not satisfied do
with me as you will. am completely in
your power, but spare my life; for God
sake don't kill me- Some Of the Khan
said, aSet FIRE 70 the Did Radical son Of