The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-12

Particulars Of tho Riot In Opelousas, La
Radical Account.


gro riotm In st. Landry PARISH
o Last Monday morning three members OF the Ope.
schaos seymour Knights" went TO the coored
whipped Mr. Emerson bentley the teacher, ana also
English editor OF the St. Landry Progress because
republican meeting in Washington and saying that
some rebel spirit was exhibited by the democratic
s0rganizaIons, who met the procession at Wash
account was true in every particular which
can DO proved BY over 800 persons who
Mr.. Bentley was an active leader Of the republican
party IN the parish, and as the news OF his being
whipped spread over Opelousas the freedmen began
oters told them to 60 back to their homes and not
TO start any riot which advice was followed, ana
spprehensIons OF dif1iculty subsidized. Mr. Bentley
made afidavits against the three persons who as
saulted him and warrants were issued for their
arrest the time set for the trial being three O'Clock
rebels had assembled in strong force armed with
new guns, revolvers, &c, and, taking advantage Of
the return Of the republicans to their homes, took
possession OF the town and sent patrols around to
dsarm the freedmen and capture the leaders Of their
party, who were obliged to conceal themselves or
take refuge In flight they were lucky enough to get
Az eleven or tweve O'Clock A. M the same day
BODY OF armed men went TO the Office Of the Progress
were at the office, and told them that the town be-
longed 10 them 1.-THE rebels) and II the radicals
by riding over the dead bodies OF the .peaceovingn
the parish.
They had captured q courier on the road to
washington, who had told them that Mr.. G. Do
nato had sent him to Washington to tell Sam
Johnson to bring the Washington club. armed to
Opelousas but when this courier brought face to
FACE with Mr. Donate he said that somebody had told
MN that MT. Donate wanted him to go to Washing
at the Progress office that there was fighting at Mr.
Hilalre Pallets place, short distance out OF town.
wnerenpon the crowd mounted their horses and
rushed to the scene Of action. The fight, as far as
was able to learn resulted In the death OF one white
man and two or three colored, and three or four
wounded on both sides. The number OF freedmen
was about fifteen, headed by one Adolphe Donate
and they only threw down their arms when strong
reinforcements Of whites arrived. Adolphe Donate
succeeded in making his escape.
On Monday night armed bands of men were sent
over town 10 seek for the concealed republican
leaders. The Progress ONCE was searched without
success. One band went to the residence OF Mr.
Francois D'Avy, the acknowledged leader OF the
republican party, and forced an entrance to his
moment they entered He was shot at while wing
on eIi tne bed, but missed. He fell to the door
feisnlng death, and the armed crowd started
window and ran through the garden. He was
shot OF. at ., again while running and the ball
without INJECTING serious damage Mr. D'Avy sue
ceeded In making his escape, as did all the rest Of
the Leaders s Of orr party excepting Mr. Durand
lousas twelve or fifteen years. but is q citizen OF
France never having been naturalized. He was
take from his house Monday night BY armed men
terwRrd.
All day Tuesday ana the succeeding night the
rested and searched before being permitted to enter
town. Tuesday night the Progress ONCE was again
type strewed over the streets and the press broken
Two young men who were employed IN the Progress
ONCE were advised by the rebels to leave, which
Mr.. Violet who Is agent for the Freedmen's Bureau
In St. Landry fatenizes with and assists the rebels
IN their unlawful depredstions He was with the
Aessrs. Donate. The men who assaulted Mr.. Bentley
rode around town armed and no attempt was made
Williams. All is now quiet but strict watch is
kept BY the rebels to prevent an uprising.
The above is true statement Of the facts as they
occurred.
From the New Orleans Bulletin, Oct g. democrat,c.l
We learn the following particulars OF the riot at
present at the time and eye witness at the terrible
scene Its origin Is traced to article published In
q radical paper called the Progress recently estab-
lished there to disseminate republican principles to
promote peace and good order In that part of the
State, and to do the printing under the famous bill
OF the Legislature. The editor, Mr.. Bentley had
misrepresented the official conduct OF the deputy
sheriff, an exfederal officer and was called upon to
publish correct statement 9 the following week
ton the editor OF the Progress only added insult TO
injury by publishing still grosser libel than the
first. WhereupOn he was waited on by the injured
party, who proceeded to administer severe castixa
ton In the way Of wholesome application OF the
cowhide to the tune OF fifty lashcs. This perform
were attending the school over which Bentley pre-
sided NJ dominic. The cowhiding OF their preceptor
such bowling as to cause the assembly Of gang
OF negroes about the school house, who proposed to
commence the work Immediately Of cleaning out
the people Of Opeousas The time had come for
work, and 1t was proposed to ''pitch in"
Couriers were then despatched to the plantations
with orders to bring In all OF the negroes well
armed In short time the whole town was almost
entirely surrounded by these enraged negroes A
company OF twenty-five white men then rode out to
nj Tn In hnp 10 and pnfA
reaching the place where the negroes had congre-
gated the whites were fired upon by band OF ne
and the riders Of four badly Wounded The whites
then made an attack upon the assaulting party
and succeeded in killing every. one Of them.
rode into the crowd Of negroes, who had assembled
Just beyond where the first attack was made. Upon
their approach the negroes fired one voey and then
ned. The whites then pursued them, and only de-
sisted after killing all that they found with weapons
in their hands. The next day the various planta-
stand that unless they surrendered their arms they
would be taken out and shot This threat had the
desired effect and negroes from far and brought
In their arms, several hundred In number, and
handed them over to the whites.
During the disturbance the Office OF the F1-o0ress
was Quilted and the type scattered to the Winds The
editor was not to be found and has not since been
heard of.
our informant states that the negroes seemed to
have learned wholesome lesson and manifest now
q quiet and peaceabe disposition. At the time OF
his departure all was quiet and no fears entertained
OF any Iurtner ulsturDancc. Inc prccauton, now
ever, had been taken Of posting patrols at various
points.
During the riot number Of negro women were ar
rested, and they were found to have had matches
and bags. The matches, they said, were to IRE the
town, and the bags to carry on the pIunder.
Four negroes were designated as the leaders OF
the four divisions that surrounded the town, and
during the two days OF the fight repeated attacks
were made upon the town BY the negroes, who
would IRE voley and fall back and scatter before
the pursuing whites. II il estimated that over loo
negroes were killed and about ffty wounded. The
whites had four wounded, but none killed.
Preparing for the New Rebellion-Critical
Condition Of Affairs in North Carolina.
The following correspondence explains ITSELF
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
RALEIGH Oct !, 1865.
Gen. NELSON A. MILES. Commanding &c:-