Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-27
TROUBLES In LOUISIANA.
Incendiarism by Negroes at Gretua-
Great Destruction OfPreperty..Three
Negroes Killed and Several Persons
WOunded---Summary Execution of
two Negroes at Jefferson.

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About 2 o'clock Friday night, fire W
discovered in Gretna in a grocery sto
occupied by Mrs. Bro En. The house W
frame building, and was evident
kindled at the aide. The fire run rapid
up the building: and extending to the roc
very soon the whole house was envelope
In flames. Adjoining the building WI
another frame house, occupied as res
dence. The heat of the flames set this O
lire, and the intense heat of the two burnin
houses ignited the roofing of tenemer
house near by. The fire had by this tim
assumed a magnitude which threatene
to consume the entire town. There wei
no engines on the ground, and the onl
struggle made against the flames were
the citizens and detachment of the rive
police.
Under these circumstances, it was im
possible 10 render any efectual aid in ex
tlDgnishing the burning houses or proven
the lire from spreading to the adjoinin
tenement houses, and in less than an hou
these were in flames. Every possible ex
ertion was made to save the furniture an
contents of these buildings, which were il
a measure successful. The houses, how
ever, were completely destroyed. The fir
was evidently the work of an incendiary
and was instigated, no doubt, for purpose
of robbery. For while the FIRE was at it
height, several negroes were observed steal
ing and carrying away goods and any port
able articles they could lay their hands on
This, of course, provoked the citizens, ant
in the melee which Immediately followed
three OF the negroes were killed. They
were in the very act of robbery.
But the first hostile demonstration or
the part OF the whites showed that the ne.
groes were fully armed and prepared fol
the conflict. About forty negroes rallied
on the instant, armed with muskets and
revolvers. Several shots were fred by
both parties, and a number of persons
wounded. The whites begun to rally, and
then the negroes fled in every direction,
seeking the swamps and every available
place Of concealment. 1t is said that the
incendiarism and subsequent hostile en-.
counter was agreed upon and fully planned
the night before. The bearing Of the ne,
groes for a number of days has been such
as to excite the fears of the people. They
have been unusually insolent, and have dis
played a purpose evidently tending towards
disturbance of some sort. In the confusion
incident to the fire the full particulars
conld not be obtained, but enough is given
to show the character CT the outbreak.
The property of the citizens taken from
the burning houses and those endangered
by the flames was scattered over the town.
No guard could be placed over this, and in
a moment of such prevalent distress, it ia
not surprising that the lives of the
robbers were forfeited for the outrage they
attempted to practice, At the present mo-
ment the town is quiet, but the blaCkened
ruins of the burnt and burning houses Of
the poor people who have heen made shell.
terless, looks grim and smouldering in the
bright morning sunshine. The heart would
indeed be callous not to feel for the women
and children 30 suddenly reduced to pow
erty. 1t is not yet known TO what extent
the property was insured.
At late hour yesterday evening the
excitement had measurably subsidized.
Several negroes, instrumental in exciting
the mob and believed 10 exercise a control
ing influence over the rest, have been
taken into custody. Among them is the
notorious Sam. Perkins. The police and
the military still hold possession of the
town, but it was obvious that the trouble had
ended. The destruction of property was
even greater than at first supposed II
has, nevertheless, snbseryed the purpose oil
arousing the citizens to the true situation OF
affairs. These incendiary and turbulent
manifestations Of the negroes will have to
be put down by the strong hand whenever
exhibited. 1t would be well, too, to include
in the suppression the miserable white
men who urge them on, and incite them to
such acts Of violence and raPine.
We were informed last night that a de-
taohment of Seymour Knights and Broom
Rangers were dispatched to Gretna, who
offered theirSeryices TO assist in the preser-
walton Of the peace. As a first step in Sc.
curing this result, the Metropolitan police
were required to leave the place at five
minutes notice. The requirement was
obeyed without remonstrance.
The detachment also arrested four ne
groes, designated by the citizens as ring
leaders of the incendiary mob, who were
found at their homes
At II o'clock the town was perfectly
quiet, and all apprehension of renewal OF
the disorders had passed away.
THE MOB AT JEFFERSON.
About the hour of half-past 2 o'clock
Friday morning, the Parish Prison at Car
rollton was the scene of swift and avenRing
justice, at the hands of some unknown per-
sons. 1t appears from the iailor's account
Jacob Gerber that he was awakened by
some one calling out for him to get up,
that he had prisoner for him. Thinking
that he recognized the voice of a Deputy
Sheriff, he asked: as that you Gardner"
The individual replied: "Yes."
The moment he appeared at the door he
was overpowered. Some thirty or forty
persons rushed in and took possession in
stantly, killing one Dennis, a ColOred man,
convicted of rape on the person of Mrs
Regina Lauchbaum, on the 29lh of Sep
TENDER, 1866, tried twice before by Jury
and found guilty, to-wit: on the 18th of
November, 1866, and on the 1st of May,
1867, and yet the law had not been en-
forced. At the same time they MORALLY
wounded Samuel Milton, colored, who was
only incarcerated yesterday, examined and
committed for trial before the Second Dis
triCt Court, ON the charge of violating and
numbering AntOnine Cardones, a white girl,
eleven years of age.
1t is believed that the incensed commu-
nifty particularly desired the death of the
negro Milton. 1t was an outrage 80 hofri-
bic and sickening in its savage details that
humaR nature felt appalled, at its recital.
After fall, clear and explicit examine
tiou. it wa established by fifty odd wit
nesses, white and black, with but one con-
tradiction, r. S. Gardner, a negro member
of the late Convention, who attempted TO
prove an alibi, that she had been violated
and then strangled, put it in sack and
cast in the river.
Upon visiting the quarters OF the said
negro, there was found 10 his vest pocket
her earrings, that had been torn from her
ears, the handkerchief worn by the poor
girl in the straw of his mattress, and her tin
bucket in which she carried her food. His
vest, pants and shoes were found stained
with blood.
He has thus atoned, 30 far as human JUS
tice can make him, for the dreadful crime
he committed. No one can breathe 8
word of blame; if the vengeance visited
on these wretches was summary, the awful
crimes they perpetrated were horrible, and
justice to the community demanded that
they should cease to live'-New Orleans
Picdyune, Oct "A.
At the banquet given to Reverdy John
son at Liverpool on the 22d inst, Mr..