Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-29
The Vendetta in Louisiana.


delta which has been carried on for
many years between two wealthy fam
lilies on the Black river, La.-tbat of
Col. Jones on the one part and Gen.
Liddel on the other-culminated last
week. 1t reads more like a thrilling
chapter in a sensation novel than the
plain description of an actual occur
renee. Our readers will remember
that Col. Jones and his eldest son last
February shot and killed Gen. Liddel,
man much respected and greatly be-
loved, for he was generous and brave
almost to a fault. The act was a
cowardly one, and dearly have the
perpetrators paid for it. After a time
the Joneses, father and two sons, were
arrested and held in custody of the
sheriff at house near HarriSonburg.
Here, one night a week or two since,
the house was completely surrounded
by an armed mob, who, calling out the
sheriff, compelled him to depart at
once. Col. Jones and his two sons,
the youngest but nineteen years of
age, then barricaded the doors and
prepared to sell their lives as dearly
as possible, well knowing that mercy
from that bloodthirSty crowd was out
of the question. The house was a
two story one. When the contest
commenced the three were in a front
room on the ground floor. The father,
standing near a bedstead, resting his
wounded left arm on it, and in his
right hand Eeld a revolver pointed at
the portal. The second son stood i'm
mediately in rear, with two revolyerS
pointed in the same direction. The
third and youngest one stood still fur
ther back, armed with one revolver
The advice Of the younger brother had
been to make their defence from the
second story landing, but it was not
followed, for fear the house might be
burned down over their heads with.
out chance to retaliate, and as death
was apparently inevitable, they pre-
pared to meet it boldly. The attack
commenced. The door yielded to the
fierce blows from without, and fell in-
ward. The horror which followed
beggars description. A dozen shots
in rapid succession, a fendish yell OF
triumph, the groans of a dying man.
and the first onset was over. The
next instant, men maddened at the
sight of blood, were rushing in all di
reCtiOnS. Col. Jones lay riddled will
bullets, all received as be faced the
foe and emptied his revolyerS into
their faces. The older son, desper-
ately wounded, staggered out to the
garden in the rear, only to be shot to
pieces as he lay gasping on the ground
In the meantime the younger son, uE-
harmed, retreated to the second story
The assassins, not finding him among
their victims, quickly followed, 1t
would not do to let one Of the hated
family escape to give information
against them, and perhaps at some fu
ture time renew the vendetta by
wreaking vengeance upon the murder
ers of his kindred. To leap to the
ground and certain death, or present
his breast to the now ascending as
sassins, was the thought of an instant
While the assailants were yet on the
stairs, he concluded to do neither, aad
sprang through front window, where
grasping a ledge formed under The
sill, he swung himself out and hung
Suspended-blood below and blood
thirsty enemies above. Being light
of weight but very muscular, here he
remained full fifteen minutes, while
the house was being searched to dis
cover him. Thinking he had escaped
them in the darkness they scattered
over the plantation, leaving the house
tor a time deserted. Then the you'll
swung himself back into the room, anC
for brief time lay exhausted on the
floor. But no time was to be lost
The mob would soon return on theil
tracks. So, taking ha5ty farewell
view of his dead father and brother
his only kiU, the intrepid youth crep
softly to the river, procured pirogue
and, keeping in the shadow Of tn,
overhanging foliage, foated Slowl,
down the river to another steamboa
landing. Here a steamer bound 70
New Orleans was taking in freight
He cautiously stepped on board, anC
the next instant found himself in th,
midst Of his enemies, fifteen Of them
armed with shot guns. He was be
wildered, expecting recognition ant
instant death. But a friend Of hi
family saw him first, took him unper
ceived by his enemies, to the hold ol
the steamer, couple of bales Of cot
ton were carelessly rolled over tn
hatch, and his escape was accomplish
cd. He reached New Orleans in safe
ty, and at last accounts was strictl,
guarded by friends. His enemies fol
lowed him to the city, but they canno
now harm him without certainty Of
swift and terrible retribution.-Bo:
ton Journal.