Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-01-28
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY IS.

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. From iHc St.
Louis Times, January lG. y few months ago
Capt. Hatch and Col. j. O Fa?lon we're award
cd contract for finishing scvcra! miles Of the
HaweS Harris Lavce, near Madison Parish,
La. The work was commenced, the first gang
oi men comprising 240Swcdcs and lO0lrishmcn.
An i'll feeling existed between the tw" nation
alitcs, the last named being headed by ono
Michael Mclaughlin, a well known $. Louis
desperate. He was Waterman, his srccial
line OF duty being to deal out grog, watch camp,
&c,&c.
On the 22d of December last, while the Key
Father Gentcllc was celebrating mass at the
Swedish camp, McLaughlin, armed to the
teeth broke in on the solemn ceremony, anu
commenced brutal attack Oh Lunn, one or
the Swedish bosses, ending by shooting nm IN
the LEG. Lunn was armed with no less imam
four revolvcrs but was too coWardiy 70 Shonl'
and took refuge in the Swedish quartcrH IL
was nine o'clock at night, and as MchlushiIn
hadLut few followers, he did not consider 1t
safe to rush in among hundred men, and &c
cordingly rcsortcd to the desperate strategy oil
setting fire to the Swedc quarters. As soon as
the flames began to get uncomfortable warm.
the inmates ran for the woods, and IN their
FLIGHT were shot, stabbed and beaten most ter
rby. Lunn remained in the building until alb
solutcy forced out by the fire, when he was SGT
upon by Mclaughlin. who butchered him with
q knife. The poor fellow swooned from the
loss of blood, when the iiend, surprising he
was dead. robbed him Of his watch, chan
money and other valuabcs.
The building was totally consumed, together
with its contents, which consisted 0! sixty
double blankets, bedding, Nc.
About halfa mile below WAS another camp
= To-, hnr IL
Mclaughlin, bent upon clearing them out also,
broke open barre! of whiskcy and freely dis
tributcd it among the thirty Of his comrades,
until they became as mad as nc, wien at day
break they started for the camp. The priest
used his utmost enlcavors 10 persuade N" NAL
contents from committing any further 0ut!ag2s,
but to no avail. The Swclcs broke for the
woods, ard most Of them reached there IN
safety. One was killed outrisht at the IcC &c.
and five others SC badly wounded that they
subsequently died.
The baggage and other property in the build
ing were either destroyed or Stolen. NJ :"
o'clock Captain Slower succeeded IN Sccur-
ing many OF the Irish laborcrs to 90
on with tho work, and Mclaughlin was order
cd to visit the quarter ct tic contractors to
receive the money due him, having been pre-.
vionsly discharged.
Col. Kelly Zone Of l;o contractors at the
time was lying on ted, sick, his brother hcing
in charge Mclaughlin. determined 70 brave
the matter our, rushed into the tnione!'@ quar-,
tiers armed with large kni" Kelly ordered
him to remain at the deer, bat he refused 10
obey and continued to advance, when, alter q
second order to stop, Kelly fired upon and rid
died HIM with bullets. lie Eel! - The floor
nearly dead, ana was aftcrwaTd removed 20
wagon at the roadside, where re died.
NcLlugh!in's bo3y VA: tH:i2l "a t!ic river
bank, and was Afterwards; Inferred il / enc
terry ty order 0! Col. Kelly. The >;%c;,s have
left the settlement, cxcGp; those VII" were
wounded, who arc being well cared for.