The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-03-19
RIVER TRAGEDY
iaafatisal Statement of Young
fW CUtElbert Jones.
His Miraculous Escape.

| RNo tragedy has ever occurred within
Nle limits of Louisiana that has create
Ekhore intense, or we may say, more hol
srible interest than. that which resul
sted in the%eath of General St. JOIN
Liddell, Col. c. Z Jones and ID y eldes
son. The story of the deadly feud be
! tween the Jones and Giddell tarnilie
has been frequently told, aud it is no
our purpose to repeatit here. Our OBJ
ject is to publish full and concise state
ment of the last scene in the terrible
drama, as heard from the lips of young
CShbersJones, whose miraculous es
cape from what seemed inevitable death
has been partially, and i'll some respects
inaccurately related. Being cognizan
Of the Whereabouts of Mr.. Jones ant
learning that he would have no objection
to giving statement of TIE affair, We
called upon him Yesterdays We fount
a young gentleman of apparently nine
teen years Of age of medium stature anc
delicate, almost effeminate appearances
He gave evidence of refinement aud cul
ture, and was, We learned, educated a
Heidelberg, Germany.
III looking upon his slight figure We
could scarcely realize Nat he was tht
Youth who had passed through suct
dangers and hardships as light wei
have unnerved powerful man.
Mr.. Jones is at the house of friend
who has taken steps to see that he is
protected from the assaults of his enc
mics, and who will only resigs him te
the officers of the law, when he is sure
the officers Of the law can protect hin
beyond a peradventure
The foiloeing is the verbatim report
of the conversation between Mr.. Jones
and the reporter.
Reporter-Will you give me, Mr.
Jones, suscinct account of the affair al
Harrisonbnrg ?
Mr.. Jomes-Certainly, and I am glad
to do so, as I wish the whole facts
known The party came to the house
about 2 o'clock ON Sunday night. There
was large crowd, I suppose from TWEEN.
ty FIVE to thirty of them. The first !
knew of it, there was banging at the
front door, and I think some guns went
off. We were all in bed at the time. /
jumped up and dressed myself, and we
all went into the next room, my father,
my brother and myself.
The Sheriff, Mr.. Ballard, son-in-law
of ME-. Sergeant. in whose house we
were, came in, and was much alarmed
almost crying He advised my father
to give himself up, as it would be no
useto resist. We were ruined men, he
said
Th, attacking party called, and said
that the ladies must come out, and if
they did not, the house would be set on
fire.
After every one else had left the house
except Elijah B. Cotton, who was con-
cealed beneath the stairway, | said to
my father / thought we could do better
up stairs by shooting from the upper
windows, but he replied no, they will
set the house on fire, and We will be sa-
fer down here
The party outside, soon after, com,
menced to split up wood as if preparing
to set the house on fire, and when my
father heard them doing this he rushed
out of the front door, and | think he had
reached the frost gate when he wa,
shot down.
Ny brother jumped out of the back
window into the back yard, and was
there shot down. A little while after
wards I heard him shrieking and calling
for water several times. H..
About this time, Elijah B. Cotton, who
had been under the steps all this tine
thinking it was the safest place, was
discovered, or disclosed himself; he
went out and told them that he was a
Cotton, and not Jones. One Of the
party knew him and said, "Coton, come
out: | will protect you" He went out
to them, and as they crowded around
him, I saw them I was looking at them
through the window mp stairs, where |
had previously gone. They said, "Come
around here and tell Us who this is that
is shot," Ny brother was lying there
He told them who it was, and then they
shot my brother again. Then they sent
Mr.. cotton into the house. They didn't
want to burn the house if they could
help it; they thought they could get me
without burning the house. Mr.. Cotton
reported to them that he could find no
one in the house. They told him to be
sure about it, because "if any of us are
are hurt. you will have to pay for it,
Cotton replied. "There is no one there
Then the crowd rushed in, except those
who were left outside as a guard.
After searching thoroughly down stairs
with torches, and not finding me, they
started up the steps, but told Mr. Cot
ton to go up ahead, SO that if shot he
would receive the load. / had all this
time stood there waiting, having already
resolved what to do if they came up
stairs. | did not stir until Mr. Cotton's
head appeared above the floor. / was
under the impression for the moment
that he had discovered me. for he threw
his head around and looked into my
face, bnt I suppose he must have been
blinded By the glare Of the torches. At
this juncture moved to the open win.
dow and swung myself out. catching
hold Of . board on the window ledge,
which projected at the side, so that I
could hold by it. / was suspended by
my left hand alone, clasping my right
hand around the wrist Of my left. Ny
toes just touched the projecting bricks of
The chimney. T thought every moment
would fall. Those outside were stand
ING around, and I don't understand how