The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-05-10
THE GRANT PARISH TROUBLES.
ShoriH N Nash's Statement Relative to tho
Colfax Difficulty.

Shorih' Nash's Statement Relative to tho
! Colfax Difficulty.
! Tho Hadnot Outrage.
HADNor, Grant parish,
| Is miles from Colfax, April n, 1873.
To the Editor ofthe Picsyunc:
Peace still reigns around Colfax, the
negroes having gone quietly to work
and there being no further apprehension
! Of difficulty. On Wednesday last,
however, an alarm was raised by the
negroes, which fully shows their desire
to have the white residents arrested and
dealt with by the soldiery.
In the morning about III O'Clock,
just as the troops were preparing for
dinner, thirteen negroes on horseback
| rushed into camp and inquiring for
Major Smith, stated that an armed band
of white men had just shot q colored
man, named Isaac Williams, while
plowing in his field. Upon this, the
Major Immediately ordered ten men
to the rescue, and with Il wagon to con-
vcy the wounded, a surgeon, and spades
to bury the dead, they proceeded to the
neighborhcod OF Bayou Daro, eight
miles distant, guided by tho negroes,
men should be arrested and shot with
out mercy.
Upon their arrival however at Isaac
Willia1ns's farm, that festive individual
was found peacefully plowing, while
three colored woman sat by. On inQuir-
ing rs to the whereabouts Of Isaac Will
liams, the officer in command was told
that he was the party, but Isaac knew
OF no shooting, nor had he appYehen-
sions OF any. After a conversation,
however, with the negro guides, he said
three men had gone beyond the Daro
hunting mules, and as they had not
yet returned, were probably killed.
Accordingly of the party again stated
and after going nearly four miles fur
ther, met with the three mule hunters,
who knew of no shooting nor even had
heard of any. At this the negro guides
slipped off with the mule hunters and
left the party without any sure way Of
returning. Inthe meantime ono OF the
wagon mules had fallen through a
bridge, n soldier had nearly broken his
leg, and the officer had got poisoned
oak on his face.
There was some tall abuse of negroes,
as may we'll be believed-the moro 30
rs when tho troops returned, late in the
evening, to camp, they had lost their
dinner. In toto the Major said that
"the cry Of wolf! Wolf! was played
out, and the next time tho nigger said
there We're Ku-Klux in tho woods, he
might stay tLere and be d-d.'
Friday evening, the
SHERIFF, NASH,
rode into camp, and, in company with
your correspondent, proceeded to the
headquarters OF Major Smith, when he
was introduced, and long and agreea-
BILE conversation ensued.
The Sheriff (Nash) is about twenty
seven or twenty-eight years OF age,
slight built, active, and about Ave and
n half feet in height. His features are
delicate and very regular and handsome;
his hair, eyes and beard are Jet black,
the latter long and curly; his hands and
feet are remarkably small, and his ex-
preston is that Of a child, yet in daring
and bravery it is said he cannot be ex-
cclled. After the murder Of Mr.. Had
not, he rode up alone to the door of tho
courthouse and broke it open with an
AK. He is n man OF character and has
the respect of all here, with many dcvo-
ted friends.
In the conversation which ensued
Major Smith hoped that the Sheriff
would exercise his influence to quiet
tho country, which he said had been
already done, and he, In fact, promised
the Major that the principal gentlemen
OF the country should meet and OK
change courtesies with tho officers, in
token OF their amity and friendship.
AS to tho origin and termination OF
the Colfax affair, he submitted the fol-
lowing abatement relative to the diff
Guilty:
STATEMENT or SHERIFF NASH.
Major J. Fl. Smith. commanding 10th U. =.
Infantry:
GAS the duly elected and legal Sheriff
OF this parish would make this state
ment, that you may judge for yourself,
relative to the legality OF the action
taken. ! received for Seri1 the largest
number Of votes, and rs such was duly
commissioned both by Meesrs. McEnery
and kellogg. Previou. to my election
there had been bodies ofriotous persons
in the country, Vho had no fear Of the
law, and who made frequent threats Of
outlawing and incendiarism.
On the 2sth OF March last, these per
sons, both white and cOlOred, marched