Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-04-18
THE LOUISIANA MASSACRE.
BLOODY WORK AT COLFAx.
Fort Pillow Eclipsctl and the MOslocs
OutdOme.
Cold FLOODED Assassination Of COl0red
Men After Surrender.
Cnarmed Men shot Down and Prison
ers Tied Together and Thrown
Into the River.
More than One Hundred CclOred Men
Slaughtered.

Attorney General Williams this morning re-
ceived the following dispatches in reference 10
the massacre in Colfax, Louisiana:
THE FIRST CONFLICTING REPORTS.
NEW ORLEANS, April IL, 1873.
To Hon. George H. Williams, attorney General,
Washington:
Reports from Colfax are conflicting and un-
certain. deputy marshal will arrive from
there tonight with authentic report 1t is be-
lieved TO have been a massacre OF at least
twenty or thirty ne yroes. Will report in detail
as seen as have reliable Information.
j. Il. BECKwITH, u. s. Attorney.
HORRIBLE DETAILS IN AN OFFICIAL REPORT.
NEW ORLEANS, April II, 1873.
To Hon. G. H. Williams, attorney General
Deputy Marshal DE klyne has returned from
Colfax. He arrived there the day after the
massacre. The details are horrible. The dem
ocrats (white) of Grant parish attempted TO
Oust the incumbent parish officers by force, and
failed, the sheriff protecting the officers with
colored posse. Several days afterwards recruits
from other parishes, to the number of three
hundred, came to the assistance of the assail-
ants, when they demanded the surrender of the
cOlored people. This was refused; attack
was made, and the negroes were driven into the
courthouse. The courthouse WAS then fired,
and the negroes slaughtered they left the
burning building, after resistance ceased. Six
ty-tve negroes, terribly mutilated, were found
dead near the ruins of the courthouse. Thirty
are known to have been taken prisoners, and
are said to have been shot after the surrender
and thrown into the river. Two of the assail-
ants were wounded. The slaughter is greater
than in the riot Of sc IN this city. VIII send
report by mail.
J.R. BEcKwIrH. L. ). Attorney.
THE CoLORED MEN BUTcHERED AFTER SUE
RENDER.
New ORLEANS, April l..
Attorney General Williams, Washington:
Mr.. Deklyne, my chief deputy, left here iast
Saturday with several warrants OF arrest for
parties in the parishes of Grant and Rapides.
He arrived at Colfax Tuesday morning
following the collision OF last Sunday. He
ratI ua
serted except by women, and caused to he
buried the remains of sixty colored men found
on the field. 1t is reported that subsequent to
the burning of the court house thirty-four col
ored men previously made prisoners were taken
TO the river bank By couples and there shot and
thrown overheard. 1t is also reported that
colored men were shot in the adjacent woods,
where their bodies are stin lying. He found
also twelve wounded, some certainly mortally.
The colored men present composing the pO, g,
under direction of Sheriff Shaw, white, ap-
pointed by Governor Kellogg. had taken pos
session of the courthouse, and were still hold
ing it. Nash led the whites. From creditable
information there appears TO have been no loss
on the part of the colOred men until after their
surrender, when hey were butche ed without
mercy. After the massacre in the courthouse,
from which they were elected by setting fire ID
posed killed. My deputy found il impossible TO
make arrests without the presence of United
States troops; armed bodies of whites still
securing the country. The assalants consisted
Rapides, VIM, Catapaula, Natchitochcs and
Red River, and had in their possession a six
FOUNDER cannon, taken or as some allege, loaned
from the Red river steamer, Jno. +. Moore
Fifteen months since troops were required to
execute warrants in this parish when promi
nent white republican was murdered. Nasn
and others connected with this butchery were
arr sted then. No warrants have vet been
issued for parties connected with this last out
break. When the circumsta nces of this massa-
ere are fully known it will be found to be only
eGuallcd by that of Fort Pillow.
S. b. PACKARD, L. s. Marshal.
THE GUILTY PARTIES TO BE PUNISHED.
The Attorney General has instructed U. s.
District Attorney BeckN It'll to make thorough
investigation of the affair in Grant parish, and
if the Tn ted States laws have been violated. 4 }
spare no pains or eXpeT sc to cause the guilty
parties TO be arrested and, if necessary % exc
cute any Unit States proce 5, TO call upon
General Emory for that purpose, who has been
instructed by the acting Secretary of War to
give him all aid. The Attorney General for
warded full copies of the kilograms received by
him to-day to Acting Secretary of War Robe
son, with a request that the commanding officer
at New Orleans be informed as TO the neceSSi
of military aid, it such necessity should exist.
GENERAL EMERY TO RENDER ALL THE AID
NECESSARY.
Acting Secretary of War Robson in his dis
patch to General Emory instructs that officer
TO render all the military aid necessary to en-
fierce the process of United States courts.