Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-04-19
Origin Of the Difficulty Between
the Whites aud Negroes
of COlfax.
The Scalawags and Carpetbaggers
Responsible for the Trouble
and BlOOdshed.
The Citizens who 'sCIeaned them
Out" Acted by Virtue OF Law
and Under Orders of
the Sheriff.
Radical Version of the Origin and
Severity Of the Affair
Capital for the Next
Campaign.
by TELEGRAPH.l

by TELEGRAPH.l
NEW YORK, April 1S.-A Times
special from New Orleans, about hos
tilities in Grant parish, says not a single
colored man was killed until all had
surrendered to the whites, who were
fighting when over one hundred were
shot down. 1t is understood another
lot were burned to death in the court
house. After the butchery the whites
scattered in all directions, a few Of
them going to their homes, but many
left for the Texas border in the hopes of
escaping the consequences of their
crime. The State troops on arriving at
the scene of hostilities buried over sixty
bodies of the colored men. The federal
troops cannot proceed for want of trans
portation.
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-AttOrney-
General Williams has received a dis
patch from United States Marshal
Packard, dated New Orleans, seven
teenth instant, in which he says that
Deputy Marshal D. z. Kyne has re-
turned from Colfax, where he arrived on
Tuesday following the collision of Sun
day last, and found the place almost de-
serted, except by women. He buried
the remains Of sixty colored men found
on the field. The dispatch continues: /:
at is reported that subsequent to the
burning of the courthouse thirty-four
cOlOred men previously made pris-
oners, 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 still lying.
He found also twelve wounded,
some certainly mortally. The col
Ored men present composed posse
which, under direction of Sheriff Shaw
(white), appointed by Governor Kel-
logg, had taken possession of the court
house, and were still holding it. Nash,
formerly sheriff by appointment of
Wsrmoth, and superseded by Shaw.
led the whites. From all accounts there
to have been no loss on the
part of the eolored men until after their
surrender, when they were butehered
without mercy.
After the massacre in the courthouse,
from which they were elected by setting
fire to the building, Sheriff Shaw was
and is supposed to have been
killed. My deputy found it impossible
to make arrests without the presence of
United States troops. Armed bodies of
whites are still securing the country.
The assailants had in their possession a
cannon, taken, or as some al
lege, loaned from the Red river steamer
John T. Moore. Marshal Packard then
closes his dispatch by saying that when
the circumstances of this massacre are
fully known 1t will De found to be
only by that of Fort Pillow.
WAsHINGToN, April 1S.-AttOrney-
General Williams to-day received the
following:
NEW ORLEANS, March Il, 1873
Deputy Marshal DeKlyne has just
returned from Colfax. He arrived there
the day after the massacre. The details
are horrible. The Democrats (white) Of
Grant parish attempted to oust the in
cumbent parish officers by force, but
failed, the sheriff protecting the officers
with q colored posse. Several days
afterward recruits from other parishes to
the number of three hundred came to
the assistance of the assailants, when
they demanded the surrender of the
colored people. This was refused. An
attack was made, and the negroes were
driven into the courthouse. The court
house was fred, and the negroes slaugh.
tered as they left the burning building.
After resistance ceased, sixty-five ne-
groes, terribly mutilated, were found
dead near the ruins of the courthouse.
Thirty, known to have been taken
prisoners, are said to have been shot af-
ter surrender and thrown in the river.
Two of the assaIants were wounded.
The slaughter was greater than in the
riot Of 1856 in this city. VIII send a re-
port by mail.
ISignedl J. K. BECKWITH,
United States Attorney.
The acting secretary of war tele-
graphed this afternoon to Colonel
Emory, as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGToN, !
April Is, 1873.
To Colonel w. II. Emery, Commanding Gulf
Department, New Orleans, louisiana:
In case a requisition is made upon
you by the United States marshal to as
sist the United States authorities in
executing any judicial process issued on
account of the late reported disturbance
in Grant parish, you will render the
necessary aid for such purpose.
(Signed) GEORGE NJ. robson,
Acting Sec'y War.
Encouragement Williams this morn
ing telegraphed the following to ]. R.
Beckwitb, United States attorney at
New Orleans:
SIR-You are hereby instructed to
make thorough investigation of
affairs In Grant parish, and if you
find that the laws of the United States
have been violated, you will spare no
pains or expense to cause the guilty
parties to be arrested and punished, and
if the military aid is necessary to exc
cute any United States process you will
call on General Emery for that purpose,
who has been instructed to furnish it.
(Signed) GEORGE H.WILLIAMS,