The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-15
THE NEGRO RIOT IN LOUISIANA.
Colfax Grant Parish in Possession Of thu
Negroes-A Reign Of Terror-The
Whites Aiming for Resistance.

From the New Orleans Republican, April 1OJ
The steamboats, John /. Moore and La Belle bring
some intelligence OF the riot at Collax. in Grant
parish. The former boat passed that place on
Monday and the officers state that they saw
large body OF colOred men, armed with shotguns
and other weapons on the bank, and they did not
land At Montgomery, TWENTY-FIVE miles above,
they had taken on board Judge w. r. Rutland, whe
stated he had been forced to flee from his home.
He states that Representative Ward has taken
armed possession oil the court house at Colfax.
II he remained their, went to Montgomery and
remained there until taken on board by the John
I. Moore. While away from home he learned his
house had been sacked. As the boat passed Colfax
it was hailed by Mr.. Calhoun, but did not take HIM
count Of the violent wind. On arriving at Alex
andria they learned the La Belle, which had passed
them, had taken Mr.. Calhoun on board, but that he
had been taken on again under arrest by the
sheriff at Pineve. At Alexandra were body Of
aoHat TWO ndred afmeu men, Teo rn
siX-pound cannon from the boat, and proposed to
take 1t with them. They also took from the Durfee
eleven casks OF bacon and twenty barrels OF hour.
1t reported at Alexandria that the rioters
were shooting all who refused TO join them.
The La Belle, coming after the John I. Moore,
made n landing little below COlfax, and took Mr..
Calhoun on board at Curry Point, very near his
the woods since Tuesday OF last week, that his
house had been seized BY the rioters ana he
hailed by Woman. Mr.. calhoun stated that sne
was teacher, from New Orleans, In private
,nnn4c, {, On reaching Pineyle the Belle was
Mr.. Calhoun Off with them. They told him no harm
would come to him II he was innocent, as he said
ana q letter found ON nm from Representative
Ward to- Governor Kellogg recitng the !.
The Belle was obliged to come down and leave Mr.
Calhoun in their hands, and it is feared he will
duplicate commissioning of the parish officers.
Governor Kellogg had, at the instigation OF Rut-
others who ran on the Fusion ticket Some OF
those on this ticket were OF the party why are
Philips and murdered Recorder White September
%, 1871. MIR. Ward represented these facts to
Governor Kellogg, who -, thereupon issued
leans. Mr.. Ward took, the commissions,
went to Grant ana demanded the Offices. He was
refused possession OF the Court House, and then
took ii. Richardson and Rutland, who IL is alleged,
had been IN COMMUNICATION with the piney woods
democrats, sent to them for assistance to retake
the offices. Mr.. Ward then ordered Rutland ana
Richardson to leave town. DR.. Cockrell and Mr..
the men from Alexandria, who are going to Grant
to fight 1t Is believed that they will be reinforced
from the parishes OF Catahoqla, Natchltocles,
Der of the DAD Fellows Hall Legislature, IS said TO
be among the active members OF the bands from
STATEMENT OF JUDGE RUTLAND.
Judge W. r. Rutland, who arrived rive l. here yester-
nlshes the Ptcan,ne with the following version:-
The Lynch returning board ignored the election
OF obr parish 6c GER ana MT Aeogg aPpo ny Ia
qualify according to law and allowed the time to
elapse In which they required by law to do 1t IN.
Mr.. Kellogg at my instance, commissioned all OFF,
GERS who we're elected including both republicans
and iusionists, white and coored, except parish
Judge, who had already qualified and was repub-
Ward, member of the Dryades street Legisla-
ture learning that Mr.. Kellogg was going to issue
these commissions, FASTENED to Colfax and took .
violent and forcible possession OF the Court House
and Offices with mon. There was proposiuio s
pose OF expressing their condemnation IN quiet
way at the course pursued by these men, but when
Inx arriu tort IN mo n
together there were such violent demonstra-
tons made by Ware Register 80 and as,n Flowers .s'
that the few white people who had
the matter in hand did not pretend to do anything,
but quietly returned to their homes without going
near the Court House assembling anywhere.
After this was advised by friends to seek safety,
started to cross the river to Mr.. j. O. Morantlni's
place, but when got to the river Twas interviewed
by another TREND VINO toid me tnat w1 m NOT
that night. Alter crossing the river was met
again by persons who told me there was deter
mination to assasslnate me If returned TO the
Collax side OF the river.
At twelve O'Clock at night found out that the
mob had sacked my house and that they were GO
ing to attempt to cross the river and arrest me.
made my escape by Mr.. Morantin furnishing me
with horse and guide, and went to Montgomery,
where | found my family, who had preceded me
by boat. Since that time | have been quiet and
nave done nothing, remaining at Montgomery. /
did not go out OF town at all until got on board OF
the steamboat John T. Moore to come to this place.
In passing Colfax last Monday morning was dis
covered On board the boat by the mob OF negroes
and my were greeted with prolonged and ter
rife yclls from the shore, and many, mounting
their horses, got their guns and pursued after the
boat for some distance, some even following
distance oil over seven miles.
will state also, that on the way down the boat
was hailed to take Mr.. Calhoun on, but she could
not make the landing, owing to very violent wind
That was blowing at the time. The steamboat La
Belle came along directly alter and made the land
ing, and took Calhoun on, and passed US before we
got to Alexandria. Whcnwe got to Alexandria I
learned that Calhoun had been arrested and had
been taken of OF the boat The gentlemen who
took him from the boat stated that they were
going to take him to Collax and make him quiet
the mischief and restore the peace that he
was the prompter and head cause Of, he
was principally responsible for what had been.
But do not believe although, OF course, did not
see the persons who had HIM in custody that any
violence against him was meditated; buttt Is nard
to say what angry set OF men will do under such
circumstances. have good evidence TO believe
That the destruction OF my property resulted from
the failure TO assasslnate me, which had been pre-
meditated
The white people in Grant parish and in adoin-
ing parishes were assembling to resist the encroach-
ments or these Ward and his desperad0es
have been and doubtless are now proving about the
country, taking horses, guns and whatever else they
could lay their hands upon. Ward and his men,
about week ago, killed two peacenble coored
men, and perfect reign OF terror Is now Instituted
in Colfax. This is the first statement for any news
paper that have made.
| VIII state that all my personal property has
been taken away and destroyed; that the coffin
spoken OF contained the body Of o little girl who
died In Lake Charles in 1867, which had taken up
and was going to RENTER in Red River. and that
learned in Alexandra, as l came through on Mon
burned it. A great many colored men were in Al
exandra who had run away from Colfax to keep
out Of the trouble.
TT