Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-04-24

which is situated some twenty-five miles fur
ther down. On their arrival at Colfax they
found about one hundred armed men on the
bank. The passengers went on shore, and on
reaching the scene Of the fight discovered, by
the light of lanterns, many dead bodies of
colored men, riddled with bullets. In the
store house near the landing, about thirty ne
gro prisoners were huddled together, and q
strong guard surrounded the prison. Several
white men were also wounded. Itseems that
trouble has been brewing in Grant parish
during the past two weeks. For three or four
days previous to Sunday the blacks proved
too numerous for the whites, and the latter
were compelled to seek refuge in the surround.
ing country and in the meantime it is stated
that the blacks plundered the town, threw up
rude forti6cations, and boasted that they
would drive the whites from the parish. The
whites, however, after being driven from the
town, were reinforced from the adjoining, par
ishes, and, on Sunday, led by the Sheriff Of
Grant parish, they advanced in body toward
Colfax. On their arrival there fsg of truce
was sent to the blacks, asking their surrender,
but warning them at the same time if they
meant fight to take care of themselves and
their women and children. The negroes re-
fused to come to terms, whereupon the whites
charged the breastworks and the negroes re-
treated, taking refuge in the Court House,
from which they kept up an incessant fire for
some time. Finally friendly negro was
bribed to fire the Court House, which was
successfully done. After vain attempt to
extinguish the flames, the blacks displayed a
white flag in token of surrender. Two white
men Immediately advanced, but on reaching
the doors of the Court House, they were shot
down The negroes then rushed out in q
body, and the whites, being terribly infuria-
ted, fired into the mass as they came out, kill
ing them wherever found. Finally the Sher.
iff got his men under control, and order was
restored. The people were so excited that
they could hardly give the accurate number
of killed and wounded. The negroes had
improvised several rude cannon from old
cast iron pumps, which were loaded to the
muzzle with slugs '''@.'. '.'' =
On Thursday one hundred Metropolitan
policemen, armed as infantry, and takinga
battery, left New Orleans for the scene of the
conflict, the federal authorities having re-
fused to furnish troops after repeated applica-
tions.
The Attorney. General has instructed u. S.
District Attorney Beckwith to make thor
ough investigation of these difficulties, and if
the United States laws havesbeen violated, to
spare no pains or expense, to cause the guilty
parties to be arrested. To this end, General
Emery has also been instructed to render all
the military aid necessary to enforce the pro-
cess of the United States Court.
1t appears, by the latest New Orleans des-
patches, that the cause of the delay in sending
Federal troops to Grant parish was owing to
the difficulty Of procuring transportation.
The regular boats refused to carry the troops,
alleging that it would ruin their business
Gen. Emory finally succeeded in charterihg a
vessel, and sent two companies to the scene of
the disturbance. In reply to Gen. Emory for
instructions, upon the point of extending aid
to the Kellogg (RadicaD government in its
civil troubles, the War Department has d.
rected him to protect the State government
frop violence and overthrow only, and if ne
cessary, to use military in aid Of the United
States officials in serving processes If the
civil authorizes of the State are powerless to
administer the laws, and require assistance,
the Governor or Legislature must call upon
the President in the regular way. Gen. En-
ory is admonished that he must not interfere
in local dissensons between the two parties,
unless by order of the President, after a re-
QUESTION by the Governor for troops has been
made. .d&l>E.. ,.- -. ...'''
Kellogg informs the authorities at Wash
ington that opposition to his government has
in measure ceased, and the people are pay
ing their taxes more promptly than they have
ever done before. On the contrary, Gen.
Emory telegraphs under same date that there
is great excitement in New Orleans, and that
conflict between the Kellogg and McEnry
factions is imminent