The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-05-17

for their interest to get man ell cted
who would not execute the law. =And
knowing that they could not COM
mand sufficient votes to elect one
Of themselves, they did the next best
thing in putting UP a man who they
knew they could control if successful,
and for whom they hoped to catch
some respectable votes.
The ringle:tdef of this precious set
was one Ham Perkins, great Draw
ny ruffian-who delighted i'll ARRAYS
and combats Of all kinds; and he raj
lied his peculiar followers On election
day, and they all put forth a united
effort to elect Reed. The votes OF
this gang were all in within two hours
after the opening Of the polls, and
they next began to exercise their ter
rorism over respectable voters. Many
who detested them were compelled
to vote for their candidate merely
from fear of personal violence or inju-
~ to their property and so many
there were who were willing to pur-
sue this weak course, that at noon one
Of Perkins party, who had kept tai
", announced that Reed was then
five ahead. TIE intelligence was re-
ceived with a whoop and yell of ex-
ultation, and the rowdies became
more insolent than ever. The leaders
Of the Walton party were in anxious
consultation, which seemed as hope
less as it was anxious; and affairs
bore this aspect when Enoch Page,
who had just arrived on the ground,
came up to vote. AS he approached
the window, q ballot was handed him
by one Of Col. Walton's friends. He
took it and read the name, and nod
ded approval to the man from whom
he had received it, and stepped UP to
depositjt.
Ham Perkins had witnessed the
incident, and familiarly accosted the
young man as he approached.
" | say, my boy, you've made mis-
take in the paper you've got there in
your fist. This here is the ticket you
want"
He held up the Reed ticket toward
Enoch; who, without paying the
slightest heed to the paper or the
man who offered it, stepped past to
the window. Perkins started and
scowled, and then laid his brawny
hand on Enoch's shoulder.
"Didn't you hear what said, my
lad 2" he inquired in a high and me-
nancing key. THAT amt the name
we're voting here to-day; you take
this one and put it right in there"
Enoch shook off the hand from his
shoulder, and returning the ruffian's
bullying look with one of undaunted
firmness, replied:
81 / believe | did not ask your ad-
vice on this subject. l shall vote for
Colonel Walton. Stand out of the
way if you please"
It was the first manly opposition
that the bully had met that day, and
the words were spoken in tone that
told him he was dealing with a brave
and determined spirit. But Perkins
had welded his peculiar power too
long to brook such defiance as this,
uttered in the hearing Of hundred
men, who were now gazing at him to
see what he would do next.
"Ho! putin on airs, are We lad 2"
he vociterated, while his face red
dened with anger. "Now | say We
shan't vote that ticket-so -
With the words he reached out his
hand and snatchiDg the ballot from
Enoch, tore it to pieces. With q
promptness that amazed the crowd,
and with an audacity that made them
hold their breath witt, fright, Enoch
seized the bnlly by the nose and
tweakcd it vigorously, and then, with
his fiat hand, smote him on both sides
OF his face with a noise that sounded
like the crack Of muskets.
The young man took two steps
back and planting himself against the
building gathered his muscle for the
onset he knew would follow. 1t did
follow Immediately. Smarting with
pain, and fairly bowling with rage,
Perkins made Il headlong rush, like
wild beast springing on it's prey.
The spectators shuddered, expecting
to see Enoch strangled in the grasp
of the Infatuated ruttiaD. But he
never reached him; u terrible blow
from Enoch's fist, delivered with all
the force that could be thrown into
it, fell full on his breast, with Il sound
like the beat Of 4 great drum. Per-
llins threw up his arms, and with Il
loud groan fell in Il heap ut the young
mans feet. Some Of his friends
raised him up; they saw him gasp
once-and then all was over.
" Is he dead y Enoch coolly asked.
Yes-you've killed him-you've
killed him." one of his late adherents
exclaimed.
The Reed party carried off their
fallen chief; and so thoroughly cowed
were they by his tragic but merited
fate that they did not show them
selves at the poll again that day.
The result was that Walton was cleo
ted by more than one hundred ma
jority, and rampant rutfianism never
raised its head again in that county.