The Van Buren press., 1873-04-22
LOUISIANA.
The Grant Parish Troubles-A Fight
Between Whites and Blacks at Colfax.
Large Number Of Negroes Killed
Court House Burned

The steamboat Southwestern, which ar
rived at about half past clock this eve
ming. brings stirring and important news
from Grant parish. The whites have re
taken Colfax, and there is not negro
to be found for miles around.
From passengers on the Southwestern
We CLEAN the following: The negroes
had strongly entrenched themselves in
the court rl-house, and built preastworks
three or four feet high. There were, i,
is said, about four hundred men, armed
and thoroughly equipped On Sunday
at about II o clock, about a hundred and
fifty white men, who had gathered from
the surrounding parishes, made an at
tack on the breastworks, and brisk fgh,
was kept up until some time near three
o'clock. The breastworks we're then
stormed and captured, the negroes tax
ing refuge in the court house, the doors
Of which were barricaded After some
further fighting, the negroes threw ont {
flag Of truce, and several detachments oi
men advanced OR it, when they were fireC
on by the beseiged party, wounding sew
eral-one of whom vas Capt. Hadnot
who was shot in the bowels and, 1t i.
feared, fatally wounded Ihey,rstrcated
on the outside of the brcastw orks, and as
the only means Of dislodyiug the negroes
the court house was set on fire, and they
were shots as they came from the building
1t is reported that between eighty and a
hundred negroes were killed. and there
were none to be found for miles around
The captain Of the steamer Southwest
ern makes the following statement. W.
arrived at Colfax Sunday evening about
s o'clock, and found the white people
and the sheriff. suppose at their head
had captured the town after having had
a conflict with the negroes. 1t was re-
ported TO me that about one hundred ne.
groes had been killed and many Others
wounded. We saw from the boat abou,
eighteen or twenty lying around on the
banks dead. One white man was report.
ed killed. whose name l did not learn
and two very seriously woundcd-Mes'
srs Hadnot and Harris. Mr Hadnot was
shot through the bowels, and it is sup
posed that he is mortally wounded We
brought Messrs Hadnot and Harris down
from ColfaX to Alexandria. Four other
white men were slightly wounded, About
a hundred negroes escaped, but 1t WAS
reported that the whites were still pursu
ing them All Of the leaders OF the riot
escaped, especially the white men, The
negroes ambuscadcd themselves in the
court house, and the whites, tiuding there
was no other mode Of attack left them,
set fire to the building. Tho whites
numbered in the ncighborhood Of one
hundred and fifty men The fight lasted
from about IL m. until nearly 8 p m,
The wnites are now in possession of Col
fax, and when | left, last Sunday NJ ght
everything was very quiet
BIT OF POLITICAL FoREcAsTING BY
GOVERNOR HENDRICKS or INDIANA
INDI>NApoLIs, April 10.
The Indianapolis Scntiael to morrow
will contain short letter from Govern
or Hendricks, defining his position in
reference to the rumor freely circulated
ss to the significance ofhis recent trip t.
Washington.
Gov Hendricks says, in reply to di-
rect inquiry
my visit to Washington CITY had
nothing whatever to do with political
matters. and whilst there / had less con
conversation in relation to parties and
PARTY organizations than at any former
visit to that cit F., and l was surprised
when learnei that nc v>paper CORES
pondcnts attributed to me any political
purpose
A case in the Supreme court and some
business in the departments occupied
nearly all my time, and my conversations
with friends and acquaintances upon pub
lie and political matters were casual and
without arrangement, and might say
without design.
have exprcssen the hope which
earnestly entertain that all who sincerely
desire a thorough reform In the public
service shall work together rs to restore
integrity and economy in that service,
aud place public authority once more on
a constitutional basis.
How this may best be accomplished,
whether through our existing Organza-
ton or by movement introducing new
elements, should be carefully considered
and the action Of the Democratic, Liber.
al and Reform clements in the States
will probably suggest the best geneal ac
ton.
believe large majority Of the peo
pie desire a change in the administration,
and the practical question is how they
shall come together with u view to that
end Very truly your,
r. A. HENDRlCKs