Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-05-06
COLFA,X. LOUISIANA.
Further Particulars from the Scene Ol
The Last Negro Riot.
The Widow, Family and Relatives Of the
Murdered HIaGn0t-Seene Of Des-
OlatiOn.

a correspondent of the New Orleans
Picdgllne, writing from COlfax, Louis
lana, on the twenty-seventh of April,
gives the following further particulars of
the recent riot i'm that place:
Friday evening, the sheriff Nash
rode into camp, and, in company with
your correspondent, proceeded to the
headquarters of Major Smith, when be
was introduced, and long and agree
able conversation ensued. The sheriff
Nash is about twenty-seven ortwenty-
eight years of age, slight-built, active,
and about five and half feet in hight.
His features are delicate, and very regu-
lar and handsome; his hair, eyes and
beard are jet black, the latter long and
curly; his hands and feet are remark
ably small, aud his expression is that OF
a child, yet in daring and bravery it is
said he cannot be excelled. After the
murder of Mr.. Hadnot he rode up alone
to the door of the courthouse and broke
it open with an AK. He is a man of
character, and has the respect OF
all here, with many devoted friends.
In the conversation which ensued
Major Smith hoped that the sheriff
would exercise his influence to quiet the
country, which he said had been already
done, and he, in fact, promised the major
that the principal gentlemen of the
country should meet and exchange cOur-
tesies with the officers, Ia token of their
amity and friendship. As 10 the origin
and termination Of the ColEsX affair, he
submitted the following statement rela-
tive to the difficulty:
STATEMENT OF SHERIFF NASH.
Major ]. H. Smith. commanding Nineteenth
United states Infantry:
As the duly elected and legal sheriff
of this parish | would make this state
ment, that you may judge for yourself
relative TO the legality of the action
taken. l received for sheriff the largest
number of votes, and as such was duly
commissioned both by Messrs. McEnery
and Kellogg. Previous to my election
there had been bodies Of riotous persons
in the country, who had no fear of the
law, and who made frequent threats of
outlawry and incendiarism.
On the twenty-siXth of March last
these persons, both white and colored,
marched in a body to the courthouse,
and thence elected the legally elected
and Installed parish officers, myself
amongst the number. / at that time or
dered them to disperse, but they fired
upon myself and others, compelling us
to flee for our lives. l accordingly, see
ing no other course, procured from Judge
Regan, the pOlice-magistrate, commits
stoned by Kellogg, a warrant for the ar
rest of the ringleaders, and with it and
a deputy proceeded to COlfax,
where / arrived in time to learn that an
assemblage of peaceable citizens had
been broken up and fired upon by the
rioters.
Even then I desired to make a COM
promise; and, before executing the war
rant, rode up and endeavored to preserve
peace, but was again fired upon, and
threats made by the rioters, who said
they would anyhow drink my blood
Seeing no course then left, l, at the order
of the judge, summoned a posse con1i-
tqtus of citizens, both white and colored,
and with these twenty-five in number)
succeeded on Easter Sunday in dis
persing the two hundred and fifty riot
ers and preserving peace. The warrant
for their arrest, and the order, 1 still
hold in my possession. / deemed that
it was necessary to preserve peace at all
hazards, and, therefore, 1 resOrted to the
measures taken. Very respectfully,
c. c. NASH, Sheriff.
THE PEOPLE AND THE WHITE VICTIMS.
This statement was made in writing
and handed to the major, who received
it, and we then shook hands and left.
Depend upon it, the white population
here had to meet the issue made bv the
riotOus negroes and give them a severe
al nr tlaTrc hn nFh
else was left to do. On the Wednesday
night preceding the difficulty young Mrs
Janey and Mrs. John HadnOt, brides oi
only two weeks standing, in company
with Mrs. James Hadnot, seventy-three
years of age, and sixteen small children
ranging from six months to eight years
of age, were compelled to pass the night
in the woods, while armed bands of ne
grOes Tansacked their dwellings, throw
ing everything they could not carry
away out of doors. In the evening
late we arrived at the residence of Mrs,
James HadnOt whose husband had
been so ruthlessly murdered, and where
we now are. She was alone with hel
daughter, a beautiful girl of sixteen
years, her husband dead, her son driven
TO the woods, and her bone desolate-
the negroes even now threatening tC
burn the house, and murder them all
She is lady far advanced in years, look.
ing feeble, and nearly worn away with
grief and pain; but she is a noble wo-
man. She does not desire revenge, but
only that she may have her children in
peace. 1t was truly desOlate thing tC
see, aud though she did not murmur
did not complain, the tears came into
her eyes as she pressed our hands. In
deed, as her home is, there are many
here; these young men driven to the
woods by negroes, the ladies mostly
confined to their beds from sickness con.
tracted by exposure, and even as it is
o. II fhaf fl,ax- Io-;rx, fcH