Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-04-24
RloTINLOU,,rAyA.

A bloody conflict occurred on the
14th inst, in Grant Parish, Louisiana,
between the whites and blacks.
Tho scene of the conflict was in the
town Of Colfax. The negroes to the
number of several hundred had en-.
trcnched themselves about the court
house and were attacked by about l5O
whites, and driven into the court house,
when it was set OH fire and the negroes
shot as they ran from the burning
building. II is said that one hundred
negroes were killed and but one white
man killed and two or three wounded.
Reliable particulars as to the cause VIC
have not learned, but we cannot de
wise how it can be possible that such a
wholesale slaughter of negroes can be
justified. Hreports OF the death of SO
many Of the colorcd people be true,
we feel certain that they must have
been taken advantage Of by the whites
aud mercilessly slaughtered In gratifi-
cation Of the fcndish spirit that rules
and reigns like a demon in the hearts
OF thousands OF the Southern people
towards this unfortunate race.
Since writing the above, we have re-
ceived the following sickening report
coming from Now Orleans, which We
append;
From passenger ON the Southwcs.
tern the following additional account
of the fight at Colfax is obtained
On arriving ut Collar we found about
100 armed men On the bank, and most
of the passengers went ashore to view
the battle-ground, for q. young man
who came aboard at the wood pile. in
formed us that il we wanted to see
dead niggersy here was . chance, foi
there was hundred or so scattered
over the village and adjacent fields, ,and
he guided US to the scene Of action
Almost as soon as we got to the tor
of the landing we began 10 stumble
over them, most OF them lying on theil
faces, as could see by the dim light oil
lanterns, riddled with bullets.
One poor wretch, q stsIwart looking
fellow, had been in the burning courl
house, and when he ran out with Iii.
clothes on fire, had been shot. Hi
clothes, to his waist, were all burned
Oh, and he was literally broiled. W.
came on them every few steps, but the
sight of this fellow, who was burned
added to the horrible smell Of burning
human flesh, and the remains OF those
who were shot In the court house
which was still on fire, sickened MS and
caused q general cry of.'let us 20 back ,
counted eighteen Of the poor mis-.
used darkeys and was. informed thai
this was only about one-fcurth the
number killed, and that they wore
scattered here aud there In the ticids
around town, besides several in and
around the burning court house. This
however, was probably An cxaggera.
ton.
To show how terribly inccnsed the
people were against tho negroes, re.
late the following incidents:
We came across one negro whose
clothes were smoking and who had
probably been in the fire. Some o
our party remarked that he was alive
Instantly one of the guards whipped
out six-shootcr, an finish this blact
dog" OF course we demonstrated and
he put away his revolver. Some ons
stopped down and turned the Negro
over, but he was stiff and cold. WI
afterwards came on big black fellow
who was resting on his elbow aad Il
all appearances alive, when the mar
with the six-shootcr gave him q fiercl
kick with his boot and then stopped
down and examined him, saying, .Oh
he's dead as hell II was so. Til,
darkey had died that way In 4 recli
ming p0sillnn.