The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-11
LETTER FROM NATOHITOCHES.

We have been favored by a friend with tn
following extract from private letter, writer
from Natchitoches, in which an account i
given of the proceedings of the Deputy Unite'
States Marshals in the arrest of citizens il
! that place. These strikers of Packard hav
not met with very welcome reception. and i
would seem that their situation is not tn
most agreeable. Serves them right.
The letter says:
| NATcHITocHEs, La, Nov 2, S74
On Friday night our mess les
sened from seven to six by the desertion o
Walter Hopkins. His arrest was on a differ
ent charge from the rest-the Colfax matte,
two yesrs ago. His absence was not discov
| cred until after sunrise, and then the Marsha
had US bundled into wagon and sent int
town to be put in Jail. The Sheriff, Col
Burke, refused the use Of the Jail unless We
would arrest him. Said Burke You have
blufed around here long enough. I'll ares.
you. Are you responsible personally for you,
acts:" II am" ''Then, sir you are add
puppy" Stockton did not resent this but
asked Burke what he would do with us.
Said Burke - don't know. / may take
those gentlemen to my house they shan't go
into jail"
Burke then told him he would give him an
answer in ten minutes whether he would take
us or not, and came to ask our wishes. OF
course, We were ready to go into the jail As
soon as we were turned over, the soldiers
standing by, and large crowd around, Cos
grove asked Stockton: "Am [ now in your
chew of tobacco from his mouth and dashed
it in Stockton's face, and struck at him. Even
this did not arouse his manhood.
We staid in the Sheritf's Office until evening,
and heard Col. Levy's speech to large num-
Der OF the people, the largest since the war.
We were weariei out with callers. 1t was an
ovation.
After Levy's speech we went around to the
family residence Of the Prudhomme's, where
We have four rooms, and are under no re-
straint except not to 60 on the streets. What
we will do is not decided; the people say we
shall not be taken from the parish, and We
have so far, with difficulty, kept them from
capturing us. l made q formal demand on
Stockton to be either bailed or sent to New
Orleans for trial. Refused. l think they are
in the fix of the Dutchman who caught a tiger
BY the tail. They would like to have help to
let US go. I believe the object Of our arrest
has been Of contrary effect to that intended.
1t aroused the whites, and excited the sympa-
thy OF the negroes, and they are voting our
ticket beyond expectation.
1t is now 2. NJ, and couriers every hour |
report to us. Stockton took thirteen soldiers
Up to Canpte this morning. The Radical |
candidate for sheriff has just come down, and |
'eports the troops tearing up the Radical
tickets and making the negroes vote ours.
The negroes have 800 majority in registration,
md it will be very hard to overcome it, es-
'ecially as the presence Of soldiers intimi-
lated many Of our people, who, fearing arrest,
an of. At all events, we will run them very
lose1 and divide their party, which was never
lone before
Tomorrow We will make demand for psr-
lie, bail, or trial; if Stockton does not accede,
70 will ask Burke to turn us over to him
gain, and then our people will go for them.
~ own views of the course to pursue are
different, and SO far as can, will
ct them carried out, but cannot expect to
OntYol it,
Nov. 81 have only time to say few
ords. We went out at 5 P. NJ. and voted,
nd from the returns to-day coming in, it
GEMS our six votes will elect our men. We
kpected to be beaten by 500 To-day we are {
king steps to get out, but whether success !
Il or not cannot say.