The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1874-09-05

OAJ AsCcVCOtluAJ,
f. S. EDGERToN.
Coushatta.
From the Shreveport TlmesI s T,
Maj. A. +. Stephenson, a highly
intelligent and respectable citizen
OF DeSOto parish, who reached
this city last night from Coushat-
ia, who took some pains before he
left, to ascertain as nearly as pos
sible the origin of the recent emute
at that point. as we'll as to learn
on his way up from the citizens,
what he could of the particulars
Of the killing of the Coushatta
prisoners, has kindly furnished,
in substance, the following state
ment, which is doubtless substan-
italy correct.
1t seems that in Red River par
ish where the negroes are largely
in excess Of the whites, much APP
prehension and alarm has been
felt by the latter on account of >
threatened outbreak OF the ne
groes, instigated as was generally
believed by Edgerton, Devices,
Twitchell, Howell, Willis, Holland
aud others, white radicals and
office holders, and radical leaders
in the parish. The lives OF sever
alrespectable white citizens OF the
parish had been threatened by
negroe-, and a few days ago Mr..
Williams, a respectable citizen Of
the third ward of Red River par
ISL, was attempted to be assassin
ated by two notorious and desper
! ate negroes near Brownville, in
the lower edge OF the parish--he,
i having been fired at by them with
double barreled shot guns. On
last Thursday night a small party
of white men went to the cabins
/ OF these negroes with the view OF
! arresting aud lodging them IN
Jail, when they were fired upon
from the cabin, and one of the
party instantly killed. The me-
groes then attempted to run to the
woods when they were both shot
and killed by the party attempt
ing the arrest. On next day (Fri-
day) a large body OF armed ne
groes, between three and four
hundred in number, assembled
near Brownsville, swearing ven.
gence against the whole white
race, and declaring they would
not leave white man, woman or
child alive in the parish. THIS
created great apprehension and
excitement at C0ushatta and
throughout the surrounding coun-
try, aad on Friday night the roads
leading into the town were pick
eted. Two young men, Mr. Joe
Dickson and Mr.. Pickens, who
were on one OF the posts, halted a
q negro who was coming into
town with o sack of buck-shot.
He paid no attention to the sum.
nous to halt, and ran off into the
darkness, being fired at by one OF
the parties without effect, how
ever. they Immediately went
into town to report what had oc-
Cured, and were returning to
their post when they were accOst.
ed in the streets of Coushatta,. by
Homer Twitchell and two Doto-
riOus negro desporadoes, Andrew
8 BOsley and Bob Smith, all Of
whom were armed. They had a
few moments conversation with
them. not of q violent nature, and
had turned round to proceed to
their post, when they were fred
upon twice by this armed party
Itrom.the rear, aud without warn
ing. Mr.. Joe Dickson, one of the
most respectable gentlemen Of
Coushatta, was dangerously if not
MORALLY wounded by this fire,
He now lies in critical condition.
MIR. Pickens escaped unhurt. The
firing party then ran of, Bosley
and Smith escaping altogether,
4 aud Twitchell for the time being,
i That night aud next morning,
F. S. Edgerton, Homer j. witch.
ell, r. A. Devices, w. +. Howell,
&c. Holland and NC. Willis, all
white, besides a number of ne
groes, were arrested and placed
under guard. All of the party
who held Office then voluntarily
rendered and wrote ont their, re
signations, and they with the
|others voluntarily proposed, if a
gaurd were furnished them to
Shreveport, they would leave the
State to return no more. This
was not at once assented to, and
| the prisoners requested Mr.. John
| Carr, q reliable and trust worthy
citizen present, to take charge oil