The Grange advance., 1874-09-09
RED RIVER PARISH.

ISIU III En- 81 A0lOus
The Origin and Progress Of the Muir
derous Disturbances i'm Red River
Parish, of Louisiana.
The Shreveport. Ga.) Times Of Sept.
4th' publishes the following communi-
cation from Mr. Abney, Of Consulate ::
We arc glad to be able to report all
quiet in Red River parish. We are in
vestigating the charges Of inciting riot
etc., Of twenty-five negroes now under
arrest, before 4 citizens committee of
the best men we have. The investipa-
tion is bringing to light the most damna-
bic plot that ever was concocted by anv
set of men. On the night Of the eth
the young people Of our town and Vi
cinity had assembled to ehristen the
new brick store Of Abney & Love by .
dance. 1t is in evidence before this cit
izen S committee that number Of ne
groes had been brought to town armed
for the purpose of an indiscriminate
murder Of the men, women and chill
dren assembled there; that Frank Ed
gerton, sheriff, f.. Twitchell and r. A.
Dewes,and Henry Smith, a notorious bad
negro, were to head them in. the! assault
upon the defence]ess citizens. The me-
groes were brought from: the adjacent.
farms and packed in a. eonn-feld near
by, and under the residence. of S. J.
Twitchell. r. A. Dewes rode several
times to the dancing party and back to
the residence Of S. j. Twitchell, where
the armed negroes were concealed, and
was heard to say to the negroes, the
party is too strong for us. Learning
that a large number Of negroes were
assembled about town, the dancing par
ty broke up about 10 clock, the young
men formed themselves into scouting
party and began patroling the place.
AS young Dickson and Jas. B. Dickson,
were riding in the vicinity of Twitchell's
house they saw and talked with S. j.
Twitchell, and saw near him
some armed negroes. Returning to re-
pert what they saw they were fired on
twice, and Jas. B. Dickson was danger
ously wounded. Cauriers arrived Just
at that time from Capt. w. R. Hersey,
at Brownsville, some twelve miles below
stating that the negroes were asse m
bling in force with arms, and bore
very threatening attitude. 4 squad Of
some ~ young men were Immediately
dispatched to Brownsville, and the clubs
in the county called upon to come to
the rescue Of the people. There prompt
response proved our salvation.
In very few hours a thousand men
were here. Being enraged at the
damnable attempt to assassinate a
whole community, the demand amount
ed to a clamor for the prisoners.
Seeing they had no safety there, and
that all that could be done by the best
and most responsible citizens of the
place conld not protect them many
hours, the prisoners submitted propo-
sition to leave the State and never re-
turn. This proposition seemed to ap-
pease to some extent the wrath Of the
people, and it was accepted by the cit
izens. They (the pri<oners) chose from
the people at large their own guard,
with brave man at their head, and
selected a route up river for Shreve-
port, where they were to take the cars
for the North. About thirty miles
above here they were overtaken, the
prisoners rescued from the guard, and
shot.
To the above the Times adds tho
following:
Since Abney's statement was received
report reached this city that the two
negroes charged with shooting Mr..
Dickson had been murdered by mob
at Conshatta. These negroes were
among those examined by the investi.
eating committee and remanded to jail,
and recommended to be tried by the
District Caurt, but the mob removed
them from the Jail and killed them.