The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1874-09-12
Coushatta.
PARTICULARS OF THE ORIGIN OF THE
TROUBLES AND OF THE KILLING
..N"h' OF THE PRISONERS. IT,. ID

1Dt5OtO parish, WnO Te4CllCu CDlS CITY
last night from Coushatta, who took
some pains before he left, to ascertain
as nearly as possible the origin Of the
recent emute at that point, as we'll as
to'learn on lis way up from citizens,
what he Could Of the particulars Of the
killing Of the Conshatta prisoners, has
kindly furnished in substance, the
following statement, which is doubt
less substantially correct.
It seems that in Red River parish
where tho negroes are largely in ex-
cess Of the whites, much apprehen-
sion aud alarm has been felu by tho
latter on account Of a threatened out
break of the negroes, instigated as
was generally believed by Edgerton,
Devices, Twitchell, Howell, Willis,
Holland and others, white radicals
and Office holders, and radical lead
ers in the parish. The lives of sew
eral respectable white citizens of the
parish had been Threatened by ne
groes, and a few days ago Mr.. VIII.
Hams. q respectable citizen of the
third ward Of Red River parish, was
attempted to be assassinated by two
notorious and desperate negroes near
Brownsville, in the lower edge Of the
paish-he, having been fired at by
them with double. barreled shot guns.
On last Thursday night u small party
Of white men went o.the cabins Of
these negroes with the view of ar
resting land lodging them in JAIL,
when they We're fired upon from the
cabin, and one Of the party instantly
killed. The negroes then attempted
To run to the woods when they were
both shot and killed by the party at-
tempting; the arrest. On the next day
(F1iday) a large body of armed ner
groes, between three aud four hun
dled in number, assembled in Browns
vile, swearing ven eance against the
whole white race, and declaring they
would not leave a white man, woman
or child alive in the parish. This
created great apprehension and excl.
t4ment at Codsiatta and throughout
the SURROUNDING country, and on FRI
day might the roads leading into the
town were. picketed. Two young
men, Mr.. Joe Dickson and Mr.. Pick
ems, who were on one of the posts,
halted anegro. who was coming into
town with a sack: of buck. shot. He
paid no attention to the summons to
halt, and ran off into the darkness,
being fred at by one If the parties
without effect, however. They im-
mediately went into town to report
what had occurred, and were return
ing to their post, when, they were ac-
costed iii the streets Of Coushatta, by
HomarT witohell add two notorious
negro despegadoes, Andrew Bosley
and Bob Smith, all Of whom were
armed. They had q few moments
conversation, with them, not Of y vio-
lent nature; and had turned round to
pro6eed to their post, when they were
fired.apontwjce by this, armed party
from the, year., and without warning.
MI. Joe Dickson, one Of the most res
pectable gentlemen Of Coushatta,
was dangerously II not mortality
wounaeaqby this fire. Il He NOW lies
in avery critical condition. Mr.. Pick
ems esORped unhurt.. The firing mar.
~ then ran 81, Bosley" % and Smith
escapi6g ,alwgether, and Twitchen
for the time. being. ''n;'t,ig"HHiao 2.
rTbat,night and next morning, f.,
s. Edgert9n, Homer J. Twitchell, 4.
A: Devices, ~; +: +, Howell, G. Holland.
and MIC! Wills; AN White besides 4
siumberofnsgroes, were arrested aud
placed under guard. All Of the par.
ty who. held -afiea then voluntarily
rendered, aud wrote out their resigna-
tons, andithey with the Others voluu-
tarilt proposed, II a gnard were fur
aisheda 'them J to: Shreveport, they
woald leave. the State to return no
more: This was ,at once, assented to,
and the prisoners requested Mr.. John.
Carr a reliable and trustworthy citi-
zen present, to take charge Of the
gnsrdfof their projection. ~ III IL u
On Sunday morning at 10 O'Clock,
Mr.. Carr, with = guard of about six
teen men, started with, the above
named prisoners, except the negroes,
who wero turned loose unmolested,
for this city" Not long afterwards a