New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-21
THE FELICIANA KU-KLUX
WHITE LEAGUE BARBARISM
4 Tale to Make the Blood Run Cold
ANARCHY, lAWlEssNEss AND CRIME
Is THERE NO HELP FOR IT 2

Is THERE NO HELP FOR TIP
The following thrilling narrative is trans
lated from the New Orleans German Ga
sette of the fifteenth instant:
THE SOARING AWAY OF EMIGRATION TO
LOUISIANA.
But q short time ago We stated that
. band OF masked, armed and mounted
highway robbers burned tho house and
store of a German, named w. J. kruse,
living about fifteen miles from Bayou Sara,
in the parish of West Feliciana, after first
having dragged him and his family, as we'll
% that of his brother-in-lsw, lately arrived
from Germany, in the dead Of bitter cold
night, from their beds, and with terrible
threats and maltreatment put all Of them
ont upon the road.
We furnish our readers to-day detailed
statement of the above affair, which stands
not alone On the records Of terrible deeds
perpetrated in our parishes-deeds which
but seldom reach the public, as the unfortu-
nate strangers, especially the thrifty Ger
mans, who incur tho wrath Of the inhabit-
ants, are threatened with death if they
divulge anything.
The reign Of terror which the well or
Ranized and armed bands of Ku-Klux exer-
else in most of the parishes OF the State is
quite sufficient to exclude these untortu-
mates from any and all protection, as the
courts seem to be powerlese, or are partly
under certain influences which sympathize
with the doings of these bands. The State
government is completely unable to put .
stop to these dolngs, as it has no militia,
and if the sheri6s would attempt, under the
circumstances, to form posse comitatus, 1t
might be presumed. in nine cases ont of ten
that the majority of the men sworn in for
such q purpose would consist of men who,
perhaps, the night previous were themselves
engaged in robbing and burning expedi-
ton.
In regard to the federal government,
which has nineteen companies OF regular
infantry in the State, it may also be here
mentioned, that if the commanding Cen
eral, Augur, would interfere, what q howl
over martial law and tyranny Of bayonets
would not be heard!
The sheriff of West Felicians is himself
. German named DR.. Kaufman, and to him.
a. we'll as to Senator Weber, are we in
debted for the compl aint, ss well as the Pc
tition of the German families Kruse and
Albers, sent to the editor of the German
Gazette, and herewith published, word for
word:
arrived in New Orleans on the steam
shin Hanover from Bremen ON Decemb Der
%, last year, with my wife and five chill
drep, aged from one to thirteen years. MY
brother-ip-law met myself and family in
New Orleans, and brought us all to his
place in the parish of West Feliciana,
where We arrived on the twenty-fGurth OF
December.
On January 5, at two O'c lock in the morn
ing, we were all suddenly awakened by
terrible noise and loud knocking at the
do,r of my brother-in Law, W. Z. kruse's
house. Immediately after We were vic
lently dragged from our beds, and with dire
thrests and curses driven ont of the house.
After all of US were out on the road We OBJ
served about fifteen mounted meB, armed
with guns and pistols, and masked. We
did not know what they intended to do
with us, and We begged in vain to be per-
mitted to take some of our clothes to cover
ourselves with, as We had LETT the house al
most in q nude condition. and after they
had i'll treated and beaten myself and my
brother.in-law. and likewise my wife, who
is in delicate circumstances.
The band next burned our dwelling and
outh0usee, and when any member OF my
family endeavOred to save few articles OF
clothing, they were instantly torn from
them ana cast into the fire.
have lost by this fearful calamity all my
papers, tools, clothing, bedding, money-in
short we have lost all that we possessed,
and the doings OF this band have put US
all in truly terrible condition.
NV brother-in-law (Kruse) and family
have likewise lost all; and although he has
been q man of means, is now under the
circumstances unable to aid himself. much
less being able to assist me in any way.
I am q German citizen; my residence was in
Bullenberger Field, parish OF Zetel, amt
Vafel.
Myself and family are. " ithout fault Of
our own, now in terrible condltaon,
enough sna ta9 to interest yourself in such man
ner for myself and family O. will enable
us to live for the present. We were also
notified on that dreadful morning that we
all must leave the country within ten days
With respect, yours truly,
JOHANN ALBERS,
Of Bullenbergen Field, parish OF Aetel, amt
Varel, Oldenburg.
DR.. kaufman, the sheriff of West Felici.
ana, adds to tho above petition of the un-
happy Albers the following lines to the
editor of the German Gazette:
PARISH WEST FKLIClANA,l
st. Francisvil,e, La, January 10, 1876.
NV friend Senator Weber has shown me
the netition of the poor man Abers. am
extremely sorry that the poor family did
not come to me in order that l might have
eiven Won clear statement of this terrible
crime which has been perpetrated on these
innocent folks; it can not be given in too
atron0 a color. Weber will also write to
you.
DIR. KAUFMAN, Sheriff.
Hon. D. A. Weber, Of Feliciana, states
likewise in the foregoing accompanying let
ter:
By Kruse's request I herewith forward
Won a statement of the crime perpetrated
also upon himself and family.
By doing anything for all these poor peo,
n,e Won will certainly earn the thanks OF all
of our countrymen.
D. A. WEBER.
It is not to be doubted that New Orleans
.o,+.;r. anficient kind hearted and benevo-