Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-08-07
MR.. TWITCHELL'S SLAIN SISTER.
RECORD OF SOUTHERN HORRORS.


The funeral of Mrs Helen E. Willis
took place in indianapolis, on Sunday
afternoon, the 9th of July. Mrs. Willis
was the sister of Senator Twitchell, of
Louisiana. The circumstances of her
death and the causes which led to it
were strongly set forth by Rev. DR.. Bay
liss, who conducted the services. She
was the victim of false civilization and
a cruel system of terrorism, as one broth
er, her husband and other relatives had
been, and as her MANNED and mutilated
brother who survives her also is. This
brother was present at the funeral, arm
less and helpless. the living victim of
Southern intolerance. Under these ex-
traOrdinary circumstances the reverend
speaker did not hesitate to depart from
the usual routine of funeral addresses
and to state the facts of the case in all
their eloquent simplicity Following is
his address, as reported by the Indian
apOlis Journal:
1--WE are standing to-day at the cul-
mination of tragic personal history. 1t
is not often, IN times of peace, that a
funeral service brings men face to face
with facts at once so melancholy and ap-
palling. And l feel that, though we
were strangers personally to her whose
sad end we contemplate, as we are to the
solitary mourner who follows her to the
burial, there are in the case circumstan-
ces which will interest us all, and will
fully justify departure, in some meas
ure, from the usual form of funeral ad-
dresses. Mrs. Helen E. Willis was a
native of Townsend, VT, was thirty-one
years of age, and sister of Marshall H.
Twitchell, who is here to-day, the only
relative who is permitted to be present
on this sad occasion. She was making
her way from the inhospitable neighbor-
hood in which she had suffered for years,
in Louisiana, to her native place in New
England. She stopped here to rest, and
if possible, to recuperate. But she had
suffered too much to rally, and after a
few days of delay death came, and with
a grateful heart to those who have min
istered to her so kindly and assiduously
during her brief stay in this strange ci-
ty, she fell gently asleep and is at rest
At the close of the war, Capt. Twiteh-
ell, brother of the deceased, was on Gen.
Sheridans staff, and was assigned to
duty in the Red River country in Louis
lana, where he became acquainted with
the lady who afterward became his wife
He bought land and settled there, deter.
mining to become citizen and devote
himself to the improvement Of his for
tunes and the development of the coun
try of his adoption. To this end hc
built saw-mills and grist-mills, opened
stores, did what could be done to estab
llsh schools, and in every possible way
has labored earnestly to promote th'
prosperity of the country about him. Hi
energy and economy led to business sue
cess, and his brother and three sisters
with their husbands, at length joineC
him in his Southern home. His mothe
also became resident there. and thu
his entire family. and all his interests
were transferred and established perma
nently. as was supposed, in Louisiana.
In 1874, there were various riots il
the parishes adjoining that in whicl
these families lived. Senator Twitchel
was himself absent in New Orleans, an'
brother-in-law named King was sick
as was thought, unto death. As disturb
ances continued In the surrounding eoun
try, number Of Democrats came {
those who were we'll and at home an
said TO them: We are sure that you ar
here as permanent residents, and we ar
satisfied with you and your principles
But some of your nelghbors are not sai
isfed, and there will perhaps be DANCE
to you unless you put yourselves unde
our protection but if you will put youl
selves into our hands. we viii voueh fl
you to the rioters. and you shall be PR
tected-' After some conversation Home
| Twitchell and the two brothers-in-ia'
concluded. with some other Norther
| men in the neighborhoOd, to accept Ii
offered protection of their Democrat