The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-08-25
RESI- AT LAST.
THE oBsEoU1ns OF THE SISTER OF STATE
SENATOR TWITCHELL-A SAD AND SICK
ENING STORY OF OUTRAGE.
[From the indianapolis Jouynal.]

/ he funeral ceremonies over the re-
mains of Mrs Helen T. Willis, sister of
State Senator fPwitcheIl, OF Louisiana,
were held yesterday afternoon from the
residence of Mr.. Charles w. Smith, 70
East Pratt street. The sad circum-
stances attending the death OF the lady,
and the horror awakened in the com
munity by recital of the wrongs COM
mitted upon her family by the chival-
rous people Of Louisiana, served to at
tract large attendance OF the leading
citizens Of indianapolis, all of whom
We're deeply affected by the OCCASION
and the services. Rev. DIR. Bayliss,
pastor of Trinity NJ. E. Church, con-
Quoted the service, which was opened
with the singing of hymn:
''Oh. tor the death of those
Who sluaIber in the Lord
Following tie hymn, Rev. DIR. Gil
lett led in a very touching and fervent
prayer, III which he invoked the pro-
lection of Almighty God upon the sur
viving relative Of the deceased, who
had been called to pass through a suf-
fenng almost unparalleled, but which
might be sanctified not only to lis bene-
fit but to the good of the nation which
must sooner or later learn to do justice
aud work righteousness.
Rev. DIR. Bayliss read the fifty-sixth
Psalm and the fourteenth chapter of
the Gospel according to ST. John, after
which the chorus sang:
80 thee. 0 God. when creatures fall,
Thy hocks. deserted, 1lies''
DIR. BayIiss then pronounced the fol-
lowing address:
ADDRESS OF DIR. BAYLIss.
We are standing to-day at the cul-
mination of a tragic personal history. 1t
is not often, in times of peace, that d
funeral service brings men face to face
with facts at once SO melancholy and
appalling. And | feel that, though we
were strangers personally to her whose
sad end we contemplate, as we are to
the solitary mouruer who ol'ows her TO
the burial, there are in the case circum-
stances which will interest us all, aud
will fully justify departure, in some
measure, from tie usual form OF funeral
addresses.
Mrs. Helen E. Willis was native of
Townsend, Vermont, was thirty-one
years Of age, and sister of Marshall II.
Twitchelk, who is here to-day, the only
relative who is permitted to be present
OH this sad OCCASION. She was making
ller way from the inllospitable neighbor
hood III which she has suffered for years,
in Louisiana, to her native place III New
England. She stopped here to rest,
a d if possible TO recuperate. But she
had suffered too much to rally, and
after a few days OF delay death came
yesterday morning, and with grateful
heart to those who had ministered to
her SO kindly and assiduously during
her blief stay in this strange city, she
fell gently asleep and IS at rest.
At the close of the war Capt. Twitch-
ell, brother of the deceased, was OH
Gen. Sheridali's staff, and was assigned
tc duty in the Red river country in
Louisiana, where he became acquainted
with the lady who afterward became
his wife. lie bought land and settled
there, determining to become a citizen
and devote Himself to the Improvement
of his fortunes and the development of
the country OF his adoption. To this end
he built saw mills and grist mills, opell-
ed stores, did what could be done to
establish schools, and III every way pos
sible has labored earnestly to promote
the prosperity OF the country around
him.
Ills energy and economy led to bust
ness success, and his brother and three
sisters with their husbands, at length
joined him III his Southern home His
mother also became a resident there,
aud thus his entire family, aud all his
interests were transferred and estab-
lished permanently, as was supposed, III
Louisiana.
In 1874 there were various riots in
these families lived. Senator Twitchell
was himself absent in New Orleans,
and brother-in-law named King was
sick, as was thought, unto death. As
disturbances continued in the surround
ing country, number of Democrats
came to those who were well and at
home aud said to them 1--WE are sure
that you are here as permanent resi-
dents, and we are satisfied with YOU
and your principles. But some of your
Deighbors are not so satisfied, and there
will perhaps be danger to you unless
you put yourselves under our protec-
tion but if you put yourselves into
our hands, We will vouch for you to the
rioters and you shall be protected -
After some conversation Homer
Twitchell and the two brothers-in-law
concluded, with some other Northern
men in the neighborhood. to accept the
offered protection of their Democratic
nelghbors, and accordingly put them
selves under :heir direction.
They were led away into an adjoin-
ing parish, far enough TO obstruct the
process Of legal prosecution, and then,
with treacllery Of which we lad sup
posed none but Iudians to be capable,