Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-19
The Coushaita Outrages,

Our readers doubtless well remember the
murder Of five Union men, three OF whom
were Nermonters, at Coushatta, on the Red
river, in Louisiana, in the Summer of 1874.
That massacre has been wildly recalled by
the late attempt to murder State Senator
". II. Twitchell, at the same place, and the
actual killing Of his brother in-law. George
King. The first Coushatta tragedy was
thus described by Hon. George F. Hoar, OF
Massachusetts, IN a report Of tne committee
Of which he was chairman, 10 Congress;
This is the fearful sio-y. proven to our satsiAe-
tlOu
The Twitchell brothers from Vermont. both
young and active men OF business, Que a man
sometime married, the Other but a snort Tine
before his death, with five or SIX other men
from tue North with their iallLes sett4eu
n this little town. bringing with them earn
estnsss o. purpose, integrity, economy ana
habits Of industry. Tue reasonably expected
results followed. tho hamlet grew into prosper
Gus and hourishng New England village, with us
saw and srisi mills it. factory, is stores, ana
storehouses, its pleasant, white painted houses,
I'll tlelr lawns and gardens. It's churches anu
schuolhCuscs. business n0urlshec. About ,1Ii
coored men were gathered into the village
Their Labor was demand; their wages GOOD ana
themselves o. the school privileges a5undAhNy
Afforded. The cllored voters, finding that these
men never BETRAYED t1elr suln1ence, but IN al
things were aiding them, elected them 70 the sef
eral parish offices and they, thus elected, from
sense DUTY honestly and faithfully administered
tne same. Everything in the village was prosper
Gus, peaceful anu happy But there was SINAI
party o. white Conservatives, headed hy MI
Auney. who. determined 70 rule. acknow led geo nc
?. zht L. the BLACK man bit that o. service VINO
mad lee in toward their white me- EAnors reco--
rH mo ~ Tf.a ID aH- IHH
jealousy and hatred. The usual result tollowed-
Aurusf D. I--i. these officers were waited upon
and oruertd l. res n. They declined. Then they
were informed death alone was the alternative.
knowing that the memorable decree had gone ioril
rhat lu--uelther service q the town, u the
state Co. their ne4shnors, nor the faithful perform
snce OF DUTY. nor virtue integrity nor prayers
@. themselves o. wives or little cll1ren-cou-l save,
tnev bssD u-nt their crue4 ne -nhors 20 send them
IL safety cat Co. tie State, promising never o. re
turn. An escort Was raisci Toy TINS man Ahhey. %
twenty mounted men. The prisoners, taxing al
O.. their ready money. a bout S-uiu, placed tnein-
So ives D tne haHds % the guards. Abney issuec
military orders o. what be called political uns-
but We believe White Leaguers, along the route a.
furnish all. supplies, etc. The march was com
meuced arl viinIu thirty miles @. Their homes
these prisoners were all murdered terrinlY multi
4tel. buried. and 40 father widow. brother or son
was permitted even 90 visit their graves until the
,.a. Is were dec imposed None %. the white mans
party have ertI sought the murderers 10 pursuit
las ever been made DO Inquiries ever set On foot
hy them A man riding one Oi the horses o.. tne
dead meu BIAS been seen 10 the PARISH, but no one
asked han about the bloody deed No hepuhll,an
white up n.4ca aas dared o. commence proceeding.
Ahney was arrested and admitted o. bal "a d smal
sum. auU viii immunity insults thu majesty O. out
r4-el laK Hf Hl4--f appearing as ID IS mes before
ta.s comm Zee. More. pc va, introduced b3 the
couse- VAT t.- 90 the witness stand WIZ. flourish
o.. trumpet o.. Oh. 3D. leading merchant o. that seclo
%. the State
The Iwilcaell- were from Townsheni,
Wulham county. That Senator Tvltchell