Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-11-21

to vote where their names were not en-
tered, aud fairly drove them from the
polls The negroes were much excited.
saw tha, 1t was not the purpose TO permit
them to vote.
About . 80 a. NJ. the United States SUI
pervisor came from the Summer Grove
precinct. eight miles from Shreveport, stat
ing that the Commissioners had refused to
recognize him as United States officer,
and that he had been iorcibly elected from
the polling place by a deputy sheriff who
acted under orders from the Commission
ers. There were still no white men on the
street,and told the negroes that they evil
IDENTITY were no. going To be allowed to
vote. That there certainly would be
trouble. aud they would do better To 90 to
their homes, at all events to keep on the
street. sent word to the same effect to
every precinct. The negroes refused to
go, and insisted upon their right 10 vote
This was about 10 o'clock There were
registered then five hundred names, OF
which only sixty were those OF white men.
Soon after large crowd of white men
came from Tensas and from neighborng
parishes. There was erious trouble at the
polling place called Wilet's School-house.
There were registered there 3l5 negroes
and - whites. Tie polling box was
placed on hill near the Arkansas line.
When the river is high 1t Is necessary to
travel fifty miles to reach this polling place
from different parts of the parish; bus the
water this year was low aud IL was possi-
BILE for the negroes 10 arrive through the
swamp. ordinarily impas sable. The can
dldate for sherih. accompanied by 80 Of
3l5 registered negroes, went through the
swamp To this poll. rhev had To walk
thirty-hve miles and carry one days pro-
visions. They campcd the ni.ht before
election M the polling place. During the
night some OF the armed white Democrats
came and looked down upOn the crowd.
but did not attack II on account OF it,
great numbers. 'fhe next day no Com
mt>>ioncr> OF Election appeared. Under
the law the voters then elected Commis-
sioners and proceeded to hold an election.
They polrd 2j6 Republican votes. As
they had a limited amount OF provisions.
the negroes started TO march home through
the swamp, leaving three Commissioners
ihey had elected and four white men at the
polling place. At O'Clock "A body OF fiftv
armed whit" Democrats came down upon
the polling place with guns and demanded
the box, which was surrendered to them
\ fierce assault was made upon them and
the white company declared that they had
come down to Kill. and that they were 20
ing To kil them. These Commissioners
Immediately lett. were followed by thl,
armed mob five miles 10 a swamp. in
which they disappeared in the darkness.
Al the polling place known a Campo
bello. violent scenes were enacted. The
Republican candidate for Legislature was
not permltttd u To approach the polls The
Republicans who went there to vote were
driven away, and on coming back, passed
at frequent intervals files OF white armed
men, who had pickctcd the road. II was
with great difficulty that they were allow.
Ell 10 pas. hese'pickets uumolestrd. Con-
stant threats were made that lives would
be- taken. The Democratic newspapers
admit that two white men and five or six
negroes were Killed in this precinct The
Democrats, As an armed organization. held
tampUbcllo. There was a report that one
white man had beeu Killed by negroes 4
company immediately started from Shreve-
port and another from the parish, aud
Democrtlc papers admit that "a a result Of
this movement sixteen more negroes were
Killed ia that Locality The Rrnnhlira,
who escaped from assaults saws that iitiy
or sixty more negroes were Killed 10 hi>
knowledge. Leonard says the probability
Is that seveniy-tye negroes were Killed IN
that locality alone, aud the unburicd bod
les OF many OF them are being preyed Ipon
by animals. Large numbers OF negroes
have He'd 10 the swamps. In the parish of
taddp there was no question OF carpet
baggcrs running for Office and no negroes
were nominated, except for unlmportant
places. The Republican nominees were
native Southern men, but the Democrats
had openly announced that the Republi-
cans should not be permitted 10 carry the
election.
The above is the substance OF statements
made by Mr.. Leonard TO the President and
Attorney General.