The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-11-23

Democrats we've on their way To the
meeting for tie purpose Of breaking
it up. Mir. Blunt aud other gentle
men cnuIu uut. 1T first crr'|i5 tho
statement. AS the meeting had, how
ever declared its vote in adjournment
the members quietly dispersed ia
their homes. Mr.. Blunt going to his
home was informed that the same
armed mob was hunting him. lie
had, therefore, at once his dwelling, a
neat two story frame building in the
midst Of white. neighbors. closed up
the doors aud windows fastened and
himself prepared to stand the siege
he felt suro from past experience Il
Natchitocles Democratic mob would
occasion.
A few minutes afterwards the mol
arrived in front of the house. They
demanded admission. This was, of
course, refused. They at once then,
proceeded to batter down the doors
and windows; numbering some two
hundred and fifty men. this was soon
accomplished. Meanwhile Mr.. Blunt,
by the frantic entreaties of his wife
and daughter, the latter young lady
in her teens, was gotten to secrete
himself above the tcester of his bed,
in the ceiling of his sleeping room;
The mob entered, broke into armoirs,
bureaus, closets, and safes; ransacked
and m0tilated all the furniture; one
of tue. leaders, Judge Chaplin, took
the keys aud purse of Mrs. Blunt, all
the money in the house not on her
husbands person, and after vainly
searching each room, fually retired
with Mrs. Blunt and her daughter as
prisoners, to be carried to the court
house and Jail. From some informa-
ton gained, however, before getting
ont of the yard, the mob returned
and made another search for Mr..
Blunt. They sought at once his hi
ding place above the bed, and one of
them thrusting up his Winchester
rifle had it stepped on and snatched
from his hands. Mr.. Blunt was then
ordered to surrender. This he re-
fused. Though a Baptist preacher
and a colored man, it was known that
he was unquestionably brave and a
good shot. After some parleying,
each of the gang by their leaders
direction was then asked and vote
taken as to whether, on Blunt's sur
render, they would refrain from in,
juring a hair Of his head. They all
agreed, yes. Mr.. Blunt then came
down into the mob. He found them
all composed of "best" citizens. Not
. poor white man among them, ex-
cept "Jack" Gilchrist. The leader
was one Joseph Cunningham. "Bill"
Levy, lawyer Jack, Tucker and two
sons, Cosgrove, and the Hertzogs,
uncle and nephew, with many others,
participated. Except one Caspari,
not a Hebrew doing business in the
town, was of tue mob. Mrs. Blunt
and step. daughter, and sister, and
Mrs. Paris, a. lady guest, were
were then placed in custody and pro-
ceeded with to the" Jail. just before
this, Mayor. Dranguet arrived when
the mob was breaking up the furni.
ture and robbing Mrs. Blunt, and
that official excitedly said: "Gen-
tlemen, ! approve of. every act you
now do. / hold you blameless." Mr.
Blunt also noticed, as present, Judge
herson; the District Judge. Hem
med between two of his guards, Mr.:
Bhlut was marched TO the courthouse.
When there. his wife was summoned,
and te was told that if he had any
thing to, give her he could do 50.
Taking his .pocket-book, a gold pen
holder, aud keys from his pockets,
Mr." Blunt handed them over to his
helpmate, she, weeping, was be-
sought 60 leave him in the hands Of
Cod, and in custody Of these cruel
men, About ten o'clock at night
Cunningham, in much excitement,
entered the, room and said: "The
Triggers aremarching on the town to
rescue Blunt q before he shall be Civ
en- up, he must ebe killed" MI.
Blunt recalled to their minds their
pledges as to his safety. Then said
Cunningham, !!''make the Triggers go
home" Mr.. Blunt said he knew moth
ing of their, purpose. lie was o pris.
oner in their hands, but if they wonld
permit him to 80, he would tell them
of his captors pledges, and get them
to- return home. That he would
pledge himself to return again to
their custody. This Cunningham re.
fused. Wished somebody to be sent
by Blunt. Finally, a young colored
man named James Armstrong went,
and got the crowd of colored people
to return TO- their, homes. On Arm
strong coming back he was met by a
white rufian, and Drained from his
horse with the breech of a musket.
Picked, up senseless be could only
calculate, on reviving, IL went to do
your bidding and am nearly killed."
Subsequently MI. Blunt's wife and
Mrs. Paris went and quieted another
crowd Of Colored citizens. At half
hour after midnight the guard at the
courthouse: came to Mr.. Blunt and
said lie must leave the town. Blunt
asked for two or three days to wind
uphis business; he had some six or
seven thousand dollars worth of prop.
perty in 9 town where he had live9
for the past twenty-five years. 80
he had besides church busineaelay:
tors to look after requiringJ to u.s."
"No, sir; you can't ago now" /
was the reply, "yeytas before, and
He was piniefiouse. On his way
taken back I'D of armed men was in
The samao. Arrived home, Mrs.
attep' released by this time, got for
Rshusband a change Of linen for his