The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-11-13
SIXTEEN KILLED.
Hot Headed Politicians Engage in
bloody Battle al Loreau-
vile, La
One Hundred Shots Exchanged, and the
Battlefield Strewn with Dead
and Wounded
New Orleans telegram.i

There was Republican meeting at Fausse
iberia Parish, on saturday The place Is located
on the bank OF bayou Teche IL dooted with cane
brakes. and the low lands make it the home
classes. These were the people who were hold
ing the meeting on Saturday. Their speakers
were Judge tontefieu. white Republican. and
one or two colored politicians from Louisville.
The speeches were PARTICULARLY bitter and the
speakers laid great emphasis on thor experience
OF last summer when the state militia
turned the administration ever TO the
Democracy. The" result of the speeches was
the Republican Faith were furious in their pas
sions. As the meeting was about to close some
colored Democrats came up and began to discuss
the question with the men who had struggled
out In groups from the place at which the
meeting had been held. In one OF these groups
the discussion had grown into desperate quar-
when Joe Gilfoux, white Democrat. stepped
into the crowd and took o hand in the dis
cussiQp. He was prominent character in the
quarrel of last summer. and his presence
increased the indignation Of the Republic
ans. Epithets came quick. and Gtlfaux
had been in the crowd but o moment when
negro fired from pistol in his pocket and the
ball passed through Gilfaux's hat The latter
responded to the attack by drawing a gun, and
had tired one harmless shot when h he Ieceived a
death was the signal for quick and FURIOUS at
tack A number Of Democratic politicians,
whose presence had not been observed, rushed
suddenly to the scene, and. commanding their
friends to form line they at once sent muir
derous volfey into the crowd OF negroes.
ers dangerously wounded, and many more
or less hurt. The shots had attracted
many of the men who were At the meet
ing. and in approaching the scene OF
the quarrel they were forced To come mp on the
side of the Republicans and were exposed TO the
fatal volley. The spectacle OF the dead and
dying had confusing effect. Many OF the
negroes were stampeded and ran like wild men
into the glades and canebrakes. Others whose
fright was uncomfortable fed into Bayou Teche
and were drowned. Some of the wounded crept
to the roadside TO die OF the Injuries they had
already received or to receive fresh wounds that
were fatal. There were many Of the negroes,
however, TO whom the sight of their dead and
bleeding comrades was a demoniac inspiration.
and, drawing such weapons as they bad some
I pistols and Others knives no and clubs,
furious hand to-hand battle ensued Neither
side Of the stampede showed signs OF faltering
until their weapons had been rendered useless.
and then they drew oil sulenly, and with threats
and jeers tainted even the dying OF their enc
mics.
though more than 900 shots were fired and
many knives were stained with blood before
the fray was over. After the combata9ts separ-
ated each left the scene. The dead and wounded
were uncared for. The Democrats went TO New
Iberia; the Republicans to Loreauville. In the
course OF half an hour truce party returned to
minister to the injured ana carry OF the dead,
but they attended only TO those who lay In the
road where the battle had occurred.
An ambassador not1fled Coroner Manv1lie OF
the ARRAY, and he visited the scene. He re-
turned day, and gives the following version,
"a cleaned from the Democratic survivors:
There are sixteen negroes dead and two white
men. l have ordered jury, and will hold the
inquest tomorrow. All in the fight when 1t
began say that the first shot came from negro,
who fired at Joe Gilfoux from his coat pocket
Gilroux and another Democrat named Bell
were killed instantly, and from the first vol
ley. The pistols taken from theE bodies show
that they had not fired shot when they
fell. 1t is not known how many were killed,
but 1t Isl certain there were sixteen. prob
ably twenty. Nearly all those killed re-
ceived wounds from stray shots. IL was re-
ported that the white Republicans present wore
breastplates. Judge Fontelieu's clothing was
full of bullet holes, but his skin was untouched.
Capt Bell was buried to-day at st. Nartinsville.
Bell and Giffoux were two o. Fausse Points
most respected citizens. Their friends present,
six or eight men, were so infuriated that they
went into the battle regardless of everything,
and fought bravely. great many negroes
stood and fought until they emptied then pis-
tolls. majority, however, stampeded. Hun
dreds Of them jumped into the bayou, and some
being wounded did not get out. Others ran and
some fell down on the way and died One negro
was found near by in his cabin. dead, without a
brusp