The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1884-11-08
Riot In Iberia Parish,
snec;al to the Tines.Democrat.

this morning for Loreauville, Fausse
Pointe, in this parish, to hold political
meeting in the interest of Kellogg
After the crowd assembled some distur-
bauce was created by persons hallooing,
"Hurrah for Gay Joe Gilfoux rushed
to the scene of trouble, aud was fired
at, the. ball passing through his hat
He returned the fire. At that moment
O general row ensued, 10 which Capt.
Bell, Il prominent sugar planter and
Democrat, Joe Guilfoux, leading Gay
man, and Oliver Boutte, colored Kel-
logg man from New Iberia, were all
killed outright. The wounded, SO far
as known, are Jules Mestayer, Repub-
lican candidate for sheriff last spring,
thigh broken ex-Sheriff T. Viator,
shot twice in the abdomen, and dozen
others slightly wounded. Six negroes
were killed as far as known.
It was reported that Judge Fontelieu
was shot, but later facts show that it is
untrue, The perpetrators were sur
rounded and kept under guard until the
sheriff arrived to arrest them. AScou-
rier was dispatched to New Iberia and
in few minutes the town was in the
widest excitement. Ali the drinking
saloons were closed at o'clock by or
der of the Mayor. Some fifty or seven.
ty-five men from here left under orders
of the sheriff for the scene Of trouble,
all armed with double- barreled shot
guns and rifles. They arrested Judge
Fnntelieu, Alpine. Fontelieu, Laodice
Fontelieu, Albert Fontelieu and Adolph..
Bienvenu, all white The prisoners
were brought in tonight under IL heavy
guard and placed in the parish prison.
The widest excitement prevailed at
this moment, but the masses of the peo
pie were kept back and quiet until they
were in Jail. 'The town is picketed in
all directions to keep peace and quiet.
The first ball came from the Republican
ranks, after which it is said thousand
shots were fred at once On the battle
field. it Is said, dozen horses are lying
about dead. The Jail is heavily guard
ed. 1t is impossible to learn how many
were wounded, but it is reliably report
ed that great many were wounded and
left during the excitement.
New Iberia, Nov. 2.-Egerything has
been quiet since the Fausse Point, trou-
bic yesterday. The prisoners are still
eouiiHed in Jail.
A great many reports came in from
Fausse Pointe to-day, nearly all differ
ent as to the number killed and wound
ed. Coroner Manyieile came in late this
evening, and lie says there are sixteen
negroes dead and two whites.
All who were in the fight and saw it
when it began, say that
The First Shot
came from a negro, who fired at Mr..
Gilfoux from his coat pocket.
Capt. Bell and Mr.. joe Gilfoux were
killed instantly, and from the first volley
Their pistols were taken off their bodies
after the fight aud every chamber was
found loaded, showing that they had
not fired a shot. When they fell two
of the most respected and beloved citi-
zens of Fausse Point died. Their friends
present, consisting of six or eight, were
all so infuriated that they went into the
battle regardless Of everything and
fought bravely.
A great many negroes stood and
fought until they emptied their pistols.
Ihe.majority, however, stampeded.
Hundreds Jumped in the Bayou.
Some, being wounded, did not get out,
aud Others, who RAM dropped all along
the road and in the woods and died.
One negro was found hear by his cabin,
dead, without IA braise on hin.
It isstill nnkuowu how many were
killed, but there were sixteen certainly,
and probably twenty. Nearly nil these
negroes received their balls from stray
shots
It is very reliably reported that the
white Republicans wese
Protected NTH BreastpIates
that they had secured for the occasions
Judge Fontelieu's. clothing was full o.
bullet-holes, but his skin was untouch
ed.
The affair is just what the white Re.
publicans of this parish wanted. They
have waved the bloody shirt, but with
out effect. They expected TO make cap
ital out OF this, but the facts are tot
plain against them.
New iberia, Nov. 3.-There is moth.
ing new from Fansse Point to-day Al
to the exact number killed, Corone
Manvielle thinks now there we're eigl
teen killed.in all. A great many ar,
J wounded, bat few seriously. Theogen,
Viator and Jules MestaYer are getting
along as well as could be expected
Viator's woands are not considered dan
!, gerous. Mesta5er is badly wounded
and there is no telling how it will turl
ont. His lesA Is broken near the hip
Should it become necessary to amputatt
it, his ciss is very likely TO turn out Sc
: rionsly.
Mr.. Joe Gilfoux was shot through tn
heart and one leg was. broken. Capt
Bell was shot through the head th
ball entered the temple. Everything
quiet and sad at Loreaaville. The dea
were all buried yesterday.
To-day there are a great many vii
Ramors ataoat about negroes gatkerin
Z in the country to come to New Iberia
take their leaders from Jail, but ther
s, is no foundation to any of them, an
! no attention is paid to it. Some rumol
Z have it that the Fausse Poiut penpl
are about to rise up in large number
! and take the prisoners from Jail an
: lvnclt tthem. The jail is well guarded
!, and no such trouble is anticipated.
There are twelve prisoners now cor
|, fined as participants in the Loreauvil
!, riot, including the Fonteiieus.
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