The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-11-13
FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
Horrible Carnage at a Political
Gathering In Lou
isiana
Sixteen Men Shot Dead, and 4 Large
Number Of Others Seriously
Wounded.
New Orleans telcpram.l

fNCW oAiSauS lSiSkhaniJ
There was Republican meeting al Fautsc
Point, . small village near the towfi bs Iberia,
Iberia Parish, Oh Saturday. The place Is located
On the bank Of fayou Teche. IL dotted with canc-
brakes, and the low lands make it the home
principally of negroes Of the poorer and harder
GLASSES. These were the people who were hold
Ing the meeting on Saturday Their speakers
one or two colored politicians from Louisville.
The speeches were Iarticularly bitter and tho
speakers laid great emphasis on their experiences
took the Court House by force and
turned the administration over to the
Democracy. The result of the speeches was
the Republican faith were furious in their pas
sions. As the meeting about to close some
colored Democrats came MP and began to discuss
ont IN groups from the place ut which the
meeting had been held. In one OF these groups
the discus sion had grown into desperate quar-
when Joe Gilfonx, white Democrat, stepped
into the crowd and took a hand In the dis
cussion. He was prominent character In the
increased the indignation OF the Republic
ans. Epithets came quick, and Gilfaux
had been In the crowd but moment when q
fired from sto IN his ockes and the
responded to the attack by drawing q gun, ana
had fired one harmls 81 shot when he received
fatal wound He fell dead in his tracks. and his
death was the signal for quick and furious at
tack. number Of Democratic politicians
whose presence had not been observed, rushed
suddenly t. the scene. and, commanding their
derous voley into the crowd OF negroes.
Many, OF the latter fell. some dead 9TH
ers dangerously wounded, and many more
many Of the men who were at the meet
ing, and In approaching the scene of
the quarrel they were forced to come M on the
side OF the Republicans and were exposed TO tho
fatal vollcy. The spectacle OF the dead and
dying had confusing effect. Many Of the
negroes were stampeded and ran like wild men
fright was uncomfortable fed into Bayou Techc
and were drowned. Some OF the wounded CT pit
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 demoniac inspiration,
| pistols and others knives and clubs,
they rushed upon the Democrats. A
furious hand-to-hand battle cnsued. Neither
until their weapons had been rendered useless.
and then they drew of suilenly. and with threats
| and jeers tainted even the dying of their enc
| mics.
The battle subsidized as quietly as it began. al
though more than 900 shots were fred and
MANY knives were stained with blood before
/! the fray was over. After the ccmbatants separ.
ated each left the scene. The dead and wounded
were uncRred for. The Democrats went to New
Iberia: the Republicans to Loreauyille. In the
minister to the injured ana carry Z OF the dead,
but they attended only to those who lay In the
road where the bate had occurred.
An ambassador notified Coroner Manyille of
| the ARRAY, and he visited the scene He re-
turned to-day, and gives the following version,
- cleaned from the Democratic survivors:
There are sixteen negroes dead and two white
men. / have ordered jury, and will hold the
| inquest tomorrow. All in the fight when it
| began say that the first shot came from negro.
| who fired at Joe GilTOux from his coat pocket.
| GilfOux and another Democrat named Bell
| were killed instantly. and from the first vol
| ley. The pistols taken from their bodies show
| that they had not fired . shot when they
| fell. 1t Is not known how many were killed,
but 1t Ia certain there were sixteen, prob
| ably twenty. Nearly all those killed re-
| ceivcd wounds from stray shots 1t was re-
| ported that the white Republicans present wore
breastplates Judge Fontelieu's clothing was
full Of bullet holes. but his skin untouched.
| Capt Bell was buried to-day at st. Martinsvile.
| Bell and Gilfoux We're two OF Fausse Points
| most respected citizens. Their friends present,
| six or eight men. were 40 infuriated that they
went into the battle regardless OF everything,
| and fought bravely. A great many negroes
| stood and fought until they emptied their pis-
| tolls. A majority, however. stampeded. Hun
| dreds Of them jumped into the bayou. and some
| being wor nded 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
bruisc.