Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-11-05
FIGHTING In LOUISIANA.

NEW ORLEANS, November 2.-The eX-
citing canvass IN the Third Congressional
district of this State culminated yesterday
in a serious rios at Loreauville, or Tausse
Pointe, on Bayou Teche. about Is miles
above New iberia. The contest liz this dis
trict is between Kellogg, Republican, and
GAY, Democrat. This district has hitherto
been Republican by a large majority, but
the desertion oflarge numbers OF negroes to
Cav rendered it very doubtful. There has
been much bitterness in the campaign from
the start. Three or four days ago color
ed man named Gray, one of the Gay leaders,
was killed at Grand Caillan by kellogg col
ored men. This still further inf1 tmed the
public sentiment of this district
1t will be remembered that in Iberia both
the Democratic and Republican candidates
for the judgeship claimed to be elected in
the State election of last April. The con-
test continued up to within very recent
period, and was so serious that it became
necessary for Gov. McEnery to send large
force of militia there to prevent conflict
between the Democrats and epublicans.-
The Republican canvass in New Iberia had
been confided to Judge Theodore FOntelieu,
a very prominent and popular Creole, and
the candidate for the district judgeship over
which the late contest occurred
Yesterday morning Judge Fontelicu, with
eight or ten prominent Republicans of New
Iberia, rode over to Loreauville, or Tausse
Pointe, to hold meeting in the interest OF
Kellogg. While this meeting was in order,
aud one of the speakers was addressing it,
there were loud shouts of 'Gay p 'Gay r'
which almost drowned his voice. These
interruptions caused considerable i'll feel
ing, and in the midst Of them row was be-
gun. The first shot is said to have come
from Republican, who fired at Joe Gull
foux a white Democrat. Nearly all the
crowd, both Democrats and Republicans,
had gone to the meeting armed. The first
shot was followed by nearly thousand,
and regular battle ensued, fusilade fol
lowing fusilade.
When, finally, the smoke cleared away
the battle field was found covered with dead
and wounded There were over dozer
dead horses lying on the ground, as many
of the audience had come to the meeting or
horseback. The dead were Guilfoux, a
leading Gay man, and against whom the
first shot was fred Captain Bell, promi
nent sugar-planter of The parish; Oliver
Boutte, a colored Republican, one of the
party which came from New Iberia with
Fontelieu to organize the meeting, and six
other colored men. The wounded number
over twenty T. Viator, the late sheriff Of
the parish and the leading figure in the late
contest for office, was shot twice in the
abdomen, and will die. Jules Mestayer,
the Republican candidate for sheriff, haC
his thigh broken and is seriously injured.
AS soon as the contest was over courier
was dispatched to New Iberia to give in
formation of the fight and call for posse
The excitement in New Iberia over the news
was intense, and it was feared for a while
that the two parties would come together
there. In order to prevent any trouble
Mayor Broseaux issued an order closing all
the saloons in the town. In the meanwhile
the sheriff organized posse of fifty or sew
enty-fve men, who left, armed with rifles
and double barrel shot guns, for the scene
of the trouble. A number of arrests were
made, among them Judge Theodore Fonte-
lieu, Adolph Fontelieu, L. Fontelieu and
Adolph Brenieme-all Republicans-whC
were charged with instigating and melting
the riot. They were brought to New Iberia
under heavy guard and placed in the parish
Jail.
The Republicans claim that the meeting
was broken up by armed Democrats, who
fired at the speakers and into the assembled
Republicans Eight men were killed and
wounded. They say all the Republican
speakers were arrested by the local militia
and committed to Jail without authority Of
law. Intense excitement prevails in the
parish.
LATER FROM THE SEAT OF wAR-A FATAL
FIGHT PREcIPITATED BY REPUBLICAN
THUGS.
Nl,oC 10
NEW ORLEANS, November "a special
to the Picayune from New Iberia says
About 200 Republicans, principally negroes,
entered Loreauville little after one O'Clock
Saturday afternoon, cheering in the widest
manner and using profane and obscene Ian.
guage in the greatest profusion. The crowd
was headed by ex-Sheriff Viator, and they
abused the Democratic candidate in the
vilest terms. The most reliable and impair
tial witnesses agree that few of the citizens
of Loreauville, not over fifteen, led by Joe
Guilfoux, met this crowd of Kelloggites and
demonstrated with them, when some un-
known party fred on Guilfoux. The as
sault was very unexpected On the part of the
Democrats, and before they could rally
GifOux and Capt. Bell had fallen. The
| latter's revolver was taken from the body
it had not been discharged. As soon as the
shooting commenced there was the greatest
confusion and the negroes scattered in ev.
cry direction. 1t is very probable that
many Of the balls of the Kelloggites found
victims in their own ranks when the negroes
stampeded They left their wounded to
care for themselves.
Firing was quite general, land many were
wounded and some killed who were not aim
ed at. Fig horses were killed at the scene
of the fight, and one was found dead mile
away. Some of the wounded negroes start
ed to run, deserving their horses, and ran
until they fell from exhaustion. 1t is re
ported that some of them ran into a BAYOU
where they were drowned. Others reached
the opposite shore and continued thei
flight
The panic among the negroes was terri
BILE. They had been told SO many wilC
stories about the Democrats that thew yeril,
believed the day of doom had come. The
finding of fallen negroes at some distance
from the battlefield caused the rumor tina
the negroes had been followed and sho
down wherever found. 1t is positively stat
ed by the participants that this is false. N,
shots were fired off the field, nor were an,
OF the negroes pursued by anyone. Severa
parties had balls extracted here and they sa,
their wounds were received in the engage
ment. 1t is stated that one man died fiy
miles below here from wounds received i,
the fight The Democrats surrounded tn
Republican leaders and took them prison
erS.
! Coroner Maville went to Loreauville t.
view the remains of Gilfoux and Bell, bu
took no testimony. He will complete hi
task to-day. He says that as far as he cal
learn there must have been at least fourteen
or sixteen negroes killed. Many wer
wounded. The Radicals have been wavin,
the bloody shirt here for a long time, an,
at last they have got it stained. Unite,
States Deputy Marshal Steel is very ener
getic in his efforts to get the prisoners on
of Jail, but SO far he has failed. Judg
Fontelieu held a meeting here last Wednes
day when the Gay party were in Loreau
vile, and those who were present say tn
speeches were nothing but series of vii
SANDER. and abuse. The meeting, whicl
was secret, lasted until very late at night
Very few whites were present.
ROANOKE, Va, October 31.-To-day
about O'Clock, Mr.. Daniel G.. Kiser, Q
the firm Of Bonsack & Kiser, prosperou
merchants, at Bonsacks, rode out on hi