The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-11-07
RIOT IN LOUISIANA.

Fatal Collision of Bitter Partisans at a
Rally Near New Iberia, La.-Negroes and
Whites Engage in an ARRAY Which Ends
in Horrible Carnage-Kniyes Freely Used
and Over 1000 Shots Fired-Many Killed
and Wounded.
New ORLEANS, La, Nov. 3.-There was
Republican meeting at Fansse Point
small village near the town of Iberia,
Iberia Parish, on Saturday. The place is
located on the bank of Bayou Teche, is dot
ted with cane-brakes and the low lands
make it the home principally of negroes of
the poorer and harder classes. These were
the people who were holding the meeting
on Saturday. The speeches were particu
larry bitter and the speakers laid great
emphasis on their experience of last
summer. The result Of the incendiary
character of the speeches was that the
negroes became agitated, and those of the
Republican faith were furious in their pas
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 quarrel and the men
were dividing for a battle when Joe Gil
faux, white Democrat, stepped into tho
| crowd and took q hand in the discussion.
He was a prominent character in the
! quarrel of last summer, and his presence
increased the Indignation of the Re-
publicans. Epithets came quick and Gil
faux had been in the crowd but moment
when a 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 fired one harmless
| shot when he received fatal wound. He
| fell dead in his tracks, and his death was
the signal for quick and furious attack.
| A number of Democratic politicians rushed
| suddenly to the scene and command
| ing their friends to form line
| they at once sent a murderous vol
| ley into the crowd of negroes. Many of
the latter fell, some dead, others danger
ously wounded, and many more OF less
hurt The shots had attracted many Of the
men who were at the meeting, and in APP
| preaching the scene of the quarrel they were
forced to come up on the side of the Repub-
| licans and were exposed to the fatal volley.
/ The spectacle OF the dead and dying had a
confusing effect. Many of the negroes were
Stampeded and ran like wild men into the
| gladeS and cane-brakes 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 the dead and bleeding comrades
was ! demOniac inspiration, and drawing
| such weapons as they had some pistols
and others knives and clubs, they rushed
| upon the Democrats A 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 off sullenly, and
| with threats and jeers tainted even the
! dying Of their enemies.
| The battle subsidized as quietly as it began,
| although more than 1000 shots were fred
and many knives were stained with blood
before the fray was over. After the COM
| batants separated each left the scene. The
deaG a,ul wounded were nncared for The
| Democrats went to New Iberia; the Repub-
licans to L0reauville, In the course of hall
| an hour truce party returned to minister
to the injured and carry Off the dead, but
they attended only to those who lay in the
road where the battle had occurred.
1t is known that six negroes and two
whites were the total Of those killed.