St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-02-20
they believed was taking place; neither

they believed was taking place; neither
did they propose that their homes
should be ravished and they make no
effort to defend them.
1t was finally agreed that Hemming
way, johnson and those who were with
them should hurry across country to a
point in the road about a mile away,
over which the Marshal and his crowd
must pass while the friend who hal
brought the information should quietly
notify others and leave them to follow
or waitssfo report from those who
were in advance, as they thought best,
Hurrying across the fields, this little
| body OF men came out into the road 10y
| which the gang were proceeding, just
;; in advance of the Marshal and his
party, rs they approached the cottage
OF the second victim marked upon their
| list for eviction.
Seeing them, the Marshal halted and
got down from the wagon in which he
was riding. The others did the same
Approaching to within few feet of the
Marshal, Erastus demanded to know if
it were true that they had come to evict
the settlers, and was told that they
had.
'You will not be allowed to do So"
replied Hemingway; I'VE redeemed
these lands from the desert and gave
them all the value they possess. They
belong, to us and we intend to hold
| them.'
The Marshal replied that che was do
ing only what the law and the court re-
quired OF him, but that rather than use
force he would abandon the attempt
But the gang thirsted for blood, and
had been ordered to prevent any aban-
donment of the object for which they
the Marshal issued from his mouth
when the leader of the desperadoes
drew his revolver and fired at Erastus,
thus giving the signal to the others of
the gang, who at once followed his ex-
ample and emptied their revolvers into
the bodies of the innocent and almost
defenseless men in front of them
The first shot was aimed at Hem
mingway's heart and missed it by but
q few inches. The bullet entered his
left breast and passed entirely through
| his body, but though mortally wounded
he succeeded in drawing his own re-
volver. and, firing, killed one of the
desperadoes ON the spot.
One other of the gang was wounded
BY shot fired by johnson, who was
himself instantly killed by the second
volley of the desperadoes. Two others
OF the settlers were killed outright and
three wounded; the latter by shots from
the fowling piece of the leader of the
gang, who fired at them as they fled,
and but for the fact that the horses at
tached to the wagon, in which lay the
villains revolving rifle. took fright and
ran away, not one of them would have
escaped death.
Terror-stricken the bleeding men sped
on in the direction of the picnic grounds,
but had gone but little distance when
they met score of neighbors, who,
having been told the rumor of attempt
ed evictions. had not waited for word
from the first party, but followed on
after, leaving their panic-stricken fam
lilies to hitch up the teams and follow by
the longer way of the road. To these
men the news of the awful tragedy just
enacted was communicated, and por-
ton hurried forward while others re-
turned to find the families of the dead
and wounded men, if perchance they
had not yet left the grounds, and pre-
pare them as best they could for the
worst that could occur.
Meantime the Marshal and his brutal
allies had beat hasty retreat. The
former avoided Hanford and reached
another station, where he took the train
for San Francisco.
The leader of the desperadoes, at
tempting to follow ON after his horses,
was found next day dead by the road
side, bullet through his heart, one
hand clasping bulldog revolver and
the other his double barreled shotgun.
Erastus Hemingway and the other
murdered and dying victims of the con-
spiracy were tenderly lifted from the
ground and carried to their homes.
Lucy, with her mother and two chill
dren-a second child, a girl, having
been born to them-reached home in
advance of those who brought her
wounded husband. They had heard
the most terrible rumors, and were tor
tured by the most horrible fears, but
were in ignorance of what had actually
occurred until men came bearing the
bleeding body with its unconscious face
and laid 1t at their feet. To those who
can not image the agony of these low
ing hearts no description which the
writer could give would convey any
meaning whatever. Erastus lived until
morning. He was unconscious during
the whole time, and died without a
word or look Of recognition of those
about him, while wife and mother and
children poured forth their anguish in
tears and sohs as they watched the