The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-18
NEW IBERIA'S RACE WAR
A DOZEN OR MORE BLACK BUCKS
FILLED WITH LEAD.

Their Corpses Found Within and
Without q Clergymen's House They
Had Turned Into Fort-The Firing
Begun by the Negroes While the
Whites Were Awaiting a Surrender.
New ORLEANS, Aug. IA dispatch
from New Iberia says
Z. p Smith was buried to-day with mill
tary and civic honors The trouble of yes
terday grew out of a spirit of revenge on
the part of the negroes The better element
of this and neighboring parishes had found
it impossible longer to tolerate a certain
class of idle and immoral characters, and
had ordered them away from various
places. Many found refuge at Freetown, a
small village composed entirely of negro
families. There they told their stories to
their friends and nursed their anger.
TAKING UP ARMS.
On Monday last reports reached this
place that the negroes were armlng and
congregating at Freetown.
Their number was estimated at from 500.to
900 mounted men. On Tuesday they were re-
inforced sufficiently to double their number.
Feeling their strength they assumed
threatening attitude, boldly declaring that
the refugees should not leave the parish and
should not be molested.
On Wednesday the number of armed ne
groes was further increased and the people
of the surrounding country began to feel
some alarm lest these negroes, overestimat-
ing their strength, might attempt some act
of violence
On Thursday matters had not improved
up to noon.
RALLY OF THE WHITES.
By this time the residents and property
owners of this section began to collect at
points a short distance from Froetown,
their object beiug to disperse the negroes
without violence and to send those who did
not belong there to their homes The citi-
zens rode into Freetown and found, as
rumored, large number of
armed negroes quartered there.
They asked the meaning Of this
and the negroes were silent. They de-
manded the surrender of the negroes arms,
promising that when they learned to be-
have themselves the arms would be re-
turned. The negroes were ordered to dis
perse at once. large majority of them
accepted the terms and surrendered their
arms, which were found, without exception
to be loaded with ball or buckshot.
HOUSE TURNED INTO FORT.
Rev. H. Nora, colored minister, left
Freetown to attend "a conference of minis
ters at New Iberia During his absence his
residence was taken possession of by mum
Der of armed negroes. This house refused
to surrender, returning word that they
were there to be taken. The whites then
sent second messenger to the house saying
that they would give them twenty minutes
| in which to lay down their weapons. The
negroes again refused In this house, sit
uated short distance from the main road
or street about fifteen rods, the negroes
were quartered among their leaders.
FIRING BEGINS.
A squad of mounted white citizens were
some $50 yards away, awaiting the expira-
| ton of twenty minutes. Before the time
was up the door was thrown open and a vol
ley fired at them One horse was wounded
Immediately the firing became general
| The door of the house was closed, but a con-
| stant fire was kept up from the windows
| for quite an interval Later firing was
carrloi on by both sides lasting, in all, for
nearly an hour and a half.
SMITHS FATAL CHARGE.
| At this time L. P. Smith broke from his
| lines and made for the house. His COM
rades implored him to return, but deaf to
| their entreaties he went on to the house
| The door was forced and he fell. AT his
side was a comrade who had followed him
on his fatal errand When Smith fell his
comrade retreated, escaping unhurt At
this stage of the fight the negroes became
panic stricken and attempted TO flee from
the house. The deadly work was then soon
| brought to a close.
FIFTEEN OR TWENTY DEAD BUCKS.
When the fight was over the bodies OF
eight negroes were found in the house, and
| five Others were found outside. 1t is re-
ported that three or four more were killed.
| 1t is thought by some that q few made
their escape, but others who we're at the
scene deny this.
A coroner'S jury was impanelled and pro-
ceeded to Freetown to view the remains Of
the negroes They returned tonight, hav
lug deferred the taking of testimony until
a later day. The negroes who surrendered
were not harmed in any way.
PARNELL TO STICK 1T OUT.