The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-08-23
RACE WAR
Thirteen People Reported Killed IN
Louisiana
Regulators Surround . Cabin FILLED with
Colored People, and Amer = sharp
Fight Assault and Capture
the Premises.

NEW ORLEANs, Aug. 17.-On the 18th 70.
ports reached New iberia that the blacks
were arming and congregating at Free
town. Their number was estimated at
from five hundred to six hundred strong,
mounted. Tuesday they had received re.
endorsements sufficient to fully double their
numbers, and feeling their strength they
assumed a threatening attitude, boldly de.
claring that the refugees should not leave
tho parish and should not bc molested. On
Wednesday the members were further in.
creased, and the people Of the surrounding
country began TO feel some alarm lost those
colored men overestimating their strength,
should attempt some deeds Of violence.
On Thursday matters had not improved
up to noon. BY this time the resi-.
dents and property -owners Of that section
began to collect at point short distance
from Freetown, their object being TO dis.
perse the crowd without violence, and 10
send those who did not belong there 70
their homes and business. The citizens
rode into Freetown, and found, as rumored,
a large number Of armed colored men
quartered thore. They asked its meaning,
and they were silent. They then demand.
ed a surrender of tho .colored mems arms,
behave themselves they would be returned,
and that thoy should at once disperse.
The great majority Of tho colored mon &C.
copied the terms Of the party and surren.
dered their arms, which were found, with.
out exception, to bc loaded with ball or
buckshot Rev. II. Mora, colorcd minis.
ter, left Freetown in the morning to at.
tend conference Of ministers at Now
iberia, and during his ahsonoo his resi-.
denco was takon possession of by mum.
ber Of armed forces. Those In that house
refused to surrender, returning word that
they were not to be taken. Tho whites
then sent second messenger to the house,
saying they would give the inmates TWEEN.
ty minutes in which to lay down their
weapons. They agnir refused. In this
house, situated but short distance
frou, the main road or street, werc quar-.
tered some twelve or fifteen colored men,
among the number their leader. A squad
Of mounted white citizens were one hun.
dred and fifty yards from tho house, wait.
ing the expiration Of the twenty minutes,
and before tho given timo had expired Q
dsor Of the house was thrown open and Q
vollcy fired at them. Ono horse was
wounded. This was a surprise to all, and
Immediately the firing became general.
The door Of tho house was again closed,
but u constant fire was kept up from win.
dows and doors partly open for quite an
interval. Later tho fire WIS carried
on by spurts by both sides, lasting In all
for nearly an hour and a half. At this
time Mr.. Smith broke from his limos and
made for the house. His comrades implored
him to return, but, dcaf to thoir entreoties,
he went on. The house was reached, the
door was forced and no foil. At his side
was q comrade who had followed him on
his fatal srrand, but when Mr.. Smith fell
his comrade retrcated backward, keeping
up constant fire from repeating rife,
apd escaped unhurt. At this stage Of
the fight the ncgroes became panio-
stricken and attempted to fee from the
house, and tho deadly erk was soon
brought to close. After the fight closed
the bodies Of eight colored men were found
In the house, and five others outside.
Others say three or four more were killed.