Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-08-23
RACE WAR
Thirteen Negroes Slain at Free
town, La in a Fight Over Race
Troubles e. ~
One White Man Kllled-A Kansas City
Architect Murderously and Myster-
iOusly Assaulted.
Intoxicated Norwsgians Have Stabbing
Affray-Incendiarism and Murder
Jealous Tragedies.

NEW IBEkIA, La, Aug. 1s.-Thursday
demand was made by the respectable white
element of the county that the disreputa-
BILE class of negroes who had gathered and
armed themselves at Freetown should lay
down their arms and dispense The lead
ing negroes were in a certain house and
the whites gave them twenty minutes to
surrender. Before the time was up the ne
groes burst out of the house and began fir
ing, the first volley wounding a horse.
The firing then became general when the
negroes again shut themselves up in the
house and fired from the windows. The
whites returned the fire and the shooting
lasted an hour and a half. At the end Of
this time E. r. Smith made dash for the
house and was shot dead while forcing in
the door. Only one man had the courage
or foolhardiness to accompany Smith in
his attack. This man escaped and retreat
ed. The negroes then became frightened
and fed from the house and thirteen were
killed, eight in the house and five outside.
Some accounts say three or four more.
were killed. None of the negroes escaped
except those who surrendered be-
fore the fight. The better ele-
ment of this and neighboring par
ishes had found it impossible longer
to tolerate the idle and immoral charac-
tiers, and so had ordered them away from
the various places. Many had found
refuge at Freetown, q small village COM
posed entirely of negro families. There
they told their stories to their friends and
nursed their growing anger. On Mon
day last reports reached this place
that the negroes were arming and con-
gregating at Freetown. Their number
was estimated at from 500 to 600 mounted
men. On Tuesday they were REIN
forced sufficiently to double their number.
On Thursday matters had not improved
up to noon. Then the residents and prop
erty owners of this section collected and
rode into Freetown and found, as rumored,
a large number of armed negroes quar-
tered there. They demanded the surren-
der of the negroes arms, promising that
when they learned to behave themselves
the arms would be returned. A great ma
jority of them accepted the terms. The
arms were loaded with ball or buckshot.
MURDERoUS ASSAULT.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Aug. 1S.-A murder
Gus assault was made about 3: 80 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon upon A. II. Ramsden,
the architect, in his Office in Gibraltar
building, near Ninth and Wyandotte
streets, by some unknown party. A young
man, named Wicks, who is employed in
the office as draughtsman, heard a sound
like falling body in Mr.. Ramsden's pri-
Vate office, and Fastening in found Rams
den lying PROSTATE on the floor, his head
and shoulders inside of the contractors
room adjoining. Blood was gushing forth
from an ugly wound on the right side of the
head, forming a red pool around the
threshold. Near him was lying a sample
pressed brick, telling the tale of how the
bloody deed was committed. The wound
proved to be serious fracture of the skull
just above the right ear, a large piece of
the bone being broken and pressed down
on the lobe of the brain at the base.
Several of the arteries were severed by the
broken bone, causing profuse bleeding.
Ramsden was unconscious this morning,
but some hopes existed of his recovery.
Ex-JUDGE MALTREATED.
WICHITA, Kan, Aug. 1S.-Bill McCully,
a desperate character, Thursday at Con-
way Springs beat ex-Probate Judge Monet
over the head with a revolver. He was
found yesterday by Constable John F.
Casey and posse of fifteen men twelve
miles northeast of Conway Springs after
long hunt. When the parties were about
forty yards from the dugout McCully or
dered them to stop and on their failure to
do SO promptly fired at them, but hit no
one. They ordered him to surrender but
he declared he would not. After discuss
ing the matter for a while one man was
dispatched to Conway to notify the sheriff
of Summer County at Wellington. Before
the answer arrived McCully agreed to sur
render on the assurance of protection.
Judge Monett is reported quite low.
DRIVEN INSANE BY JEALOUSY.
KALAMAZOO, Mich, Aug. 1S.-Last even
ing James O'Brien became Infatuated at
his sweetheart, Jennie Smith, probably
through jealousy, and went to her home.
but did not find her there, but threatened
to kill her when he did find her. After
leaving the house he saw her riding and
Immediately stopped the horse, pulled
her out of the buggy, and, dragging her
to the house, choked, kicked and pounded
her with a poker in a terrible manner.
She will probably die. O'Brien is in Jail.
WHISKY FLOWED.
OTTAWA, Ill, Aug. 1S.-At Prairie Center
last night dance was given by a number
of Norwegians. Whisky flowed freely and
all were more OF less intoxicated. Also at
midnight two young men got into a fight
over partner for a dance, and one of
them was stabbed. The men present took
sides and revolvers and knives were used
freely. Eight are reported either shot or
stabbed, four of whom may die.
INcEEDIARIsM AND MURDER
CHARLESTON, w. Va, Aug. 1S-The
boarding house of Charles Lynch and sew
eral other buildings were burned this
morning and Simon Wallace and his moth
er were burned to death. Robbery, muir
der and arson is suspected.
LOVE TRAGEDY.
REEDsBURY, Wis, Aug. 1S.-At Wood
land, near here, to-day George Moon, aged
twenty, killed Jennie WoIver and blew his
brains out. 1t is supposed that the tragedy
was caused by the promise of the girl TO
marry another.