The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-08-23
RACE WAR.
Thirteen People Reported Killed IN
Louisiana
Regulators Surround Cabin FIiled with
Colorcd People, and After n sharp
Fight Assault and Capture
the Premises.

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. lion the 18th re-
ports reached New iberia that the blacks
were arming aad congregating ut Free
town. Their number was estimated at
from FIVE hundred TO six hundred strong,
mounted. Tuesday they had received re-
endorsements sufficientto fully double their
numbers, and feeling their strength they
assumed threatening attitude, boldly de-
claring that the refugees should not leave
the parish and should not be molested. On
Wednesday the members were further in
creased, and the people Of the surrounding
country began to feel somo alarm lest these
colored mon 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 a short distance
from Freetown, their object being to dis
perse the crowd without violence, and to
send those who did not belong there TO
their homes and business. The citizens
rode into Freetown, and found, as rumored,
a large number Of armed colored men
quartered there. They asked Its meaning,
and they were silent. They then demand
ed surrender of the colored mems arms,
with the promise that when they learned to
behave themselves they would be returned,
and that they should at once disperse.
The great majority Of the colored men ac-
cepted the terms OF the party and surren-
dered their arms, which were found, with
out exception, to be loaded with ball or
buckshot. Rev. II. Mora, colored minis
ter, left Freetown in the morning TO at
tend conference OF ministers at New
Iberia, and during his absence his resi-
dence was taken possession Of by num-
Der Of armed forces. Those In that house
refused to surrender, returning word that
they were not to be taken. The whites
then sent a second messenger TO the house,
saying they would give the inmates twen-
ty minutes in which to lay down their
weapons. They again refused. In this
house, situated but short distance
from tho main road or street, were quar-
tered some twelve or fifteen colored mon,
among the number their leader. A squad
Of mounted white citizens were one hum
dred and fifty yards from the house, watt
ing tho expiration of the twenty minutes,
and before the given time had expired q
door OF the house was thrown open and a
rolley fred at them. One horse was
wounded. This was a surprise to all, and
Immediately the firing became general.
The door Of the house was again closed,
but a constant fire was kept up from win
dows and doors partly open for quite an
interval. Later the fire was carried
on by spurts by both sides, lasting in all
for nearly an hour and half. At this
time Mr.. Smith broke from his lines and
made for the house. His comrades implored
him to return, but, deaf to their entreaties,
he went on. The house was reached, the
door was forced and he fell. At his side
was comrade who had followed him on
his fatal errand, but when Mr.. Smith fell
his comrade retreated backward, keeping
up constant fire from a repeating rifle,
and escaped unhurt. At this stage Of
the fight the negroes became panic.
stricken and attempted to fee from the
house, and the deadly ork was soor
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 moro were killed