The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-08-19
FATAL FEUD.
Desperate Battle BetweenWhite
Men and Half Breeds.
The Red Bones" Gang Defeated
With Severe Loss.

A dispatch from Lake Charles, La, says:
Full details of the bloody tragedy at Locke,
Moore & Co.'s tram, twenty-five miles from
here, are at last obtainable. It appears
to be somewhat Of race war in
that the strife was between whites
and number of thriftless half
breeds who are called ''Red Bones" A few
days ago Mr.. Morris make remark to an
employe, ''Where are those 'Red Bones who
were to drive this wagon?" His remark was
evidently overheard, for the next night his
house was surrounded by an angry mob,
headed by Andrew Asworth, who ordered
him to come out and be whipped. This he re-
fused to do: By strategy he succeeded in
holding the fort all night In the morning
he was notified that he must leave the coun-
try before the sun went down or he would
be assassinated. he at once communicated
the news of these threats to the white people
of the settlement, and they guaranteed him
full protection.
The next morning party Of white men
went down to little store mile and half
from the mill to get some whisky. On arrival
there they found a party OF "Red Bones,
who asked them if they had come for the
q quarrel. The white men told them that
they were on no hostile mission, but they
had come to get some whisky. While this
talk on the outside was going on, Jesse Dy-
son, the leader Of the "Red Bones" and as
desperate a character as ever graced the
border, came out of Lacomb's saloon OF store
and declared himself able to clear out the
whole party. He at once drew out his six
shooter, but hardly had it leveled before
Jesse Ward, one Of the whites, sent bullet
crashing through his brain and he fell dead;
hot hoyan
Ward fell mortally wounded, being shot
from behind. For few moments it sounded
as though a musketp4 fire was going on.
Winchester rifles and six-shooters were
pnei as rapidly as those holding
them could fire, and though greatly
outnumbered the whites, succeeded In rout.
ing their opponents after Staying five OF
them. Four of the dead fell in their tracks,
literally shot to pieces, while one lived long
enough to scrawl to cabin, where he died
at the door.
Dupree Lacomb, the saloon man, was shot
through the leg and his son wounded. "Red
Bones'sn party ran his wife and younger chill
dren out of the house into the woods, hr-
ing on them, but they fortunately escaped.
When the smoke Of battle had cleared away
the following were found dead: Jessie
Dyson, Lee Perkins, Andrew Asworth, owen
Asworth, Marion Merkle. all Red Bones.
But this did not end the trouble for the
Red Bones took to the bushes which is in
places we'll nigh impenetrable, and from am
bush they shot at passers-by. T. 7. Swami,
an old man who was on his way to the seat
of war to ascertain the trouble, was shot
from ambush and killed.
When the Sherif"s posse arrived with the
Coroner they met with resistance, and failed
to capture any of the Red Bones men.
Three of the white men have been arrested
and are in Jail. The half breeds are in the
brush. and the officers dare not pursue
them for fear Of being shot from
ambush.