The morning call., 1891-05-11
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Death of Three Innocent Men
Demanded by o Mob.
They viii Make No More Trips Through the
Blossoming Prairies of Southwestern
Louisiana.

F. Huber, j. Dick and P. Livaudais have
just returned to their homes in the upper
portion of this city from Rayne, La, after
having passed through at that place one of
the most exciting periods of their youthful
lives.
These young fellows, who are all hard
workers and members Of respectable fami-
lies of the Sixth District, recently conceived
the idea of going to Galveston, Tex, to OBJ
tain employment. They boarded a train
of the Southern Pacific Railroad and went as
far as Lafayette. AS their finances were low,
and food had to be obtained, they concluded
TO walk a part of the distance, says the
New Orleans Times-DemOerat Following
the track of the Louisiana Western road on
Friday evening last about dusk they reached
Duson, small station several Elies east OF
Rayne. At this place they halted, pur-
chased refreshments of stOre-keeper by the
name of j. G. Bertrand. and also asked per-
mission to remain over night, which was
granted
The following morning they continued
their Journey, arriving at Rayne about noon.
On entering the town the Sheriff Of Aca-
dia parish and Town Marshal Win erly
approached the young men, telling them
they were under arrest and had to go TO Jail.
There they learned that Edgar BarrOuse.
merchant of Plaquemine Brulee, had had
$1,000 distracted, and that they were
charged with the crime. Mortified, the
young men protested their Innocence, but to
no avail. With great rapidly the news
spread throughout the neighboring country
that the robbers had been captured. Angry
men, armed with guns and pistols, mounted
upon creole ponies, came galloping into
town uttering wild threats of lynching.
Still they came, big, Swapping fellows, with
great, broad sOmbreros and heavy boots,
some twirling hemp ropes and shouting at
the top of their voices "Hang de TascalSl
Do 'em lax dey do de DagO in New Orleans.
String EN- up"
The young men in the Jail, although per-
fectly innocent, were frightened almost out
of their wits, gave up all hope and began to
pray as they listened to the Infatuated mob
of Acadians bowling outside.
AS the minutes wore away the crowd that
swarmed about the Jail was constantly be-
ing increased by scores Of horsemen who
hurried rapidly into town, until nearly a
thousand frenzed souls were gathered
there.
MIR. Huber, who is an intelligent young
fellow ard one possessed of considerable
nerve, relates thrilling account of the
affair and declares the awful agony through
which he and his companions passed that
eventful evening can never be b1Otted from
his memory.
He says that while the mob outside were
shrieking like wild men for the lives of him.
self and friends he thought of Bertrand,
the merchant at Dus0n, at whose place he
slept on the night of the robbery. He inn
pl0red the Sheriff to send for Bertrand, so
that an alib could be proven. Several hours
of torture passed before Bertrand could be
procured. as it appeared that nothing could
appease the wrath of the wild Acadians but
blood. During this time tall, gaunt Speci-
men of the prairie, who seemed TO be
leader, pushed the door of the rude Jail
\ Il. thn ahad foaa 0F
the prisoners, rolled his eyes, smacked his
lips, and, addressing the crowd outside.
cried in an outlandsh tone of voice.
"By Gawd, boys, yer heaut he'd much fun
Wit, is yerP But, by Gawd, boys, yer goin'
ter hev some pOoty soon. We're goin' ter
heV er lynchin bee.
These remarks increased the fury of the
mob and the excitement grew wilder, some
of the men attempting to jump through the
frail windows of the Jail and get at the ter
ror-stricken lads. Al this juncture a cloud
Of dust was seen rising In the road and
hack containing Mr.. Bertrand rapidly rolled
up. The merchants features contracted
when he saw the young fellows and real
lied the awful predicament in which they
we're placed Gentlemen" he said, turn
ing toward the officers of the law, "these
boys are innocent. swear positively that
thew were at my place at Dus0n Station on
Friday night when MI BarrouSe's safe was
blown OPEN" MIR. Bertrand is well known
throughout the country, and his words
were readily accepted as evidence The
Sheriff. Town Marshal and others, who
were then thoroughly convinced of the in
nocence of Huber and his mpanions, en-
deavored to disperse the vast concourse of
Acadians, and, after much explanation sue
ceeded in urging great number to depart
quietly homeward.
An hour elapsed before the majority of
the would-be lynchers left the place, and
there still remained nearly hundred ex-
cited men when Huber and his COMPANION
were released. Under the protection OF
deputy sheriifs they were escorted several
miles beyond the outskirts of Rayne. They
then made hasty strides to Lafayette,
boarded the train there and returned to
their homes In this city.
Huber, Dick and Livaudais are well
known In the Sixth District, and are con-
sldered honest boys by all their friends.
The acquaintance of the families declare
they were thunderStruck en- hearing of the
startling occurrence.
The young fellows ara profuse In their
thanks to Mr. Bertrapd for establishing
their innocence, and state that New Orleans
is good enough for them now, and that they
desire no more trips through the blossom
ing praifes of Southwestern Louisiana.