The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-06-06
VOL XWs La,
Trouble in Grant Parish.

Trouble in Grant Parish.
We are informed that the con-
tractors on the Houston, Central
Arkansas and Northern railroad in
Grant parish are having no little
trouble in keeping laborers on their
works. A crowd of about thirty
five negroes, which we mentioned
once before, was run of from the
camps of Mr.. George Webb and
others, by a crowd of armed men.
The contractors were very much
troubled at thus having their bust
ness interrupted, and applied to the
good citizens of Grant for relief.
DR.. Brian and other prominent
citizens came forward and assured
the railroad men that their hands,
if they attended to their own bust
ness, would be troubled no more,
and that the first attack was by a
crowd of boys, who simply wanted
to have some fun at the negroes
expense. The contractors, after
some difficulty, secured another
corps of hands and again resumed
work. Last evening another crowd
of lawless fellows attacked and shot
into the camp, stampeding the
negroes and totally demoralizing
the works The contractors, SO our
informant tells US, cannot hire the
white men and the hoodlums won't
allow the negroes to work. Itseems
that the state of affairs out there
has reached an alarming crisis, and
unless the people of Grant take
immediate steps to arrest and chas-
tise the action of those thoughtless
boys the railroad men will he
forced to apply for State aid
Alexandria Times, May 31st.
The ninety negroes who passed
through here last Saturday en- route
for the works of Hodges and other
contractors on the Houston, Gen.
trail Arkansas and Northern rail-
road we're promptly met by the
citizens and given forty-eight hours
to get out of Grant parish. There
must be something behind all this
that we have not yet ascertained,
causing the people of Grant to take
such bold steps, for indeed, they are
bold to the uniformed public. -
Alexandria Times, June I'd.
The above recitals carry the i'm
preston abroad that q general state
of lawlessness exists in Grant par
ish. This is entirely wrong. From
dilligent inquiry we feel satisfied
that few if any of the citizens of
Grant parish had anything to do
with this affair. About half q
dozen transient hoodlums, and
three or four reckless youngsters,
who are interested in keeping to
themselves all the work on the
were the mob who caused
the trouble. It occurred in the
most sparcely settled region of the
parish, and is no more to be i'm
puted to the citizens of the parish
than any other act of irresponsible
parties is to other communities.
Since writing the above We have
received the following note, show
ing that the whole thing il the re-
suit of competing labor, and savors
very much of such "riots~ in all |
other places:
Editor CeLfax Chronicle
/ see that the Alexandris Times is max |
ing quite sensation over the late labor |
troubles IN the eastern portion of this |
parish. 1t seems that some OF the rail- |
road contractors have discharged their !,
white hands and substituted negroes in |
heir places, because the negroes work 60 !
much cheaper. Some of the discharged |
hands resorted to bulldoxing methods. |
md succeeded in soaring the negroes into |
away from their camps and leav- |
ng the field clear TO them. Nobody has !
been touched or hurt. OF course, it is |
awless, and to be regretted, but the resi- /
lent citizens Of the parish take little or |
10 stock in the affair, and will be found |
'eady and willing to help in keeping the |
peace. Yours truly, CTTIsHH.
We learn that Judge Blsckman
vent into the hills to investigate
he matter last Monday, and from
IN Alexandria Times to hand Just
before going to press, we are glad
% see he reports the whole thing