Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-04-23
NEGRO BALLOTS
Cause Of Serious Riot at Opelou.
Sas, Louisiana.
One WARD DECIDES THE PARISH
Cwo Hundred Regulators Armed With
Winchesters Assemble, Threat
ening the Invasion of
the Town.


Opelousas, La, April 81 The strug-
gle over the question Of negro ballots
has reached crisis tonight. Two hum
dred armed and mounted men sur
round this place with the svowed pur-
pose of taking the town. while almost
as many are camped about the court
mouse determined to resist. Bloodshed
can hardly be averted tomorrow. and
already in the exchange of shots a man
IS said to have been killed.
Opelousas, La, April pat this
hour 6 p.m.,) 500 men Of both parties
are now on the move and desperate
conflict is expected at any time. over
250 regulars armed with Winchesters
have surrounded the town and their os-
tensible object is to capture the couri
house. On the vote of the Pelousas
ward depends their success or defeat
in the parish and they are concentrate
ing their efforts here. They realize
that if full vote is polled the combine
will win.
The report came to OpeIaousas early
this morning that the regulars were as
sembling at the Belleview bridge, three
miles south of town. At 10 o'clock ar
rivals from the country reported that
200 men on horseback and armed with
Winchesters, shotguns and pistols were
gathered there and were planning an
invasion of the town. Upon the re-
port Of this news, the combined people,
or anti-regu1ars. began to assemble
around the court house square, armed
to the teeth and prepared to resist the
m n
when the news first arrived, but he did
not attempt to go and disband the arm
ed body Of men. District Judge w. G
Perrault rode out to the camp Of the
regulators and endeavored by persua
sion to get them to disband. but his eff
forts availed nothing.
This afternoon Diomedes Durio lea
ing planter; G. M. Thompson, clerk OF
the district court, and five or six OF
their friends were in front of Durio's
house.
II was under a tree with my children
near me,',s said Mr.. Durio. Suddenly
thirty regulators, led by one Reed, pass.
ed my house. They stopped behind s
clump of trees and I went out in the
field to see what they were doing
When near them they fred six shots al
me. My friends came to my assistance
and we returned ten or twelve shots
We then laid down and the regula tors
fired fully fifty shots at us, shooting
my horse in two places. Half of them
then ran away. The others remained
behind in a group and appeared to be
helping someone on a horse. 1 don't
know whether we hurt any of them or
not. We sent word to town for rein
forcements but when the boys came the
regulators were GU tot sight
Mr.. Thompson corroborated Mr.. Du-
rios story.
T fc r1IT1 hot LOT
were shot and one killed. At this hour
it is impossible to verify the rumor.
Later-It is now stated positively
that one regulator-Alice Reed-was
killed and another mortally wounded
in the skirmish at Durios, three miles
from here, this morning.
At II 80 o'clock tonight the town is
quiet. Armed squads are on duty at
every road entering the place and the
court is perfect arsenal The Wash
ington boys, thirty strong, who came
down to fight with the citizens against
the regulators. have hurried home. a
courier brings the news that Washing
ton is being surrounded and that the
regulators are creating CONSERVATION
among the inhabitants OF Bellair cave.
All day long there has not been a state
or parish officer, not even a constable
in town.
1t is impossible for a town to be In a
that the regulators will not come into
town until morning.
There are $50 armed men waiting fo1
them. The district attorney has sent IN
word that his regulators Will enter town
tomorrow and that he has twenty Win
chesters at his back to say no negro
shall vote"
If ever a situation demanded the
presence of militia the situation in this
city demands it. The anti-regulators
eTeclare they will hold the court house
If its halls run with blood. The regu.
lators have moved back mile or two in
the country from King Bridge
The trouble in Opelousas grew out OF
an effort on the part Of the white Dem
ocrats to prevent registra ton of the
degrees. a military company was sent
here and the negroes an registered
They are in the ma tority and the move
ment of the regulators or white su.
premacy crowd now is intended to pre-
vent the negroes from voting tomor.
row.
A1TONt. DFH0CRATS