The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1896-04-24
WAR IN LOUISIANA
OPPOSING POLITICAL FACTIONS MAY
ANNIHILATE EACH OTHER.
Two Hundred and Fifty Men. Armed
with "inchcsters. Surround OPP
elousas and Expect to Capture
the Court House-Their Opponents
Also Arm Themselves and n Con-
fict Is Nomentnrily Expected.

Opelousas, La. April 22,-Five hun
dred men of both parties are on the
move and desperate conflict is OK
pectcd at any time. over 800 regu-
lars armed with WinchcSters have sur
rounded the town ard their ostensi-
bic object is the capture of the court
house. On the vote of the opelousas
ward depends their success or defeat
in the parish and they are eoncen-
trating their efforts here. They real
ize that if a full vote is polled the
combine will win The report came
to Opelousas early this morning that
the regulars were assembling at the
Bellevue road bridge. three miles
south of town Later arrivals from
the country reported that 200 men on
horseback and armed with Winchest-
ers. shotguns and pistols were gath
cred there and planning the invasion
of the town. Upon the receipt of this
news. the combine people. or anti-reg-
ulars began to assemble around the
court house square armed to the teeth
and prepared to resist the invasion.
The sheriff was in town when the
news first arrived but he did not at
tempt to go and disband the armed
ttIN III men. lylSli tt - ;" y.
Perrault rode out to the camp of the
regulars and endeavorcd by persuasion
to get them to disband. but his efforts
ayailed nothing. DionedS Durie, a
leading planter. G. NJ Hark, clerk of
the district court. and five or six
friends were in front Of Duries house
II was under a tree with my chill
dren." said Duric suddenly thirty
,r,,l 1,,J I, a
my house. They stopped behind Il
clump of trees and | Went out i'll the
field to see what they were doing.
When near them they fred six shots
at me. My friends came 10 my as
| SiStancc and we returned ten or
| twelve shots. We then laid down and
| the regulators fired fully fifty shots
at us. shooting my horse in two places.
| Half of them then ran away. the 9th
ers remaining behind III group and
appeared To bc helping some enc on a
horse do not know whether we
| hit any of them or not. We sent word
To town for renforrcmentS, but when
| the boys came the regulators We're
] out of sight
Mr.. Thompson corrobofated MI
Durie's story. 1t is lnmorei that tive
/ Et'- tId ltIlS -Mtie @ilbi illti tlIi h1ll'h
/ lmposshl" TO verify the rumors.
Resting G, CT Ni.,it
/ Armed squads are on duty at every
road entering the place and the court
house is a perfect arsenal The
/ Washington, La. boys, thirty strong
who came down to fight With citizens
against the regulators, have hurried
/ home \ courier brings news thai
4 it ~,,,1.rannIaI u
/ that tic regulators are creating con
sternaton among the inhabitants OF
/ Relleaire Save All day long there
! has not been Il state or parish officer
not even constable in town. 1t is
I impossible for Il town TO be III 4 NOR,
martial state. 1t is believed now tha,
] the regulators will not come int
town until morning. There is 13a
armed men waiting for them. The dis
trict attorney has sent word that his
and that he has twenty Winchesters
at his back to say: No negro shall
| vote
If ever situation demanded the
presence of militia the situation in
this city demands it. The anti-regu-
lators declare they will hold the court
house if it shall run in blood The
/ regulators have moved back q mile or
| two in the country from King bridge.
| The trouble grew out Of the effort
on the part Of white Democrats to
| prevent registration Of the negroes.
| A military company was Sent there
and the negro men were registered.
| They are in the majority and the
! movement of the regulators now is
J, intended to prevent the negroes from
| voting.
/
WAS rno WEARS ON