, 1896-04-21
TROUBLE IN THE south
As Election Day Approaches it
Grows More Serious.
AT WORK.
Five Hundred Have Surrounded the
Town Of OpeI0usas and Will
Attempt 10 Capture the
Court House

1880
conferred in the Acadian parish of St.
Landry. Some accounts OF the cam
paign there have been published, but
after all they give but a feeble picture
OF the generalization existing. There
have been nine persons killed already
on account Of the political troubles, IA
shot more or less seriously, and per-
haps 800 whipped-and whipped Sc
verely. The parish priest of Fort Bar
re has been driven out of the parish.
A hundred houses and stores have been
fired into and riddled with bullets, to
discourage their occupants from regis
tering and voting. AS might be ex,
pected, business is stagnant through
out the parish. All immigration there
of late years has ceased; the planta>
tons have stopped labor because the
negroes are too frightened to work.
Many Of the negroes, indeed, have
given up the habit Of sleeping in their
cabins, and prefer the canebrakes.
The struggle at St. Landry has got
beyond the control of the church or OF
the officials. Although it is nominally
a political contest between the two
democratic factions, it is really a race
war which has been going on for years.
The alleged trouble is in the contest
between the Thompson and Fontenot
factions of the democratic party to con-
troll the parish offices. The Thompson
comprises a minority Of the whites, and
most of those known as Americans
chat is. Anglo-Saxons), and depends
for its success in getting out the negro
vote. The Fontenot faction is led by
Sheriff Fontenot, consists exclusively
Of whites. comprising four-ffths of the
whites in the parish, and all the Aca-
dams. They call themselves white
Supremacists. and declare that no me-
gro shall register or vote. no matter
what the consequence.
At this hour, 3 p. M, 500 armed men
Of both parties are on the move and a
desperate conflict is expected at any
time. Over $50 regulars have SUR
rounded the town and their o%stensible
object is to capture the court house.
On the vote OF Opelousas ward depends
their success or defeat in the parish
and they are concentrating efforts
here. They realize il the full vote is
polled "the combine" will win.
Reports came to this place early to-
day that the regulars" were assembled
at Belleview bridge, three miles south
of town. At 10 o'clock arrivals from
the country reported 200 men on horse
back and armed with Winchesters,
shotguns and pistols. gathered there
and planned an invasion OF the town.
Upon receipt of this news. the combine
people or anti-regulars, began to as
semble around the court house square
armed to the teeth and prepared to re-
sist invasion. The sheriff was in town
when the news first arrived, but did not
attempt to disband the armed body of
men. District Judge w. c. Perrault
rode out to the camp of the regulars
and endeavored by persuasion to get
them to disband, but his efforts availed
nothing.
This afternoon Diomedes Durio, a
leading planter; G. M. Thompson. clerk
Of the district and five or six
friends were In front of Durio house.
e. was under a tree with my children
near me-" said Durio, when suddenly
30 regulators led by one Reed, passed
by the house. They stopped behind a
clump Of trees and l vent out in the
field to Gee what they were doing. When
rear them they fired six shots at me.
My friends came to my assistance and
we returned ten or twelve shots. We
then lay down and the regulators fired
fully so shots at Us, shooting my horse
In two places. Halt Of them then a
away. The others remained behind
the group and appeared to be helping
some n on Z horse. I don't know
whether re hurt any Of them or nor.
We sent word to the town for reinforcs-
msut. but when the boys came. the
regulators were out Of sight" Mr..
Thompson corroborated Durio's story.
It II rumored that several regulators
usss shot and one killed. 1t is impossi-
~ 70 verify the rumor.
LATNR-N II now stated positively
Itha& one q the regulators. Al. Reed.
- killed and another MORALLY wound
- II the skirmtsh at Durto's three
No. from here this morning.
A& 1850 tonight the town Is quiet.
k4ned squads are on duty at every
S6 sntsrins the place and the court
Q1es b Z perfect arsenal. The Wash
non. La. boys, 80 strong. who came
914sto hight with the cttisens against
n1Ggalatofs, lave hurried home. A
lftor brings news that Washington
1g sarrounAsd and the regulators
ksa11ns eenstsfnation among the
l4mkssot Bslietrs cave. All day
1s1aAas ~ bssa I state or par
! ~ sssa : constable. in