The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1898-01-15
current Events Transpiring in St
Landry.

On the night of Wednesday. 5th Ian
nary, an atrocious deed was pernetra
teu Dy some negroes, four of whom ar,
iodged I'D jail to answer for it. Other,
are believed to have been conspirators
III the act, but have not yet been ar
rested. WV" 81
Those arrested are Robert and Jos
Jacobs. Brazil Tate and Edgar Hud.
| son.
Robert Jacobs had been detected in
stealing cotton belonging to Edward J
Conway, we'll known and we'll to do
citizen Of st. Landry, living in Old
Grand Prairie. Mr.. Conway made an
aindavit against him and he was taken
IN custods He made confession. A
Mrs. Frntssin Guillory, colored, pro
posed to Mr: Conway to give him $50
70 compromise the matter, her husband
oelng one of the parties who had re-
celved the stolen cotton This propo-
sltion was. of course, spurped hv Can
way, who told her he would not com
promise 1t 1T she would give him $4,000
he went home, and ut 10 o'clock re-
tired. A light drizzIiDg rain fell that
h1sht. He had not long been asleep
when Mrs. Conway called and asked if
be heard hail on the roofg He looked
out OF the window near his bed and be.
held the glare of freight. lie went
out to ascertain. and found the roof
ablaze. Rushing back in his house to
get bis family out, they were soon
aroused. In the meantime he unlocked
his safe to get his money and papers
out, but the flames were enveloping th.
seallug above the bed in which his
chIldrenlwele reposing. He caught up
bag containing $500. leaving 5000 in
currency in the safe, and gathering up
his children, made his escape. In tie
meantime the infant about weeks old
was taken from its cradle by a sister
about years old and carried out in
the yard. The first sight the terrified
parents caught of the dear little one.
the sister was endeavoring to cover it
over with II blanket she had gathered
up with The baby.
Some neighbors who were sitting up
with sick friend, about 9 miles away,
discovered the fire and fastened to
reach it. In Conway's pasture they
came to Brazil Tate, JOS. Jacob and
Edgar Hudson, all cnIoIed, who were
asked why they did not 90 to the fire
and give what help they could? They
replied that they were waiting for some
others to come.
Joseph Jacob returned to the burn
ing, and on hearing Louis Deshotels
9 exclaim Great God! Conway aud
his family have perished,n the negro re-
Piled. "Oh no. they have gone to Cleo.
plias Tate's.
Such WAS the fact. but how came
he negro to know it, if he was not
here when they escaped?
Nothing was saved. The family es-
:aped barefooted and in their night
apparel. Joseph and Robert Jacobs,
Brazil Tate and Edgar Hudson are now
d Jail. 1t is believed several other col
,rtd people are cOnfederates and
hould be dealt with
Mr.. Conway loses about $4,000. His
'onse was insured in the Hartford In
urancO Co. for $4,000. 5000 in curren-
y was burnt. with all his household
md kitchen furniture, crockery and sill
'erware.
The purpose Of these fire fiends was
o cremate Mr.. Conway and his family,
hat there might remain no witness to
estify against them for stealing cot
on.
How long will the people of good
permit such people to live in
he parish, or elsewhere? Ii peaccable
aan can no longer lie down in his
Ouse and rest at night with his family,
ecure from the atrocity of fire fiends, it
J full time to remove the sources of
anger. 1t is poorly worth while for
raction of the people to he held in
heck by the law, while such an ele-
lent is permitted to bnrn them out of
onse and home with impunity.
We cling with a life devotion to the
eign of IaU, bnt have no sympathies {
18th snch as wonld terrify all classes
nth a reign of terror, however sum
iarily they may be crushed.