The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-05-25

raise up and open fire on the negroes
in the rear. This was to be the signal
for those in front to charge to their
rescue. These thirty men were led by
Mr.. James Daniels, a resident of this
parish until two years ago, when he re-
moved to Rapides parish, where he
now resides. The most of the men
who accompanied Mr.. Daniels were
Grant parish men, and large proper
ton of them were of the citizens living
in the Rigolet neighborhood. While
they made their way along the river
bank those in front kept up constant
fire to divert their attention away from
them. So successful was this storm
ing party that the negroes had no idea
of their approach until they opened fire
on them in the rear at a distance of
about one hundred yards. At the first
volley they were seized with panic
and broke to run, the most of them
taking the road down the river and
making good their escape. About one
hundred negroes took refuge in the
court house, a stout two story brick
building, formerly used on the Calhoun
plantation for stable land never used
as a sugar house as stated by the Mas
cot). From this building they kept up
a constant fire, wounding three white
men in the meanwhile. The only ap-
proach to the building was at one end
in which there were no openings. The
whites made torch of oil and other COM
bustible material, and, putting it in the
hands of negro prisoner (alive at this
writing) compelled him to set the cor
ner caves on fire. The wind being from
that direction the flames commenced to
spread Immediately. The negroes at
tempted to punch off the burning shin
giles, but by keeping up regular fusi-
lade on the burning spot they were
forced to desist. In a few minutes
flags of truce were run out at various
windows. The firing ceased the minute
it became known the negroes desired
to surrender. Right here the negroes
committed one of the most dastardly
acts of treachery ever perpetrated by
fiends in human shape. Mr. James
Hadnot, gray-headed, venerable and
respected citizen of this parish, desir-
Gus of allowing the negroes to escape
from the burning building, rushed up to
the door in company with five or six
other white men, in order to make
terms Of capitulation as quickly as pos
sible. When they got within few
feet of the door, volley was fired at
them from the inside of the building,
mortally wounding Mr.. Hadnot, Frank
Moses and Sidney Harris, and slightly
wounding two others of the party.
After this act of treachery the negroes
attempted to escape in the confusion
that ensued. The whites were enraged
at the perfidy of the negroes, and, as
Jney Tuolcu out VI tic DuiluilS, Suol
them down like dogs; and those that
escaped the first fire were ridden down
in the open fields by men on horseback
and shot without mercy. Notwith-
standing this fearful carnage, some DO
prisoners were taken by those disposed
to be more humane. At O'Clock all
firing had ceased and the whites were
masters of the situation. The prison
ers were marched into the back yard
of residence, SO they would be con-
venient to cistern of water. They
were not bound, nor was even guard
set over them longer than one hour,
after which they might have gone with
out let or hindrance, had it not been
for fear of mourning the displeasure OF
their captors. The wounded whites
were taken into the house, so as to be
convenient to the same cistern to which
the negroes had access. There was 9
general disarmament of the whites,
many of whom went home thinking al
was over. About dark the steamboa,
Southwestern came down the river anc
landed at Colfax, taking Mr.. Hadnot,
who was then in dying state, and
other seriously wounded whites, or
board. While this boat was at the
landing a number of the whites drank
pretty freely and became intoxicated
Among them were the sons, relative.
and warm sympathizers of Mr.. Jas
Hadnot. After the boat was gone, anG
nearly all of the sober and Influential
men had lain down to sleep, these parties
all of whom were young, reckless anc
irresponsible men, determined to go tt
the yard where the negroes were, anC