**AUGUST 21ST M C

 
 From the Lafayette Gazette of August 21st, 1897:


LOUIS JEAN BAPTISTE
Found By Sheriff Broussard - Wanted in St. Mary.

 The people of Lafayette will be pleased to learn that Louis Jean Baptiste, the notorious negro burglar who escaped from the jail at this place two months ago, has been found.

 A few days ago Sheriff Broussard heard that there was a negro in the Franklin jail named John Baptist. The sheriff's suspicions were aroused, thinking perhaps that the John Baptist might be none other than the much-wanted Louis Jean Baptiste. He lost no time and went to Franklin and visited this jail there, and while being shown the different prisoners he recognized Louis Jean Baptiste who has known by the Franklin officials as Baptiste Brown. John Baptist was there too, but he was not the man the sheriff wanted.

 Sheriff Broussard will try to have the Baptiste tried here first. There are six charges of burglary against him on the docket of this parish and seven charges of the same nature in St. Mary. It is said that he robbed five houses in Morgan City in one night. He is a shrewd and dangerous negro. Lafayette Gazette 8/21/1897.


 SCHOOL DIRECTORS
Hold An Important Meeting - New Schools Opened.

 Lafayette, La., Aug. 17, 1897. - The School Board met this day in special session with the following members present: Dr. T. B. Hopkins, Messrs. Baxter Clegg, H. M. Durke, V. E. Dupuis and J. O. Broussard.

 The special committee appointed to examine the sheriff's collection of poll taxes were granted until next regular meeting to make their report.

 The report of the examining committee was accepted by the board as follows:  2d grade certificates: E. M. Heath, J. W. Faulk, Miss Mary C. Webb, Miss B. McCord, Miss Maggie Bagnal; 3rd grade:  Mr. Comeaux O. Comeaux.

 The appointing committee made the following report which was accepted:  Broussardville School, Robert J. Moreaux, Esq.; Broussard 6 Ward School, Miss Eliza Stockton.

 On request of Mr. Dupuis the assistantship in the Carencro School was given to Miss Stella Guilbeau.

 On motion of Mr. J. O. Broussard, seconded by Mr. Baxter Clegg, the petition of Mr. Durke for a new school in the 4th ward, near Mr. Olivier Blanchet's, was favorably considered, and a new school was opened there provided that the house and lot be donated by the patrons of said school. On motion patrons of said school. On motion of Mr. Durke, seconded by Mr. Broussard, Mr. Edmond de Granval was appointed teacher of the new school at Mr. Blanchet's.

 On motion of Mr. Clegg, seconded by Mr. Broussard, the sum of $200 was appropriated for the building of a new school house at Carencro, said sum to be paid January 1, 1898.

 On motion of Mr. Clegg, duly seconded, Messrs. V. E. Dupuis, C. C. Brown and C. F. Latiolais were made a committee on building for the new school house to be erected at Carencro.

 On motion of Mr. Durke, Mr. Dupuis empowered to dispose of the present school lot of the Carencro school.

 The following account was approved:  V. E. Dupuis, to expenses attending Superintendents' Convention at New Orleans, La., $15.

 Board then adjourned.
C. F. LATIOLAIS, Secretary.
Lafayette Gazette 8/21/1893.



LOTS OF FUN
For Those Who Will be at Oak Avenue Park Next Thursday.

 The people of the parish are cordially invited by the Century Club of this town to participate in the amusements at the Oak Park Avenue Park on Thursday, Aug. 26. On that day the club will give its first annual entertainment. The program has been prepared with the view of affording an opportunity to young and old to have a good time.

 The game of base ball to be played by members of the Century Club and the Attakapas Club of Carencro promises to be a very warm affair. With such enthusiastic votaries of the diamond as Col. C. C. Brown, Chas. D. Caffery, O. C. Mouton, D. A. Dimitry, Wm. Campbell, H. E. Toll and Louis Stelly, it can not fail to be a veritable contest of giants. The Gazette is not disposed to risk any money on the result of this monotonous struggle, but it is anxious and willing to put up a wager that Col. C. C. Brown will take a short cut from first to third unless he is scrutinously watched by the opposition.

 The crowning event of the day will be a game between the Mother Hubbards and the Hayseeds. Some of the crack players of this parish will take part in this game. The costumes have already been made for the players.

 Besides the base ball games there will be a tournament, fatmen, bicycle, pony, foot and mule races, all of which will be run strictly according to announcements on the program.

 The fun will begin at 2 o'clock and the admission to the park will be 25 cents for adults and children.

 A night of dance will take place at Falk's Opera House. Two bands will be in attendance, the Landry Band of Broussard and the Breaux Bridge Juniors. Lafayette Gazette 8/21/1897.


FUN FOR ALL.

 On Thursday Aug. 26, at the Oak Avenue Park in Lafayette, there will be lots of fun for everybody. On that day the Century Club will give its first annual entertainment and from what we are able to learn it will be a brilliant success.

 The tournament promises to be a principal feature of the entertainment. A number of citizens of Lafayette and adjoining towns have entered the contest and are doing their best to win the prize. The base ball between the Century Club of Lafayette and the Attakapas Club of Carencro will be a decidedly novel affair. Among the players in this game will be Mayor Chas. D. Caffery, Judge Orther C. Mouton, Hon. Wm. Campbell, Drs. A. R. Trahan, F. E. Girard, Col. C. C. Brown, Mayor D. A. Dimitry, Claude Latiolais, Louis Stelly, and other old time players.

 The bicycle, foot, mule and horse races will be conducted with a view of affording a world of fun to all present.

 Don't fail to be in Lafayette on Thursday, Aug. 26. Lafayette Gazette 8/21/1897.


 Begins to Look Like It.

 J. A. Andrus, Jr., of J. A. Andrus & Son, the firm to whom the contract to lay the pipes for the waterworks plant was sublet, arrived in Lafayette Thursday morning. Mr. Andrus informed The Gazette that the laying of some of the pipes will soon be commenced as the material is now in transit and will reach here shortly. Mr. Andrus will supervise the work. Lafayette Gazette 8/21/1897. 

  

Too Much Rain.

 In the course of a conversation with The Gazette man a gentleman engaged in farming stated that the recent rains would very likely prove detrimental to the cotton crop. It is feared that such a heavy fall of rain at this season will cause the appearance of caterpillars, which will give a great deal of trouble to the farmers, to say nothing of the positive damage they will cause to the crop. Lafayette Advertiser 8/21/1893.



 New Railroad Proposed.

 A company has been organized at New Iberia for the purpose of building a railroad from Palmetto on the Texas and Pacific and along Bayou Teche. The officers of the new company are: Jas. A. Lee, president; Emile C. Roger, vice-president; Andrew Thorpe, secretary. The construction of the projected road will give railway communication to the people of Breaux Bridge to which place the right of way has already been secured. Lafayette Gazette 8/21/1897.  






 Didn't Saw Wood.

 A resident of McComb's Addition gave The Gazette the following item which he assures us is true:

 A few days ago a tramp called at well-known home at breakfast time and asked for something to eat. The gentleman of the house forthwith conducted him to the pile of wood, and after pointing out to him the saw, retired into the house. A short time thereafter, wishing to see how the tramp was progressing, he went out into the yard. The tramp had disappeared and not a log of wood had been sawed. As he approached the pile of wood he noticed a piece of paper fastened to the saw, and on it were written these words:

 "Just tell them that you saw me,
   But you never saw me saw."
Lafayette Gazette 8/21/1897.



 Selected News Notes (Gazette) 8/21/1897.

 A few copies of "La Vie, le Crime et les Confessions des Freres Blanc" will be sold at 10 cents. Those who wish to secure copies of this strange book should do so at once. Apply at The Gazette or at the post office.

 Alley Sprole and Adam Otto will open a butcher shop in Alb. Delahoussaye's building next to the bakery.

 Joseph Hane's store in Mouton's Addition was entered into by a thief Thursday night. Thirty-five dollars, several cans of shrimps, and lobsters and some Red Cross tobacco were stolen.

 Tables extending a mile filled with the choice delicacies of the season and refreshment of all kinds at living prices, at the Great Scott Fair, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9 and 10, 1897.



 A number of gentlemen have formed a partnership and will open a first-class bakery at F. G. Mouton's former stand. They have engaged the services of a competent bread and cake baker from Beaumont.

 Mr. Chase. the operator, has returned to Sun Set, and Alex Vanderdoes has resumed work at the Southern Pacific telegraph office.

 Deputy Sheriff Thomas Mouton returned Monday from Jackson where he had gone to convey an insane negro woman.

 H. C. Ash of Cincinnati, R. S. Rickery of New Orleans, L. Whitmore and T. D. Weil of New Orleans, and C. L. Gouaux were among the guests at the Cottage Hotel this week. Lafayette Advertiser 8/21/1897.


















    





   







 From the Lafayette Advertiser of August 21st, 1869:



Very Abundant Rains.
 
 The rain in our section of country have of late been very abundant, though not yet sufficient to create any fears as the loss of the coming crop. The rains may breed caterpillars in our midst, and may, more than that, cause the young bolls to fall from the stalk. These two possible results we hear directly contradicted by experienced planters. Should these events even come to pass, we venture to say, and in the same way we wager that the result will bear us out, in the assertion that the crops of this year will be as fair as any we have ever had to this day.  Lafayette Advertiser 8/21/1869.




THE CROPS. - The crop of sugar in this parish will not be so large by one quarter as anticipated in May last. The lateness of the planting, the cold, backward spring, the imperfect stand, in many instances, the incessant rains in June and July, the want of sufficient hands on the large plantations in laying down the crops, all combined, have materially injured the interests of the planters. They would have made a large crop had the weather been favorable. There will be plenty of corn.

 The cotton crop everywhere looks well. But it is three weeks behind time. Still the crop would be fine if the worm would let it alone. But the worm is coming. He is about three weeks behind time. They will probably eat crops up by the first of September. There are now plenty of Millers, and the worms are webbing up. It takes them ten days to web up and come out. The third crop generally makes a clean sweep of the cotton. But the planters will probably get a fair yield and do very well this year in spite of the worm. 
From the Planter's Banner and in the Lafayette Advertiser 8/21/1869.


 Internal Revenue Officers in St. Landry.
[From the Opelousas Journal.] 

Major L. C. Allison, Deputy Collector of the U. S. Internal Revenue, at this place, is creating quite a sensation in St. Landry. Almost daily he is causing notices to be served on persons to come forward and pay their licenses and taxes for 1867 and 1868, who have in their possession receipts for the taxes and licenses of said years, signed by Jno. C. Costley, late Deputy Collector at this place.

 Messrs. Bloch & Dupre, of this place, have in their possession receipts amounting to over $500, for taxes for those years, which now figure as due and unpaid on the Collector's list.
 
 One day last week Mr. Hypolite Meche was served with notice to come forward and pay his taxes for 1867 and 1868, amounting to $40. He came in a few days ago, and exhibited his receipt. He informs us that more than half a dozen of his neighbors, who have their receipts, were notified on the same day.

 Mr. Charles Francois, of Bois Mallet, however, was not so fortunate. He paid all his taxes and licenses as they fell due; but his receipts were destroyed with his house, which was burned one night last Spring, with everything it contained. He produced his receipts for 1869 to 1870 - obtained since the burning of his house. He offered to make oath to the fact that his receipts for 1867 and 1868 were burned, and to produce evidence to corroborate it. He was informed that his only remedy was to pay the amount - over sixty dollars - and then present the claim for the amount to the proper office of the Department, who would refund the same. This he refused to do, and filed a solemn protest, under oath, against paying his taxes a second time.

 Messrs. Rice and Allison, in explanation of their course, say, that when these taxes were paid, no credit was given the party paying that them; that they stand as due and unpaid on the list transmitted them for collection by the District Collector; and that they are compelled to proceed thus in order to make their settlements, as required by law.

 Jean Baptiste Durousseau, a free man of color, keeps a small country store in Praire Plaisance. He is a man of but little education, and having paid his State taxes and obtained his licenses, thought he had complied with the law. Some time afterwards Jno. C. Tucker, Internal Revenue Assessor, learned that Durousseau had not paid his internal revenue tax and license. He proceeded to Durousseau's and ordered him forthwith to pay him $176.
 
 Duruousseu came to town and got Achille Dupres, of the firm of Bloch & Dupre, to stand as his security payment of the amount the next day. This done, Tucker proceeded the same day to Durousseau's store, accompanied by a file of soldiers, shut up his store, arrested his son, who was in charge and so imposed on Durousseau's fears, that, to settle the matter, he paid Tucker $375, to which the former demand of $176 had been increased. Some time afterwards $100 of this amount was returned to Durousseau by the Collector.

 But this is not all. Durousseau was not credited with the amount thus extorted, which now stands as due and unpaid on the list transmitted to Maj. Allison for collection. Messrs. Bloch & Dupre, however, hold the receipt.

 We have always been under the impression that tax collectors were required to keep their books in such a manner, that their successors in office could tell from an inspection of them, who had, and who had not, paid taxes; and that whenever a man paid a tax or license, he was credited for. But such, it seems, has not been the case in the Internal Revenue Department, as far as our Parish is concerned.

 It is rather hard on an impoverished people, to be compelled to pay taxes and licenses two or three times over. After what we have seen of internal revenue officers in this Parish, we don not wonder at public debt increasing rather than diminishing.  From the Opelousas Journal and in the Lafayette Advertiser of 8/21/1869.

 
             

(Communication.) 
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

           
 Mr. Editor,- I an a native born creole of the Parish of Lafayette, and am not a planter, but still feel a most lively interest in the welfare of this community and am determined through your columns whenever opportune, to express such of my views and opinions as I may think, will lead to such a future course of action, as that will benefit our people. Never before has our Parish been blessed with such a favorable cropping season, and never in the annals of our parochial limits have there ever been brighter prospects of coming wealth and abundance. The planter is the staff and support of all social and political institutions, upon his success depends the success and progress of all other branches of industry and commerce, upon his thrift depends the aggrandizement of ideas, and the accomplishment of all, may the grandest projects; his is the golden granny, without which not only the physical but the mental capacities of man can achieve naught, to him must every calling and avocation look up, for support and advancement. These assertions, the undeniable result of a world's experience, stare us in the face ; we know them and feel the truth of them and still when the harvest is over, nay o'er that, when the mighty staple has hardly begun begun to whiten our fields we see our planters eager to dispose of their year's labor, in behalf of the speculator. These speculators or cotton buyers, we do not and cannot blame ; such as their business, and of that they must live and earn a livelihood if they can find producers who are willing to part with the large profits to be derived from the fruits of year's labors ; and this the very point that we want to reach. Why should our planters dispose of their cotton here at home ? we say cotton, because that is the article to which we wish to advert most specially. The speculator who comes in our midst, to purchase the cotton of the country does so certainly, with a hope of realizing a large profit on the resale of the same, otherwise, he would remain closeted in his office and behind his counter. If he has any profit to be realized, from the purchase and resale of the cultivator's cotton, why should not the cultivator have the benefit of that profit instead of the speculator ! why should not he who has toiled and labored for months run the risks of that gain ! transportation from this place to the city is rapid and easy, our population is not embarrassed financially, and they have no reason in the wide world for disposing of their cotton, in the hasty manner that they have done heretofore. Let them not say that they need money immediately - they have cotton, if they have cotton they can command money ; let them select faithful merchants and the propitious moment for advantageous sale. If they have cotton they rule and command the market and the speculator, let them them open their eyes and not allow themselves to be ruled when they can rule.
 The above remarks addressed to our whole population, apply more directly to the colored population of our community, who of all others, are most liable to be duped by grasping speculation.
                         W. M.\
Lafayette Advertiser 7/21/1869.




-------------------------

DAMAGE SUIT AGAINST CITY.
Mrs. Alfred Voorhies Asks $3,500 for Injury from Falling on Sidewalk. - Council to Fight Suit.

 The City Council held a special meeting Wednesday afternoon to take action in regard to a suit for $3,500 damage filed against the city by Mrs. Alfred Voorhies through here attorney, O. C. Mouton. Mrs. Voorhies, who is 73 years of age, stepped into an excavation in the sidewalk on Lafayette street, midway between Convent and Main street, while on her way to attend the closing exercises at Mt. Carmel Academy, on June 26 last, and fell and broke her thigh. The suit for damages alleges that the fall and consequent injury sustained was on account of the bad condition of the sidewalk.

 The Council decided to fight the suit and Mayor Mouton, Dr. A. R. Trahan and Dr. G. A. Martin were appointed a committee to engage a lawyer and take the necessary steps to protect the city's interest. The meeting then adjourned. City Attorney Jno. L. Kennedy has been retained to represent the city. Lafayette Advertiser 8/21/1908.


OLD AND NEW JOURNALISM.

 That the profession of journalism has fallen to the level of a trade seems to be the light in which modern journalism is viewed by a large proportion of the people, and doubtless there is considerable reason for such a view.

 A writer on this subject who has given it deep thought holds that journalism formerly has a moral function, but now has no more moral significance that the manufacture of soap. He presents the following interesting contrast in support of his position:

 "... The old notion in regard to a newspaper was that it was a responsible adviser of the public. Its first duty was to provide the news uncolored by any motive, private or public; its second, to present a certain view of public policy which it believed to be for the good of the State and the community. It was sober, responsible and a little bit dull. It treated life as if it was a serious matter. It had an antiquated respect for truth. It believed in the moral governance of things.

 "... The old journalism appealed only to the minds of the responsible public; the new would appeal to the emotions of the irresponsible. The old journalism gave news; the new journalism would give sensation. The old journalism gave the reasoned options; the new would give unreasoning passion. ..."

 While this pen picture of journalism nowadays may be justified to a certain extent, there still remains many refreshing and inspiring examples of the "old journalism," and these it may be said in truth, constitute the salt of the earth. And may their number increase and wax strong in this age of restlessness and rash spirit, calling loudly for the restraining influence of sober reasoning. Lafayette Advertiser 8/21/1908.



  


















LAGNIAPPE:
MORE ABOUT THE MOBILE RIOT.
WHO FIRED THE THE FIRST SHOT?

The Evening News, of the 11th., published the proceedings in the trial of Mr. David Read, arraigned on the charge of having fired the first shot in the late riot at Mobile. The only witness against Mr. Read was a worthless negro, named Brown whose testimony was completely rebutted by the unimpeachable statement of white and black. The accused was discharged.

 Commencing upon the trial, the News says:

 If the truth could be got at, it would be shown that the much talked about first shot was fired by a negro, and that the riot was deliberately planned and concocted by the Radicals for the purpose of making political capital.

 While the speaking was going on, and a short time before the disturbance, several of the white leaders were seen moving about the crowd "spotting" the whites, and one them went so far as to draw his pistol for the purpose of shooting one of the editors of this paper. This we learn on negro evidence, and the editor in question was warned at the time by a negro. A number of these men are know, and if the authorities are determined to investigate the affair, they should commence by arresting at once the deep (unreadable word) and double distilled villain, Major Lankford, who, we understand, is now prowling about the city, and manifests a disposition to to die rather than be brought before a court of justice. There is power enough in the city to get him, and it should be used. 

 From the Evening News and in the Lafayette Advertiser of 8/21/1869.