Daily Gazette & Comet [Baton Rouge, LA], September 22, 1860
A party of gentlemen were out hunting this morning when their dogs got on the trail of a negro in the cornfield of Mr. J. A. Dougherty, just above town, and run him up to a heavy briar thicket near the Montesano, where he took refuge and fought desperately against his assailants. He killed five of the dogs with a large butcher knife, then fled on hearing the hunters approach. He refused to obey their orders to stop and surrender, when a number of shots were fired with effect, and he fell dead. He is of copper complexion, heavy moustache, and bears a striking resemblance to an Indian. His place of retreat in the briar thicket was found and was well stored with provisions.—Advocate, Thursday.
The necessity which requires the use of dogs, to capture runaways must be regretted by all, and it ought to be the very last resort. Those who know the evils, which require such violent correctives, are more competent to judge of the practice than we are. The training of dogs for such a purpose, commenced we believe, in the cruel warfare against the Indians of Florida, and for our part, we wish it had ended there.
That the fugitive should fight for his life when beset by a pack of savage dogs, is in obedience to the common dictates of humanity.—There should be some other cause for the use of the gun in such cases. Coroner Jones informs us, that the man referred to by the Advocate, was one of the poor, miserable, and degraded race of Indians, who were at one time the lords and landholders of the country. As far as Louisiana is concerned, they are nearly extinct, and the verdict of any jury of inquest, might be “died of whiskey.” What few remain, as long as they do not violate the laws—of which like others, better circumstanced—they live in ignorance—they should receive our protection, if they have not our sympathy.