The Ouachita Telegraph - 
Two Dead, One Mortally Wounded in Altercation near Melrose's Livery Stable

Date: Oct. 2000
Submitted by: Lora Peppers <lpeppers@ouachita.lib.la.us>



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The Ouachita Telegraph
Friday, July 18, 1879
Page 2, Column 4

FEARFUL KILLING.
Postmaster Austin and W.H. Smith
(Colored) Dead, and Sterling Austin,
Jr., Parish Judge, Badly Shot,
And Supposed to be Mortally Wounded.
[Lake Providence Conservative, 12th.]
        Just before sun down on Wednesday evening last our town was
startled out of its quietude by the sharp crack of several pistol shots on 
Lake street, and the people running in every direction possible for safety.  
When our reporter reached the coroner of Sparrow and Lake streets an awful 
sight met his gaze; on the banquet near Hamilton’s saloon W.H. Smith, an 
industrious and hard working colored man was stretched out dead.  Just inside 
of Melrose’s livery stable.  S.T. Austin, Sr., Postmaster of this place, lay
on his face stark and stiff, shot thorough the heart.  A short distance down
the street his son we being led to Bernard’s drug store to have his wounds
dressed, and close at hand squire Lusk, a resident of west Carroll, in
charge of the town Marshal, was quietly looking on, at the disturbed,
distressed and alarmed people that crowded the place where the killing had
been done.
        Diligent inquiry elicited the following information in relation to
the killing:
        Squire Lusk, who had com to town in the morning, and was waiting
for a steamer to go up the river, was standing in the entrance of Mr. Frank
Melrose’s livery stable on Lake street, when S.T. Austin, Sr., came along,
and addressed himself to Lusk in rather course language.  It seems Mr.
Lusk has been book-keeper for S. Witkowski, between whom and Austin bad 
feeling had existed for a length of time.  When Austin addressed himself to 
Lusk, Lusk declined to talk to him, but Austin insisted and crowded upon Lusk,
drawing and opening a pocket knife (the blade of which was about three
inches long) in a threatening manner.  Lusk then drew a pistol and shot
over Austin’s head, not liking to kill him, but Austin continued to advance,
when Lusk shot him thorough the heart, he staggered a few steps and fell dead,
without a murmur.  About this time the town Marshal came upon the scene
and disarmed Mr. Lusk, taking him in charge, but before he could remove him
any distance, S.T. Austin, Jr., ran up and shot at Lusk, missing him, and then
ran into the livery stable.  The excitement at this time became very
great, and the crowd scattered in all directions.  By some means Lusk secured 
a pistol and followed young Austin into the stable and the shooting was
renewed.  Austin was shot twice in the abdomen and once in the left hand.
Lusk was unhurt.  Austin, though wounded badly, passed around the stable,
and renewed the conflict from the fence, between the stable and dwelling
of Mr. Melrose; ‘twas at this time the unfortunate negro Smith, while
crossing the street, was shot and killed almost immediately.  Lusk is now in
custody.
        We had begun to hope that strife and bloodshed had ceased in our
midst, but this terrible event has saddened and discouraged many of our best
citizens, who had been diligently at work bringing about an era of peace and 
good feeling.

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