Gunter/Bass Tragedy, Rapides Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Lora Peppers

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The Ouachita Telegraph
Friday, July 20, 1877
Page 2, Column 4

The Ouachita Telegraph 
Friday, July 20, 1877 
Page 2, Column 4 

A Revolting Tragedy 
The Rapides Gazette thus relates the particulars of a bloody affray which 
resulted in the killing of the husband and brother of a newly married lady 
and the wounding of her father. Such a bereavement as hers seldom finds a 
parallel. The Gazette says: From a private letter received by a gentleman 
in town we learn that a sad tragedy occurred in the vicinity of Hineston. 
The facts as given are briefly these: Calvin Bass was enamored to the daughter 
of Jacob Gunter, and persuaded the young lady to elope with him. The couple 
went straightway to the residence of a parson Duff, a Baptist minister residing 
in Calcasieu parish, who united them in the holy bonds of wedlock. With a sense 
of having done what was honorable and right, Bass returned with his bride to 
the neighborhood of her home, and put up at the house of Rolen Weatherford. 
Having learned the whereabouts of the bride, Jacob Gunter, her father, and 
David Gunter her brother, armed themselves and started forth. On arriving on 
the spot where the honeymoon was to have passed, David Gunter without a word 
shot his new-made brother-in-law. Bass staggared, (sic) but before falling, 
drew a pistol and shot his father-in-law. Thereupon the brother-in-law who 
was standing set upon the brother-in-law who was wounded and ended his life 
at once and for all with a knife. David Gunter, managed to get his wounded 
father home. Constable Thomas Neal made the next move by organiging (sic) a 
posse and started out to arrest David. When he saw them coming David started 
to run, and the posse to stop him, fired upon him and brought him down. Dr. 
W. Hobby, who was called in, thinks that David will not recover, and that the 
chances for his father are slim. This a very sad and singular catastrophe, and 
the predicament of the young lady is calculated to excite the keenest sympathy.