Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-01
STEAM BOAT MUTINY.

L LAM QUA M u lin T..
The following account of an attempted
mutny on board the steam boat Freedom
has been furnished by the Captain, and
some Of the passengers, who were OF,
board at the time the occurrence took
place.
I'm account Of the blood thirsty ,oroceed-
angs thai occurred on board of the Steamer
Freedom, Capt. Philip Richardson, on Ter
suay from, Ne7o Orleans to Louisville.
Nov. 20. Two Of the deck hands were
sent in the hold to regulate some freight
preparatory to getting It out. One of
them letting the candle fall, was beaten
for the offence by the other, whose name
was James Algeo.
Some time afte.' this one of the deck
passengers, whose name was Barns. while
standing by the fires, hearing of the cir
cumstance, remarked that he should like
to whip Just such man as Algeo. On
hearing this Algeo stepped forward to
give him battle, when Barns drew his pis-
toll and retreated to the inner part of the
deck. Algeo went to some of his com.
panions, borrowed a Spanish knife. re
turned to the deck, broke down the door.
and pursued Barns to the stern Of the
boat, where after making several unsuc-
cessfnl attempts to stab said Barns, he
struck one of the stanchions of the boat
in such manner that the knife dropped,
which was Immediately seized by Barns,
who now inflicted seven wounds on the
body of Algeo, Of which six were mortal.
hill AZ Ill 1
was stabbed in the back by JOHN Walker.
one of Algeo's companions. This occur
red about II A. M. During the rest of
the day Algeo was constantly entreating
his companions to avenge his death, for
he was aware that his time in this world
was short; but as they did not seem to-
pay much attention to his entreaties, the
captain and passengers did not feel the
least uneasy for the safety of Barns.
whose wound was but slight. 1t seems,
however that more attention was paid to
them than was supposed, for at about 8
o'clock in the morning of tie 2ist, the
unfortunate Barns was shot while living
in his hammock. The pe,perrator ofthis
cowardiy deed was not known, though
suspicion at once rested upon John Walk
ct, who had not been seen for several
hours. At 6 O'Clock the boat was search
ed from top to bottom, but nothing of
Walker could be found. During the rest
of the day little Of consequence occurred,
except the constant drunkenness of the
mate and sailors, who, by the ir threats
very plainly showed that they were dis
pleased with the captain and passengers
for offering reward of five hundred
dollars for the discovery of the unknown
murderer, for, from circumstances, we
were confident that more than one had
a hand in the business. On the night of
the 22d, plot was discovered, which if
carried into effect, would have proved
the destruction of boat and passengers.
On this discovery the mate and four of
the sailors were arrested and confined.
The boat was again searched, and TO our
great surprise, John Walker was found
in the hold. We Immediately put him
in confinement with his companions, keep
ing a strict watch over them until we ar
rived at Mills Point, where they were
delivered over to the civil authority Of
that place. The plot appeared to be as
follows: A slow match was to have been
put to two kegs of powder, which were
in the hold; the six mutineers were to
make their escape by means of the small
boat, leaving the rest to their fate.
Upwards of so cabin and 100 deck
passengers left the boat at Memphis, on
the 5lst, on account of the threats made
by Robinson 1.-THE mate and the sailors
where they published card highly com
plimentary to the conduct of Captain T.
Richardson.-Cn. GAG.
TENNEssEE.-The Legislature often
nessee on the 26th ult. adopted resolu
ton instructing their Senators and re-
questing their representatives in Congress
to oppose the passage Of all laws making
turtle, appropriations for the support o
the Military Academy at west Point. o.
the 3Oth, the resolution offered early il
the season, against the recharter Of thu
Bank of the United States was tinall,
adopted.
The Bank recently chartered at Mem
phis, is called the Farmers and Merchant
Bank of Memphis. The capital stock i
not 20 exceed 100000. A branch is t