Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-05-25
STATEMENT

~ AN EYEWITNESS or THE CIRCUMSTANCES or the
ARREST OE Mr. r. NIKE, AT THE coal WHARF
IN WEST wHEsLiSo, OK TUESDAY EVENING,
THE lerr o. MAY, lS4l. by WILL
AND STEWART, OF BRIDGEPORT.
Tho subscriber was at some distance from the
wharf when he first saw MIR Mckee leaving the
Virginia shore in a skill taken from tho wharf by
rhos DAVIS for the purpose Of bringing him across.
That Immediately Oh his arrival he went to nee,
hun, having sumo memoranda in his hand which he
wished To communicate Upon passing by the Of
tee of the coal wharf. he saw two strangers whose
appearance he did not like, and coming within
few PAGES OF Mr.. Mckee he minated to him that
he bad better be oT Mr.. Mckee hesitaied a few
seconds. and turning round to some person who
stood on tho end of the railway, he asked who
those persons were; by this time they (said to ho
Hull and Stewart OF BridgeporD had risen and
walked lciSurely along towards where Mr.. Mckee
and myself were standing Mr.. Mckee saw their
movements, and Immediately jumped down into the
coal boat, which abou, half loaded. and thence
with all haste the side Of the said boat into the
'Lih, which fastened by ala iron chain 10 OF
the siudd'ngs II the coal boat; but before Nr Mex.
could get the skiT discuCngcj from the sludding.
one or both Of the men above mentioned had got
hold O! tho chain. The subscriber, not knowing
who the men were but concluding they were ruff
fans hired for The sake Of the reward which com
mon report said would be given for the apprehension
Of said Mckee he placed himself between the two
mon md got hold of the chain TO prevent them lay
ing iherr hands upon him, at Ihe same time ohserv-
ns 50 that all tho bysaudcrs could hear that thsy
had had no authority TO take him. anJ that nt any
rate, he was then out of their Jurisdiction. During
ihs limo they striving 10 get the 81 n round
10 the side To lay hold Of him. and | was striving To-
prevent them. At length Hull produc,d some pa
Pors rurpor'ing TO be his authority. ] looked at
them, and Judging well as / could, concluded
they were acting under authority. found could
tn no more, and from that moment ceased to act
The contest was now between the two mon md
NJ; Mckee, each Of Them having one oar Of the
skull Mr.. Mckee made use OF his oar to keep the
stern Of the sk of, in order that they should not
take HIM, cor they appeared afraid to enter the skif
One Of the men, Stewart held the bow of the skifT
TO the coal boat by the chain, and Hull made use
OF the ether oar 10 inumidaie Presently the stern
got round little, and Hull, with uplilicd car strucs
Mr.. Mckee, aud nc fell down under its weight
The blood beginning 70 Aow, he partly recovered
himself and was struck down again as nj first. and
ihis was repeated a third time. Mr. Mckee finding.
rs suppose, his life rs well rs his liberty ia dam
ger. cast the oar he had at the man. who struck him
aud he Immediately threw himself into the river
He swan considerable distance and by aid Of a
shih which showed of 10 his relief he got two
thirds of The way across The river almost op3osi,c
TO Mr. 8Icrs saw mill in Rhchie:own. The other
boat with the two men. that il, The ono Nj Mckee
was m went rs soon rs possible in pursuit. and
overlook him when about two thirds over.
II can DC proved that. on the skill with Hull and
Stewart approaching the one TO which Mr.. Mckee
was hanging on in a very exhausted state from The
blows he had received ne well as from his exerron
N swimming with all his clothes on excepi his cont
they punched him in the back two or three Times
with their oars, and often run their skifT alIe
over him. 50 that he was, ia fact. just drowned. In
This condition they hauled him into tho boat by the
hair OF his head. and tumbled him IN headlong. One
Of ihe men then seated himself upon him, and the
other sculled to the shore
Their treatment Of Mr. Mckee from the time
they landed him the Ohio shore until they rench
cd Mr. kelsey's at the ferry nnding was british in
the extreme. The distance Sas near one mile
The above can be proved by many Witnesses.
GO. RICHARDSON.
West Wheeling, May %, 1871.