Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-11-26
From the Louisville Coulter.
THE ArrRAyoNrursrr,urnpr prr.


THE AfFRAy ONTuE STEAMER pprsnrN
Il HIan and a Homdn Killed, and three
Persons Badly H'eunded.--A day or two
since we copied from Memphis paper a
sia;emen, 10 the effect that there had been
an affray on the Dresden, near Helena, Ark.
IN which two were killed and three Others
wounded. An esteemed friend, who was a
passenger on the Dresden at the time of the
occurrence OF the affair, arrived here Satur.
DAY afternoon on the Pike, and furnished us
iuIl particulars OF it.
II appears tha, abou, one hundred Irish.
men, who had been employed to work on
'he levees IN Arkansas, Were deck passengers
on the Dresden An old laly from Ken.
iurky, with her TWO children, who were also
uerk passengers was greatly imposed on by
some ct these Irishmen. Her children were
ahnSed, and the provisions she had provided
herself with were taken and stolen. On one
occasion, when one of her children was
struck by an lrishman Mi. James Sullivan,
of Maysvlle, in this Slate, a cigar maker,
man, took the part Of the lady, and remon-
slrated with the men on their conduct. The
Irish forthwith commenced an attack on
Sullivan, one Of them striking him violently
on the head with poker. He Instantly
drew his revolver, and defended himself as
lie best could, One man was shot through
the heart and fell dead in istracks. Anolh-
er was shot in The mouth, the ball knocking
ont his teeth, cutting off his tongne, and
lodging in his throat. He was not expected to
recover. A third was shot in the arm which
was badly shattered and broken.
An Irish woman, who belonged 10 the
parry, and who was far advanced in preg-
nancy, was shot in the abdomen, aud she
died The same night. She was struck Ivy a
stray ball, as the pistol was not aimed al her'
By this time Sullivan was overpowered by
the numbers who opposed him, was knocked
down, stamped npon, terribly beaten, and
badly cui, and was left for dead He was
taken to the forward part of The boat by some
Of the cabin passengers, who then thought,
him 10 be dead. He was badly cut in five
different Places one OH the throat and one or
two on The body being severe wounds, and
his head was very badly hurt by the blow
from the poker. After he had been washed
h, gradually revived, and was able 10 tell
his name. His Injuries appeared TO be so
severe that it was thought impossible he
could survive during the night, bu, next day
he was better, and when he was put of the
boat al Napoleon, accompanied by friend,
where he could secure proper medical allen.
lions, there were strong grounds for hoping
that he might recover. During The night he
had 10 be guarded by the passengers in order
10 prevent the Irish from again attacking
him and finishing their work by killing him.
The man killed was buried at the foot of
Clark's bar. The wounded men were taken
10 Vicksburg for medical attention. The
affair occurred shortly after leaving Mem
phs, and when only four or five miles below
that city.
AS may we'll be imagined, the affair pro-
duced the most intense excitement on the
boat, and the greatest CONSERVATION prevail
ed among the lady passengers, in the cabin,
in full view of whom the occurrence took
place. There was great sl mpathy expressed
for the brave Sullivan, who came near losing
his own life, in his manly efforts to protect a
defenceless mother from insult and outrage.
The only regret among the passengers SEEM
ed 10 be that he was not able 10 do more
execution among the outlaws who so villain
ously attacked him.