The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-11-16


there had been an ARRAY on the steamboat
Dresden, near Helena, Ark, in which two
men were killed and three others wounded
An esteemed friend, who was a passenger on
the Dresden ut the time Of the occurrence of
the affair, arrived here Saturday afternoon on
the Pike, and furnished US full partic ulars of
it.
II appears that about one hundred Irish
men, who had been employed to work on the
leveegin Arkansas, were deck passengers on
the Dresden. An old lady from Kentucky,
with her two children, who were also deck
passengers, was greatly imposed on by some
of these Irishmen. Her childrrn were abus-
ed, and the provisions she had provided
herself with were taken and stolen. On
one occasion, when one Of her children was
struck by an Irishman, a Mr.. James Sullivan
of Maysyile, in this State, cigar maker,
and a worthy, steady and respectable gentle
man took the part of the lady and remor stra.
ted with the men on their conduct. The Ir-
sh forthwith commenced an attack on Sulli-
van, one of them striking him = violently on
the head with poker. He instantly drew
his revolver, and defended himself as he best
could. One man was shot through the heart
and fell dead in his tracks. Another was
shotin the mouth, the ball knocking out his
teeth, cutting off his tongue, and lodging in
his throat. He was not expected to recover.
A third was shot in the arm which was bad ~
shattered and broken. An Irish woman,
who belonged to the party, and who was far
advanced in pregnancy, was shot in the abdo-
men, and she died the same night. She was
AIMED at her. BY this time Sullivan was
| III ho
him, was knocked down, stamped upon, ter
rbly beaten, and badly Gu, and was left for
dead. He was taken to the forward part OF
boat by some Of the cabin passengers, who
then thought him to be dead. He was badly
cutin Eve different places, one on the throat
and one or two on tie body being severe
wounds, and his head was very badly hurt by
The blow from the poker. After he had been
washed he gradually revived, and was able
to tell his name. His injuries appeared to be
so severe that it was thought impossib lie he
could survive during the night, but next day
he was better. and hen he was put off the
boat a, Napoleon, accompanied by friend
where lie could secure proper medical ntten-
tons, there were strong grounds for hoping
that he might recover. During the night he
had to be guarded by the passengers in order
to prevent the Irish from again attacking him
and finishing their work by killing him.
The man killed was buried ut the foot OF
Clark's bar. The wounded men were taken
to Vicksburg for medical attention. ts. f.,
The affair occurred shortly after leaving
Memphis, and when only four or five miles
below that city. .,.t
As may well be imagined, the affair pro-
dlced the most intense excitement on the
boat, and the greatest CONSERVATION prevail
ed among the ildy passengers in the cabin
in full view # whom the occurrence took
place. There was a great sympathy express
sed for the brave Sullivan, who came near
Osin- his own life, in his manly efforts IL
protect defsnceless mother from insult and
outrage. The only regret among the passen.
gers seemed to be that he was not able to dc
more execution among the outlaws who sc
villainous!y attacked him. We hope soon
10 hear of his recovery Lou. Cour.