The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-03-27
II. NELSON

r6S.;,h


hi0t. ON the Steamer s. , =. TrabHe.
After the arrival and departure of the Ira
bue from our city last week, at a very early
hour in the morning, we heard rumors OF a
severe fight on her near New Orleans. By
the Louisville Courier of Friday, we have re-
ceived the following particulars, which are
interesting enough to give in detail:
We have often heard Of meeting a muir.
derer On the High Seas, but seldom have to
record such scenes of violence as occurred
on the steamer s. F. J. Trabue, on the Mis-
sissippi river, during her recent trip from N.
o. AS is usual at this season of the year,
the boat was crowded with deck passengers,
chiefly flat-boatmen from the Wabash and
coal-boatmen from Pittsburg. Among the
latter was a set Of turbulent, quarrelsome men
who were about half drunk when they got on
the boat at N. Orleans, and had fight ortwo
among themselves before the boat left port.
Capt. Tucker was notified by a. friend, who
recognized one or two of the men, that he
would have trouble with them and that they
would try to take the boat.
Soon after the boat was under way and
before she had proceed many miles up the
river, one of the Pittsburg coal-boatmen at
tackled Wabash man who was quiet and
peaceable and had said nothing to him, and
knocked him down and beat him dreadfully.
Two of his friends interfered to save him
from further i'll usage. when they were beset
and beaten nearly to death, and one Of them
had his arm broken by blow of all axe in the
hands of one of the rioters. The deck bar
was open and another passenger, a small man,
stepped up after the first fray and called for
drink. While he was in the act of drink
ing, hurley fellow, bulley among the coal
boatmen, stepped up and seized him by the
neck, chokcd him, and threw him to the deck
as if he were a chicken, and then stamped
him. He was suffered to get up and as soon
as he regained his feet he drew knife and
inflicted terrible wound in the big mans
right breast, which placed him on his back
during the rest of the trip, and on the arrival
of the boat here, he was sent to the hospital.
| Not long after this occurrence the coal
boatmen became perfectly wild with liquor,
or their anxiety FOR fight, and were heard to
swear that thew would take the boat and do
as they pleased. The deck was crowded
with passengers, and the quiet and orderly
had no peace or rest, and were beset every
moment. Captain Tucker then determined
to quell the riot, and summoning his crew,
among whom were twenty-One Spaniards, and
arming them with short clubs, hatchets, and
whatever weapons he could, he marched to
the lower deck and endeavored to restore or
der and put the rioters on shore. The riot
ers laughed at him, and one big fellow shook
his fist under his nose and defied the whole
crew. The Spanards, in solid phaaDx, each
armed with club and a long knife, were or
dered TO advance and seize the ringleaders.--
| Then ensued a scene of strife and confusion
seldom seen on the deck of q steamboat
The Spanish crew, however, were victorious,
and managed to secure four OF the ring leaders
who were tied neck and heels and peace rs
at once restored The chief of the mob was
not caught and for several days could not be
found, and it was thought that he, together
with four or five others, had jumped over
board and either drowned or swan ashore
Several of the cabin passengers aver that
they distinctly saw three or four men in the
river and as the affair occurred soon after
the boat left N. Orleans it was impossible to
tell who was lost.
| During the melee, a coal boatman Of the
name of Blakely was much hurt, and danger
ously stabbed in the rear. He was taken
care of by the officers Of the boat, and sent
to the Hospital. The mate of the Trabue.
received cut in the hand from knife which
he caught just as one of the mutineers made
lunge at him.
The four that were arrested were put of
of the boat soon after the ARRAY was queled,
and when the boat was in the neighborhood
Of Millikins Bend, the big fellow that had
been missing, was found, and was forthwith
set ashore. He had been secreted under the
cylinder timbers. No further outbreak oc.
Cured during the trip, though many threats
were made just before the boat reached port.
The discipline of the Spaniards, and the de-
termination of the officers of the boat put an
effectual stop to the lawlessness of the coal
boatmen.
sxszAunac11K