The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-05-05
Mississippi Pirates Caught----$5. 900
Worth of Property Recovered.


successfully carried out in this vicinity for the
last few months. We now have the gratilica-
ton Of announcing the discovery Of some Of
The robbers and the rescue Of a large amount
of Merchandise belonging to the ncighborhood.
| As it is our design to publish in our regular
issue (Which will be delayed to obtain the facts
which may be elected on an investigatiou) a
| full history of the developments which the
past week has exposed, we forbear a minute
detail Of matters as they now present them
selves. There may be cause for change Of
opinion in relation to certain parties-hence
the general absence Of names in this article.
The Rendezvous Of the Robbers of the Up
per Mississippi. has been for year past. the
Old Ferry Building on the west side of the
River from the Prairie du CHEN Upper Ferry.
At that place Goods have been stored from
points as high up as La Crosse. and if the state.
mcnts Of prisoners can be relied on, there have
been fitted ont at that place more expeditions
than one to the lower river.
It seems a carpenter named RALPH (his last
name We have not learned) has been in the em.
ploy Of the Robbers for several months, build.
ing boats, &c, &C., preparatory to a voyage
down below. One day last week q quarrel en-
sued between RALPH and some of the party,
which resulted in Raj his exposure Of The vii
lains. Ralph came down to McGregor and gave
such information in relation to their practice
and plans as led to an immediate organization
for their detection.
On Friday morning last Con.tablcs KiE and
Bsowx of McGregor and several Of our
most active citizens, left this place for the Island
known as Big Island opposite the mouth of
Sni Magill Creek, about five miles below this,
and nearly opposite Wyalusing. The river
at present is very high and sea "cely any portion
Of the Island is out of the water. and hence the
skiffs Of the adventures had access to almost
all portions Of the suspected territory. After a
thorough reconnotre, the boat containing kEE,
RALrH, and our fellow citizen SASD7roRD L.
PECK, Esq. discovered a tent or camp On the
Island in which were found GEO. SEVILLE an
English butcher Of McGrcgor, a man partly
blind, named HOWELL, and boy years old.
whose name We have not learned. These were
captured and from them it was ascertained that
man calling himself DR.. BELL "a veterinary
surgeon, late partner TO Joseph Bayless Of this
vicinity) was in command Of a boat moored in
some of the sloughs of the Island, and that said
boat was loaded with stolen Goods to the
amount of several hundred dollars. On the
next morning kEF, PEEK and the boy proceed
ed to look up the boat and having discovered
it, came up 10 within close distanc. before any
signs Of life were exhibited on board. The
barking of a dog on the pirate vessel reused its
Captain and he sprang out on the bow in his
sightseeing the boy it is supposed he took the
party for friends and remarked that his "wife
was not up requesting them to "hold on" At
this moment the skiff being near to the bandit.
kEE was leaning forward 10 make prisoner Of
him when BELL countenance assumed de.
moninc appearance, he sprang into the boat,
presented a revolver at the door of it and
screamed to the party "God damn your souls | II
blow you to hell" Without farther invitation
Mr.. Peck who was in the liuc Of danger fred
his revolver as he supposed fatally-Bsll fell
back wounded, and in a few seconds pistol
shot passed through lie side of the boat from
the chest Oh which Bell had taiie2. Believing
that Bell was seriously woun led, and hat..cc.g,
heard that his wife was practiccd gunner, the
assailing party deemed it most prudent to re-
turn to McGregor for force sufficient to secure
the boat and bring it into port. ERowN and
WooDcock in the mean time had Sc separated from
them the night before and had gone to Clayton
City.
mediately on the arrival Of Kee and Peck
with their prisoners, the report Of the success
got wind and the town was soon at boiling
heat. Cart. Nelson of the Alex McGregor
was prevailed on to ran his boat down to the |
battle ground. and about 50 persons comprising |
many Of Oar best citizens, armed with such |
weapons as could be conveniently obtained, |
the passengers down to the vicinity of the boat
but during the passage three suspicious looking
customers were arrested On board, and the Nc
Grecor carried them TO Prairie du Chien, where
it was learned that heavy robbery of Jewelry |
had been committed the night before.
The Adventures found the boat on which
Bell was shot, but the bird had flown. Mrs.
Bell and her young child remained on board.
A guard was detailed and upon farther explo-
ration two more boats loaded with plumber were
found farther down the Rivcr-he first boat
was fastened to the steamer Pembinaw of st.
Louis, and brought to our wharf.-the same even
Clayton City by Capts DeHaven and Good
rich Of the Junction Ferry Line, ard remained |
there in charge of as jolly a set Of McGregor
ties as ever captured prize On Sunday the |
Alex. McGregor with two or three hundred |
citizens on board left her wharf and proceeded |
to Clayton City to bling up the plumber and
the victorious band who had it in charge
When near that place the Fred. Lorenz was
met with the booty in tow and such time of
cheering and rejoicing was never heard before
OIL the Mississippi.
By request the Lorenz detached her pirate
consort and the McGregor took the passengers
Wyaloosing We learned that the village physi-
clan had been called that morning to take ball
out Of the head of a stranger who had stoI ped
half a mile from there to get his breakfast.
A committee of six was appointed to scour that
section of the country. The con mittee has
since returned unsuccessful. The goods are
placed in the hands Of Deputy Sheriff Tuttle,
and among them is every conceivable article.
of value that could tempt the cupidity of a thief
Whole stocks of Dry Goods Boots ana Shoes
Books, Drugs. Clothing, Household goods.
Liquors, Groceries, Provisions Stoves, Grind
stones. DC, DC, prove the industry of the rob-
bers and the extent If the band. There is not
less than from A TO $500 worth of property al
ready secured, and the Vigilance Committee
have dispatched men to other depots where it
is expected plumber is stored. Many Of the ar.
ticles are identified. This robbery has been
going on for nearly year, and it is feared that
many men heretofore regarded as honest will
be found deeply implicated in this astounding
villainy.
Rumors Of all sorts are ahoat, the prisoners
arrested are beginning to confess and expose
their accomplices, Bell is evidently badly hurt
and not far distant, the officers are on the alert
and it is hoped that this is to result in the
| breaking up Of one of the most formidable