Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-11-28
COMMENSURATE

Or BOARD Stance NJ. 5. hEPHAM
Cvptain John Mcdonald We, the.
Undersigned passengers on the above
mentioned steamer when the atfray oc-
Cured with some drunken men, who
came on board on the evening OF the 28d
instant, from New Madrid, Missouri,
whilst you were lying in port at that
place, take great pleasure in testifying to
your gallant conduct. The majority wit
messed the difficulty, and all Of US are
familiar with the facts, which we affirm,
without pretending to detail them with
/ ninuteness, to be substantially the fol-
lowing: About nine o'clock that evening
some four or five men, the majority OF
them very much intoxicated, came Oh
board from the shore, and in the pres
encs and hearing of the passengers,
many Of whom we're ladies and children,
made themselves exceedingly Offensive
by reckless and drunken demonstrations
Finally two Of the number drew revOlv-
ers, and after trying to force 8 passenger
into q r~encOunter, n OF them Struck
HIM over the head with his pistol, and
then each presented their revolvers
and threatened to shoot him II
he resented the insult. About
this time you were informed Of
Whist had taken place, and Immediately
attempted to quiet the affair, by having
these men t. leave your boat. Your
conduct was characterized by great cool
ness and forbearanee-much more than
We could have expected you TO display.
These drunken Tuffisns would neither
leave the bOst, nor cease their violent
conduct, and in your presence demanded
Of the bar keeper more whisky, this you
had before prohibited and with drawn
-s..-H. - .EA.ne-#,1 Tn nnFnrna THAR
demand. About this time one of the
number made the shot at yourself, which
. you prevented taking effect in your body
by stiking the pistol down just as he
fired, causing the ball to pass between
I YOUR legs. After this you succeeded in
wrestling the pistol from his hand, and in
& very short time the boat was cleared Of
all this drunken party. Their murderous
design was afterward shown by their dis
charging = shotgun, loaded with shot,
intG the passengers standing on the front
part Of tie boat, wounding n man and
piercing the clothes OF another. The
conduct Of this party was criminal in the
highest degree, and in justice to yourself
and for the safety of the travelling public,
thew should all be arraigned aud pun
ishei for the crimes they committed.
We very eheerfully state that We APP
prove of your conduct / u every particular
and would recommend you to those
travelling on the Mississippi, as a Captain
always courteous and obliging, and, II
need be, willing TO risk any danger to
maintain order and protect your passen-
gers.
Hoping that you may not again have
occasion TO suppress riots such as the
above, we subscribe ourselves your
friends,
d K. Newell, Texas; S. o Trpvpridge, Illinois;
W. $. smith, Illinois: John s. 1elVQrthi
Pennsylvania; Charles Arbuckle, Pennsyl-
wants: Charles PTuk, Louis Oters6n, New
York city Mat carroll, J. 5. CarTiger, Louisi-
ana: Willis NJ. Inman, Thomas Sheehan, X.
NJ. Oglesby. Illinois; Charles II. Thomas,
GeOrg- Wells, Adam Reuner, NJ. n. inskeep,
John Turner, John u. Camp, W. Smith, I.
S. owen, Texas; and sixty-three Others.