Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-17
THOSE ARMS.
The question Finally Solved
How They were Disposed OF


Some days ago we startled our leaders
with the announcement that several
thousand stand of arms had arrived in
our city, intended for some point and
purpose hen unknown to US, but sup
posed to be for distribution among the
negroes Of Arkansas. Later develop
ments showed that they we're for the
"~sO-cslled" State Government OF Ar
kansas; and upon the refusal OF all the
hOsts engaged in the Arkansas trade TO
take them hence to their destination,
they were stored in the warehouse Of
Conner & Richardson, of this city.
There they remained for severSl days,
undis,urbeG, and the Estate Govern
ment - ct last sent 8 bOst-the Hespsr-
around from Little Rock 70 bring them
Into the State. Although Z people felt
bitterly the atrocity and C~svilishness
that prompted such action, they also felt
The necessity Of Obeyiug the laws; and
accordingly allowed the HespsF to take
on her freight, freight intended 10 be
used IS the means OF numbering defence
less white men, women and children, for
60 ether crime tnan that of being lUhite
snd Southern bOrnl and depart in
peace. She got her cargo aboard on
Thursday, during the day, and left the
deck for her destination about 4 o'clock
thateYening. Yesterday, about O'Clock,
she returned to the city and made fast at
the moOrings, completely cleaned out
every gun, accoutrement, box, in fact
the whole cargo was gOne-sunk in the
bosom OF the father OF waters.
The Captain, Sam Houston, was pacing
the quarter deck as she came up 10
the landing snd made fast, and as this
Reporter tried to get aboard, refused to
allow him to do so, and even after he
had got on board (by the aid and permits
sion Of the police the gallant" Cap
tain caused him to get ashore. We
nevertheless managed to CLEAN FROM one
Of the officers the following statement Of
HOW IT HAPPENED.
"We left the city," said be, " about
1 o'clock, snd steamed down the river.
When about twenty-five miles below
Memphis, just about dar5 yhile we were
wOOding st Harkelrcdes, on the Arkansas
shore, the tug Nettie jones came along
side and msde fast TO US. As sO0u as this
was done the Captain, and, l think, his
brother, jumped ashore and made for
the swamp. Three of the crew Glso I
overheard, but the parties on the /
rug rished them out, and sssursd them,
they did all Of US, that no harm
should be done them. Everybody that
saw was masked, and wore q long cloak /
az donned so thst l BOr anybody else /
distinguish them in the slightest. |
then caEsed toe Hesper TO be cast
from the landing and rounded out
into the stream, whsre they broke open
boxes and threw each gun separately
INTO the river. They also broke open
several boxes containing gun caps, and
.hrew them overheard, slong With a
number OF barrels of powder and pigs Of
cad. After they had done this, they
old the pilot, he being the highest officer
or board, that he could parau9 his
TO Little Rock, but that be must
not attempt to return TO Memphis-ff he
lid they would burn his boat. The pilot
promised he would moi then r%eturn, and
he tug cast off and left u.s."
THE TUG EETTIE JONES.
We have given above the statement
II one OF the crew of the Hesper. We
will now proceed to show how the tug
.ettie Jones bscsme implicated in the
(alsO by q statement from Z of
ler officers}. Daring tie afternoon OF
Thursday some one left an order at the
,nioe OF Brown & Jones, for q tug to go
the river to tOw up 3 raft Of lum-
Der. Accordingly Cspt. Ford wss dis
during the afternoon TO the
stated locality for the raft. On reaching
which, about forty men, masked and
disguised, jumped aboard and
.ook possession of his vessel. Capt.
Ford was ordered to take her down the
liver, and on his refusing or demurriug
% do 50, they used such argu-
nents as soon caused him to think
Of his determination. The
.ug was accordingly run down the river,
md overlook the HespsT SIS detailed.
After they hsd accomplished their pur-
1ose Of destroying the cargo OF the
aesper, they made Capt. Ford run the
up the river TO 3 point about ten
below the city, where they COM
)eiled him to run her hard aud fast
Hailing q skiff on tho shore
hey left her in squads, and that is the
asst seen or known Of the mAraudeTs. a
Message was sent to the city by q pas
ing boat OF the forlorn condition Of the
ug, and another boat wss sent TO her
assistance. Meanwhile tins Resper, hav-
ng found its Captain and oOsXed him
board again, proceeded bsck to this city,
IS detailed, and arrived here at one
1olnok |,