The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-10-19


MEMPHIS, Oct. 17-The destruc-
lfiOn of arms on the steamer Hesper
.SBill causes much excitement. The
Democratic papers state that they
we're destroyed BIZ the Radicals for
the purpose Of making political eapi
tai. That C,pt. Houston, of the Hes
per, landed his boat at Hark Grades
for that purpose; also, that the arms
were not the property of the State Of
Arkansas. Republican papers, on
the other hand, assert that they were
destroyed by the Ku Klux. The fol-
lowing particulars of the seizure were
obtained in substance from Capt Jno.
Ford. of the impressed tug Nettie
Jones:
About 5 O'Clock Thursday after
noon the tug Nettie Jones. Captain
John Ford, left the wharf for Fort
Pickerina, having a barge In tow, in
tending TO return with lumber. The
tug resohed its destination and land
ed at half-pest 5 o'clock No one
was 10 sight, but the fine had scarcely
been made fast before the spot was
covered with men, all so securely
masked as to be unrecognIzable.
They we're probably a hundred in
number, and had evidently been con-
ceaIed some time under the bluff.
Without speaking a word they quick
" boarded the tug, took possession Of
the pilot-hOuse and engine room. or
dered Captain Ford to Immediately
start down the river, adding, by way
of an incentive to prOmptness, that
omebody might be hurt in case OF
n refusal. Accordingly. he ordered
one Of the crew to cast OF the line,
and in a few minutes the tug was
rapidly steaming for President Island
Chute.
Upon taking possession the new
commander kept a vigilsnt eye on the
crew. not ailowipg any one of them
to leave his post far-even = moment.
The engineer was not permitted to oil
his machinery. The mysterious pas
seDgers. evidsntly feared be might
suddenly put it out of repair. The
head Of the tug was held steadily
down the river until approaching Cat
Island, % miles below, near the. Ar
kansas shore. This was between Z 80
and 8 o'clock, and C4ptaio Ford was
ordered to run his tug along side the
little steamer Hesper, watch was tied
up wooding.
Darius the trip the leaders inform
ed Ford that they intended overhaul
ing the Hesper, destroying arms, but
that strict orders had been issued to
the men TO harm no one, and respect
all other property.
In obedience to orders, Captain
Ford ran the tug alongside. This
was no sooner accomplished than,
leaving two of their number in the
pilot-house, two In the engine room,
and one in the cabin, as guard, the
latter over one OF the crew who had
insulted the leader, the masked party
suddenly sprang aboard the Hesper.
| Little or nothing was said, and the
boarders, who evidently had an eye
TO business, placed the crew under
surveillance, and commenced the
work In hand. The gun boxes were
| broken open with axes and hatchets,
| the guns taken out and thrown into
the river. Many were broken before
| being consigned to the element. a
quantity of ammunition In the hold,
marked sundries, was also thrown
overheard. The boxes were showed
| overheard after them, and many of
! tneu were seen Dy Iile passengers on
the MayfoWer, floating with the cur
rent.
In half an hour the task was accom-
plished, and the party quickly return
ed to the tug. leaving the Hesper
adrift and in possession of all her
crew, who remained, Capt. Houston
and his brother having made for the
woods as soon as the Nettie was seen
bearing down upon their craft.
| The raiders once more aboard. Can.