Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-10-19
DOMESTIC NEWS.
Excitement at nemphis-FulI De-
tails.

ha1tS.
rt MEMPHIS, Oct. II.
The destruction of arms on board the
steamer Hesper, still caused much excite
ment. The Democratic papers assert they
were destroyed by Radicals for the purpose
OF making political capital; that Captain
Houston, of the Hesper, loaned his boat at
Hark Grades for that purpose; also, that
the arms were not the property of the State
OF Arkansas. The Republican papers, on
the other hand, assert that they were de-
stroyed by the Ku Klux.
The following particulars of the seizure
are obtained from Capt. John Ford, of the
impressed tug Nettie Jones: About five
O'Clock Thursday afternoon the tug Nettie
Jones, Capt. John Ford, left the wharf fer
Fort Pickering, having barge in tow, in
tending to return with lumber. The tug
reached its destination and landed about
half past five o'clock. No one was in sight,
but the line had scarcely been made fast
Uefore the spot was covered with men. all
so securely masked as to be unrecognizable
There were probably one hundred, and
had evidently been concealed for some
time under the bluff. Without speaking a
word, they quickly boarded the tug, took
possession OF the pilot house and engine
room, and ordered Capt. Ford to immedi-
ately start down the river, adding, by way
of incentive to promptness, that somebody
might be hurt in event of refusal. Ac-
cordinglyi he ordered one of the crew to
cast off the line, and in few minutes the
tug was rapidly steaming down the river
chute.
Upon taking possession, the new COM
mander kept vigilant eye on the crew,
not allowing any one of them to leave his
post for even moment The Engineer
was not permitted to oil his machinery, the
Mysterious passengers evidently fearing he
might suddenly put it out of repair. The
head of the tug was held steadily down the
river until approaching Cat Island, 25 miles
below, near Arkansas Short. This was be-
tween 30 and o'clock, and Captain Ford
was ordered to run his tug along side the
little steamer Hesper, which was tied up
wooding. During the trip the leaders OF
the party informed Captain Ford they in
tended overhauling the Hesper and des-
-troying 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 along
side. This was no sooner accomplished
than, leaving two of the 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 lead
er, the veiled party suddenly sprung
aboard the Hesper. Little or nothing was
said, and the boarders, who, evidently had
AL 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
large quantity of ammunition in the hold,
! marked sundries, was also thrown over
| board. The boxes were showed overheard
after them, and many of them were seen by
passengers on the May Flower, floating
with the current. In half an hour the task
/ was accomplished and the party returned
to the tug, leaving the Hesper adrift in pos
session of all the crew, who remained, Cap
tain 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, Captain Ford
was required to turn the boat northward
and proceed until further orders. At mid
| night the tug reached point in Presidents
Island chute, eight miles below the city
| Here, by order of the yelled commander,
she was run aground. ~
| No sooner had this been done than some
| one, until that moment invisible on the isl
anu, was hailed. A minute afterwards a
skitf put out from shore, and was rowed
| alongside. Whether the person in it was
black or white could not be ascertained, as
he, too, was masked. Six of the raiders
got into the skiff and were taken ashore
and the skif continued making trips until
3 A. Nj. and the last six were taken over
but before they left strict orders were given
TO Captain Ford to remain in the chute un-
til daylight. He did so, the tug not chang
ing position until A. NJ. yesterday morn
ing. She then returned TO the city, bring
ing the first and only intelligence OF what
had occurred. Captain Ford informed us
that soon after the Hesper was boarded
several shots were fired, but whether by the
crew or the raiders he did not ascertain
Some one ordered the firing to cease, and
nothing more was heard. No one aboard
the Hesper was injured or in any way mis-
| treated.