The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-19
FROM MEMPHIS,
Full Particulars Of the Seizure of the
Tug Nellie Jones, and the Destruc-
tion OF Arms on Board the Steamer
Hesper.

fion OF Arms on Board the Steamer
Hesper.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. October 1.-THE
destruction of arms on board the |
steamer Hespers still causes much ex-
citement. The Democratic papers as
sert that they were destroyed by Radi-
Gals, for the purpose of making politi-
cal capital, and that Captain Houston,
of the Hesper, loaded his boat ut HaCk
Grades for that purpose; also, that the
arms were the property of the State OF
Arkansas. The 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 Captain
John Ford, of the impressed tug Nellie
Jones.
At about five o'clock on Thursday af-
ternoon the tug Nellie Jones, Captain
John Ford, left the wharf for Fort Pick
erinC, having a barge in tow, intending
to return with lumber. The tug reached
its destination and landed about half
mast five o'clock. No one was in sight,
but the line had scarcely been made fast
before the shore was covered with men,
all so securely masked as TO be unTecOg-
nizable. They were probably a hun
dred in number and had, evidently,
been concealed some time under the
bluff. Without speaking a word, they
quickly boarded the tug and took pos
session of the pilot house and engine
room and ordered Captain Ford to i'm
mediately start down the river, adding
BY way of an incentive to his prompt
ness that somebody might get hurt in
the event of refusal. Accordingly, h.
ordered one Of the crew to cast off the
line and in a few minutes the tug was
rapidly steaming down the river chute.
Upon taking possession the new COM
mander kept a vigilant eye on the crew,
not allowing any one of them to leave
his post for even a moment. The engi-
neer was not permitted to oil his ma
chinery, the mysterious passengers evil
IDENTIFY fearing that he might suddenly
put it out of repair. The head of the
tug was held steadily down the river
until when approaching Cat Island,
twenty-five miles below, near the Ar
kansas shore. This was between 7:3O
and o'clock, and Captain Ford was
ordered to run his tug along side the
little steamer HespGr, which was tied
up woOding. During the trip the lead
ers of the party informed Captain Ford
that they intended overhauling the
Hesper and destroying the arms, but
that street orders mad 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 the number in the pilot-hOuse, and !
two in the engine room, and one in the |
cabin, as Il guard-the latter over one of
the crew who assaulted the lcader,-the |
yelled party suddenly Sprang aboard the /
Hesper. Little or nothing was said and |
the bearders, who evidently had an eye |
to business, placed the crew under sur |
VIGILANCE, and commenced the work in
hand. The gun boxes were broken open
with axes and hatchetS, and the guns
taken out and thrown into the river.
Many were broken before being con-
signed to the element. A large quaint
ty of ammunition in the hold, marked
"sundries," was also thrown overheard.
The boxes were showed overheard after
them, and many of them were seen 10y
the passengers on the Mayhowcr float
ing with the current.
In half an hour the task was accom-.
plished, and the party quietly returned
TO the tug, leaving the Hesper adrift !
and in possession of all her crew who !
remained, Capt. Houston and his broth
er having made for the woods as soon as
the Nellie was seen bearing down upon |
their craft The raiders once more |
aboard, Capt. Ford was required to
turn his boat northward and proceed |
until further orders. At midnight the |
tug reached a point on Presidents Island |
about 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 island, was hailed. and a minute
atterward Skitt was put cut from the
shore, and was rowcd alongside.
Whether the person was black or white.
il could not be aSCertaincd. os no too
was masked Six OF the raiders GOT in
to the skiff, and We're taken ashore /,
The skiif continued making trips until /
3 A. NJ, when the last SIN were safely /
carried over. But before any one left, /
strict orders were given 10 Captain
Ford to remain in the chute until day
light. He did so, the tug not chang
ing position until A. NJ. yesterday
morning. She then returned to the
city. bringing the first and only intelli-
gcncc of what occurred. Captain Ford
informs us that soon after the HeSper
was boarded, several shors 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 ON board the Hes |
per was injured, or in any way mis-
treated.