Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-10-19

The Seizure and Destruction of Arms Be-
long ing to Arkansas. in Tennessee Dis
patch from Governor la ton TO tine See
rrtary of War-Pariiculars of the Seiz-
urr.
The following telegram has been received by
the Secretary of War:
LITTLE Rock, ARKANSAS. October II, 1853
j. NJ. SCAofet,& Secretary Of Hdr-Ihe arms
purchaseu Tor the State were DESTROYED by an
aimed band OF men IN the Mississippi river
The boat was captured and the arms thrown
overheard. Much excitement exists here
From facts in my pOsse sion i am satisfied
plated, III which event the United St4-es forces
mere would De- entirely inadequate to preserve
order POSELL CLAYTON,
Governor of Arkansas.
An Associated Press dispatch dated Mem.
phis, Te"u-, yesterday. says:
The stamer Hesper, Capt. Houston, which
left tb port We erday evening, for LItte Roc
Laden In p II with 33IO muskets, consigned 10
Governor CLAY IN, for the use of the State
militia. was oyertaken twenty y-fye miles be-
low this place, on the ArkansIs shore, by the
stramtug Nettie Jones. which WI forc d inro
the service by about fifty armed men, in ma x ;,
who threw the arms overheard, and thea made
their escape.
The destruction OF the arms Causes much ex.
cltement. The Democratic papers asse rs that
they were destroyed by the Radicals for the
purpose Of making political capital: also that
the arms -ere not the properly Of the State OF
Arkansas Republican papers, on the other
hand, assert that they Were Destroyed by the
ku-klUx.
The following particulars aav oeen obtained
rvOm Captain John Ford: Or ThuIsday the
r0g Nettie Jones, OF which ne was Captain.
lett the wharf for Pickering, having 4 barge III
tsw. The tug reaehC d its destination, but was
scarcely made fast before the spot was covered
by men securely masked. About a hundred Of
them quickly Doe -ded the tug, took possession
of The pilot-house and engine room, and order-
ed Captain Ford 70 start down the river. Ac-
eordingly he ordered one of the crew to cast uf
the line, and in few minutes the tug was rap.
IDLY steamIng down the river CHUTE.
Upon taking possession the new commanders
kept yigIlant eyes upon the crew not allowing
any one Of them 20 leave his post and the eu-
flneer was not even allowed 10 oil the ma
chInery. When approaching Cat Island, IS
miles below, and near the Arkansas shore,
capt Ford WIS ordered TO run the tug along
side the little steamer Hesper, which was died
up, woOdIng.
During the "trip the leaders of the party in
formed Ford that they intended 0verhsulin-
the Hesper and destroying the aims, bat that
strlct orders had been lssued TO their men 10
harm no one and 10 respect property.
In obediepce TO orders Capt. Ford ran the
tug alongside the Hesper, which was no sooner
accomplished than the veiled party sprang
aboard her, leaving two Of their mum Ser 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.
Saying little or nothing, the boarders COM
menced work IN bre iklng open the gun-boxes
and throwing them into the river. A large
quantity Of ammu milton, marked ssundrles,"
was Also taken from the hold and thrown over
board The party then quietly returned to the
tug, leaving the Hesper in possession Of ber
crew and Capt. Houston. The latcer's brother
made for the woods as soon as the Nettie Jones
was seen approaching. At midnight the tug
reached Presidents Island chute, below the
city, and was run aground. The rudder was
taken ashore in a skIf, which was sgnalled,
and strict orders We're given TO Captain Ford
70 remain ar the chute until daylight, which he
ooeyNu, and the tug ret urned 70 the city IN the
morning"
The Memphis AUdIdnoAe seems 70 have antic-
ipatrd this seizure, Judging from the tone of
an article in that paper on Saturday, which
representa- that the arms were not ordered or
shipped TO the nited States or State Govern
nent authorities in Arkansas, and that they
were undoubtedly designed for the use of the
Loyal Leagues adding "wAether these Radi-
cal peacemakers will speedily reach their des.
Unatlon ~ not clear"