North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-08-11

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OF the ARRAY ON the Steamer Dubuque
preliminary Examination OF the
Prisoners.
From the Rock Island Argus, July so.
On Thursday morning, loaded with pas
sengers and freight, and having nearly 200
raftsmen on board, the steamer Dubuque
left her wharf for st. Paul. Her officers
are as follows: Captain, John B. Rhodes
clerks, Daniel v. Dawley, and Theodore
Jones mate, James Sweet. The crew
was almost entirely composed of colored
men. AS soon as she had passed Moline,
Clerk Jones prepared to look through the
dense crowd of deck passengers for tick
cts, and for that purpose stationed q col
ored man named Moses Davis on the
stairs leading up to the cabin deck, with
instructions to allow no one to pass up
until all had been examined. The RATS
men were principally on the lower deck.
The guard had not been at his post but
few minutes, before raftsman. who is de-
scribed as large, pock-marked fellow, at
tempted to pass up stairs. lie was, OF
course, resisted, A disturbance arose be-
tween the two, which resulted in the negro
knocking the raftsman down, and giving
him decidedly the worst of the fight. Most
Of the raftsmen had been drinking, and
much excitement ensued. The mate, Mr..
Sweet, foreseeing melee, offered to put
the negro on shore. This proposition did
not meet with any sracial encouragement.
Matters Quoted down until the boat
reached Hampton, and had jast pushed
out again, when ring was formed on the
deck, and the two were called on by the
crowd, to fight the matter out. The negro
consented, but as soon as he stepped down
from the stairs, his opponent drew knife
and made at him. A terrible scene fol-
lowed. Knives and revolvers were drawn
by, the, raftsmep,. and an indiscriminate
assault commenced on all the negroes on
board. A large number of shots were
fred, but with what effect is not now
definitely known, as even the negroes
could not tellexactly how many lives were
lost. The unfortunate guard, on seeing
the danger that beset him, turned to flee,
but was closely followed by the blood
thirsty rufins. Heavy pieces Of coal were
hurled at his head, until he sprang
overheard, and chose u watery grave in
preference to being butchered with knives.
His brother, who saw him spring over,
thinks his skull was fractured at the time,
as it bore that appearance, and is not sure
that he knew what he was doing when he
| jumped over. As he sunk, the blood rose
to the surface, crimsoning the water, con
clusively showing that he had received
some severe wounds. He made no groan
or struggle, but sank Immediately, and
| was seen no more. At this juncture the
mate narrowly escaped death, and wa:
driven above, while the utmost consterna-
ton prevailed among the passengers. This
raftsmen rushed all over the boat, cruelty
beating the negroes who concealed them
selves wherever the opportunity offered
Marshall White, colered deck passenger
from Davenport, and bound for McGregor
was severely wounded in the left thigh
with knife, aud also was terribly cut by
the same man under the left jaw, the vii
lain having evidently endeayored to Gu
his throat. On the roof a negro was Gane
concealed under the lifeboat. He wa
dragged out by the gang of howlins
fends, was stabbed in various portions O
his body, and, it is said, had his throat Gu
from ear to ear, and was thrown over into
the river. A negro, on the roof, drew ;
knife in self-defence, and inflicted 1
severe wound across the abdomen Of on,
of the ringleaders Of the raftsmen, after
which his head was nearly severed from
his body, and he was pitched into the riv
e~. Two other negroes werealso pelted
with missiles, until driven overheard anc
drowned. As we said before, no one knew
if any of the negroes were killed, but there
were many shots fired. Capt. Rhoades or
dered the engineers to turn the hot water
pipes on the crowd if they attempted te
interfere with the management of The
boat, and then ordered the pilot to make .
second landing. The negroes rushed
ashore as soon as the boat touched the
beach. Some Of the deck passengers in
formed us. that negro was followedso r
shore by the raitsmen and killed there
We hardly credit the statement, though
some of the cabin passengers say tha
they heard the raftsmen say to each other
that ''the id niger was tixe6," after
they came back on board. After these
shocking barbarities, in which FIVE or ST,
lives were wantonly sacrificed. the rioters
became more peacihle, but still held virtu
al possession of the boat. The officers
half determined to run back to Rocl
Island, and turn the murderers over to oul
authorities, but fearful that the boat nigh
be fred, and other violence be added t,
the list Of outrages, they concluded II
keep on up the river, and trust to assist
ance somewhere on the route. Various
! portions Of the steamer were stained will
blood, while many negroes owe their live
to the passengers who concealed them il
the staterooms. The greatest indignatio,
prevailed in the cabin, but it was general,
admitted that any effort to gain the nppe
hand Of the outlaws must result ia tarthe
bloodshed and perhaps in failure. It wa
finally determined to wait till the boa
arrived at Dubuque, and then have |
thorough Investigation. Among the pas
| cannara wnra n Iarna mum her of wnmeI