The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-03
FIRST EDITIO N
PR A TIC A L.
The Raftsmen's Riot on the Steamer
Dubuque Murderous and Un-
provoked Brutality-Six
Men Killed.

Oeen received Dy Jclcgrapn-
1t appears that the disturbance commenced by
man attempting to go up the stairway from
the deck while the clerk was collecting fare and
tickets The negro that guarded the stairway
refused to allow him to come up, without he
had n cabin ticket The man said he had one,
but refused to show it. He then tried to pull
the negro down, but the negro, after the primi-
tive fashion of his race, lowered his head and
butted the raftsman over backwards. As he fell
he struck his head against an iron scraper ut the
bottom, cutting his scalp. He then went among
his companions, and told them that the id
darkey had knitted him." He then advanced,
and said he would fight the colOred man either
with a knife or fsticuff. The negro accepted
and agreed to fight him, and the rattsman backed
water and would not This alteration grew
apace, and at last broke out into general dis
turbance.
The $50 raftsmen seemed bent on numbering
every negro they could find on the boat. There
were about thirty-five of them on board in the
capacity of deck-hands. Some OF them had
knives and used them to some purpose, wound
ing two men, one of whom is supposed to have
died. The boat at this time was at Duck Creek
Chain, and here the raftsmen threw three
negroes overheard, and they were drowned
when the boat reached Hampton and pulled on
shore. They made an advance on the colored
deck. hands, and drove them, to the number of
twenty-nine, shore, and then pursued them
over the wood piles, shooting them with re-
volvers. They then searched the boat to see if
any were secreted there. They found two be-
hind coal box. One of these leaped overheard
when the men approached, and the other was
beaten to DEATH
The raftsmen did not attempt to molest the
pilot, nor did they mingle with the passengers
on the upper deck. They only glorifed among
themselves below stairs at the supremacy which
they deemed they had won. The captain went
below and eXpostulated with them mildly to be
quiet but in such a crowd n milk-and-water
course was naturally of no avail. None of the
officers of the boat had fire. arms, and but few
If any OF the passengers.
The officers of the boat, seeing that they were
unable to qucll the disturbance while the boat
was lying at Hampton, determined to take her
back to the point of the island, and place the
rioters under guard of soldiers. The rioters
then told Capt. Rhodes that if he went back to
Rock Island they would burn the boat.
The boat then moved up the stream above
Hampton. The passengers remained in the
cabin, fearing the frenzed demons below, many
of whom were nerved to desperation by liquor,
and would have stopped at nothing. The ofii-
GERS were powerless. Here the captain at
tempted to draw in on shore, when the ring
leaders, one of whom was the curly-headed Origi-
nator of the outrage, who had recovered his
bowie knife and was brandshing it tendishly,
threatened to burn the boat if he did not keep
out in the steam, and head up river. At length
Port Byron reached, and here n number OF
the raftsmen wanting to get sp, the boat landed.
A number accordingly left the boat, and it is
supposed took to the bluffs to avoid conse-
quences. The train in the meantime had gone
on and learned that the boat had left Hampton.
The train continued in pursuit, and overlook the
boat at Clinton.
When the boat reached Clinton the tran-load
of citizens with the sheriff at their head, was
awaiting them, and, rs the boat touched the
wharf, half dozen officers jumped on board
with pistols drawn, and took possession. This
was the first intimatiOn the rioters had of there
being anybody on their track. Up to this time
they had carried everything with high hand.
They were monarchs of the situation, and they
did not seem to be aware that there was such a
thing as a telegraph on the land. They had up
tn nOmnDUSlV what
could do, and what they intended to do, etc,
but when they saw the pistols at their heads,
they became as pacific as mice.
When the boat landed the gang plank was
drawn out and row of citizen police placed
along it, Rope guards were put up to clear a
path for the prisoners to file through. On the
shore the negro deck-hands were stationed in
two lines few feet apart.
The deck passengers were made to pass
through in single file, and run the gauntlet of
the negroes scrutiny. Some of these colored
men had their heads bound up, and were other
wise wounded from the humps OF coal which
their assailaats had showered upon them. They
examined every man as he passed with the
utmost attention, taking in every particular
feature of dress and countenance by which he
might be Identified.
When they fixed upon Il mans identity he
was ordered to stand one side under guard, md
after number had been thus spotted, they
were taken to jail. large number OF TINS pro-
cession were innocent-BGOtan white-halred
SWedes. fresh from their Dalecarlan cow pas
lures and who would not molest mosquito that
hit them. But the others were rough-looking
set from whom Latimer might have illustrated
a treatise on human deprayity rs imprinted on
the countenance. FOrty-tour were thus ldcntl'
fed and taken to Jail, and placed under strong
p4hIa There are now sixty men In the ROCK
island Jail the largest number that have beer
there at one time since the Jail was built, among
whom are four or five OF the most desperate
hOuse-breakers. ,,,.. ,-
These had been recognized by the officers OF the
boat as ringleaders, and were pointed out 10 th'
sheriff bv them These are all of the square
head. pig-eyed tribe, who look rs IL they Would
cut a throat without conjunction; .!
The negroes who were run ON shore l reColrGG, tS,
on foot to Rock Island. The towns along th'
Ivav were in the greatest CONSERVATION aI tn'
disturbance, the result OF which they coulu ON.
surmise 1t seemed to be part OF their tacllG
not to land mt the towns, as they ald mOI Iouci
nj Port Byron, but little below IT, Ihere wa
avidentlv no concerted action to take possession
of the boat. but the capture of the boat wa
merely an expedient growing out OF tne usIIl iI,l
nce The men were on their way TO the plne
ias from ST Louis, and they had obtained 10
their summers work the means 10 PuIcn'so vi
whisky which inspired their hendlshness.
AS an Illustration OF the pruIttl nlalloi nt a, :
which all the murders were collllnlSU0ui I ~ GneI
foIIowing:-A negro, large, muscular, anu lii0,
bniIt had taken refuge near the Wheeihouse.
Last he was observed and shower OF coai seiv
10 direction. He then fled along the SIDE an
as he passed. one of the passengers nUIiJO1 ioh -
deem cash on the top OF his head lroln "niGn , ~
blood was flowing protusely. ne tora MaS pi seer
b,, Tho Avinp missile to the edge, MheIe SUI nooii
~ ~ escone. he Jumped overheard. he strugSl;;
in fhe water for some time, boat lie"I I,,st W -
nuttiRp off from the shore 10 MS rescuo' - ag,
onnroached him he sank ana was seen sI nO i1iE, ~
The examination of the parties i. luen.iHGu IN ii