The Van Buren press., 1870-01-11
Serious and Bloody Disturbance at Darda.


death of a young white man of Darda-
nellie named Port Jones, from tistol
shot in the hands of white man named
Holland Musteen, on Tuesday, at the
| Dickens farm, three miles below Darda-
nellie. On Saturday, being Christmas,
many negroes from the surrounding
plantations as well as the white citizens
Of Dardanele and vicinity, were celebra-
ting the holiday in the usual CUSTOM
''more honored in Che breach than in the
performance"-by drinking more or less
whiskey and discharging firearms. t1'
A young man named William Jones,
but no relative Of the deceased, was fir
ing powder from his pistol, near the
store of Andrew Chandler, (colored, )and
remarked to Chandler, who was passing
by him, that the negroes were getting
drunk and disordefly, and that he
| (Chandlcr) had better take them home.
| Chandler, the colored man, net only owns
the store, bat also owns a part of the old
Dickens farm, upon which he was employ
| ing most Of the negroes alluded to.
| Chandler, seeing the young man with a
pistol in his hand, and not knowing that
he was only firing powder from it, and
being himself in liquor, Immediately fired
two Derringer pistols at the young man
without hitting him, and fed. After be
ing fired upon, young William Jones
drew revolver loaded with ball, and pur-
sued Chandler, and being joined by a
number of other young men, drove all
armed negroes out of town, Offering no
threats or violence to those who were
unarmed,
Chandler Immediately sent for Holland
Musteen, who killed Major Burt last
spring ana several other citizens since
the war, and against whom there are sew
eral indictments for murder pending in
Yell and Franklin Circuit Courts. Indeed,
few evenings before this Christmas
scrape occurred, the constable Of Darda-
nellie went with Il capias for his arrest,
summoning a posse, of which young
Port Jones, the deceased, was one. He
made his escape, but announced after
wards in several places that he would kill
every man that was on that posse.
On Tuesday evening, having been sent
for by Chandler, he was at Chandler $
farm as Port Jones. and George Stirman,
son Of DR.. Jno. /. Stirman, neither of
whom were participants in any part of
the Christmas scrape, rode along the
road by Chand(ers yard, when they were
stopped by Mustcen, who asked Jones
if his name was not Port Jones. Jones
answered in the Affirmative. Musteen
then said: " You said the other night if
you got me | would be your meat; and
now you are my meat" and shot Jones
through Che body, killing him instantly.
Stirman rode off rapidly and escaped the
negroes in the yard with Musteen firing
upon him. Jones body was then shot
through several times and thrown down
the bluff With Musteen and the negroes
are also Walker and White, two noted
desperadocs. AT the time our informant
left the scene, a perfectly reliable and
christian gentleman, they were threaten
ing to collect the negroes at Lewisburg,
who were engaged in last springs dis
turbances, and those along the river to
Gala Rock, and to revenge themselves
on all engaged in driving Chandler out of
Dardanclc The people of Dardanelle
and surrounding country, knowing the
desperate character Of Musteen and his
white associates, are very much excited,
and are assembling in bodies, with view
to their defence and that oftheir families
LATgR-On Thursday last we publish
cd an account of the trouble in Yell coun-
ty, which later adyices confirm as sub
stantially correct
After young Jones was killed, his
body was rded OF watch, money and jew
elry, and thrown over the bank of the
river, On receipt of the news Of his
death at Dardanelle, the excitement was
intense A party of about 20 mounted
and 80 men on foot, all armed, started
for the scene of the murder to recover
the body. On arriving at Chandler's
place the mounted men sent forward a
white flag, but they were fired upon by
Mustccn's gang. They then fell back and
waited the arrival of the men on foot,
when they again went forward. They
found that Musteen and his gang had re
treated and the body, much mutilated,
was recovered. 1t was taken to town and
buried on Thursday. A very great num-
Der Of people were present at the funeral
On Wednesday, a party started below
to arrest Musteen, Chandler, etc, armed
with warrants issued by Judge May, of
the Circuit Court. Arriving at Chandlers
place they found the quarters deserted,
and all the wagons, mules, etc., gene, and
a quantity of cotton, belonging to par
ties in Dardanele, burning The fire was
extinguished and Information sent TO stop
Musteen and his gang at Gala Rock, as
they crossed the river. The deputy L.
S. Marshal, at Gala Rock, succeeded in
stopping large number, and five or six
negroes against whom were warrants
were arrested and placed in custody. The
rest Of them proceeded to Lewisburg,
whero they all but a few were induced to
deposit their arms. They reported tha-
Musteen and his brother and two other
white men deserted them below Gala
Rock, and had gone over to the Springt
field road, with the intention ofgoing into
Franklin county. A party was sent to
intercept him. r.
We have conversed with men of all
parties on the ground at the time, all OF
whom agreed in saying that the affair did
not grow out Of politics, but originated
in the free use of mean whiskey on Christ
mas day.