Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-03
[From the Memphis Avalanche, Jan. %. ]
Human XuIfureR.

The I. L. McGill disaster, which occurred
week ago last night, is fresh in the minds of our
readers it having been detailed in all its minute
particulars by our reporters. By the arrival of
the steamer G. w. Cheek last night, we learn
of other items concerning this horrible sensa-
ton, which, though not attended with such
tragic Incidents yet are Of lively and exciting
character.
The freight left by the McGill on the Misss-
sippi shore, above Shoe Fly bar, amounted to
about one hundred and fifty tons. 1t consisted
of pork in barrels, corn, oats and other classes
of upper country produce. Charles Foster, the
mate of the McGill, with six of the deck hands,
remained with the freight to protect and guard
it until the underwater agents could reach the
place. The remainder of the McGilPs crew
came to this city some days ago, and passed on
to their several homes.
Last Monday and Tuesday skifs, propelled by
negroes and white men, made their appearance
about the wreck, and began to carry off every
thing and anything that could be got out. Like
hungry vutures, hunting carrion, they hourly
increased in number, until thirty or forty were
at work pillaging, stealing and ransacking from
among the debris of the smoking hulk. At the
same time crowds of vicious-looking persons,
black and white, gathered around the freight
pile on the shore, and the men i'll charge of it
began to imagine they were after no good; in
fact, they grew somewhat uneasy in their
minds regarding their own safety. Their alarm
tie DER the scene, for then hideous faces could be
seen peering, at intervals, from behind fence
corners and bushes in the vicinity, and glaring
eyes elistened forth, which unsettled the nerves
Of the guardsmen, and caused them to imagine
their position decidedly unpleasant, if not dam
gerous. Foster, their leader, was, however,
brave fellow, and his resolute manner treasured
his men and stiffened their nerves.
Toward midnight they were startled by a rife
shot, the ball of which whistled in close proX-
unity to their ears. Every mothers son of them
darted behind an oat pile, just in time to save
themselves from half dozen shots, which fol-
lowed the first in quick succession. Voices
strange and sepulchral voices-next yelled to
the guardsmen, "Take the riverl You sons Of
-, take the rIverP" But the bOatnen did not
take worth cent. They fred at the rascals,
held them at bay, and built barricades OF oats
and corn piles and pork barrels. Next day, Mr.
F. 5. Belcher, the sheriff of Tunica county, was
sent to for assistance. A deputy and six men
went TO reinforce the guard. Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thurs lay night the robbers gathered in
increased numbers, and kept up a dcsutory
firing. In one of these attacks the horse of the
sheriff deputy received bullet; but no other
harm was done, except that the oat and corn
bags were well perforated by bullet holes. The
sheriff and mate, with their forces, all well
armed, fred numerous volleyS at the scoundrels,
some of which, it is thought struck the hide of
one or two of the thieves.
AT all events, they failed to come to time after
that time, though when Capt Barnard, the I'M
derwriter from st. Louis, reached the scene, he
deemed it wise to arm himself at once. dou-
ble-barreled gun, well charged with buckshot,
caused his intervewers to keep respects bic
distance and maintain a civil bearing. The
freight was all got off on the creek, except a
part that was surreptitiously spirited off in spite
of the efforts of the guardsmen. Capt. Barnard
renamed at the wreck to sec if other properly
cannot be saved. The McGill's cash book was
found among the debris of the wreck, suppos ed
to have been dropped there by the clerk, Mr..
Mcfarland, after he had gone to the lower deck.
1t was much defaced by the action of the water.
None of the bodies of tAe lost have yet been dis