The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-08-23
Bloody Tragedy on, the Mississippi.
STEAMBOAT ROBBED AND SEVEN PERSONS
MURDERED EY NEGROES.

MEMPHIS, August 11.-Early this morn
a fisherman discovered the little steamer
Helen Brooks floating down stream near
the head of Checks chute, some ten miles
above here, and apparently abandoned
He rowcd out to the steamer, made line
fast and pulled her toward the bank, but
before reaching it, saw negro asleep on
the lower deck, who, as soon as the boat
struck the bank, started up, leaped ashore
and ran to the woods. The fisherman then
boarded the steamer, and found traces of a
desperate struggle having taken place, the
deck being wet with blood. He then came
to this city and reported what he had seen.
Subsequently, the steamer Grand Tower,
from st. Louis, arrived here, bringing a
message from magistrate at Bradley s
Landing, eighteen miles above here, stating
that the crew of the Helen Brooks, and the
proprietors and families of "a trading boat
which the Brooks had towed up there had
been murdered, and the boat plundered
Assistance was at once dispatched in the
steamer John Overton. The report is. that
Captain William Pott and his brother, the
proprietors of the trading boat, together
with their wives and two daughters, were
all murdered and their bodies thrown into
the river.
LATER DETAILS.
MEMPHIS, August 1S.-Latcr adviccs
from Bradley's Landing state that soon
after the tug Helen Brooks arrived there
with the trading boats, James Trumbull
went on board drunk, and commenced tIi-
fling with the machinery. Captain Pott
ordered him to desist, to which order he re-
Piled with opprobrious epithcts, and threat
ened to throw POtt overheard. Pott took
up shotgun and ordered him off tie boat
Trumbull went before Esquire Walt and
swore out warrant, accusing Pott of re-
tallng liquor without n license, upon which
the latter was arrested by a colorcd consta-
Die, and taken before magistrate. and his
wife, leaving her infant with two women
on the boat, accompanied him. After wait
ing till nearly dark, Potts brother, fearing
trouble, took the boat over to Island No. 40
and made fast to the shore That night
Downing, the colored constable Trumbull
and man called Hans took skiff, pressed
two negroes into their service, and or
dered them to row across and land above
the steamer, which was done ''Ches," ;"
one OF the negroes says that on landing
Downing and party ordered them to be
quiet under penalty OF death. Downing
and party then crept cautiously towards the
boat, which they boarded, ard soon after
a loud cry was heard and then several shots
IN quick succession. 'TChes' then saw
them pursuing Potts brothers. who had
jumped ashore, and firing on him, but
whether he was killed or not he does not
know. Pott was the only one seen by
''Ches, " and he thinks two other men. one
OF whom was named Robinson, two women
and three children were killed and thrown
overheard. When ''Ches" and his part
ner were called to the boat they saw no one
but Downing, TrumbuI and Hans. who
broke into the bar, and the entire party
got drunk. 'Ghes' remembers no more
until the boat was landed by the fisherman.
as stated last night, when he jumped ashore
and made his way back to Bradley's, where
widest excitement prevailed. AS nothing
has been seen of Pott or his party, while
Downing and his party have disappeared.
and from that and the fact that the boat
had been plundered, it is feared that the
whole party has been murdered.