Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-19

MEMPHIs, Tenn, Aug 1T-Early this morn
inT 4 fisherman discovered the little steamer
Helen Brooks floating down the stream near the
head of Chucls Chute, some ten miles above
here, and apparently abandoned. He rowed
out TO the steamer, made line fast, and RULED
her toward the bank, but before reaching il saw
negro in 4 sitting posture asleep ON the lower
deck, who, as soon rs the boat struck the bank
started up, leaped ashore and ran into
the woods. The fisherman then boarded
the steamer and found traces of a desperate
struggle having taken place, and the decks wet
with blood lie then came 10 this city, and re
ported what he had done and seen. Suisse
quently, the Grand Tower from st. Louis, ar
rived here, bringing message from a magis
tratG al BradleV's landing, eighteen miles above
here, stating that the crew of the Helen Brooks
and the proprietors and family of a trading
boat which the Brooks had lowed up there
had been murdered, and the boats pluaderod
Assistance was at once dispatched on the steam
er John Ovcrton. The report is that captain
VIM. 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 adviccs from Bradley's Landing are that
soon after the tug Helen Brooks arrived there
with the trading boat James Trumbull went on
board, and being drunk commenced trfling
with the machinery. Pott ordered him to de
siSt, to which order rrumbull replied with APP
problous epithetS and threatened to throw Pott
overheard. Pott took up a shot gun, and or
derCd him off the boat. Frumhull went before
Esquire Watt and swOre out a warrant accusing
Pott of selling liquor without Il license upon
which the latter was arrested by colored con-
stable and taken before a magistrate. His wife,
leaving her infant with two women on
the boat accompanied him After wait
ing until nearly dark, Potts brother fear
ing trouble, took the boat over TO Island No
40 and made fast to the shore. That night
Downing, the coored constable Trumbull and
man called Hans took Il skill, pressed two ne
grOeS into their service, and ordered them TO
row across and land above the steamer, which
was done. "Ches," one of the negroes saws
that on landing Downing and his party ordered
them TO remain quiet under penalty OF death
Downing and party then crept cautiously to-
ward the boat, which they boarded, and soon
after Il loud cry was heard then several shots in
quick succession. CheS then saw them pursuing
Captain Potts brother, who he 4 jumped ashore,
and firing on him; whether he was killed
or not, he does not know. Pott was
the only one seen by Chcs, aud he
thinks two other men, one named Robinson, two
women aud three chrildren were killed. and
thrown overheard. When Ches and his partner
We're called to the boat, they saw no one but
Downing, Trumbu and Hans, who broke into
the bar, and the entire party got drunk. Ches
remembers nothing more until the boat was
landed by the fisherman, as stated above when
he jumped ashore and made his way back to
Bradeys, where the widest excitement pre-
vailed, as nothing had been seen of Pott or his
party, while Downing and his party had disap-
peared, From the fact that the boat had been
plundered, it is feared the whole party have
been murdered.