Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-11-03
RIVER RIOT.
Particulars Of the Attack on the Steam
er PargOUd by a Crowd Of
Negroes.

From the New Orleans Herald.l
On Monday evening, October 9th,
about dark, the steamer PargOud was
attacked at Goodrich's Landing by be-
tween fifty and sixty cOlOred men, who,
but for the cnolDess Of Captain White
and his officers, would have taken pos
sion of the boat, as they had heretofore
threatened to by resolutions adopt
ed in public meetings. The trouble
arises from the vexed question
Of Utopian social equality, and is rela-
ted as follows: The PargOud was on her
down trip to New Orleans, and as usual
stopped at GOOdrichis Landing-which
is on the Louisiana side of the river,
about thirty-five miles above Vicks-
burg-for the purpose OF taking freight
on board and signing bills OF lading
Suddenly, and without previous warn
ing, the PargOud was boarded by fifty
or sixty cOlored men, led by Cain Sar-
tain, a member Of the kellogg house Of
representatives, from Carol parish; Da-
Wis Jackson, clerk of the court of the
parish; Budd Smith, and other noted
characters of the locality. EnteringI
the cabin in a boisterous manner, they
were aligned by their leaders, who de-
furnished with drinks. Captain
White, who was lying i'll ia
his staterOom, came down at this
juncture to confront the rioters, and met
Cain Sartain, with whom De had dis
cussion. Cain asserted that be was 8
member Of the legislature that made
laws governing steamboats,, and claimed
that he had right TO drink on board the
boat on the grounds of social equality,
besides making threats against the cap
tain and bis officers for refusing to serve
him at the bar, which, but for the timely
arrival Of Captain White, would have
been seized by the rioters, they having,
in fact, made demonstrations to that
effect. Captain White stood his ground
nanfully, and told Sartain that there
was a higher authority which governed
steamboats, than his legislature, and
finally ordered them of the PaTgoud. |
Sartain needed the warning reluet- |
antly, but retired with his crowd, /
but to attack the mate, Mr.. Cum
Mugs, and the crew Of the boat on the I
landing, where hey were attending TO /
some freight. Mr.. Cummings was sew I
eral times surrounded by the rioters, /
who vociferated anathemas at his head 4
A4l AAAANtANIAAI4 LII AA4I- IkAAAA4alElg :
the crew OF the PargOud, which was
large, resolved to stand by their officers,
and Mr.. Cummings was rescued from 1
bis perilOus position. Meanwhile, Cain 1
5artain had dispatched a messenger ca I
horseback with the order to &c TO
ighboriDg plantation to s;Immon the
,olored men to the landing, with in
,tructions 20 bring their guns with them, 4
because they were to have a fight with |
he boat. Before the messenger could /
-eturn. however, the Pargoud backed I
rom the landing, to the great disap 4
,ointnnent Of the rioters, who began a /
1ronniscuous discharge Of pistols and re-
,Olvers, firing about one hundred shots !
1t the boat, luckily, however, without
Djuring anybody, the steamer being /
veil supplied with cotton bales, which /
Ifforded excellent shelter from the pro-
ectiles. To-day Captain White and Mr. (
his mate, intend to place
be matter before the United States COM
missioner, charging Cain Sartain and
he other leaders of the riot with assault
lpOn his steamer. From the Officers Of
he Pargoud we learn that should this
and his followers be tolerated
u the course they have, for long tlme,
threatened to pursue, and began 70 put
ntO operation on Monday, it will be