The Van Buren press., 1874-05-12
Latest from Little Rock.
Fight on the Arkansas River---Captain
Sam Houston Killed and others
Wounded.

Below we give the latest Information from
Little Rock. and. also from Washington. The
train to Clarksville having been stopped by
Brooks. we shall get no mail from that way
for several days and the st. Louis mail Is not
due again until tomorrow afternoon.
LITTLE Rock. May ..
Last night party of Twenty-Five Baxter
men, under command Of Lieut. Welsh. took
passage on the steamer Halle which was in
charge ofCapt. sam. Houston and his brother
Ed. Houston. Their object was to intercept
and capture 100 stand Of arms belonging to
the Industrial University. which were shipped
on fat boat from Fort Smith on Wednesday
in charge of six men. The Brookites heard
of this expedition and started Col. John
Brooker, with his regiment OF 2oo coiored
men. on a special train over the Fort smith
railroad to intercept the boat at Palarm,
twenty miles above this city. The Brooks
party arrived there before the Halle got into
position, and rs the boat came along fired on
her. Most of Lieut.. Welch's men were on the
hurricane roof at the time, and got down be-
low as soon as possible. AS they did so.
Frank Timms, prominent Young man OF
this city, was killed and several wounded,
viz: Capt. Sam Houston, through the body,
badly; Ed. Houston in the ankle Jno. Mey-
ers through the breast; Bascomb Leigh in
the left leg. Lieut.. Welch's men returned
the fire. killing one and wounding another
of Brokers men, Pratt, colored. One of the
shots from Brooks men passed through
steam pipe on the Halle disabling her and
she tloated down the river to the opposite
bank from where Brokers men were and the
squad there left the boat. The Bfooker men
then took possession of the steamer. put a
squad on her to bring her te town. and the
remainder of them took the train ana came
back. arriving about three o'clock this even
ing. Soon after their arrival the Halle came
down ard was landed at the State House.
where the wounded were taken off. Capt
Sam Houston died soon after the arrival Of
the Halle. John Meyers, pilot, is mortally
wounded.
OTHER MOVEMENTS
The Fort Smith trains have been stopped
by the Brookstes to prevent any more BaX-
ter men and members of the Legislature from
reaching the city from that direction. The
mails were prevented from going South by
the Brookites last night.
There has been unusual activity in both
camps day. and several arrests on both
sides. notwithstanding the cartel.
THE LEGISLATURE.
A large number of members of the Legis-
lature are here already. and, unless prevented
by the Brooks party by force, there seems lit
tie doubt that there will be quorum in both
Houses, on Monday. There is talk OF their
meeting at some other point in the State, out
side the State House.
The latest reports tonight state that four
men were killed on Brooks side during the
attack to- day, and a number wounded.
WASHINGTON. May 8.
The cabinet was in session for nearly two
hours to-day, during which time the Arkan-
sas question was under consideration. 1t was
expected that the general government would
have made some decision in response to many
applications therefor from representatives of
the contendng factions in this case. but no
conclusions have been reached rs yet here.
The decision of the supreme court favoring
the Brooks side of the case in such direct con-
tradiction of its previous decisions that the
legislature had exclusive control of the ques-
ton. has the effect of augmenting the difficult
ties under which the general government
question This new phase Of the matter was
talked of at some length in the cabinet session
and the reversal of the former opinion Of the
supreme court Of the, state occasoned surprise
No member of the cabinet has made def
mite or positive expression of opinion on the
subject. All paprs that have been presented
in the case were read to-day. There may be
some decision tomorrow, but there is no
certainty OF it. as the attorneys Of the differ
ent parties are continually sending kilograms
and presenting new points and arguments,
which they are anxious to have considered.
A cabinet officer said this evening that the
government was heartily tired of the contro-
versy. When its decision is made. precla-
nation will be issued, which all will under
stand must settle the question