Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-23
HENDERLIGHT'S GUN-BOAT.
Capture Of a Noted Freebooter of the
HOIstGn.
Knoxville Press and Herald, May q.

Knoxville Press and Herald, MAY q.
For long time past the farmers living
/ on the banks of the HOistOn fOTmiles above
and below MCMillans-a station on the
railroad ten miles east of kuOxville-have
! been deprecated on by a notorious and des-
perale man named William HenderligLt.
This freebooter Of the HOlstOn made his
headquarters on a large boat moored be-
meath bluff sixty feet high, nearly oppo-
site the residence Of Hon. VIM. Turley,
State Senator. The boat was lined with
three inch oak, and protected in various
ways, and it being well known that the
sbrigand kept a small armOry ON board, the
craft went by the name Of "IIendeTlight's
gUn-b0at."
Here he lived, never venturing on land
during the day. At hight, he moved up
and down the river rs inclination sug-
Cested or purpose moved, and many
farmer has suffered from his nocturnal
depredatiOns. lie hshed during the day,
and had a small boy in the boat 10 carry
his fish 10 the station for sale On
the boat there was a young woman named
Hilda Parker, Ostensibly = cook for Hen
derlight, but believed TO have been alb
duCted by him from her parents when a
young girl some years ago, and living with
him as his wife, though he has legitimate
wife and several children sOmeWher2 whom
he has deserted.
Indictments were found against him in
Hawkins county for larceny, and attempts
made by the sheriff and posse fIOm that
county to arrest him, but without result,
Henderlight successfully defying them, and
resisting arrest. II was known that in his
gun-bOat were formidable weapons. and
Henderlight's boat beneath the bluff could
not be reached except at a disadvantage
and certain loss of life to the assaiiing
party.
At the recent term of the Criminal
Court Of this county, and Indictment for
leWdness was found against Henderlight,
and Sheriff Swami determined on his ar
rest.
Yesterday morning, the Sheriff with a
well-armed posse Of six determined men
left Knoxville on the 6 o'clock freight, and
went 10 McMillan's. Approaching the
river bank some distance from the station.
the Sheriff discovered Henderlight and q
boy IL a small skif. near the bank, they
having come towards the station to dispose
of their fish. Quietly summoning an ad-
ditiOual posse, a number of the men We're
ordered to make an immediate raid on the
gunboat during Henderlight'S absence from
it, and "hOld the FORT
This piece Of strategy was successfully
accomplished, the Sheriff leading in per
son. No one was found or the boat but
the woman, Hilda Parker.
Meanwhile Henderlight had sent the boy
ashore with the fish, but did not land him
self, being as usual, too cautious to place
himself where he might be arrested. Soon,
several Of the posse showed themselves and
ordered Henderlight to surrender. Thishe
refused to do, and with CELEBRITY headed his
skf for his gunbOat, thinking 70 gain it
and from lis defences defy arrest.
He was fired at but not struck. As he
approached the boat the sheriff and posse
appeared and demanded his surrender.
he replied with an oath, and attempted to
draw a weapon, when a brOadside was
fired at him, consisting OF discharges from
shOt-guns and TeVolyeTs. he was struck
on the arm and hahd, and disabled. An
other yOiley was about to be fired at him,
when he called OGt that he would yield
himself TO Sheriff Swan. This he did, and
was Immediately placed under arrest.
On his person was a small pistol, only.
On the boat were three Enfield rifles, and
several navy revolvers, showing that once
upon it, desperate resistance would have
been made to an arrest.