Louisiana capitolian., 1880-01-17
THE LAKE PROVIDENCE AFFAIR.
STATEMENT OF THE CAPTAIN AND RI.
LOT OFTHE TOWBOAT--HOW THE
DIFFICULTY BEGAN.
vicksburg Commercial.

vicksburg Commercial.
Can't. Thomas Tobin, In conn mand
Of the coal boat from which the crew
were recently taken by armed citizens
Of Lake Providence, charged with
completely in the murder Of City Mar
sllal Mcclure, of that town, and were
set upon and shot while in custody,
gives the following condensed account
Of the affair:
On last Sunday evening | arrived
at Lake Providence in charge of a
coalboat, Shortly afterwards fiat
boat, loaded with potates, belonging
to RitterlOuse e. PiersOn, came down
the river and landed about 600 yards
below my boat. Some hours after
wards six of the crew of my boat went
down to the potato boat, aud the crew
Of the two boats proceeded up into
the town. While there, | am inform
ed, some Of them drank considerably,
and one man became loud and boast
ing on the street. After remaining
till about 8 o'clock in the evening,
they started tn return to the boats.
The man who was boasting 50 loudly
pulled off his coat and lMt, and re-
marked: T'oys let's take the town."
As they proceeded IN the direction Of
the river, John Brashier, one Of my
crew, and Jim Brown, the boaster,
and who is said to have done the
shooting, were ut some distance be-
hind the rest, when the city marshal
stepped up to lay his hand on Brown:
Bnshier started to run. While rnn-
ming he heard two pistol shots. He
did not see who discharged them.
But turning his head backward as he
fled, he saw the marshal on his knees
still clinsing to Brown, and heard
him exclaim, go Lordy" or words
very similar. At that the remainder
of the party seems to have been at a
considerable distance in front Of
Brown and knew nothing Of the shoot
ing at the time itoccurred.
A citizen of Lake Providence in
formed me that the marshall fired
once, but this l do not personally
know.
When the members of my boats
crew came on board, myself and u
man named Hazel was there. About
fifteen minutes after this a body Of
armed men came down to the boat
and called for the captain. told
them: "Hcre lam" They ordered
me to come ashore, and when / COM
piled some of them said: "You're not
the man." They then ordered me to
bring out the whole crew. I called
for the leader, and demanded protec-
ton for my property and my men,
and told him | surrendered to the
civil law.
We were marched up town and put
in prison. A few minutes after our
being locked up, ] pulled of'my boots
to rest my feet, and began walking
up and down the room, when a man,
whom was afterwards informed was
the sheriff, levclled his gun on me
and ordered me to sit down. Nothing
more happened to note, and at II
o'clock that night was released: |
told the man who released me that
there was T. man on the boat with me
who had not gone up town ut all and
that desired that he should be turn
ed loose, to accompany me back to
the boat. He believed me and let
Mr.. Hazell out. Antecedent to the
shooting Of my men, was warned
that trouble was anticipated. Did
not witness the shooting, being on the
boat at the time it occurred.
Mr.. J. B. Carnes, the pilot of the
coal boat, says that after he was taken
to the mayors Office under arrest, and
had testified, the crowd began to
gather. They came in, ordered us to
take seats on benches in the back part
Of the room and asked our names.
As soon as we told our names the
brother of the marshal drew his pistol
and commenced firing. Jumped up
and asked what was meant, and at
tempted to escape, whenl was struck
by three men, and the firing became
general. jumped down the stair
way and escaped, and got into boat
on the levee used as u tin-shop, and
then my friends, citizens Of the town,
came and took me out, and was after
ward protected by them. Ny friends
advised me to leave, and showed of
with my boat, with crew Of four
men, and arrived here this morning.
Three of our men were wounded; one
died yesterday, one is expected to die
to-day and the condition Of the othe,
| is unknown.
A young man who held a loaded
pistol to his head, and threatened t.
blow his brains out unless the girl wllt
had refused him would consent to have
him. was cOOlly told ly the vOunf