Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-20
ORIGIN OF H ROW.

OhiulN VI The hOW,
After the steamer City Of Vicksburg
sunk near Ashport some weeks ago,
squads Of rough, ugly-looking fellows
gathered about the wreck, approach
ing from the woods on shore and
by skifs on the river. They
carried themselves in a rude
blustery sort Of style, after the manner
of guerillas of the late war, but made
no open demonstration against the
boats crew, until one day a gang
marched up and took forcible posses
sion OF tn sunken boats chandeliers
or cabin lamps. The boats mate
undertook to make the thieves drop
it. They drawing several revolvers,
said; "You have nothing to do with
this, don't you interfere" and he
didn't just then.
Later on the providers got possession
of some liquor and while under its
influence they behaved in a
staggering and a threatening man
ner. After the wrecking steamer
Eckert arrived it was noticed
that every night a part of the
freight taken from the wreck would
be missing. The watchman of the
V~icksburg was suspected of Gull
fusion with the thieves. A
watch was set upon him and
when a boat was seer to approach in
the dark hours of night the occupants
were warned to steer clear. Paying
no attention to the admonition. the
PIRATES WERE FIRED UPON
from the deck ofthe Eckert, or from a
point on shore, and one of the boats
occupants was heard to cry out as if in
pain, a splash in the water followed,
the skif disappeared, and nothing
more was heard of that gang for the
night. Next day it became apparent
that trouble was brewing. The people
in the country round were disturbed.
Squads Of the rougher portion we're
heard to mutter and threaten. A
diver named AL. Burrus was accused
by some Of the crowd of having wan
tonly fired upon and killed a man in a
skiff, and a lynching scrape was
strongly limited at, The aspect pre-
sented a rather u~ninviting
appearance for the boatman, as
there seemed to be none to offer aid
or protection from shore. A letter
was written to this city for arms and
ammunition. Shotguns and revolvers
were included in the order. The
steamer Grand Tower brought this
order two or three days ago. Efforts
to get shotgunS and muskets failed in
toto, but the revolvers with the neces-
sary stores were purchased and went
up on the Maude atan early hour this
morning, as above mentioned. Mean
time, the Eckert kept up steam and
had her hot-water hose in readiness
for action and a dose of boiling water,
should the rioters approach close
enough for it to reach them. All the
firearms at hand were we'll charged
with shot, aud the crew held them
selves in readiness for immediate ac-
ton.
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WAS AROUSED
by the warlike attitude of the men on
board of the Eckert and about the
wreck, as well as of those in the vi
cinity, whose lawless conduct had
become hruited about. The better
class Of citizens, including several
merchants Of Ashport and the sheriff
OF Lauderdale county, declared that
law and order should rule, and a posse
of law abiding men were summoned
by the sheriff The latter
acted a manly part throughout,
and a merchant Of Ashport
named John W. Duncan, is mentioned
as having behaved with 6rmness and
moderation. On Wednesday last
Burrus was arrested on a charge of
shooting a man without p~royocation
The sheriff and his posse guaranteed
protection from the mob, and an ex-
animation was had before Esq. Mead
ows at Ashport, evening before last.
1t resulted in the acQuittal Of Burrus,
and serenity reigned supreme in all