The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-03-10
THE "EXACT FACTS"
As to the Reign of Terror in
VickSburg in lS35-BOunc:
ing the Gamblers.

Y what was the most exciting epOcl
in the history of that city to the
war. This occurrence, l believe
has never been described-at leas
/ have never seen lt-and it fur
nisbes, perhaps, better than any
thing else, an idea of the state o
society as it existed in that period
In the wild southwest. On The
Fourth of July, 1885, there was s
grand celebration given in honor oi
the national holiday. The town
was gaiiy decorated, bands were OIL
the streets and there were evidences
ON every hand that the day was one
OF general rejoicing. A barbecue
a IavorIte feature of the Fourth oI
July celebrations in the south
was The event OF the day snd tO
this every body was invited. For
the time the utmost good feeling
reigned. Even the vengeance
sworn against the gamblers was
forgotten, or, if not forgotten, at
least suspended. Eminent speakers
had been invited from other Stat s,
and among those who were there on
that day were. Alexander McClung,
OF Kentucky, with FoUte and Prem
Llss and others equally well known
in that day, il not so we remem-
hered'in this They were all Dem
ocrats, and all were noted for their
great personal bravery. One sable
mad been reserved for invited
guests aud the other eminent per
sons present, and at this were seat
ed some thirty five or iorty men. IL
such a mixed assemblage as the
barbecue attracted there were not
unnaturAlly large number of gam
blers--professional gamblGrs--of
whom it was estimated there weIe
not less than $50 in the city. These
gamblers had their headquarters in
a colony of their OWL, or rather in
three houses as the "Kangaroos
Nos. l, 2 and 3" With them In
these houses were associated the
most abandoned wretches Of both
sexes to be found in the whole
Southwest. Some OF the notorious
among these gamblers were known
ia every State along the Mississippi,
among them being George Black
burn, Frank Caoler, Bill Esken, Al
exander Mccoy, Jim Hood and
Tom Carr. The military bad
turned out at the barbecue and
were there under arms as a part OF
the attractions of the day. While
the speech making was going on,
the gam bier Blackburn, who was
present in company with Cabler, his
partner, both being seated at Ia
ble apart from the speakers, began
interruption, Blackburn remarkiDg
that he was "going TO have some
fun, ii be cleared out the whole ia
BILE. Somebody shouted to Black
burn to sit down asd not cause
disturbance. 1t was no use; he
was bound, he said. to start the
Iun, and 50 saying, he jumped on
the table.
Ashe die. SO several of the SOL
dIers jumped from the table where
they were sitting, and demanded
that he sit down. Blackburn re-
fused and defied them. Presenting
their guns, the soldiers jammed
them against Blackburn and pushed
him of the table. He struggled
fiercely, but was finally overpowered
and cut in the struggle. Caoler,
VINO attempted TO assist him, was
also mastered. Both men, bleeding,
but still defiant, were then bound, a
canoe was got, and they were placed
in 1t and pushed off from shore. In
another minute they were hoaflns
down the Mississippi, being res
cued by their fellOws some half q
mile below. The gamblers were
furious and thIo atened revenge,
making no secret OF the threat
that they would burn the town dowo
during tie night. he barbecue
b! oke up. IL was known-every
body lelL--that the gamblers meant
business, and that the lives anC
urol erty OF all respectable peopl'
were in the most imminent DANCE
when night came. NOBODY though
OF any thing but safety, aud the Wild
est excILenen prevailed. Cltlz, n
everywhere we're seen arnlng them
selyes to await the struggle that Al
tIelt was at hand. In The midst U
all Tie cumuotiOn, however, Their
were some people who did not los,
/ their heads. One oi tn. Sc was Dr.
Wm. Bod,ey, o. KentucKy. He qul
,tly selected d number OF men
lormed them into u vigilance CON
mittee, aud placed hi'nseiI AT thel
head. This done, The vigilance com
mitLee assumed the offensive, anI
sent word TO the gamblers that the.
had only five hours IN which To leav
. Vick sburg or -? Many of then
did so. But in the meantime tv
gamblers were not idle. they wer'
North, Helms, Dutch Bill Haines
John A. Murrell and another man
whose name ] have forgotten
These men had gathered At North
gambling rooms, near the river
Here they barrIcaded themselves
and to the command to leave swor
that they would not move and wOu.'
Kill any man who Interfered wit
them. DR. Bodley, hearing thI:
! went down to North's place, as IA
said, 10 make one last effort to con
vince them OF the folly oil resIstin
the people. He msde his last effor
,l-he had hardly gotten With
speaking distance when shot froI
one OF the gamblers was fred an
DIR. Bodiey tell dead In his track
He never breathed again. The re
suit may be imagined, The peace
! loving citizens, who, but an hour bt
fore were simply bent on self proteC
tion, were iran siormed Tor the tim
,, into bloodthirsty mob, and reckles
of danger they charged on the hous
,, and breaking down the barricadei
captured the five gamblers.
The "kangaroos" were separate
, from the city 70, q bayou, whlc
I was crossed by Sooien structur
! known by the suggestive name {
the Bridge Of Signs" Across thi
, the now frenzied people hurried tn
. captive gamblers. On the othe
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