Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-04-30
gICESEsUKG'S GKEAT BATTLE
WGFss FIFTY GAMBLERS.
A story OF 1885, by an Eye witness.
Philadelphia Times.

A story Of 1885. by an Eye Witness
Philadelphia Times.
tt is because I was in Vicksburs
when the event which / am abOu
to describe occurred that am ablt
to give the exact facts of what wa
the most exciting epoch in the his
tory of that city up to the war
This. occurrence, | believe, has new
er been deeribed-at least | have
never seen it-ar,d it furnishes per.
haps better than anything else ar
idea of the state of society as it eX.
listed at that period in the wild
southwest. On the Fourth of July,
1888, there was grand celebration
in honor of the national holiday.
The town was gayly decorated,
bands were on the streets, and there
were evidences on every hand that
the day was one of general rejoicing
A barbecue favorite feature OF
| the Fourth of July celebrations in
| the south-waS the order of the day,
and to this everybody was invited.
For the time the utmost good feel
ing reigned. Even the vengeance
sworn against the gamblers was for
gotten, or, if not forgotten, at least
suspended.
Eminent speakers had been invit-
ed from other states, and among
those there on that day were Alex
ander McClung, Of Kentucky, with
Foote and Prentiss, and others
equally we'll known in that day il
not so well remembered in this.
One table had been reserved for in
vited guests aud other eminent
persons present, and at this were
seated some 80 or 40 men. In such
mixed assemblage as the barbe-
cue attracted, there were not un-
naturally a large number ofgamblers
professional gamblers, of whom
there were not less than $50 in the
city at that time. These gamblers
had their headquarters in colony
of their own, or rather in three
houses, known as the "Kangaroos,
Nos. /, 2 and g." With them were
associated the most abandoned
wretches of both sexes to lie found
in the whole southwest. Some of
the notorious among these gamblers
were known in every state along
the Mississippi, among them being
George Blackburn, Frank Cabler,
Bill Eskin, Alexander Mccoy, jim
Hood and Tom Carr. The military
had turned out and were under
arms as part ofthe attractions OF the
day. While the speech-making
was going on, the gambler Black
burn, who was present, in compa-
nv with Cabler, his partner, both
being seated at table apart from
the speakers, began an interruption,
Blackburn remarking that ne was
going to have some fun if he clean
ed out the whole table. Somebody
shouted to Blackburn to sit down,
and not cause a disturbance. 1t was
no use. He was bound, he said, to
start the fun, and, SO saying he
jumped on the table.
THE FUN STARTED IN EARNEST.
AS he did so several of the sol
diers jumped from the table where
they were sitting and demanded
that he Nsit down. Blackburn re-
fused and defied them. Presenting
their guns, the soldiers jamned
him off the table. He struggled
fiercely, but was finally Overpower-
ed and cut in the struggle. Cabler,
who attempted to assist him, was al
so mastered. Both men, bleeding but
still defiant, were then bound, ca
noe was got, and they were placed
in it and pushed from the shore. In
moment they were floating
down the Mississippi, being rescued
by their fellows some half-mile be-
low. The gamblers were furious,
amt threatening revenge, making
no secret of the threat that they
would burn the town down during
the night. The barbecue broke up.
1t was known, everybody felt, that
the gamblers meant business, and
that the lives and property Of all re-
spectacle people were in the most |
danger when night came. |
Nobody thought of anything but |
safety, and the widest excitement |
prevailed. Citizens everywhere |
were seen armiug themselves to
await the struggle that all felt was
at hand. In the midst of all the |
however, there were |
some who did not lose their heads. |
One of these was DIR. William Bod
ley, of Kentucky. He quietly Sc
lected a number of men, formed |
them into a vigilance committee |
and placed himself at their head.
This done, the vigilance commit
tee assumed the offensive and sent |
word to the gamblers that they on
Iy had five hours to leave Vicks-
burg Or! Many of them did so.
But in the meantime five gamblers
not idle. They were North. Helms,
Ouch Bill Haines, John A. Murrell
and another man whose name |
have forgotten. These men
at North's gambling rooms
near the river. Here they barricad-
ed themselves, and at the command
to leave swore that they would not
move aud would kill any man who
interfered with them. DR.. BOdley,
hearing of this; went down to
NOrth'S place, as he said, to make
one last effort to convince them OF
the folly of resisting the people. He
made his last effort-he had hardly
got within speaking distance when
4 shot from one of the gamblers was
fired and DIR. Bodley fell dead in
his tracks. He never breathed
again. The result may be immag-
med. The peace loving citizens,
who but an hour before were simply
bent on self protection, were trans
formed for the time into blood
thirsty mob. and reckless of danger,
they charged the house, and break
ing down the barricades captured
-hp five gamblers
A TERRIBLE RETRIBUTION.
The "KangaroOs" were separated
rom the city by bayou, which
was crossed by wooden structure
known by the suggestive name of
he bridge Of Sighs." Across this
he frenzied people hurried the capt
lred gamblers. On the other side
.rees were selected and in less than
IN hour after the murder of DIR. Bod
ey the five gamblers were swing
ng by the necks, dead. But this
was not the end; it was only the
of the terrible retribution
to be exacted. The mob advanced
On the three houses known as the
9 'Kangaroos" and found that there
we're still many of the gamblers who
lad not taken to flight while there
was yet time. These were seized,
some of them shot down, others
lriven into the river, and two of
hem taken by the mob and thrown
rom theH Bridge of SiphSO into the