The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-11-01
A MURDEROUS AFFRAY.
Anderson Sharp Gives John Brown n
Terrible Slash Across the Face
With Butcher knife-..The
Cause Of the TrOuble---
The Wounded Mans
Injuries.

/
the officials on board were transacting
some business. The cook, Anderson
Sharp, colored. drank good deal last
night and arose this morning cross and
mean. After breakfast he proceeded to
saloon on the levee and again COM
menced drinking. Shortly before the
| boat was to leave for the south, Sharp
went on board and was staggering up the
stairway to the second deck, when John
Brown, the second cook, also colored,
called to Sharp to know if he was going
10 do anything towards getting dinner.
Sharp replied that it was none of Browns
id business whether he was or not.
Brown says he then told Sharp that he
had better not go up on the second deck
of the boat as there were some fellows up
there who did not like him and he might
get into trouble, Sharp boosted that he
Was not afraid OF any mam on the boat
and expressed his intention to carve the
first man that interfered with him
Brown again demonstrated with The
drunken cook and the latter began to call
him all the vile names he could think of
and ordered him to return to
the kitchen and go to work
The hard names addressed to Brown nat
urally excited him, and he replied in like
manner, and soon the two were engaged in
furious war of words. Sharp finally
made rush for Brown and the latter re
treated to the kitchen with Sharp follow
ing him. As he entered the kitchen Sharp
grasped huge butcher knife and made
for Brown, but the latter lodged him and
got away. Sharp then left the kitchen
with the knife still in his possession
Brown stayed in the kitchen, and soon
Sharp returned still in a rage. Its a
good thing for you that didn't get hold
of you, you black son of a -" he cried,
addressing Brown If had, he cons
tinued, Il should have cut your id
head off
IF you ever come at me with that
knife I'll scald you, replied Brown, who
was standing near the stove, and he
picked Il bucket and dipped it into a
boiler of water
"Oh will, will you?" yelled Sharp with
a horrible oath, and he sprang upon
Brown. As his assailant advanced with
the blade of the big butcher knife glcam-
ing in the light, Brown dashed the bucket
full Of hot water full upon him and then
struck him with the bucket. The water
was not hot enough to scald Sharp, and
his advance was not stopped by it. He
grasped Brown by the wool and threw
his head backward and made slash at
| the mans throat with the knife.
As he struck the blow Brown threw his
head forward and the knife struck him
on the point Of the chin, cutting a cash
clear across the chm and laying the bone
bare. Blood gushed from the cut in
streams and Brown screamed in terror as
his mercileSs assallant was preparing to
deal him another blow. HurFying steps
were heard approaching and Sharp threw
down the knife and ran ont of the kilCh-
en-. Brown was hurried to the Harper
house drug store where DR. Carter dressed
the fearful cash in his chin. The man
presented shocking appearance with his
whole shirt front covered with blood, and
spots here and there on his pantaloons
and shoes
While Brown was beng attended to at
the drug store, Sharp secured what mon
ey was coming to him on the boat and
disappeared. The police were notified of
the affair, but dilligent search failed to
reveal Sharps hiding place. Brown will
leave this evening on a boat for st Louis
if his assailant is not captured. He will
have very sore chin for some time, and
if he should happen to take cold in the
cut he will be laid up for months Had
he not thrown his head forward Just as
he did, his throat would have been cut
1t was pretty close call for him. He
claims that he was perfectly sober when
the quarrel took place, and he certainly
did not have the appearance of having
drank anything intoxicating this morning.
Sunday SarUipna