Savannah morning news., 1886-06-29
| BULLET IN HIS HEART.
FATAL END OF a FIGHT AMONG
NEGROI EXCURSIONISTs.

steamer David Clark in Catalogue sound
yesterday The Clark was carrying the
Coachmen's Cmbexcursion party to Beau
fort. The steamer left Savannah about
4 l0:3O o'clock with 200 colored excursion
lists on board. Beer and other drinks were
imbibed pretty freely by many Of the
party, and in the course OF a couple Of
hours they were in quarrelsome mood.
About O'Clock the Clark passed the
black buoy in Catalogue sound. A few
minutes later there was great commo-
ton about amidship on the lower deck.
Watts was retreating followed by four or
five others. AS the man backed toward
the after part OF the boat he swung a
camp stool at tie crowd to keep them
back. Suddenly Watts stopped and drew
himself up erecJ. At that moment Dene-
gali drew revolver ana fred
THE FATAL SHOT.
TIE bullet struck Watts in the right
breast lust over the edge Of the heart.
The wounded man Rrasped his breast and
cried, 81 am shot" Denegall tried to fire
second shot, but his arm was caught by
Peter Blair The trigger, in descending,
caught one OF BlaiT's hands and cut IL.
W ats walked around fer i've minutes and
then feeling faint from loss OF blood asked
tO be laid down on coil OF rope. He said
be expired. After the shooting Denegall
turned and walked away.
The crowd rushed down stairs aud for
while there was great excitement. The
women filed the boat with screams and
waillngs. No one seemed 10 have nerve
enough to attempt to arrest the murderer.
He bad many friends on board EhO wanted
TO see him get away.
THE MURDERER SEIZED.
Tho frat TO nonauul1 II
was James Middleton, leader Of the Union
COrnet Band. Middleton had been sitting
in the aiterpaTt OF the boat. A s soon as
he saw what had happened he jumped up
and followed Denegall. When he caught
him Middleton told him to con-
slider himself under arrest, and the
murderer did not make much resistance
The crowd pressed around and threats
were made against Middleton. He held
on to his man, however, but fearing the
crowd would try to rescue his prisoner
he sent for the manager of the band, Joe
Hamilton.
In a few moments some of the officers
, OF the steamer went 10 MiddletOn's assist
>ance and the prisoner was ted Blair
Aad the pistol in his pocket.
PLANNED THE MURDERER's ESCAPE.
DenegalPs friends proposed making
rush ana releasing him. He was then TO
be put in small boat and sent ashore so
that be could escape. No serious attempt
was made to carry out the plan, fOr the
self-appointed guards told the crowd that
some OF them would get hurt.
just alter Watts Gied Capt. W0ermel
turned the steamer around and started for
Savannah. About the time OF tas shoot
Ing several fights occurred. Some OF them
occurred before the shooting ano ssIue &f-
terWards. The murder probably grew
out Of one of these rows. one story is
that an ,14a55ssSldfss a55ssSldfs playing cards on tne
- tsttes e s'SftSt 81. "ss ssssteo'
sss5df stsg5Iiif I '6t'clock he spoke 20 Frank
Virgins ami told him to be quiet. Wig
gins made a SLASH at Barron and stabbed
kim In the cheek.
BEGINNING OF THE ROW.
Then driver named Ben Chipp got in
2 row with somebody. Charles Steven-
son, deck band, says that Chipp tried to
cut the man be was quarreling with, but
Stevenson Was Ia the way.
A few minutes later. according to Ste
vensOh, he started forward. When about
opposite the DO lers, he says he saw CbiDD
and Denegall aud some others making
for Watts, who bad a chair in his
hand. Some Of them caught Watts and
threw him against tue boilers. just then
Stevenson got in Chlpp's way again,
VIXEN the latter turned on Stevenson with
knife. The deck hand claims that he
backed several feet, trying to get away
from his pursuer. Chipp tried to come to
close quarters, when Stevenson
STRUCK HIM ON THE HEAD
with stick. Chipp dropped. Denegall
was still after Watts. according 20 Stew
snsOn. About the samehtums that ChIpp
was knocked down Watts WAS shot. Stew
ensOn was arrested apdttied on board of
the boat. ..
When the Clark came up TO the Lincoln
street wharf some one on the boat yelled
that man had been shot. Policeman
Harrington, who happened to be on the
wharf in citizenis clothes, sang out 20 the
Captain TO stop in mIdstream until the
police could be summoned. A telephone
message was sent to the barracks and
Sergt. Reilly, Sergt. Dunham and Officer
Prindlble started of for the wharf.
GIVEN UP TO THE POLICE.
The policemen went aboard in a-smalI
boat and look charge OF Denegan aid Ste
venson. Barron preferreda a charge against
Virgins. and he was arrested. Chipp
was also arrested on charge OF fighting.
The four prisoners and number OF wit.
nesees were taken to the barracks. Dene-
gall, Stevenson, Chip and Wig
gins were all locked. up. News of
the tragedy spread rapidly among
the c0lored population, and they soon
crowded the wharf. Coroner Dixon was
notified OF the murder, but he was uncer-
tain whether he had jurisdiction in the
ease.
THE CORoNER's JURISDICTION.
IL ia very doubtful whether the steamer
was in Georgia or Carolina waters. The
Captain Of the steamer said that he did
not know. He was eating his dinner
when the shot was fired, and Pilot Ed,
Richardson was at the wheel.
The pilot says that the steamer was
nearer the red buoy. he thinks, than the
black one In COiibOgue sound as she was
not far from the mouth Of COlibogue river.
Upon the advice OF counsel the Coroner
decided TO hold an inquest. His wit
nesses were scattered aud 10 was $3.50 at
night before he could start with the in
quest. IL was held IN the house on East
Boundary, near President. where Watts
hrad.
ar THE INQUEST.
Joseph y. Hamilton testified that be
was sitting ia the after part OF the boat on
the lower deck when be saw the first
disturbance. He saw several after Watts,
and Saw some one throw him on the
boiler. Then somebody seemed 90 cut at
Waits. When the shot was fired Watts
was standing within five feet Of the wit
ness.