Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-29
THAT RIOT LONG AGO
G. F. McNabney Has Another
Version of Trouble Aboard
the Dubuque.
THE RING LEADER GETS 10 YEARS
Posse Headed by Sheriff Payne
and Boat Overtaken at
Clinton.

Hampton, ILL.,, July 27.-Editor
ARGUS: Having read the article
emanating from the Dubuque Times
and published by you, also the state
ment made by S. w. McMaster, both
concerning the riot which took place
on the steamer Dubuque many
years ago, have become greatly in
terested from the fact that in both
statements made each sets out to give
the exact truth as to what transpired
at that time and neither agrees with
the facts as witnessed by me or by
the ones from whom / have carefully
inquired for information, they being
eye witnesses of the riot and also wit
nesses at the trial which resulted
| therefrom.
The riot took place in the month
of July, 1869, or 30 years ago
this month. The statement was IL 10
| by Mr.. McMaster that the boat did
not stop at Rock Island or Davenport,
which 10 a mistake. for it was at
Davenport where a large part Of those
returning raftsmen got on the boat,
as the Dubuque, by the way, was
a favorite boat with them for re-
turning north to the pineries. II
was after the boat had left Davenport
and before they had arrived at Hamp-
| ton that the riot started. 1t was
caused by the second clerk of the boat
having stationed a colored man at
the foot of the stairs instructing
him not to allow any Of the
deck passengers to go up in the cabin.
This was resented by one of the
deck passengers, who was filled with
liquor, as a great many of them we're
and fight ensued in which the white
man got the worst of it from this
colored man.
General Riot Begins.
A general riot then took place. The
boat was landed at Hampton and all
the colored men that could be found
were run off. While at this place a
colored man was discovered on the
deck elm bling out back of the wheel
house. Being pursued pretty hard he
jumped into the river on the shore
side and the rioters hit him in the
head with a chunk of coal and he was
drowned few feet from the shore.
The boat then started out. being in
control of the rioters. When out in
the middle of the river another col
ored man was discovered on the hur-
ricsne deck under a skiff. He was
chased from there and jumped from |
the stern of the boat into the river |
Henry Fullerton and Frank Griffin |
set out in a skiff to rescue him and |
succeeded in getting quite near him |
when he sank. This brought { nth
a great shout from the rioters on |
board the boat. The boat was then |
run to the shore again and landed |
about a quarter of a mile above town. |
1t was while the boat was landed this |
time that Lynch, who was considered |
the ring leader. made his escape. The 4
boat then proceeded up the river.
At this juncture l.. 4. Baker, who
was an eye witness to the riot, sent
Henry Fullerton to Port Byron Juno
ton to telegraph to the sheriff, Will
liam Payne. The sheriff, with a posse
selected by him, chartered train and
started out to head the boat off,
which they did at Clinton, Iowa. Ar
irving there ahead of the boat they
secreted themselves and when the
boat landed they marched aboaId and
took possession of the boat and
brought it back to Rock Island. On
the way back they landed at Hamp-
ton to inquire for Lynch, but he had
Take Change of Venue
The exact number VINO were ar
rested and held for the riot 1 do not
The rioters took change
II venue to Cam bridge. Henry county,