The National tribune., 1903-07-02

soon as possible. u p
We did not want to hear THIS or similar
conversation. but it often was forced on
is through Louie's drunkenness.
RuMoRs OF TIRE Ac1IFRr.
On the second morning LNlie came to
us in our state room and todd us that n
conspiracy had been formedFa between the
officers and the rebels to kidnap us and
himself, and take us backto the hills, and
wanted us to go on shore with him, where
we would make our way up the river 4
couple of miles where igunbOat was an
chored We did not belieye him, and
thought he was the lastf to be trusted of
any one on board. gys G
I'VE arose and went among the officers
and crew to try to buy or borrow re-
volver, but all stated there was none on
board.
We had planned that if we could obtain
two. we would cut the anchor line, then
White was to go to the engineer and com
pei him to answer my signals. while
would go to the pilot house and run the
boat down to the main river and on till
we found a gunbOat, or to Heleiiii.
We were so wrought up that l think if
we had had the money we would have
given the value of the boat for just two
good revolvers. l knew that while White
was not much of q talker. l could count
on him OH the last extremity in an emer-
gency like this. While going from the
main cabin to the ladies' cabin l met the
Captain at the sliding door, and put the
Question, plainly and bluntly, to him:
Captain, are you going to permit US to
he taken back to the hils?" He was labor
ing under some great excitement and re-
piled. "Quimby, if l go to Memphis, you
| are going" and believed he meant what
i he said, and felt easier.
That night, after we had retired, Louie
came to our staterOom and brought some
bottled beer, which we declined drinking,
still fearing treachery. He was very much
intoxicated, and pulling out of his pocket
and showing us two $1,000 bills or bonds
without coupons. said: Il have made this
on this trip, and l will give you half if
you will not report what you have seen,
when you get to Memphis" :,
told him to keep his money; that all
we asked was to be landed there safely.
and that what we had seen was none of
our business, and. having been well treated.
our mouths would be shut. This seemed
TO satisfy him for the present. About
dark two or three ladies came on board,
and a Mr. Bowers and Mr.. Bowen, as well
as two or three others, who We're repre-
sented as planters, who were all going to
Memphis, as passengers. Soon the Cap
ttain hove anchor and started.
THE GOVERNMENT DETECTIVE CAUSES
| TROUBLE. .
The cold weather still continued, and
through lack of steam. running ice or some
other cause. it was the afternoon of the
second day before we arrived at our desti-
lnation. The first day and evening were
spent by the planters, officers and Louie,
alternately playing poker, at which game
md 'I,nf
night Louie quit the game owing Mr.. Bow
ers $40. and said he would pay it in the
morning.
The next morning Louie again got
drunk and did not join the game. but Mr..
Bowers did. and soon found himself owing
Mr.. Bowen $50. and turning 10 Louie, who
stood near. said, Louie, please let me
have that $40, so that | can pay this gen
teman what l owe him.YH q
Louie replied, 81 will faivatyOu $40 in
the Irving Block" (the military prison at
Memphis) when | get to Memphis"
Mr.. Bowers arose and called Louie
a puppy" an .EthiOpia1ii puppy, sah.'
Parties interfered and tried to suppress
what all knew wOnld. ifjallewed to pro-
ceed. place. them all in ~ verS precarious
position, because if an investigation was
once begun no knowing nwhere it would
end. 20 9s
Louie was got out of the way, for the
present, and the game went on. In the
course of an hour. Louier wa tked lesurely
into the cabin and up to the, table and
suddenly grabbed Bowers. threw him to
the floor, then tried to stick ii long knife
in him, but the Captain. who stood near,
pulled him away. From this time on
Bedlam rcigned on board that boat. Louie
had become familiar with the ''roustabout'
crew, and secured another,knife and spent
the greater part of the day in drinking and
looking for Bowers. / asked Mr.. Bowers
why he did not kill Louie. He said because
he had no gun. | told him if he would
get me gun would stop this row, and he
replied that there was not a pistol on
board. ..-,,t.,
Sometime after that Louie caught sight
of Bowers at the entrance to the ladies'
cabin. and threw him with tremendous
force to the floor. UOuie was large
powerful man and Bowers a small and
weak one.) Bowers ran into the ladies'
cabin, where White and ] We're talking
with the ladies, with Louie close after
him. A lady opened her stateroOm door
and permitted Bowers to pass in. then
closing the door. stood in front of it, but
Louie rudely undertook to push her aside
when l interfered and told him to stand
back. He looked at me an instant, then
said, "Quimby, l know what you are go
ing to do with me when we get to
memphis, ana drawing Dig. SlN-lncl
blade knife from his sleeve. made q rush
for me- He probably would have carved
me up in good shape, but for my friend
White, who was more powerfully built
than was Louie. White grabbed him by
the shoulders before he could get to me
and swinging him around, thrashed the
floor with him and thumped and kicked
him TO such an extent that he had to be
, helped up.
ARREST AND TRIAL OF sMUGGLERs.
Soon after this we came in sight Of
Memphis, and everyone tried to arrange
for Bowers to leave the boat without being
seen by Louie. AS soon as a line was run
out at the landing, plank was run
out at the lower deck to permit him tC
pass out while Louie was on the boiler
deck, but he, probably anticipating
this, had another run ont from that deck
We saw Bowers run out on the
lower plank, quickly followed by Louie or
the upper one, and the race commenced
with White and l after Louie On going
up the slippery, icy hill, Bowers fell and
Louie began hammering him. l soon got
to him and pulled him off and turned hin
over to a provost guard, with orders t.
take him to the Irving Block. where
would appear and prefer charges against
, him. ] intended to leave him there Ovel
night to sober up, and then fail to appear
] l,,t I,o b. t,o,I