The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-05-31

FIRED AT OFFICER
ON THE STEAMER
Narrow Escape of Mr.. James X.
Crow on Excursion.
Rufe Minor Assaults Him After the
Oficer Was Knocked in the Head
With Bottle.
SITUATION WAS VERY OMNIBUS

Former City Marshal James Grow
had narrow escape from being killed
yesterday on the Dick Fowler's excur-
sionsto Mound City and Cairo, Ill,
by two desperate negroes. he was
handed roughly and badly beaten mp
aud two shots were fired at him, but
both missed.
Mr.. Grow went down as special
officer TO maintain peace among the
colored excursionists, most Of whom
were ona large covered barge towed
by the steamer. There were two other
officers, Ed Lancaster of Paducah and
Metropolis man.
Most of the excursionists seem to
be we'll behaved, but Rufe Minor, of
Padpcsh. seemed to be disposed to
have trouble. Two or three times
pistols were taken from him, and
finally after the boat had passed Jopps,
it was decided to put him off the boat.
About this time. and after the officer
had taken another brace of pistols off
him, somebody struck the officer in
the head with q beer bottle and
Knocked him down. Ii is alleged that
brother of Minor struck the blow,
but this is not certain. The officer was
then kicked and badly mistreated.
One version is that several jumped on
him.
The boat was landed below Joppa
and Rufe Minor was put off, taking
with him two big pistols. He was
thrown cartridges by some of his
friends.
AS he was put of the boat by Sec
ond CLERK James Robertson he tried
to force his way back, having both
pistols almost in the clerks face and
pointed directly at him, but Mr.. Rob
ertson never fiinched and by showing
the negro that he wasn't afraid, sue.
ceeded in forcing him off the stage
plank TO the bank. The other Minor
negro got off at Mound City.
The affair created the greatest ex-
citemeut aboard IL is said that there
were fully barrel of weapons in the
crowd, and that IL one of the officers
had shot some OF the half drunk ex-
cursionists it would have precipitated
much bloodshed.
1t is believed by many that the
pistol fired twice at Mr.. Grow was
loaded with blank cartridges. 1t
seemed to be pointed directly at the
officer and scores of people near, and
yet neither shot struck anyone.
The officers of the boat and the
special officers were all on the steam
err, and could not render Mr.. Grow
any aid when he was assaulted. IL is
fortunate that he escaped with his life,
as some of the excursionists are said
to have been in an ugly mood. Others
promptly denounced the rowdy con-
duct of the bully element, and openly
said that Minor ought to be killed and
thrown into the river.
Chief OF Police Collins said TO-DAY
that the next colored excursion taken
out Of Paducah, he will have officers
stationed az the wharf and search
every man who goes aboard for pis-
toll 1t is hoped In this way to prevent
the regular fights, cuttings and shoot
ing that nearly always take place on
the excursions.
One reason some of the negroes get
SO bad on the excursions, according
TO Chief Collins, is that they know
no one has any authority over them
out IN the river, except some civil Off
Ger from the county through which
they are passing. No officer sent out
from Paducah would have the slightest
legal authority when the boat passed
beyond the city limits. The negroes
know this and some of them get bad
Chief Collins says he will never al
low one Of his officers to 20 on one of
these excursions to keep the peace, for
an officer would have no authority,
aud no right to keep the peace, or to
draw his pistol or shoot anyone except
In defense of his life.
When the Dick Fowler got to Cairo
last night the officers sent mp town
and secured two Winchester rifles and