Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1909-04-15
Started as a Breeze at Smith
land and Grew Rapidly
For a WhiIe..-Blew
Over After
A time HARMLESS.
UNUSUAL ESCAPE,

over Paducah Saturday afternoon to
the effect that a shooting ARRAY had
occurred on steamboat at Smith
land earlier in the day and that
Sheriff Bishop and Deputy Cham
pion. of Livingston county. had
been shot by some OF the officers OF
the boat. part OF the story was
that one OF the Livingston county
officials had been killed and that the
other was seriously hurt and that
perhaps some of the men on the boat
had also been shot. The story most
happily proved glaring exaggera-
ton of the facts.
II seems that recently Capt. Harry
Davis the owner OF the steamer Lib
erty. which had previously been run
ming in the trade between this port
and Elizabethtown. Ill. made an eN-
cursion trip from Elizabethtown to
this port II also appears from the
charges made that there was Vhis-
key sold on the boat az the time OF
the excursion. This charge It is said.
was filed by q resident OF Smithland
with the county attorney and war
rant was issued for the arrest OF
Captain Davis Yesterday the captain
decided 20 20 10 Elzabethtown 20
bring down another excursion toda,
and on the way mp the river. pulled
into Smithland To distribute some
bills announcing the excursion. While
there Sheriff Bishop and Deputy
Champion went TO the boat and I'M
der the warrant arrested Mr.. Davis
and took him. as is said. up into
or pay the fixed fine OF $50. while
up in the city. according to the story.
Captain Davis consulted a lawyer and
dined with Deputy Champion aud
after dinner. on advice OF his attor-
ney. decided he would give bond and
fight the case. his trial being set
ipf MoHuhN. 10 Uldhf Douu pdNih
asked. he intimating that he would
put up the cash. To accommodate
him Sheriff Bishop and Deputy Cham
pion went TO the boat with him,
but. as the report goes. had no soon
or reached the boat than she began
TO pull out from the shore and In
spite OF the protest OF the officers,
who threatened the law. etc, the Lib
crty moved out into the stream The
report says that thereupon Sheriff
Bishop drew his weapon and after
Handwriting Captain Davis made eff
forts to stop the boat or have ii
stopped. He is said 10 have sent
Deputy Champion TO the pilot housy
10 stop the boat and have her re-
turned 20 the shore and that. being
resisted, he struck pilot and forcib-
~ took the wheel II is also said
Sheriff Bishop entered the engineers
room and ordered him 20 stop the
machinery. but he refused and that
also fred a pistol. but whether at
the sheriff or not is unknown. This.
II is said. was the only shot fired.
It is also said that Deputy Champion
attempted to turn the boat to the
shore and in doing so broke the till
or rope or II was cut by some one.
as the boat was soon at the mercy
of the wheels alone. but these the
engineer controlled and steered the
boat on TO this vicinity and to the
Illinois shore opposite here. where
n landing was effected.
On reaching a landing Captain
Davis. II is known. sent a note tc
this place asking that the United
States marshal be sent over TO the
boat. explaining why. adding that ha
would surrender to him and bring
his boat to this port. This note was
sent over by Charles Elmore. the
harmonicon player so widely known.
he being on board en- route to Eliza
BEETHOVEN at the time OF the Smith
land incident.
Soon after Charles Ferguson.
county school superintendent OF Liv-
ingston county, and young man
named f. b. Lynn, who had follow
ed the Liberty down the river In
skin. hoping TO lend some assistance
TO the kidnapped officers. as they
said. came over from the boat also.
saying that though they had at
tempted TO land along side and 60
aboard that they were warned away
by the crew. He also brought over
message from Sheriff Bishop. with
whom he talked. asking that the
sheriff send over to the boat a force
OF men, he placing the number at 25.
to help him control boat or the men
thereon. Ferguson delivered his
message by phone from the wharf