The Sun. — 1854-04-19 (London, England)

DESPERATE RENCONTRE ON BOARD AN AMERICAN STEAMER.--We have often heard of meeting a murderer on the high seas, but seldom have to record such scenes of violence as occurred on the steamer S. F. J. Traube,'on the Mississippi river, during her recent trip from New Orleans. As is usual at this season of the Year, the boat was crowded with deck passengers, chiefly flat boatmen from the Wabash and coal boatmen from Pittsburg. Among the latter was a setof turbulent, quarrelsome men, who were about half drunk when they got on the boat at New Orleans, and had fought adiong themselves before the boat left port. Captain. Tucker was notified by a friend who recognised one or two of the men that he would have trouble with them, and they would try to take the boat. - • Soon- filter the boat was under way, and before she had proceeded 'many miles rip the river, one of the Pittsburg coal -boatmen 'attacked a .Vabash man, who was quiet and peaceable. and bad said nothing to him, and knocked him down, and beat him dreadfuly. Two of his friends Interfered to save him from further ill-usage, when they were beset and beaten nearly to death, and one of them had his arm broken by a blow of an axe in the hands of one of the rioters. The deck bar was open, and another passenger, a small man, stepped up after the first fray and called for a drink. While he was in. the act of drinking,. a burly fellow, a bully among the coal boatmen, stepped up and 'seized him by the neck, choked him, and threw him to the deck as if be were a: up, chicken, and then stamped on him. He was snffered.to.g e_ e as soon as he regained his feet he drew a kmfeand insictd a terrible wound in the big man's right breast, which placed him on his back during the rest sent to the of the trip, and on the arrival of the boat here occurrence the coalctly he was hospital. Not long boatmen became perfearwe this wild with liquor or their anxiety for a fight, and re heard to swear that they would take -the_ boat and do as they pleased. The deck was crowded with passengers,. and the quiet and Orderly had no peace or rest, and were beset every moment. Captain Tucker then determined to quell the riot, and summoning his crew, among whom were 21 Spaniards,- arming them with short clubs, hatchets, and whatever weapons he could, he 'marched to the lower deck and endeavoured to restore order, and put the rioters on shore. The rioters laughed at him, and one big fellow shook his fist under his nose and defied the whole crew. The Spaniard, in solid phalanx, armed with a club and a long knife, were ordered to advance and seize the ringleader. Then' ensued a scene of strife and confusion seldom seen on the deck of a boat. The Spanish crew, however, were victorious, and managed to secure four of the ringleaders, who were tied neck and heel, and peace was at once 'restored: The Chief of the mob' was "ot._canght,,:and..for several daye ecnild.h ot. foUltd.e.and.4 was tho9ght-that he, together withknii_or -five-others,, had jiimped Overboard,- and . either weak:drovojed:or swain ashore:. SeVerai of the cabin-passenl - pre aver. -that- they iliAtindlY saw three or four men in .theaiver,'and as the affair occurred soon after the boat left New Orleans, it was impossible to tell who was lost. During the 2/Wee a coal boatman, of the name .of Blakely, was much hurl, and dangerously stabbed in the side. lie was taken care of by the officers of the boat, and sent,to the hospital. The mate of the Traube received acut in the head "froth a knife; whichle caught just elik' o_no of the mutineers 'made a hinge at him. _The four that werearreetedi Were put off the boat-soon -after _the affray waaquelledi and:when the boat-WaS in thetieigh-bOurhood of Millikia's Bend the big fellow_who had been missing was found;: said. was :forthwith- set .sh,ore,.:_llo:had been secreted'-iiiider: the"cy.lindee tiinherS... No for'.., .Hier outbreak.. eadeueredld tiring- the tip,'tlit.uglc many "threatS were made just before the boat reached the port. The discipline of the Spaniards, and the determination of the officers of the boat, put an effectual stop to the lawlessness of the Goal boation..4olevilia Courier.