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Story
March 6, 1887
Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
What is this article about?
Steamboat men report that negro river pirates have robbed and murdered numerous white levee workers on the Mississippi River between Memphis and Arkansas City, with at least 20 killings and 100 robberies this winter.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Many Levee Workers Robbed and Murdered by Negro River Pirates.
MEMPHIS, TENN., March 5.—Information obtained from steamboat men shows a bad state of affairs down the river, between this city and Arkansas City. In this district hundreds of men, mostly whites, are engaged in levee work for the government and the state of Mississippi. The men are paid off weekly, and every pay day some of them go to the landings to await the steamer for Memphis. These landings are often isolated and a gang of negro pirates and thieves watch them, and assaulting the laborers rob them of their money, often inflicting dangerous wounds on the victims, and it is estimated that no less than twenty murders have been committed this winter by these outlaws, and there are at least 100 instances of robbery.
MEMPHIS, TENN., March 5.—Information obtained from steamboat men shows a bad state of affairs down the river, between this city and Arkansas City. In this district hundreds of men, mostly whites, are engaged in levee work for the government and the state of Mississippi. The men are paid off weekly, and every pay day some of them go to the landings to await the steamer for Memphis. These landings are often isolated and a gang of negro pirates and thieves watch them, and assaulting the laborers rob them of their money, often inflicting dangerous wounds on the victims, and it is estimated that no less than twenty murders have been committed this winter by these outlaws, and there are at least 100 instances of robbery.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Piracy
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
River Pirates
Levee Workers
Robbery
Murder
Mississippi River
Where did it happen?
Mississippi River Between Memphis, Tenn. And Arkansas City
Story Details
Location
Mississippi River Between Memphis, Tenn. And Arkansas City
Event Date
This Winter
Story Details
Gang of negro pirates and thieves assault, rob, and murder levee workers at isolated landings after payday, with at least 20 murders and 100 robberies committed this winter.