The native American., 1839-04-06
o U T r A G E.

An outrage OF an aggravated character appe;.s
I, have been committed in the waters around Oh.
ity, on Saturday evening last, which has caused
III intense excitement in Boston.
The following account taken from the Boston
Times Extra, Of Sunday, and again published on
Monday, and signed by more than eighty of the
passengers, we take the liberty of laying before
our readers.-EUe. Star.
The passengers say:
1--WE left New York, in the J. W. Richmond
at five o'clock yesterday afternoon, she had on
board in all about IT'S people. The Rhode Island
steamer started at the same time, for the Suonngon
rout-the Lexington for the outside having pre-
viously left. The Richmond having accidentally
left two passengers ashore hove to- and sent boat
to the wharf for them. During this time the
Rhode Island returned to her wharf. In the
meantime, the steamer Osceola of one of the North
river lines, had been observed for half an hour or
more plying about the river in different directions
without any apparent object.
On board of the Osceoa were Charles Philips,
large owner of the Transportation Company
and William w. Woolsey, not long since the
President of the Boston and Providence Railroad,
and a Director in the India Print Company, and
one of the Trustees of the Transportation Com
pany. The Pilot of the Narraganset acted as
Captain of the Osceola, and she was manned by
the steward, crew and servants of the Narragan-
sett, and there were eight other persons board.
A proprietor of the Osceola was on board the
Richmond who refused to sign the statement and
resolutions given below, but admitted that the
Osceola had been chartered by a company, though
he refused to tell by what company. This is ne
cessary to explain what afterwards occurred.
When the Richmond had received her passen-
gers, and again started on her course, the Rhode
Island also started. The Osceola, which had
lain to, during the time that the Richmond was
waiting, came down little in the rear and stood
upon the larboard side of the Richmond, the
Rhode Island running close upon her starboard
quarter, and crowdng her in towards the Battery.
Captain Townsend, perceiving the rapid move
malt of the Osceola, first suspected foul play, and
tlaraed from astern into the Pilot House.
As the Richmond was rounding the Battery,
with the Rhode Island close outside of her, the
Osoeola, with a powerful head Of steam, took the
inside, and ran into her upon the larboard bow,
Just forward of the wheel house, giving her a
heavy shock, and scraping her side badly. But
the Richmond was so staunchly built and heavily
freighted that she escaped without injury. The
Osceola rebounded and keeled over from the
shock, but Immediately righted, and again rushed
bows on, striking the Richmond on her larboard
quarter, just abalt the wheel house-the evident
intention being, on the part of the assaants, thai
the Rhode Island should prevent the Richmond
from uslnning out into the river, to keep her closer
in to the Battery, and for the Osceoa to rush in
and dash upon her, SO as to- smash the wheel
house and cripple the wheel.
After this encounter, the Richmond then moved
ahead, and the Osceola shot by under her stern
and passed OH the starboard side. The Rich
mond at this time had on but little steam. AS
the boats passed up the East River, the OscCels
ahead, and the Richmond and Rhode .slaid
nearly abreast, but at some distance apart, the
slips were Lined with people, evidently expecting
some SPORT as one of the hands had previously
told Colonel Rivers, on board of the Rhode
Island, the night before, that when the boats came
out, on Saturday, Z" he would see sport" The
bells of the different boats lying at the docks rang
as the several boats came along.
The Osceola, being ahead, went round Black
wells Island, with the evident intention of COM
ing down upon the Richmond again, as she kept
on her course, in similar manner as before
Captain Tow nsend, aware of this horrible ma
neuvre, made all proper preparations. He crowd
ed steam, for the purpose Of avoiding an encoun-
ter, in which he was successful, and had run so
far ahead as to leave the Osceola asern, when she
came round. But the greatest excitement pre-
vailed on board the Richmond. The passengers
saw the obstinate perseverance of the Osceola to
run into their boat.
They felt, with sufficient reason, that their lives
were put in peril by one of the most outrageous
Vaccinations ever invented in civilized coun-
try, and they prepared to aid Captain Townsend
in substantial measures Of defence, in the
speed of the boat failed in avoiding the conflict.
The guns Of the Richmond were loaded, with
the intention of firing into the pilot house of the
Osceola, if she came again to the attack and a
substantial number of passengers stood ready, in
case of contact, to make fast to the Osceola, and
take possession of her by general boarding.
What would have been the result Of such
movement, no one can imagine. The power and
good fortune of the Richmond prevented the me-
cessity of resort to the violence and retribution
that would have followed another attack upon the
boat"
As we before remarked we know not what
punishment the law, in such case, will inAict
upon such dangerous attempts to sacrifice the lives
Of our citizens, in endeavors to drive wholesale
competition from public line of travel. But we
know this, that the punishment awarded to pirates