Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-09-28
Fom The Burlington Free Press.
ATROCIOIIS NII.IAINV

unuttlNlkS, w pudutuIJ lHkIlH DOSstSSlOb W INV
Steam Bont Wuooski and by violence aud brute
force compelling Capt Philips to violate n written
contract with the Steam Boat Directors, to which
Mr.. Van Ness AMI his associates were pariies.-
The circumstances are these:
Soon after the 4ih of July, and long before the
Pattsburgh meeting was naked OF, the Wings OF
this town notified Capt. Philips and also one Of
HE Directors, that they should want IN charter The
Winooski for the celebration Of the 1ilI nj KEGS
Vile subsequently the Platisburgh affair was
got up, and an application WINS mnde to another
Director who was ignorant Of the first appiratiOn
TO. the same Loaf rs the line approached for
decision it was found that there was room for
misunderstanding and difficulty. The " higs ut
once sail, wen none of u:-gve the Lokes the
boat; aud only provide us with u sure aud safe
convey vance, Is all we ask 1t was accordingly
arranged that the Wings were to have the McDo"
Hougli an old WAGER lloyd boat, ami two soOps
II The wind was right the Scoops could rely upon
their sails, aud in fair weather the McDouough
might paddle across in season bul, lest lie winds
and the waves might not thus continue in our ia
vor, it was further stipulated by HE Directors HAT
the WiuoOsk should lake us in tow, If we rPquir-
cd it, Accordingly, in closing The doniInct with
HE other party, this right was erp sSy rese red
To satisfy HE reader on this point, we copy the
contract entire;
Nlessrs. ilaswell, Ilocuberk. John Brad ey aud
Wyllis LJ man ropoSe to The Steam Boat C"mpa
ny, to transport from Burlington to Patt>lmrah,
on the llh OF September instant, purity on board
the Winuoski TO retlIi from said Plat >bnrgh on
hoard of said Boat or thu Line Boat. The sum To
he paid for passage over aud back so cents cnrh
passenger The geutl, men above named gu iran
teeing at least 400 passcngers-paSsengr lnr the
ferry to be taken by Tie Steam Boat Company NJ
their usual rates,anh for their own benefit. Should
it he necessary the Boat is to he permitted TO tow
n sloop or soops, to Port Kent.
Agreed 10,
II. FolIeit N. B. tlasw ell,
John Peek, }. q HoIembeck
John Bradley, WHY'S Lyman.
For Steam Boat Company.
Sept 81, 1910.
copy Of this contract was taken 10y each Of
the parties, ard The original handed TO Cape Phil.
fps, with Instructions TO see it executed in good
faith.
When Friday morning came, the very cOnin-
gency tue contract was designed TO provide for
had arisen. 1t was the toughest day we have had
in three months. The wind bewa gale from the
North, and the waves literally ran mountains high
Accordingly one OF the Directors gave Capt Phil
Ups seasonabe notice that he would be required to
take the vessels in tow. When the Two parties
had got on board, Capt p. moved ont from the
wharf, and was making preparations to threw his
line on board the other boats when N. Il. lluswell
one OF the na.tes to the alb We agr ulrnt, step
ped forward and forbade him, den, my that there
was any such agreement! Capt. Philips paid no
attention to this, but proceeded in the execution
of his dnty; when Mr. Van Ness paraded his
platoon Of DULLES in presence of Capt Philips and
gave them orders 10 prevent, by force, any attempt
to hitch TO the other vessels, and said lIe, II cap
tain Philips persists, will take command of the
boat myself Then tuning TO the Captain, with
the most violent and menacing imprecatioI,s, he
repeated the threat; and in reply 10 the ntnalion
of Capt. p. that his hands would not permit the
boat to he wrested from him by violence, Mr. Van
Ness replied, thht he had men enough on board to
take possession OF the boat in defiance OF the crew,
and run it TO Pittsburgh, md IL they ATTEMPTED 40
hitch 10 The slools he tpou d do up Finally, says
Capt. Philips, in his account OF it to us, Finding
Mr.. Van Ness 10 he in great rage aud deierlnin
ed 10 carry his threats iuIo execution, and in con-
sequence of those threats, aud the great number
lie declared were at his command on board the
bout, and fearing the consequences which might
ensue, provided they should wres the vessel from
my charge, did not take the sluops N tow The
result Is known and appreciated by at least one
thousand OF the honest yeoma,ry of Chueuden
county. ny this fagitious act OF violence were
ltiey compelled To buffer The winds aud wu,rs for
tour hours in getting to PORT Kent. Nor was this
Jail. When the Wiuooski arrived at Port Kent,
John Bradley, another Of the parties to the con.
tract informed our friends who were here in wat
ting FOR MS, with teams, than it was not probable
we should be able to get there al all. According.
| y, most of them left The ground; and when we
finally arrived, near twelve O'Clock we know not
how many gray headed soldiers and derrpd old
men had to foot IL, foUr niles through The sand, to
kcesville
The reader will by this time, we nresutne. ask
what Mr. Van Ness snys about il. MIR. Van Ness
dOOics all, and more ihuu we have charged; and
rests his Justification On the authority OF john
Bradley, who said Il,at Mr.. Toilet had waived HE
rlgit 10 tow Only think, Tor moment, Of nan
Ike Mr. Van Ness resortlng TO physical force TO
compel steam bout Cap ain to violate II written
"A m ht.Ir fltn nIi
vldual at the board making it had waived the right
-- an act lie could not do How insullingly ridic
nlous But Tie fact is, MIR, Foeu left the place
soob ;tiler lAe contract was made, and has had
4 nothing 10 do with ihe matter since and man
who knew Tiinolhy Foleit, believed one word OF
the statement Mr.. Follett has since been written
TO, and we have seen his letter, in which he une
qnivocally denies any waiver or interference with
} the contract whatever.
: There is another circumstance however, which
> mnst satisfy any candid man as to the fact how
Mr. Bradley understood the contract himself. lie
called on Capt Philips about six o'clock on the
nornng OF The llth, 10 ascertain which wharf
the boat wond start from, and among other things
asked him yhe Was going 10 take The sioops in toip
:, 10 which Capt. F. replied lhat he should have to
OF con Sc, according 10 contract, the wind was
adverse and they could not sail. TO This Nj
Bradley made no objection whatever and left with
out even IHndtiHg that he had any other undersian-
ding ofthe contract Did Mr. Bradley understand
The contract to be waived, aad yet withhold the
, Tact from Capt Philips, under these crcumslaiI.
ceS u so, Tor what motive? Did he then go
, on board, and after the bout was virtually in their
possession, then for the FIRST tine breach The idea
and stand sponsor for the high handed measures
that followed? If he did, let him have the honor
; oft If lac did not, let him and Mr. Van Ness
, settle The matter between them. la the mean
time, the public will ho them all responsible for
inns most ulpreceden outrage upon lhe rights oil
community.
We have thus briefly stated the facts as we have
gathered them, and which we can suhstantiate Ivy
testimony Thus much in explanation, was due
: to liose who have suffered from this outrage
lhey WIN set their own estimate upon The trans