The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-12

ATTACK ONa THE TOWN OF LEwEs, DEL, by ONE
HUNDRED AND FIFTY rIsHERMEN-rHE CITIZENS
IN ARMs-REPULsE OF THE AssAILANTs--GREAr
RXClTKNENT AT THE BREAKwATRR.
From the Delaware State Reporter, May 10.l
The town Of Ie~es has been thrown into great con-
or more san Of Gshermsn' from Maine and Cape COD sp
pearing In the harbor and the roous conduct of the
sailors seems these vessels for some weeks past,
have been fishing of the coast for mackercl On SStur
day last they ran into harbor; and on sunday some
dozen or more Of the ashore and raised
siderable disturbance in the town OF Lewes On Tues
day morning the vessels put to sea, but failing to dis
the fishing grounds they returned again the same
afternoon Angered and vexed with their dsappoint-
ment q large body of the marched up to the
town. where they committed the most excessive acts of
riotous behavior. They made forcibe entrances ints
private dwellings, frightening and insulting the female
occupants. few energetic individuals succeeded in
driving them back to their boats, and the town auhor
ties forbade them from returning a. their peril
Shortly af,er sun6own Wednesday evening the citi
aroused to immediate action by the report that
hundred and fifty hrhermen were crossing the beach,
threatening to attack snd burn the town The men all
turned out armed with guns, muskets and huge clubs
The windows and doors Of nearly every dwelling were
locked and barred and the femaes were in dreadful ire
pdation In the meantime the assailans continued 20
advance until they reached bridge which spans lie yes
Creek hundred and fifty yai from the town Here
4 skrmh easued in which the fishermen were driven
back with feu broken heads aud bones.
by this time posse of the citizens had taken posses
son Of a cannon in front OF Mr. Buyrs Hotel loaded it
with grape shot upon the repulse the fishermen
yolley fred into them. The night was dark aud 1t
could not be ascer,ancd whether any shot
q
of at the reakwater Several boat loads Immediately
ashore and joining the citizens, pursuit was made
after the repued assaiants ner rear was protecteu
by a loaded swivel mounted on the bridge With tloS
ma Itch Kept in readiness
The pur ung party, numbering a hundred or more,
ed with some sixty to eighty guns, quickly
the beach, discovered the fishermen had embark ID
for their The firing OF the cannon warmed the
Of the fact that there plenty of fight in the men OF
Su,se
About twenty of the rioters made forcble entrance into
the garden Mr. Thomas Howard and depoied the pre-
f.n AZ Ott~s kptsn will
committing this outrage the property of unodend
ing individual they turned unon Mr. Howard and threw
rotten eggs az him. and drove him from his garden.
Another PARTY entered the house of Dr.. Hail. and in
suited the females The party burst into the house
adjoining and drove the females into the ba LEX buildings
where they succeeded in resisting the further advances
Of the fishermen by barring all the entrances.
In the skrmish Mr.. VIM A. Morrow had his les Sc
ye1e hurt. MIR Morrow at time, stood alone
the fsotway which extends across the beach and with
but single pistol he kept the whole party at bay
The fishermen stole om off the beach several anchors
and all the loose property they could lay their hands
When the disturbance first occurred a despatch was
sent of up the river for the cutter to to
the assistance of the town. message teegra phed
back that the cutter was unable to come on account OF
having NO with which to man the vessel.
On Thursday and Friday nights patrols were stationed
the bridge and the beach, where they paced their
watch to prevent the landing OF any large body OF the
fishermen.
The citizens have matters now so organized rs to per-
NIT only land at time for the purpose Of
procuring PROVISIONS and supplies of sea stores This
arrangement will avoid the fishermen cole sting IN the
town in any large body.
With telescope several small squads Of the fisher
seen on the beach of the lighthouse, prowl
movable One Of the citizens OF the town ia
forms that he has fine boat at the which they
have stove and which he 10 anxious to obtain possession
of but dare not in quest Of his own for fear
Of being attacked.
The affair it is tho ught viii terminate quietly
the citizens have several hundred guns ready for service
at moments notice besides several cannon at hand,
which only need loading to be prepared FOR The
fishermen appr Of these preparations for defence
and will hardly dare commit any further molestation.