The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-06-02
War with the Fishermen.

War with the Fishermen.
.9ttack on the torn Of Lewiston, Del. by one
hunarei and fifty fshermsn-the Citizens IN
orms-Rspaise Of The dassailaats Great ca
citeneat at the Breakrcter
The town Of Lewiston has been thrown into
great confusion for the past two days, on account
Of feet Of 6fy suil Of fishermen, from
Maine and Cape Cod. appearing in The harbor,
and the Glotous conduct OF he sailors. 1t seems
these vessels, for some weeks past, have been
f.hing off the coast for mackere. On Saturday
last they ran into hafhor I, and or Sunday, some
dozen more Of the men came ashore, and raised
considerable disturbance IN The town OF Lewiston.
On / ge-das morning the vessels put TO sea, but.
fh.ug 10 discover ,he fishing grounds. they re-
turned again the same afternoon. Angered and
veNed with their disappointment, large body OF
the men marched up TO the town, where they
+ committed the most excessive acts oil rioious be-
hayiour. They made iorci5ie entrances into pri-
yate dwellings, frightening and Installing tie fe-
male occupants y few energetic individuals sue
ceeded IN driving them back to their boats, and
the town authorizes forbade them from returning
al their peril.
Shortly after shutdown on Wednesday evening
the citizens were aroused TO immediate action by
the report that one hundred md fifty fishermen
were crossing the beach threatening to attack and
burn the town. The men all turned out, armed
with guns muske,s and huge clubs. The windows
and doors of nearly every dwelling were locked
and barred, and the females in dreadful tre-
pdaton. la the meantime, the assaIlants con-
llnued to advance. until they reached the bridge
which spans Lewes Creek, one hundred and fifty
yards from The town. Here a skrInish ensled,
in which the fishermen were driven back with a
few broken heads and bones.
BY this time, posse Of the eitZens had taken
possession Of cannon III front Of MIR Burr's Ito
tel, loaded it with grape shot, and pointing mp
on the fisherman Il voliy was fred i.lo them
The night WAS dark and it could not be ascertained
whether any one WAS shot.
The firing of the cannon served as a signal to
the pilots off at the Breakwa,er. Several boat
loads immediately came ashore and joining the
citizens, "A pursui. was made after the repalsed
assailanis. Their rear WIS protected by loaded
sMiyal mounted on the bridge, with slow match
kept in readiness.
The pursuing party, numbering hundred or
more armed with sixty eighty guns, quick
Iy reached the beach, and discovered the fisher
men had embarked for their vessels. The firing
OF the cannon warned them of the fact that there
is plenty OF fight in the men of Sussex.
About twenty Of the rioters made forcible
trance into the garden Of Mr.. Thomas Howard,
aud desPoi.ed the premises of all the most rare
exoiics. Not content with committing this out
rage On the property Of an uuotiendng individual,
they turned upon Mr.. HOWARD, and threw rotten
eggs a, him, and drove him from his garden.
Another party entered the house OF Dr. Hall,
and insulted the females. The same parry burst
int the house adjoining, and drove The females
into the back 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
leg severely hurt. Mr.. Morrow, at one time stood
alone ON the footway which extends across the
beach, and with single pistol, he kept the whole
party at bay.
The fishermen stole from off the beach several
anchors, and all the loose property they could lay
their hands on.
When the disturbance first occurred, a dispatch
was off up Tie river for the revenue cutter 10
come to the assistance Of the town. A message
was telegr phed back that the cutter unable
TO come on account Of having no men with which
10 man the vessel.
Ga Thursday and Friday nights patrols were
stationed on the bridge and on The beach, where
they paced their watch, 10 prevent The landing of
any large body of the fishermen.
The citizens have matters now so organized as
10 permit only one or two 10 land at a time, for
the purpose of procuring provisions, and supplies
Of sea stores This arrangement will avoid the
fishermen collecting in the town in any large body
With a telescope, several snail squads Of the
hshern o. are now seen on the beach off The ght
house, proving about and plundering the shore
of all property of a movable character. One of
the citizens OF the town informs me that he has
fine boat at the cape, which they have stove. and
who n he is anxious TO obtain possession Of but
dare no, go in quest of his own property for fear
81 being attacked.
7 he affair. it is thought, will row terminate
quietly, as tiIe citizen have several hundred guns,
ready tor service at Il moments notice. besides
several caunons at hand, which only need loading
20 be prepared for use. The fishermen are ap-
pulsed y ihe Sc preparations for defence, and will
Ia lily da.e commit any further moesta;ion.