New-York daily tribune., 1858-04-03
Netu91ork DAILY Gribmne
TIE RIOT AT THE BROOKLYN WATER
WORKS.
FULL PARTICULARS.

|. was rNinCrtu on lnWeudl lual ccioS' INV H@~
taken place a, the Reservoir Cypress ilis, in the
course of which several persons were killed, but on
Thursday night il wss found that the result of the riot
wss only the serious bcstiug OF an officer who at
tempted to nuke an arrest among the workmcn en-
plo,ed on the Reservoir. From q careful nycstga-
ton the following appear to be the true facts of the
case:
r. e men euuloyed by the contractors 90 various
sections ol the work-the reservoir and s1leduct-
were las; Fall informed that Il they chose II continue
20 work tie sections they would, IN heu OF money,
be- furnished with provisions from the stores aud suco
lttle money Il was possible FOX the contractors
procure under the extreme hard state OF money
affairs. Those who dd not choose to accede
20 these terms eft while majority oil the
workuen ard lahorers concluded 70 remain
on the works and take the chance of better hoes IA
the Spring. Most of tho contractors then put tneir
men at work nj shillipgs per day, which, during the
Winter they were well satisfied wn preierring that
to starving. They expected, with the commencemsht
of Spring thst their wages would b. Increased, out
such movement was made by any OF The
ON 1hursd day morning, the lsborers employed on al
the sectous Of conduit and those on the reservoir
struck Tor p instead of I Shillogs per day Ihe
woik ON the conduit line stopped and ne dfhcuity GU
sued On the reservoir the case wue diferent Inc
lsborers emploved here decided not TO Work them-
s,lyes neither ~ allow Others 10 work. Iney con-
t. ndcd that the contractors had sgieea % give 'neu
an increase Of pay the first day OF the month, and
they nssted ON receiving IA much ss was gwen on
som. of the sections above which was and lU shi-
liugs per day. Nearly all tho hands stopped ther
work Some of the Men were, ho"evor dsposed 10
20 on al the old wages. About II oclo \, lhursisy
morning III. G.. Coleman, one of the nremen, sent
some carts to place short distance from the
reservoir for stone. Tie teamstsrs went down
TO tie quarry and four laborers were there
commenced to load tie wagons; parry OF me gaas
who had struck came dow and urged them to desst;
all but one Jer, miah Kane, complied but no in-hted
on working. OLe of the attacking patty named VII
liam Murphy, while Kane was picking up STONE 10
put in the cart struck him over the head with nou-
der but did not nilict serious serious injury: kane
then left and with ii. q. Coleman, one oil thc lore
men, proceed.d to Justice lckox at East New-ioik
ard procured warrant for the arres, o' murphy
The warrant was placed IN the haha oi
Homer with directions to arrest Murphy. Homer pro-
ceeded 70 the Reservoir and inquired at the store for
| Murphy. A number of the workmen we're arnund the
place and disposed to resent any attempt Ia arrest
him. Soon after Murphy LETT the BACK pari o. the
building aud escaped into the woods, followed closely
| by the officer who also was followed by the WHOLE
! crowd at the .tore. When Homer saw that his
| prisoner was likely to escape he hred his
pstol over his head TO inlmldate nm ALI
| shortly after brought him into close quarters.
when scufie epsueo, in the course OF when Homer
| shot Murphy through the wrist, beside cutting nis
head severely with the barrel and but of ms psso
which was broken in the scuiiie. Murphy then msae
his escape while his friends fell upon Homer and 90.
yerely beat him with stones, ipluibg ms head ana
one Of them striking his rght hand as no raised 70
his head, fracturibg two Cf the metacarpal oones
succeeded
rail- the Plsbkroad where he temporarily TOOK
refuge The incensed rioters assembled IN front OF the
house and tbreate ned 10 demolsh II unless Homer was
given up. Homer Ineanw bile had secreted hinsen 10
the barn in the rear and alter escaped ACROSS the
lots TO the cara By which he reached Brookyn Cole
msp the foreman went out Of Farraus house by the
back way and attempted TO pacify the crowd, when
they caught hold Of him and threatened ~ hu nin
on the spot if any harm should come to Murphy.
They then took him back 10 the house of Fsrrsll,
where they made search for their comrade, suppoeDg
he was secreted in the house. After keeping him 9
prisoner for some time, Dir. James McDavi', one OF
the foemen, and Mr.. Harney the clerk, succeeded IN
pacifyiLg the crowd, and all wss nee more quiet.
Justice Hickox altar issuing the warrant ior the az
rest of Murphy, went short distance 10 wIaess is
execution aDd when il found that the oi1cer was
insdeauate 10 cope with the superior fOzce that sur
rounded lin, and that in consequence there was SELL
ous apprehensions of riot, he pursued the coarse
that in his Judgment seemed best, and prodeeded AZ
once TO notify the Sheriff OF Kings County, 10 order
that assistance might be speedily rendered. Sheriff
Remsen dispatched Il messenger to East New. York,
who, aacertainDg that oil wac at that tme quiet re-
turned to BroOkynin company with Constable Homer
who had had bis wounds dressed by surgeon az East
New-York.
Yesterday afternoon it was anticipated that there
would be another outbreak, in consequence Of rumor
that an attempt would be made TO arrest the ring.
leaders Of the previous days riot and others engaged
in il. All was quiet yesterday afternoon; the work.
were lounging about in squads, apparently rie,
and with no inclination 10 work. NO attempt wsS
made 10 make any arrests, nor were there any proPa
rstions made either offensive or defensive The con-
tractors it is understood will refuse to scceds TO the
demands Of the laborers at present. The whole
trouble seems 10 have arisen from an ocef being al.
lowed to make arrest Of psrty while suHoundeo
BY nearly hundred Of his friends.
The Reservoir is situated in such manner that one
portion Of s in Kings and the other In Queens Coun
ties and when there is trouble il B sometimes difncut
10 determine which authority Of the counties should
be called on for assistance Heretofore has been the
practice to apply 10 magistrates Of Queens County,
except in special case'.
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