The New York herald., 1868-03-17
THE ERIE RAILROAD CAMP.

sEve Preparations for Defence-A Navy to
be Orgnnixed-A New York Gang Of Kid
nappers After Daniel Drew.
The clouds are thckening and portend q storm.
Proudly nuttered the nag yesterday on the summit
Of the arsenal which has been erected the Jersey
shore and which announced that the men are ready
for action at the tap of the drum. Res OF the most
approved pattern, shot and shell Of all dimensions,
revolvers, daggers and cutlasses on hand and
are the men who may have to use them before
week expires. Three tweve-pounders peer
grimy from the dock dividing the ferry and Cunard
wharves and the Hudson county artillery forms
powerful reserve M 70 the @ little & garrison SON. Fifteen
with revolvers and locusts, under the immediate
command Of Chief OF Police Fowler command the
Inspector Masterson, who is special superintendent
OF police on the Erie Railway comprise the garrison
ranKs ss I,eutenant cnopc has heen tanssrre% ~
the command Of the navy, which comprises four
small boats, three Of which are manned by fifteen
rifles. Eleven detectives occupy positions ut the
Erie Railway depot and the ferries along
the river on both sides, and five others
are posted in certain parts Of New York where rOughs
are known to congregate. In addition to the fore
going about dozen courers are employed to travel to
New York and the Erie depot at the Long Dock. Two
OF the boats alluded to are constructed the feb0at
principle, In order to secure against such mishap
pilot OF Jersey City ferryboat on the Desbrosses
street line, picked up Mr.. Fisk and another of the
directors from small boat in which they drift
ing down the river under q dense fog. They were
crossing from New York and completely baficd the
detectives. Two other boats will be employed this
then be on q war footing Mr.. Eldridge, the
president has charge OF the cOmmissary department,
and this is not the least onerous part OF the business
PurveyOrs are in abundance, camp followers by the
score are not wanting but supplies for long siege
having already been laid In no one can pass the lines
without the cOuntersign. Meanwhile Mr.. Gould will
have special charge Of the business department..
will thus be seen that the directors are entrenched
any force that may be brought against them. On
the other hand the public need not be surprised II
the announcement be made within few days that
Mr.. Drew will assume the offensive and lay siege to
Wall street A strictly private meeting was held yes
terday forenoon which was protracted for over two
hours in the discussion OF proposition which win
from the Supreme Court arrived before this meeting
was closed and had most reassnring effect on the
council. consultation was also had with three
prominent lawyers from New York, but nothing de-
cisve was agreed upon. As far as the legal proceed
patiently await the course Of events. What end it is
proposed To attain by that 'mastery inactivity so
much In vogue now days outsiders know iI% VINO not
in the afternoon, when a report reached hcadquar-
ters which startled the hearers No less than ffty
disreputable gin mill in New York, and were
headed by five ''pugs,' who are never missed from
porary possession Of the depot Inspector Maserson
who had received intmation OF raid from one OF
his detectives and was consequently on the alert,
-
them how far he was prepared to meet them cleared
them of the premises not, however, till they became
convinced, much to their chagrin that Mr. Drew was
not located at the Office in the depot, had been
supposed There can be little doubt that desperate
attack was meditated in order 10 secure Mr.. Drew
and carry him to New York. The most extrayagant rr
mors are aoat in regard to this expedition The men
who composed 1t belong to that class whose nature
consists not In body and soul, but material mass
animated merely by az much OF the vital principle
as regulates the motion OF the body, whereas in a
things else the spiritual has passed away II may be
little consolation TO our generation that this class
belongs not 10 modern times exclusively. Al the
siege of Troy there O certain individual called
Simon whose reputation IL conveyed In that laconlc
phrase 1rdt,ts t'tque, OF, IN our parlancc, would
the surface among us, and with winter OF such
severity that now passing away, when
hardship has been rife among the poor we
see an additional incentive to spur on this
reckless crowd. II has transpired through the ac
tviy Of the Drew detectives that $4,000 has been
appropriated TO reward the men who succeed in cap
turing MI Drew and placing him on New York soil.
This may be an exaggerated amount, but one thing
Is certain-that this was specified In the very den
where the raid was organized: How % far M such men
easily imagine With so glittering prize no conse.
querces would be feared, not even the sacrifice OF
life itself. II s not improbable, them that an attack
may he made on the fortress in which Mr. Drew
is entrenched, but with the preparations already
made four such gangs as the one now organized
would be drowned in their own blood. Mr.. Gafiney,
President OF the Jersey City Police Commissioners
| with Mr.. Fowler Chief of Police had an interview
last evening with the directors, in which the latter
were assured that the entire police force Of Jersey
CITY would be held In readiness ut their service il
| quired. council or war was subsequently held,
when plan Of fire signals by night and guns by day
was agreed upon In case Of attack, and Inspector
Maserson will remain In the camp TO see tlat the
defence is complete IN every particular Three Of the
I six b6ats will Be Oh the river with the men resting
| on their oars night and day. relieving each other
alternately and armed as already Stated. such Is
| the present phase OF the millionaire contest Who
can tell what will come next?