The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-07
FIaHTING 4 FERRY COMPANY.
An Attempt to Tear Down the Opposition
Lines picr and the club House at staple
ton A Mob Driving the WOrkmen Away.

An Attempt to Tear Down the Opposition
Lines picr and the club House at staple
ton A Mob Driving the Workmen Away.
ON Tuesday afternoon the tugboats Bella,
ID. A. Hovey and CorinDe, with two pile drivers
In tow, steamed up alongside the New York
Yacht Club House at Stapleten, Staten Island,
and large force Of iaborers began vigorously to
saw away tho piles supporting the house and
pier The pier and club house were built by
Vice Commodore Garner OF the New York Yacht
Club and the former is used as a landing 10y tho
boats Of the Opposition Line" which carries
passengers from New York to Staten Island for
Ave cents, half the price charged by the Staten
Island Railway Ferry Company. The opposition
line is patronized largely by the working people,
and its efforts to break down the monopoly Of
the old line have received their heartiest sup
port. Consequently, as soon as the loungers on
the pier saw the movements OF the workmen
from the tugs and scows, the alarm was spread
that they were Destroying the pier and club
with angry residents, The police were also
called out and by the time two or three piles had
rested
just then the ID. II. Martin Of the opposition
line steamed to her pier, and the pilot, finding a
scow In the way, hitched to II and towed 1t ont
IN the bay and cast II adrtft. Then, steaming
back, she blew shri b SITS with her whistle,
and her bell WAS loudly rung. This brought
more residents to the scene OF action. all eager
to aid in resisting the workmen. Shots were
fred, stones and bottles were thrown at the
men on the scows, and perfect torrent OF in
vectiyes was poured upon them ana the sup
posed instiQators OF the movement Can't
Jake" Vanderbilt was given the credit OF the
proceedings 10y most Of the residents, though a
few attributed II to the Pilot Commissioners.
Mr. Garner and Mr.. Pendelton, the reputed
owner Of the Martin, were soon at the cluD
house, and from balcony urged the villagers to
withstand the wOrkmen They were soon Joined
by Police Justice Garrett They summoned
Deputy Sheriff Denyse OF Stapletun and Judge
Garrett, at the request Of Mr.. Denyse, swore in
In the mean time the tugs and scows had
moved on to the pier Of the staten Island Rail
way ferry, where they remained all night
Messrs. Garner and Pendleton, Judge Garrett
and few friends remained IN the club house
all night. ana the special police aud a large
throng OF residents watched ON the pier.
At six o'clock Yesterday morning the tugs
again steamed to the club house, and attempted
rung, the whistles shrieked, and the crowd
poured down to the pier. tug got rope
around one of the main props ~ the club house
and WAS steaming out INTO the bay, when the
rope was cut. AnOthertug tried to batter down
the piles In the Martins slp. and the residents.
who had procured hand engine aud hose,
turned stream Of cold water upon the assail-
ants. Women Joined H. the throng, and hurled
their share Of bottles and stones, and more than
their share Of abuse. one stalwart Irish matron
hustled down with cabbage In her hands.
"The curse OF God upon yez !" she shrieked,
aud she hurled the Cabbage sayagely. Thus. by
bottles, water, and vegetables. the workmen
were kept from harming the pier and club
house.
When the passengers Of the Martin went to
the landing they found notice posted, saying
that she was not to be run for the present. but
was to remain to guard her pier. Each passen-
| ger was given i've cents that he meht not lose
| by paving ten cents on the Vanderbilt line.
The ropulss OF the wOrkmen seemed to cha
| grin the employees Of the old line, and one Jerry
| Reardon, alias Bally Cotton, wished to nght
| somebody. He found an accommodating per
| son In Robert GoRgin, and In minute there was
free hRht. which resulted In the arrest OF eight
men. They were taken before Justice Garrett.
| About ten o'clock the tugs withdrew and
| steamed back to the city. The Martin resumed
her regular trips, and all was quiet in Stapleton.
The Pilot Commissioners are responsible for
the work Of DESTROYING the pier aud club house.
George W. Blunt some days ago calle for bids
| for the removal of the pier and house, on the
grounds that they were built within less than
| one hundred feet Of the old lines pier. They
based this action on q recent decision OF Judge
Westbrook. that, according to an act passed by
the Legislature OF 1887, piers should be built no
| less than one hund 90 feet apart. and tho
| pier built by Mr.. Garner joined the old pier it
was an obstruction. An appeal had been taken
| from the Judges decision, but before IT was
| fully adjudicated the call for BIDS was mad e.
| The bids we're opened ON tuesday and the con
tract was awarded to Dubois X sons, who set
| their workmen to work Immediately.
| on Tuesday afternoon judge DOnohue grant
| ed an Injunction restraining the Commissioners
| from interfering with the pier. but MIR. Blunt
| was not able to so inform Dubois & sons until
YESTERDAY morning, when they Immediately or
| dered their men - Withdraw