The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-01
"A BOATMAN STABBED.
Exciting Chase After the FugitiyeS to the
Main Land.
MCAPTURING THE RUNAWAYS.
Two Of the Desperadoes Still at
Large in the City.

NdsnluB dCduemy lOr young scapegraceS taken
from the streets by the police or sent to the ship
BY their parents for misconduct at home. She
belongs to the United States is under The con.
troll OF the Commissioners OF Charities and Correc.
ton. She is fine vessel, well built, well
xgged, cleany kept and thoroughly comforta
Her average crew Is sixteen men, four officers
Nncluding the captain), ana $50 youths and boys.
During the summer months she Is retained In
port, and In the winter Is sent cruising into the
Southern seas. While in harbor the boys are con-
stantly drilled and exercised, and when at sea
they are instructed in seamanship and navlga-
zion. Every element necessary to make them
competent sailors Is brought into their studies,
and when opportunities occur Of getting them
good positions they are transferred to other
vessels and left to SHIFT Tor themselves. OF some
very Indifferent material put on board the ship
some very good has been turned out, and the offi-
GERS point with no small satisfaction to several
striking instances OF the Mercury's teaching and
discipline. These are the cases OF boys who had
been placed on the ship by friends sent there by
police Justices, who on quitting the school and
taking service In the regular marine, won for
themselves places OF emOlument and trust. Occa-
sionaly, the officers admit they get hold Of charac-
ters 30 refractory that kindness, good treatment
and even
RIGID DISCIPLINE
are unavaillng to change the stubborn course OF
their nature into even channels. Owing to the
parsimOny OF the recently dismissed Commits
siOners Of Charities and Correction the ship has
been allowed to remain in port this winter IN
stead Of going on her regular annual cruise. The
money that should have been spent for this pur-
pose has been otherwise used by the Com
missioners, and the vessel has been kept
at her anchor in the Sound. Sore very
serious consequences have resulted from
this neglect and acknowledgement. The
boys, who ought to have been at sea learning
procession by which they could 1--we as men. were
kept half Idle on board the snip and found food
for their unOccupied minds and time IN the perusal
OF dime literature and Illustrated periodicals. The
stories OF marvellous adventure and desperate
undertakings they read IN these publications at
ODD times during the day they acted at night
between decks. and the frequent Indulgence IN THIS
sort OF pas time SO ln1amed heir minds that many
of them we're deslrous Of becoming heroes OF the
stripe that flied the pages OF these dangerous
books. strong proof OF THIS was gwen on sun
day evening last. The Rev. Mr. Wiletts had con.
Guided the evening service and boat had been
ordered out to carry MIN from the ship to Harris
Island. All the boys were then GA deck roaming
the ship to a certain line ait wnen not on duty.
The weather was soft and genial and the boys
seemed
They talked and played In groups and seemed to
forget That the Commissioners had not half clothed
them. A Sunday cam and quiet rested upon the
sea and land, and to all appearances the ship was
enjoying the same contented ease. The smoke
from the galley fiue and an occasional struggling
column stealing iaZlly IRON Chimney on the land,
with stray sea bird here and there, were the
only evidences of lie that struck readily upon the
view beside the officer Oh the watch pacing
to and fro upon the quarterdecS, thinking,
probably, on the monotony OF ms life aud
measuring the time that would bring him relief
and rest. The congregation being dismissed, the
clergyman fingered sowing seeds OF good counsel
the boat was ready started MIN TO his leet, aud
he moved toward the gangway. On the deck by
the port bulwark he met one OF his lavorite boys,
and ne stopped Tor moment 30 speak to the lad.
While ne talked an alarm was raised, and In an
instant the ship was in commotion rom stein TO
stern. The boys shouted and yeiied; the men
rOared and beloved, and all rushed slmulta-
neously 10 the gangway side Quick as flash the
Captain was on the quarterback. He got there
lust In time to ten stout lads pulling Justify on
the same number OF oars In the cutter and two
desperate young scoundrels sitting in the stern
sheets, eacn with pisto IN his hand covering the
rowers IN line on either side OF the boat. The
stern sheets could be distinctly heard, .Pul
for your lives" ''Give wayn NOW, then give 1t to
her, Look outflow, or III send bullet through
your Hardly half dozen strokes had been de
from the foot OF the gangway toward the head OF
She snip when dark form shot from the OPP, n
middle OF the cutter. Spanish oath and a
NEVER MIND-Go AHEADn
and the cutter shot ahead OF the snip
and turned her head toward the land.
the omen window 81 the Cooking room, Enlie in
each hand and one between ms teeth, the boats
crew on the stroke side had Just room enough LOT
their oar blades between the boat and the snip.
IL was spring for liberty, and perilous one. 1t
was one that into the balance the lie of the
young desperate himself and that of the
Others In the boat ne sought to gam.
The astounding part OF u was ne landed
enc, and he lay where he lell. No one noticed
hun, and the cutter went steadily on. The lad at
the oar amias hips where the negro tumDled,
raised his loot moment, with the seeming lnten-
ton OF punIsnng him; but the nall uttered I'M
precation from the Stern arrested MS stroke, and
he bent himself 70 his oar. From the boat the
Captain turned his notice to the gangway, and
there upon tue platform he saw the PROSTATE
figure OF a man. The ofncers rusned down
the gangway and discovered the apparently lie
less man was the boatman, who must nave gone
man. He was oleeding prolusely from three
wounds IN the back and groaning with the PAIN
IN his eyes INTO which one OF the rlngleaders OF
the boys had thrown red pepper. Toe doctor and
steward took the boatman in nand TO render him
vnat assistance they could. and the Capt ain
ordered second cutter out 10 chase
the iugitives. Evening was just beginning TO lall,
and the boys in the cutter leit their opportunity
had improved. Tney doubtless heard the order TO
man the second boat, or they knew, OF course,
Bucn an order would be given, Tor at about the
three OF the lads In the first TOOK up three
nags that were lying In the bottom OF their boat
sna .e Tben be az Chase e snip WIN
cltlng one. Alarm guns were fired from the snip
70 rouse the people on shore and the dying boys
answered back with pistol shots. On sped tue
cutter and closer and closer followed the second
boat, with the master-at-arms IN the stern shout
ing to the crew to push her through Gun after
gun doomed out from the SNIP startling the peo
Die along the shore from their sunday sluuIper
and waking up echoes from every island around.
DOWN TO THE BEACH
the people in crowos TO tind out what had hap
pened; but, as Is always the case IN such emer
Qencies, they had not the least suspicion OF the
truth, and they rushed IN the wrong directions
The crew In the first cutter took in the situation
at q glance or probably had IL counted on before
for Instead OF touching at CITY Island, which
1ronted them, they sklrted IL at some dis
lance further down anu turned sharply round
toward the main land. one or two shoremen VINO
had happened to be close TO where they were
passing were indiscreet enough. not knowing
~
an alarm al the running cutter, and they were
answered DacK with couple OF bullets from the
boat. fortunately for the cnuntrymen the
shots missed them. The bullets passed close
enough to their ears at all events TO
give good speed to their heels-and in a very few
minutes no country men we're TO be seen In the
neiRhborhood OF the cutter. In a minute or two
after her Keel touched the bottom with bound
the crew were ashore. The cutter was left
where she stood and the boys made for the
interior. Each one took different direction and
started to tight his own battle. The MASTER
af-arma Was close upon them. He did not