The New York herald., 1876-07-27
THE GARBAGE QUESTION.

AND BRooKLYN-ALMosT AN ENGAGEMENT
WHERE SHALL THE cIrYs oYFAL BE DUMPED !?
One of tho most remarkable events that has been
chronclcd for years in police annals happened yester
day afternoon in the Lower Bay about two miles south
o. Coney Island.
Forty men OF the Brooklyn police force under com.
mand OF Sergeant Carpenter, OF the Eighth precinct
stood on the deck of the tug W. f. Cheney employed
by the Street Cleaning Department Of this city In tow
Ing scows to sea, momentary expecting an
attack from a squad Of fifteen of tho New York
police including Superintendent walng and Captains
Gunner, Klilea and Irving. The latter stood the
upper deck OF the police boat Seneca, alongside the
Cheney, waiting only for the word Of command from
Commissioners Wheeler and Nichols who were on
board, and the word was very near being given.
Every determined and the occasion was
OF intense excitement A loaded howit yawned
from the Seneca Brooklyn officers ready If the
worst do terrible execution, but fortunately
the storm cleared away ard nobody was hurt
THE OCCASION
Of this extraordinary condition OF affairs was
the prearranged action OF Shore Inspector
Cornelius Ferguson, who, claiming to bc act
ing under the law, took forty policemen from
Hopkins, and boarding the Cheney. which was towing
five scows loaded New York street refuse arrested
all board and forbid tho dumping OF the material.
The arrest claimed to have been made
under the law OF 1875, which makes 1t
necessary Tor all persons dumping garbage in
the bay or ocean to first obtain permit from the
Shore Inspector for the county, the object being
give such inspector the right apart whatever
hours he desires for the dumping At the time Of the
arrest Commissioners Wheeler and Nichols wero at
Coney Island point engaged in inspecting the shore.
with view to ascertain what truth there in tho
frequent complaints by citizens OF Long and Coney
Islands that offensive material from tho street cleaning
scows aoated ashore and created stencil. Accompa-
nving them were Superintendent walling, Captains
tcndent O'Brcn, Chief Clerk Hawey Counsellor
MacI.ea and exEycise Commissioner Stincr They
had been brought down by the police boat Seneca aud
first stopped at Bath. where they made careful
animation, finding nothing more offensive than stale
bread and melon rnds. At Coney Island point nothing
whatever offensive was found, ana Ex-senator Norton
OF that place. had no complaints TO make. While at
tho point the startling intelligence received
tha, the Cheney had been boarded and
got under way and was soon alongside
BROOKLYN policemen swarmed the decks of the Cheney
and Captain Kelley OF the boat fastened To shout TO
the Police Commissioners that he and his men
under arrest. Commissioners Wheeler Nichois held
hasty consultation, in which Superintendent Wall
ing Captains Gunner Killlca and Irving participated
The result was feeling of decp Indignation
the Commissioners having had legal advice
that the law under which the arrest
Claimed to be made was not applicable to the
Street Cleaning Department, which dumped nothing
offensive in the bay, the offensive matter, such as
dead animals and decayed vegetables being IN every
instance turned to the Health Department which
had them towcd to by with Frank Swift.
Feeling thus satisfied that Ferguson's action nrb
trary and Illegal they determined to resist Capt Gun
demanded Of the Brooklyn force their right board
the Cheney. curt answer came back thst they
acting under orders aud meant to hold the boat and all
board The defiance was too much for the New
York police to bear and they prepared for action.
Superintendent Waing hastily consulted with the
minute aerward gave the order to Captains Gunner,
kilca and Irving
TO GET READY FOR AN ENGAGEMENT
The Seneca mustered only fifteen men all told beside
the Commissioners and reporters, but the deficiency
was made up by the howitzcr, which Captain Irving
quickly placed in position to sweep the deck tho
adversary At this juncturo James Jones Roundsman
OF the Seneca who was prisoner on board the Cheney
Jumped away from the Brooklyn officers and
cheers by the New York crew. The seventy
five Italians the five scow loaas OF material in tho
meantime ran about, pitcho IN hand in a terrible
state of excitement. Az last the Commissioners took
the initiative by giving the order for the Italians to
commence dumping and fear no danger The pitch.
forks were used with unusual rapIdity and
the refuse noated in largo quantities The
Brooklyn officers, amazed at the boldncss
OF their opponents stood SILENT but they got
forccmcnts from the n. X. Hopkins which came up
alongside with twenty more officers and the shore
inspector Then the Commissioners anxious II possi-
BILE, to avoid actual conflict ordered the New York
men below. expecting that Mr.. Ferguson would
board, show his authority and explain his action,
but no would not do SO.
supERIxrENpKyr wALLlNG
at last acted as the go beweeR and boarded the Hop
kins. Ferguson was firm He meant hold the
at all hazards An entue seemed more Imminent
than before but finally the Snore Inspector agreed to
90 back to Fort Hamilton and consult Judge Church,
who gave the warrant OF arrest II he said, 'Let the
men 80 their own recornzancc until the day Of
trial, he would do so. otherwise not
HOW 1T ENpED
At nine O'Clock the Seneca arrived Mt Fort Hamilton.
where Ferguson informed the Superintendent that tho
Judge would not release the men. The Cornmiss
appointed Superintendent Walng, Captains Gunner
and kiililea committee to offer behalf or the
Police Department OF New York to become responsible
Tor their appearance bu. the Justice would not con-
cedc this. The PRISONERS therefore locked
up, and will be examined to-day at four =. NJ. The
following is the complaint upon which the
issued
ktScs COUNTY TowS OF Nxw UrRscHr l.. I-Cornslius
Ferguson being makes complaint and that he is
the shore Inspector of the counties of New York Kings
Queens Wescheser aud Richmond under the provisions of
chapter n' Laws Of 1879 that the 26th day Of july
1876 numeer of boats vessels loaded with Snd contain
ns carrion dead animals ana other putrid and offensive
matter were owed aud nayigated through and the
aud living between Forts wadswcrth and Hamilton and
through and the waters of the said bay south said
known as the William L. Chenry which s,eamtur was at
taehsd and connected with the said oas vessels that
person. wit John Kelley. slas Patterson Robert
Anderson Levi Brodhead. H. .. Lynch Richard New
navigating and moving OF the said and said
boats vessels the saicress with the
ron. dead animals aud other matters into
s permit ia writing @ therefor @s en y hm sSs
said shore Inspector required by law chapter GOA OF
said aforesaid. and did thercupon them and
peace and the county Of Kings New
Utrecht in said county to be dea wih ding 70 Law
sworn before thi. 26th day ofJuly. 1879