Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-04-15
The FiSherInen,s War.

lilcgitmate children belonged to Mua treal, and
II were srut from the United States
The FlSherInen's War.
The Port Tooacco Times Of yesterday con-
tains the following account, also written by an
eye witness, OF the late 6sbermeu's battle on
the Potomac:
There occurred on the Potomac or Wed
ncsday last (thc % b uit.) a most diabollcai
aud outrageous attt mpt ~ destroy property OF
law-abIdlng citizens and large taxpayers. The
facts are substantially as follows:
"A band II marauders, msceaneously pick
ed up, composed of black and white provided
themselves With two tug boats, the Harbinpcr,
Capts. Gregg aud Childs, and the Smith Pet
tit, Capt. J,e Depty, and aiming themselves,
proceeded 10 Nanjemoy Reach to destroy the
property Of our citizens, aud particularly of the
fishing tenants of Thomas A. Mlllar aud o! hers
These fishermen are quiet, orderly meU, who
have been gllling on the Potomac Tor at least
ten years, paying their rcUt and taxes and Civ
ing universal satisfaction to the oWners of fish
ing property. Some are located here aud are
to all lntents and purposes bona tide citizens Of
the county. Luckily they were protected and
the robbers driven off, not however without the
use OF firearms and the wouudIng OF several
parties, among them the captains Of both the
steamers. On both sides Of Tosou's Wharf,
meu from the North and Virginia have rented
fishing property, and being more successful in
their operations, have excited the jealousy aud
envy OF less thrifty class Of fishermen. WHO by
force OF arms dctcrluioed to drive them off by
destroying their outfits aud burning the houses
OF citizens OF the couuy. And 10 pursuance
OF this UtJeet sent'a committee on Su Dday, the
26th OF March, to give the parties notce t. va
cate in three days. The notice served was
read 10 them and seemed to have been fixed
up by onc j. Wesley HooymaG. of 10 very CO.
viabie character, and based upon some intor-
matiou said Happmau protested to have re-
cclvcd from Annapolis. Ho,plnan is a nun-
resident of the county. The fishermen not uD
derStandlng this summary process, communal
Gated with the proprletors, who, looking upon
it as a-brutum tulmen, Quoted their fears aud
addressed civil and polite notes TO the reputed
warning them not to come upoo
their premises with any idea looking to de.
s;ruct,on of property. The reply was that the
proprietors might, on the Wednesday follow
leg, expect TO have 80 guns pointed at them
il they resisted the mob. Capt j. Harvey
hai Gold theu THAT it would be mob law for
which there is 90 law. Accordingly on
Wednesday, abou; - ~, the feet, consist.
ing OF the Smith Petit, Captain Dcnty, aud
the Harbinger, Captain Gregg, was seen
rounding Maryland Point. The Smith Petit
had in tow five toals, containing about twenty
men each, all armed. The HarbiDgcr had her
crew on board, Ia all some two hundred meD
They passed Tolson' Wharf, where they might
have landed, and mace for the police boat,
Katie Kinds lying some one huudred yards
bcluW, aud attempted TO board her. Ii had
been known that they had, lbe night before,
Information received FROM their own meu, de-
clared their Intention OF taking this boat and
using her arms. Capt. Carpenter, who was on
shore, upon the approach OF this feet board
ed his vessel and warned them off. Instead Of
needing the warning they pressed upon him,
when he fired liH, shot across their bows as
a signal TO round off, wheu Immediately VOL
ley was fired on some unarmed meu on the
shore, near house occupied, and then follow
ed Shots in rapid succession on Carpenter
boat. 1t was only then, as can Well be estab-
lished by disinterestud parties, that Capt Car
pcutcr fired upon the boat. Evidence can be
produced by homes, disloeres;ed parties to
his fact. But the fact that they did treacher
ousIy board settles this point. Tie steamer
hoisted white flag, when all friug ceased,
and the continued waving Of the flag wa > \
that parley Was desired. Cars.
Carpenter apr cached under the signal, Il II
when ne came along side powerful young man i
Jumped 90 deck and made an assault, wheh h. !
was Knocked back by the stroke of RI and |
others KEEP 10 bay, and the steamer W.ved off. |
The next thing was t. fad out what the Smith !
Petit, from Alexandria, was doug with an
armed banG, sixty miles down the river, ralilug
lpon the property Of the citizens of Maryland.
= A. ho, ,loc hoo
1cdney, Capt. Spranzy, was pressed INTO ser
;lce, aud as she passed Smiths Point Wharf,
unuing al the rate OF twelve or fifteen miles
10 hour, severalshots were fired into her wound
OF one man. This shot Was fired from the
teamer THOMPSON. it is said, the would be
assassin taking the advantage of the boat
fhcu Qaautico was reached, the Smith
= lit was at the wharf, abandoned by all
"a, son of the captain aud fireman.,
W. e,te An IN acknowledged they had aided aud
1891 Ne tba.ng aud outrage. Young Deoty
,h.o, tnr ~. 10 tha, rpt Chids had chartered
Tue Tug ia aou ." Gbds not know for what pur
p ponos;,;on was made to hi tor the day. The
landed few miles dowu the Pcrm, y i;b 10 DC
fishing place where ChidS might s.,ver for
himself After some little hesitation he S s.-eed
to it and cast off the lines himself. Cap. |
t,hilds no, being at his place the tug returned
10 Alexandria This is true version OF the
flair a. can be attcsted by numbers OF diSin-
frre,ted parties, particularly lhat part OF II tnat
opuosite rolsou's Wharf, where Va
r;nns citizens, from curiosity, had assembled.
Families 90 the Re ach were terrified aud
would have left their homes had not these ma
rauders been driven off. The io'low'og are the
names of the persons composing the committee
hat served the uoticcS: W. Carpenter, l..
Scott, Henry Radcliffe. aud others. In y c9 G,
mite lntorucd the parties that James Z. mar
yev would head the expedition. This outrage
is disgrace to the county and unparalleled III
its history"