The New York herald., 1877-09-04
A DISGRACEFUL MOB.
Sunday Excursion of the Plymouth Rock
from Boston to Portland.
FIGHTS AND PANIC.
Outlaws Maddened by Rum Turn the
Steamer Into a He'll
NOSES AND CHEEKS 5lTTEN OFF.
fly TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. |

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
BosroN, Sept. g. 1871
Passengers who went from Boston to Portland 10
the steamer Plymouth Rock Sunday and returned
today report an experience which Is disgrace the
civilization OF the period The steamer started from
here halipast eight IN tho morning with as motley
a crowd as ever assembled board any vessel
Th eyes, prostitutes and professional lighters were
closely intsrmingled with the moro respectable por
Soon after the steamer LETT the wharf the bar
was opened and liquor sold to all who
wished to purchase 1t was not long before
tho liquid refreshments began to have their eHcct
as here and there could 10 q reeling
the decks IN an intoxicated condition Tho bar was
still kept open, however, and by the time the
reached Rockport the crowd OF roughs, always ready
for row their sober moments, began lighting The
trouble begun by young fellow. apparently about
niueteon years Of age making an attempt TO pick
bosom pin from the shirt front Of Mr. Augustus Aus
tn who was under the influence of liquor at the time
This occurred the bar The attempt was resented
by Mr.. Austin and the result was argument with
1sts.
PANIC ON THE BOAT.
The crowd, attracted by the cry Of "Row !" rushed
to the spot where the fight in progress in numbers
sufficient account OF tho added weight, to cause
the steamer 10 very far her side
ing temporary panic. The manner in which the
ru6nou
amusing The State police, nve OF whom
board under tho command Of Major Keith, made their
appearance and the fight was stopped
NOSE BITTEN OFF.
Shortly after this Mr. Austin went upon the main
deck In company with a young man by the name
Henry Addison who resides at No. As Carver street,
Boston. Tney were both somewhat dnder the inau.
cnce of liquor and fight the natural consequence.
The affair seemed those standing by to be amcably
settled, when all OF q sudden Addison jumped at
Austin caught him by the waist and lifting him high
in the air threw him completely his head.
Austin struck hts pack. when his assailant jumped
upon him, threw himself at full length upon his body
and bit his nose Of Officer Keith nterfered and
rested Addison and put him in the guard room.
ANOTHER COMBAT
Scarcely had the excitement caused by this row sub.
sided when the occrs attention was called to another
very lively 'scrimmage." which was 10 TOLL progress
twenty feet away. II seems that John Curry and
BENJAMIN SWEET became intimately acquainted before
the vessel had steamed hundred feet from the wharf,
They partook OF liquor together several times, when
Mr. Curry the bystanders say wanted to demonstrate
that he was the better THIS was not agreed to
by the other fellow. Curry jumped upon him una
wares threw him TO the deck and bit piece from his
lett cheek
VALIANT POLICEMEN
The officers headed by State Detective Noonap,
made charge upon the crowd and Tor few minutes
the rule, "Wherev0r you head hit II, held good.
This hght proved the hardest OF all 10 suppress aud It
only alter the free Of clubs that the crowd OF
hoodlums persuaded to retire. which they finally
did, leaving several prisoners In the 0icers' hands
INFuRATED WOMAN.
In another part OF tho vessel young woman was
brandishing revolver and breathing out threats Of
bold enough TO strike her friend She was also per-
suaded by tho officers TO cessation OF hos
vailed on board.
GENERAL SCENES OF TuxuLr.
II no. Of iong duration, however for the
vhskey aud beer so iibcraly dispensed at the bar
Unused courage into those whose spirits had been
so dampened by the free application Of tho officers
Sticks aud from the time the steamer passed Rockpor
until she landed at the wharf at P0rtiand at eight
O'Clock IN the evening rows in different par.s OF tbs
boat were the ruio rather than the exception
FACILITIES DROWNING.
short stay made AT the wharf, which was
long narrow structure nsunici"ntly lighted and pro-
vIdcd With every nducement for q man to fall ovor-
board One young man did fail overheard, but he was
rescued.
About ten O'Clock, after freeing about twelve prison.
ers aud leaving somewhere IN tho vicinity OF 400 per-
sous IN P0rlland-mOst OF whom declared themselves
afraid to return 10 the seamer-tne cry Of "All
aboard was heard the gang plank was hauled 10 and
out, started TOR Boston, The steamer had been
out. ou. only lew N minutes when a. rush s,
hours aiterward and in fact until morning,
even women and children could be seen
tixntly fastened around them About eleven O'Clock
Detective Keith ordered the captain OF the steamer
oveyed until Battery wharf was reached a more
orderly crowd could not be found anywhere BY two
O'Clock nearly every passenger on board was either
asleep trying TO sleep, and II almost impossible
to step grand saloon closely wedgcd together
were the passengers on inc floor. BY i've o'clock
Boston harbor reached and, judging from appear.
ances, there not u s0rrowful person on board.
POLICE PREPARATIONS.
Tue police were notified early last evening that
trouble nad BOARD the steamer ana Captain
Twombey OF the Eighth station, was ordered to pro-
down the harO0r tho police boat, intercept the
Plymouth Rock aud see II any assistance was required.
AT baIfpast Ave. accompanied py twenty oliice Stem
each IRON stations and 2-he sci SAL and met the
abreast OF Spectacle Island The officers were
transferred 10 her deck, but their SERVICES were not
needed. At quarter before seven this morning the
steamer arrived at Bittery wharf, the passengers
tired, sleepy aud disgusted.
OFFICERS THE BOAT BLAMED
The passengers, many otN them, speak IN condemna
ion OF the officers, who they say hrst sold the liquors
by wuch the men becaiAe intoxicated. and then
treated them in cruel, inhuman manner. Mr.. Jonn
Kelley, member of tho Common Council from the
Bunker Hill district says they acted more like bru'es
tnan men, pushing the passengers down stairs and
otherwise maltreating them.
APPROVAL.
On the other hand officers OF the State detective
force say ,he officers took tho ouly way 10 suppress
the troubles. The passengers claim they could obtain
nothing cat from early IN the evening until tho ar
rival OF the boat IN city Tho matter will probably
be very The parties arrested are at
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