The Portland daily press., 1877-09-03
Boston Slams i'm Portland.

jarrett & Palme1s steamer Plymouth Rock
arrived here at o'clock last evening with
three thousand people, mostly representatives
from the slums of Boston. The steamer left
Battery wharf, Boston, at o'clock a. N.
Three bars were in full blast and the steamer
had been but short time out when the crowd
were fighting drunk. The officers were equal
to the emergency, however, having had abun-
dant experience with just such crowds before
and managed for the most part to prevent any
actual fighting. Determined men patrolled
the decks and dispersed the knots of men as
soon as they gathered, on the slightest show of
resistance combining them in irons. When the
steamer reached here nineteen were thus con-
fined. Spite Of all the officers could do there
was some fighting, however, and one man had
his nose bitten part off. The steamer made
very slow progress owing to the heavy load and
the rushing of the crowd to one side, causing
her to careen so that often one paddle wheel
only was in the water. She was expected here
between aud 3 10 clock and Railroad wharf,
where she was expected to land her passengers,
was at that time covered with people waiting
her arrival She was not signalled from the
Observatory. however, till o'clock and about
an hour afterward touched at the Grand Trunk
wharf. Immediately there was yell like the
war-whoop of band of savages. There were
no lights on the wharf and few on the steamer
except in the saloons. So the crowd lighted
paper and catching glimpse of the wharf
leaped for it and climbed up with as much
agility as Malay pirates over ships side. Be-
fore the gang planks could be got out several
hundred had thus landed AS soon as the
planks were in position they were covered with
men who angrily pushed and jostlsd each othe
and struggled as violently as if endeavoring to
escape from burning building. AS they
landed they broke up into squads and rushed up
the streets shouting like bands of Modocs.
They seemed to be nearly famshed and every
open saloon was filled aud its counters cleaned
of everything eatable in a twnkling. Patrick
Gormleys saloon at the foot of India street as
broken open and the safe robbed of $75. A
woman standing on the wharf had a valuable
gold watch and chain snatohed out Of her pock-
ct. India street was filled with as hard crowd
as ever was seen in Portland and the police had
their hands full to prevent robbery and blood
shed. Luckily the steamer staid only one
hour, otherwise there might have been very Sc
rious trouble.
When the roughs returned to the steamer
very much the same scenes were enacted as
when they landed. A number of women were
standing on the wharf and the treatment they
received was anything bat delicate. The
clothing of some of them doubtless needs re
construction sadly. Probably, however, iudg-
ing from their being there their wardrobe suf-
fered more than their feelings. 1t is wonder
that in the pushing and struggling to get on
board none of the crowd was pushed into the
water and it is rather unfortunate that they
were not. The wharf were still covered when
orders were given to haul ia the plank and
there must have been several hundred left
Long after the steamer disappeared in the
darkness those on board could be heard shout
ing and swearing at the top of their voices
The next time Boston slums want an arin :
it is to be hoped they will select some othe +
place than this city.