The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-15
RIO9OUS EXCURSIONIS7S.
The Tale Of Distress That Came Over
the Wires from YOnkers.
POLICE ACTIVITY
Roughs Taking Possession of Hudson
River Barges.

"Four men killed and lying dead on the dock OF the
Vanderbilt" the startling telegram sent from
Yonkers last night to the Police Headquarters
IN this city. The alarm Immediately
sent out and tho sluggish Seneca got up
steam and with detachment OF police proceeded up
the Hudson to capture the army OF roughs who were
supposed TO have taken possession of the VAN
ierbit Orders at the same time given
10 Sergeant Thompson, of the Fifth precinct
10 occupy landing the foot OF Harrison street
with platoon o. his men and arrest the rotous
,ursonists in they sh oud escape the vigilance Of
The seneca. HIS men Immediately mustered ana
marched down TO the slip, creating an immense
sensation among the denzens OF the west side, who
were gathered front OF The dark, orbiddng looking
senen,ents, trying to catch some cool. fresh air The
vumor that something very serious had happened
soon brought crowd OF rough customers
and curious the spot, and half the platoon
found plenty OF occupation in preventing the spec
tators from invading the pier. whero crowd OF
newspaper men gathered in eager expectation
OF the arrival OF the Vanderbilt and her
companion barge, the Sumner. About hai-past nine
the whistle OF the tugboat announced thor
arrival and Sergeant Thompson placed his
to prevent any OF the passen-
yers escaping. The moment was exciting
one the desperate character of the arrivals
assumed the doughty defenders Of the law slipped
their battle clubs and took frmsr grasp OF their
formidable weapons in anticipation Of possible CON.
bat.
THE piRsT CAPTURE.
In q few moments the 6urges were moored by the
pier and the excursionists looked out with curious
wonderment the formidable preparations made Tor
their reception Nothing thor de pertinent suggested
riot and boodshsd, and as the merry voces oil boys
old Toundsman. behind whose broad Shout
ders tho HERALD reporter had prudentiy On.
hodv cd n hat It..
mar" and tho good natured follow visbly relrxed
his on The club s wnc har anns by s
the pior when young follow jumped of, without
needing the warning OF tho police, ana th's orc1m
right. The impatient excursionist, however was I'M
mediately nabped by one OF the officers, pro-
ccedipg which evidently caused him considerable
alarm. Sergeant Thompson and few OF his men
then boarde tho barge, and seeking out tho captain
inquired what truth there was IN tho rumored muir
THE CAPTAINS STORY
Captain Eismann looked quite as surprised as his
passengers and stated that though there had been
little difficulty there certainly had been NO bloodshed
board belonged 10 the 81. Pa.r,ck's Benevo:
lent Society Of Brooklyn and that he had
morning with the intention Of landing them at Dud-
lsy's Grove When no had nearly reached his des-
coma. 20 h snn aua that wsSea
turn 10 Brooklyn by eight o'clock r ~ He explained
hat II would be impossible TO do SO II he made
landing and tho conn ittee decided TO iorego that
pleasure. sNt.
HAULING FLAG.
When this became known among tho passengers
they became excited aud some iory OF the moro vio-
lent took possession OF the whcelhouse and ex
the, the desired '' landing. There was noihios
TOR but 70 yo.0. and aas N he ero.1 nna'S CS
BOARD tho vanderbilt tho Captain OF the barge sumner
ran up h,s nag, Union down, as signal OF distress.
WAS The nautical way q calling mo police,
cut nag down. and This was the only use made OF
turbance on board these bsrges and both captain
crew declared that ",hcy we're as happy as clans"
THE STORY
Several Of the passengers however. alleged that
Murder had been committed, and stoutiy main
tanned tina, they had heard the reports OF the
excurslonists 10 Spring am a; some li''is ais.
iaaes from Dudiey's Grove Tho ,s arrival OF the
but The iaith OF the police was evidenty shaken ia
the rot rumor, aud most OF the policemen had 10
do night duty Sergeant Thompson dismissed hall his
squad.
IL WAS drawing near eleven O'Clock when the lights
OF two largo barges the Caledonia and the Durant,
were noticed approaching. and after a little While
and drunken merrimeni. The bargss put In
at the foot of Franklin street, the next pier
coive them The crowd board was evidently
rough and dsoriery one and the presence OF IN i'm
IL dflcuit for the police to perform their du,y.
No one, however was permitted TO land until the
lis origin IN the excited Imagination OF some
vous person IN yonkers, and mat though tue
DAY nas been v s,SuDe one short xSs 'es
crime. IL appeared that The cxcursonisis on
board the Caledonia and Durant were chiefly mem
bers OF the Samuel G. Cohen Association, ana persons
of the Hebrew persuasion. For the most part they
inhabn the class'o regions OF Mulberry and
tho loot Of Grand street, East River. Tho
excursion had left the loot Of market street about
eompauy already In state Of excitement In addi-
peu 10 the Cohen Association there were number
OF friends aud neighpsrs mostly young men, who
eatd
ss the "Border Gang, Z" ana the ''Hook Gang" These
snecton Tor each other, aud wnen they meet It Is
their custom to sakc their hate IN each Others blood
The excursion had hardly put INTO me river when one
Ms the police were within call he was lett to breathe
vengeance the Thirty-ioorth street pier.
"Coney,n had set the tall In mo
sion, and a number OF tho moro prudsns
people thought IL advisable TO postpone tner trip up
the rver and therefore quit .bs barses IN the morn,
ing ut Ihirty-fourth street By the time this model
beer became painfully evident, and one gcntieman
olambered out boat which one of the bsrgcs had
putung an end 10 hts existence ano tho horror Of
tue assembled women he plunged INTO tho river
MAN ovgRBoARD.
Tho shouted tho girls screamed, and several
substantial middlc-aged ladies looked around Tor a
eonysn'cn. place to lam. aec'u nr.d 10 70. mean
men went In boat 10 'as rescue o,
tho drownios man when thoy , reached Cd
strike them. Under these circumstances they pbiio.
sopnicay decided on leaving hun 10 the river and
pulled for the barges TINS conduct had quite
q SOLDERING effect The druukard, VINO Immediately
began 10 swim toward SHORE having evidently sban-
doued all idea of GROWING bimsclt Another boat,
however, put on, aud Sy the time u reached him
he was only TOO glad DO drawn cut OF
tho water For awhile oil went merry
as marriage bell; but the number oil bsilicose per.
sops on board rendered the msint.nance oil peace
we'll nigh Impossible. There was an old score TO he
cleared or Dc''Hook Gang had gwen pretty severe
dressing the "Border Gang IN the riot which
took place the OF the Pike Coterc excur-
sion tho BORDER gang were IN iorce they re-
solved TO lorce the Ggntipg aud make warm Tor their
opponents. The result was series oil slight skirm-
isbes ending In n serious en- gagcmcnt on board tno
Caledoninn, In wbicn one man was severely
under tho eye and along the nose Tho scene
on board during tnis was indescribablc, women
screaming and men cursing. For while II seemed
a. II the hight would become general aud end 10 scene
OF slaughter