The New York herald., 1879-07-29
THE COLLEGE POINT FRACAS.

l.. L.,
stables and excursonists caused great excite
ment in all adjacent parts of Long Island. The
most sensational reports yng about regarding
the affair." and il was asserted in localities that
several men had been killed and number wounded.
These reports, upon investigation. found to be
wholly unfounded.
In the afternoon HERALD reporter visited College
Point to obtain the story of the afray accurately
as possible. The whole village in o state of
citement, and the matter discussed by groups
the Around the gate leading to Freytag's
Pavilion. where John Distin lay wounded. stood .
large crowd of and children who
tried to force their way in to look at
the victim Of Sundays fracas The pavilion
itself was crowded with constables and citizens who
stood apart from mprovised litter. made of
rough boards. which lay Distill, with nothing to
make his couch easy but feather pillow. His
broad bare chest showed the hole where the bullet
had entered little to the right of the median line
aud his pale face and clinched teeth showed his
great agony. Near him stood his brother-in-law,
John Dimon and his sister talking to Police Justice
E. Suffers and Ferdinand Gentner. the village
shal who weregwaiting the arrival of William Groat
from New York, whose arrest had been ordered
suspicion of having shot Distill. man stood
beside the sufferers couch and kept the flies from
annoying him with willow branch In the morn
ing Coroner Burns. of Flushing empanelled jury
and took Distills ante-mortem statement. fol-
lows:-
My name is Andrew Dstil live at No 7l3 East Sixth
d w %
yesterday pleasure excursion. There shooting
Fe"s s'' @ ss tie
and found VI. hands in tho vicinity hghting: DO
the saw get loose from who had hold Of
him He ran the street me and in front
right breast by bullet Before this took place had
that struck the ball from the know tho
was shot he wore blue sSit his name is believe
William Groat he is keeper of the free bath at the foot Of
think hO fired arst, do not know if he the who
shot me- He WAS the only one saw with pistol.
The Coroner then ordered Groat's arrest, to await
the result of Distll's injuries.
JUSTICE Suffers ACCOUNT.
Justice Suffers said that on Sunday at noon Mar
shal Kirchessner and Constable William Hoeng
went to him and requested that several special con-
stables be sworn in as very rough crowd had ar
rived at Freytags Pavilion. The Justice appointed
Joseph Fink. Michael Click and George Dietz. and
gave Fink his revolver. which he loaded with blank
cartridges only. The rest of the story told by
the officers and participants in the fight.
Marshal Kirchessner said There about
two hundred Of the roughest people on the wilet
and make noise Immediately on landing. aud be-
gan to dance and play music when they entered the
pavilion. On complaint of some parties Justice SUIT
ordered me to stop the dancing After that they
quiet for time, but could that they
going to have and got some men. I
again entered the grounds. when tho president
Of the club. Mr.. Snyder, asked that parties be
stopped from carrying beer into the garden, 1t
for sale at the pavilion bar Just then discov
a
the basement OF the pavilion and arrested him. AS
passed through the gate an attempt was made to
him. but one OF the assisting constabies drew
his revolver and cleared way for me. Among others
who attempted the rescue was Dstill. Shortly
afterward returned ana arrested Joseph Redmeyer
for beirg disorderly. aud the crowd had to be in
timidated again with the pistol. AS returned from
William Groat. known as FATTY Groat. FIR
ing his pistol at Marshal Gentner who
bullets heard fes about twenty other shos
but they fired by gang of the excursonists.
gate OF the pavilion but repulsed with bullets
and paving stones. We called on the citizens for
help and about dozen responded. After short
had escaped. Distl found lying on his side with
a bullet hole in his breast do not know who shot
him"
ANOTHER PARTICIPANTS STORY.
Marshal Gentner made statement as follows:-
Some of the crowd said that boat had been stolen
and went i'll search of it, On my return heard
row going on. and, rushing toward the pavilion,
Constable Fink on the gaound with stout man,
they separated and Fink attempted to use his club,
when Groat drew revolver and fired at Fink.
who ran out into the street. l then drew my club
and crushed sforward. As II raised it Groat pointed
his weapon point blank at me and fired. He missed
me and fred again. He retired behind post as
backed into the street and drew my revolver. Then
began regular fusillade OF pistol shots. Shot
after shot fired by the roughs while
the constables formed in the street and made dash
forward. We beaten back with clubs, stones
and pistols The affair was just like regular BATTLE
and there cloud OF smoke in the gateway.
Dist l remember seeing behind post, with u
large rock in his hand. When he had emptied his
pistol made another charge and again
repulsed. Then asked the villagers to aid us
and gathered large posse, with whose assistance
entered the place. 0iroat and his companions had
fled in small boats. simply took possession of
the place. AS to the shooting Distill. know moth
ing of 1t. did not fire shot, nor did see any other
constable do so. l think Groat must nave shot
him."
CAPTAIN sHuLrz's VIEWS.
Walter l.. Shutz, the captain OF the steamer Rat
tier. said that lie on the pavilion veranda
when the melee occurred. According to his statement
ance the fight between Fink and Groat
was in progress and as Gentner crossed
,nc street al .ho crHMa S nnar yeea 90 mere ,ne
pluckily drew his club, and he advanced
Groat pulled u revolver from his hip pocket and
fired it at Gentner saying "You - - -. I'll
settle you" lie fired second shot at Gentner and
the third one into crowd of women and children
the street who began to away and
scream with fright IL saw Gentncr draw his
volvor. said Captain Shutz, "and lire two shots. 1
am positive he fired. l the other constabes
fire, but cannot name them. There was shooting
all around, but Gentner was the only one near
Groat Distill."
number of other men who present say
that Groat started the shooting. and the encounter
that followed is described terrible In the battle
Charles Relnch of Rvington street. New York. who
in the crowd. received stray ball i'll the wrist.
His wound is slight.
GgoAT.
At o'clock in the afternoon constables William
Hoenig and Frederick Schmidt, of Flushing, visited
Groat the free baths at the foot of Gouverneur
street, New York. lie taken tho
Thirteenth precinct station house amid
great excitement. At the station largo crowd
of roughs formed and the sergeant in
charge advised the constables to take their prs
to College Point, as he feared attempt at
rescue. Onicer Moran, of the Thirteenth precinct,
accompanied them as tar as Grecnpoint. On his arri
val at College Point the prisoner brought to
Dstills bedside. but the latter could not say who
shot him, although ho identified droat the
who was shooting near him. Groat was then locked
up.
To the reporter he said that the revolver he fired
was lcadel with blank carlrldQes. and that lie had