New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-22
A NIGHT on THE HUDSON.
FATE OF A SUNDAY PICNIC PARTY

FATE OF A SUNDAY PlCNlC PARIf.
HOW THE JOHN J. cox ASSOCIATION AND ITS
FRIENDS TRIED TO GET TO EXCELSIOR GROVE
on SUNDAY, AND PASSED The NIGHT ANCHORED
OFF THE PALISADES.
The facts connected with the supposed riot
Sunday night board some excursion barges on tue
Hudson River obtained yesterday by TRIBUNE
reporter from members Of party and at the Office Of
n g. Briggs tho manager of the excursion boats. at
West and Barrow-sts. The story told by William
Long, had the liquor and refreshment privileges,
and samuel 5. Cox. the president OF the John COX
Association. Seventh Ward club, under whose auspices
the pcnic held. IS as follows: The association
made an arrangement with Mr.. Briggs fur
nish the barges Republic and BALDWIN for their
Sunday and the steamer Mary j. Finn to tow them up
the Hudson to Excelsior Grove. and bring them back
again to the city. The Edgar Baxter smaller and less
powerful tug than the engaged was however, pro-
vded ABORTION of the eXcursion party embarked about
the foot OF Msrketst, East River, and the re-
mander Of the party taken aboard at the foot Of
Frankn-st., North River. The number OF persons in
the party yarously estimated at from 700
TO 1900. The sum OF $235, that agreed upon
by the committee and the agent OF the boats
was paid TO Captain Aiming DeyO, in charge OF the
barges, and the start was made at about quarter
before D. m. The time advertised for the start 10
a. m. Everything went pleasantly, the time being
passed by the young persons in singing and dancing
until about O'clock, when Captain Charles Gates had
the Baxter put about aud started back down the river
The excursion party tried ge him to up to the
proposed landng-placo, but he refused to do
so, and continued his course down stream.
Thereupon, more persons, whom
Long and Cox asserted they did not know,
cut the hawser which attached the barges to the tug
They then shouted TO Captain Gates 70 come back ana
hitch again. but he paid attention TO their request
and left tue party To their fate The o8ges drfted In
toward the jersey Shore aud finally anchored
Tnfn
went ashore with small boat aud endeayOred 10 get
the captain Of the Idlewd. which then lying at that
place to tow the barges back the city. Long stated
that offered pay S5Of the Iiewld would tow them
back, and Cox made an offer to pay so apiece
II the captain would transfer the passengers from the
clned to do either saying that he Obliged 10 finish
his trip up the river telegram was then dispatched TO
Mr. Briggs have another tug sent but reply 60
received. All efforts to get the parry home baY-
alton for the night Suaws aud blankets we're provided
for many Of the women ana children, ana they slept
S@EH ts ie hours ' IN dancing AND
singing. uqtl the tug FTeligh came at at ,t %
civ 1t was denied thar there any fighting dis
ORDERLY conduct board the Jarges during the night
Long said that he up his bar in evening but
admitted on close questioning intimate friend
could get drink even after the bar was closed lie
Ieges and disposed OF ffty quarter barrels of beer
amounting about 5000 glasses besides quantities Of
night an old man who was doing on the
rail Of boat itll overheard ana ne spIans
IN and rescucd him. The barge Baldwin
discharged passengers at the foot OF Franklin St.
and the Republic its passengers somewhat later, at
Long was az the oce Of Mr.. Briggs IN the afternoon
when the reporter called, very not discusso took
place Briggs defended the captain OF the Baxter for
turning about and starting nome with the excursion,
ana for leaving the bdges after the hawscr was cut
lie said trouble due 70 the late start which
rendered impossible 90 reach Excelsior Grove against
an ebb the and return TO the city by dark.
Their captains, he said all instructed TO
land all day excursions IN the city before dark They
would have sent mother tug that night after the
barres but failed lind engineer to on the trip.
The captain Of the Baxter he said started 10 60 oac6
after The hawser cut, but was deferred by threats
made by persons the barges and then steamed down
the tiver and attempted to 2et the police boat the
Seneca up. He found it undergoing repairs, and
then went down and reported the matter at the Office
10 bring the haTges home, SAID that the wife
OF CAPTAIN Deyo sand that some OF the excursion party
attempted 10 get the money back from him that had
paid the boats. and threatened his life TOR not
yielding, going far as to point loaded pistol AT MS
mead. IL escaped from the angry men, however and
hid himself away, and did not emerge from his hiding
place. as Atn stated, until the barge Republic had dis
charged lts passengers at Mtr6et-St.
Long yehemeutly denied that any such threats hGd
been made and thet pistol had been presented al
though he aCknON lodged that an attempt was made 10
get the captain 10 return the money
Mr. Briggs SAID that the loss incident 10 the cutting OF
the hawsCr would amount 10 only 80 or SlS. They
might II they chose hold the committee rspO sibe for
but would bear the loss themselves, ana think they
got of very cncJpiy.