The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-04-19
ALMOST kTRAGEDY
ATTEMPT TO BE REVENGED.
A Warning to Shanghaiers.' -

Ever since the drowning Of Harry
Fredriksen last Sunday afternoon,
there has been a deep feeling of in
dignation among the sailors and fish
crmen, and about noon yesterday it
came to head. \ party of men
from the upper canneries assaulted
Nc. Da7ich, who, it is claimed, is
the cause of Fredriksen being put on
board the Storm King Friday night,
and with loud threats attempted TO
get possession Of him. He ran up
stairs and getting out through the
upper window was at once taken to
the city jail, for protection by the
police officers assisted by ether citI-
zens. He was followed by the rap
idly increasing crowd, and no sooner
had he been securely locked in one
of the cells thai they demanded that
he be given mp. BY this time the
immediate vicinity Of the Jail was III
an uproar. Laughrey and the police
force, A. W. Berry, NJ. d. Crosby,
and others expcstuiated with them, the
answering cries being, "Wc want him
out" mo more shanghaing!' Hang
him" The outer jail door WAS locked
and some half dozen men stood facing
the crowd and asking that they listen
to reason and not do that which they
would regret i'll cooler moments. a
large plank was brought and tho outer
door burst open, the crowd rushing
past the officers into the halls and cor
ridors. Had they then succeeded in
finding Davich It's probable that he
would have been given short shrift,
but this they were not able to do.
Sheriff Twombly, Judge Winton, J. o.
Bozorth and others now appeared, and
placing themselves III the door called
uponaii toad IN upholding the law and
warmed all present from any attempt
to take the law in their own hands
The widest excitement prevailed and
nothing could he heard but threats of
revenge upon Davich and the mate Of
the Storm King for The part thoy
claimed they ;onk in the death Of the
| unfortunate sailor. The tiro bell rang
and tho Hook and ladder Co. ran out
their truck in response 10 the call.
This was greeted with derisIve shouts
and the crowd again closed ronnd the
doors of the jail. \ good deal was
said that would nut bear repetition
and had the infnriate crowd Of men
that surged madiy back and forth
been able to lay hands on Davich or
Crocker-who had given bail in the
morning before {. $. Marshal
Bozorth would have been the
result. Soberer counse!s prevailed;
various citizens reasoned and expostu-
lated with those who seemed TO be the
leaders, and beyond the breaking in
of the Jail door no damage was done.
The crowd melted gradually away,
and by four O'Clock had disappeared
What the upshot Of the thing viii be nC
one can tell. Ii it result in the doing
away with the ''shanghaing' Of sailors
with the beating and bsttcring mer
over tho heads aud running them
aboard ships, it may be a blessing il
disguise. That the men who clamore(
for Davich's life yesterday Afternoon
had some grounds for complaint TX
one is prepared to deny; but TIVE
wrongs DO not make right. and be
cause a sailor is drowned through
the unfortunate events ne related
yesterday morning, yet that is III
, reason that the law should be set Il
defiance and the public peace 80 rudel,
t disturbed To the officers Of the lay
4 and the citizens who used reasonable
= argument yesterday afternoon are W,
Q indebted for not having horrible dee,
r Of rashness TO chronicle. We hav
seen instances on this coast when lynch
ing seemed the only way to preVen
murder and robbery, but it was onl
when all law had become a mockery
), and not. as in this case, when the onl
one charged with the commission O
;, crime was being dealt with acccordin
to law. Law is above all Of US, an
if once broken down, who of us is nc
at the mercy Of his fellow men VII
first act and afterwards repent whe
the breath has left the body of tho
a victim.
n - --------------
nj MIR. John Rogers Of the Central Ma
:. ket, has made arrangements Ia keep &