Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-04
WAR AT SWANEON.
Fishermen Resist the Officers OF the
Isw-Threc Anglers Arrested aud
Two Sttncs Seized.

Two Sttncs Seized,
Sheriff Barton and Officer Dumas Of this
city, accompanied by Sheriff Anterior OF
Waterbury, Deputy Sheriff John l.. futile
and Officer Louis Wood of Montpelier, made
a raid upon the vioaors OF the fishing laws
at Hog Island yesterday. Arriving at
Swanlon the party took team and drove
across the country to Mis,squoi Bay. AT a
point near the railroad bridges half dozen
fishing huts were discovered The news III
the arrival of the officers had reached III,
fishermen and a crowd numbering lhiry.ti,,
or forty bad gathered to witness IA
sport Ju,t as the party reached IT.
fist hut some fishermen, as If da .
ing the officers to lake action, drew two arg
nets from the lake further down the shor'
The Ulcers at once accepted The challenge
ana proceeded 10 the spot. Fish Wardc
Tuttie read his commission TO the crowd,
and stated his errand-tO get their nets an"
stop lleg Il !l-hiug-hut the fishermen laugh
ed a. hun aud said thai whoever took Their
n"rs would have 10 take their dead bOdrs.
After pulcyln. for some time the oiiic ,
went t. take one If the nets When M
ran,,d llillNcr jumpeh on The ne' If Sal
No. man cDuld TAX turt net unless tucy took
the scunle worked near the lax
luttle went to WouI's as-i,tt,
when several OF the lisurrm,n ".
I'd in the fight, the crowd lrllug all T.
while, "IhIow them Into the lake, ''uruw
them But the officers ct away iron
them and NO ked Their way back to he nets
| la he meantime one If the crowd gtapbed ,
lOrg haudl, d sh vel TO sttke officer Duuas
| who urcw his cub to drieud himself. Th'
| fellow told Dumas to put 10 his club or h'
would split his head open, and the latter n
this poiut drew his pistol and told the fellow
to drop that shovel or he would put bal
through hlm. The mans hand hogan Il
trenbe and he dropped the shovel aud raj
as if the old feloN himself was after him
Then II man right behind officer Dumas drew
an axe 10 hit him, when Sheriff Anterior
caught hold oil the axe, drew his pistol ant
told him to Jet 90 OF the axe or he woul'
shoot him. The man let go OF his hold ant
the officers threw the axe and shovel into tn
lake. Things began to get warm and th
officers fired their pistols The fishermen
seeing that they were in earnest negan t
scatter in all directions. AT this point /
became possible for the officers 10 take som
prisoners, and they at ouce attended to thi
duty and secured three men to make an ex
ample Of. The prisoners secured were tw
brothers named Nat and joseph Sheets an
Joseph Couture The officers looked aroun
and discovered three or four barrel
of fish of excellent guilty, caust
that morning, which the usher
were preparing TO ship to New York. Th
prisoners and the two large nets which wei
taken were loaded into the wagon and Ii
officers started out on their return trip. A
there was room in the wagon for only
part of their numher, Sherlfs Barton an
Anterior and Officer Dumas walked
Swanlon, distance Of seven mie9. I'll
prisoners were taken to St. Adams where
complaint was entered against them for n
sisting the officers of the law, and in defau
of bail IN the sum of $3.50 each, they we
committed to Jail in that place. The sta
Attorney at ST. Adams has taken the case
hand and the offenders will undoubtedly II
ccive a lesson that they ard their partners
guilt will long remember.