Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-15
THE PRESS GANG.
Story of Another COlored Nan who was
kidnapped.
THE GANG IN OPERATION FIFTEEN YEARS AGo-FTyE
NoNTHS IN MISUNDERSTANDING AND DOUSING
PRACTICED BY CAPTAINS OF OYSTER DREpGEs.

IhH 6ASG IN OPERATION FIFTEEN YEARS AGO-FIyE
MONTHS IN MISUNDERSTANDING AND DoUsISG
PRACTICED BY CAPTAINS OF OYSTER DREDGES.
Last evening 4 reporter OF THE STAR having
learned that Benjamin Mayberry. a colored carpen-
ter, originally from Richmond. Va, residing at No
13E 4th street northwest, had had some experience
rs ! victim OF the Press Gang" called upon him
and asked his story. Mayberry said that although
his experience was nearly fifteen years ago. yet as
IL was evident that some who victimized him were
stil In rhe business they should be shown up sOne
day IN December, 1872, he continued, Il was walk
inE down the Avenue. and between Az and 9Th
streets, thiCk-Set ana fat black man came up to
me AMI said. What are you dong1' / said, Moth
ny ROW He said. Don't you Want jOb?' l said.
4 have one Then ne asked. What is your bust
nAss. aId said. Il am carpenter and have a job
aeN-en!.dn. a house Then said he, why amt
You Gs w1C>: | answered, Il am waiting for lum-
Der lie then asked me IL did not want to go to
Baltimore and Said he had three boats AT the wharf
ta".C. aiIi he WAS engaged in running wood up to
Washington, and he wanted man TO so on one Of
inIn ia cook. l then told him was no cook, and
hr replied There would not be much cooking done
except 10 boil meat and cabbage for the men, and
lie would certainly be back TO Washington on We'd
that t0,..d Lot 50. FOR had house 10 build He
Then siid II would go that one trip he would pay
NE at the rate 1f ais permonth, and he asked me 10
~ 10 MS 0-nre 1SJ and streets H. w. went there
with him. and there were some others there-Dayid
Pratt aud boy named Henry y man named Sam
cIine to Inc and urged me 10 agree to go with the
captain. saying whatever lie (the captain) promised
10 go he would do; and finally agreed to go, but
only for the trip.
OFF FOR BALTIMORE.
Then the captain. sam and the others with me,
walked over 10 the depot and took the train. Sam
slipped away. but the captain went with us, and
just before he got to Baltimore he said that he
would nave 10 take them before a white man who
would ask, What's the bill?' to which they should
answer Sl2. and he would beat him cut Of that
much and Whack UP with them. As soon as We
arrived Ill Baltimore. he took III, before shipping
0ficer. Who asked as the captain stated. and we
answered according 10 Instructions S12 As IL was
getting dark. the lhan took TO the oyster wharf,
and he told Us leading Us on one of the pungies) to
go down the fore peak and make fire while he
went In the cabin. We went down the peak, and
VI hiic we We're building the fire lie must have COL
lectef sl2 from our wages md jumped off. for the
boat was showed off, and when the captain called
Us In lie cahln to get supper We We're some dis
lance from the wharf. We asked where our COM
panion was, and h. said that that man hadn't any
thing 10 d. with the boat They then told the cap
tain mat they expected to be in Washington We'd
neSd'y. .nd he replied that ne Thought that they
understood where they We're going when they
cdlne aboard. but they would not see Washington
III Il hurry. 10y he expected 10 he three hun ired
miles from there soon. When the captain said this
W burst out crying and were worried TO death,
and ior
FIVE LONG MONTHS
didn't touch land. When we got to the sound we
were put at dredging oysters, and were worked
from o'clock in the morning till O'Clock at night
and sundays all day. 1t the meanest and
il'ttttSt NtIn WIS ever ana tTl2l away
from II as soon as could. hut they would not lei
touch shore FOR fear that we would leave offered
$40 u be put ashore yWnrre. so that could make
my way Ia " Washington. our captain was pretty
good man judged by some OF the others there one
uay SUt SICK and went in the fOre-peak TO lay
GOWN when the captain ordered the men to throw
water on me- The men We're dashed sometimes,
ana have seen a man with rope round his waist,
THROWN OVERHEARD
and dragged as punishment. There was no protec-
ton, the captains voice being law, and all wehad
to do was 10 work, sick Or we'll our captain,
though, was a good man. compared with Others.
TheE were generally bad lOt-Tougl, careless and
reckless would rather have been in the penit N
U3ly. When The season was over. about April 50.
Was paid IN full. except for the first month cot
but >, the man Who tCUk Us TO Baltimore getting
the Ojher :I2. /. however. lost my work on d build
iE about t5 ana ly clothes were al lost for the
people Ddd boarded with gave me up for dead.
VI ien came back wanted To find the man who
sent ne oil. but could not find him for more than
SIN IN nths. / suppose IL Is too late how to make
ally complaint"