Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-04
YIRGINIA'S OYSTER WAR.
THRILLING CHASE AND CAP-
TURE OF A PUNGY.

Ahe maryianders Scudding Along With
every Sail Set Under a hot Fire From
1helr Pursuers without a Man at the
helm-The Prisoners Lodged in Jail.
There was some excitement among the
Baltimore Captains of oyster vessels
Friday, says the Baltimore Sun, over the
intelligence of the capture Of the schooner
Ada Luddington, of Cambridge, Nd,
with her Captain and crew, on Tuesday.
by an armed force while dredging in Vir-
ginia waters.
A Baltimore captain of a vessel which
was dredging there at the time said:
About Is Maryland vessels were dredg-
ing under short sail one mile northwest
of stingray Point on Tuesday last. The
sea was pretty rough and a t0lerable
breeze was blowing. About noon
schooner came out of the Piankatank
river and sailed towards us, but no one
appeared on her decks other than what /
lhought necessary to work her. She came
up among us and hOisted the American
flag. With a regular warwhoop her hold
dlsgorged what l thought to be nearly one
hundred men, all of whom were armed
with rifles and pistols. She carried a can
non, and my vessel, l think, received the
nrst charge. This cannon was fred about
Iour times. We were all taken by sur
prise. and so terrified were the crews that
but few showed presence of mind enough
to shake out the reefs in the sails so as TO
get away. L ordered my crew TO hide
themselves wherever they could, and it
was so hot one time from the bullets that
the man at the tiller had to beat re-
treat. As soon as we swung stern
towards the armed schooner, one Of the
crew stole to the wheel and steered
while lying fiat on deck. The boat
hanging astern was the only protection
from the shots. The Ada Iuddington,
which was captured, lit appears. had got
ten before the wind before the Virginians
brought their guns to bear upon her. They
happened to be near her, and at once gave
chase. The whole of the Luddington's
crew went below to save themselves from
the shots. For three-quarteTs Of an hour
the LuddingtOn, under nearly all sail. and
without man at her helm dashed through
the waters, followed by the armed vessel.
The Captain and crew would not show
themselves through fear of being shot,
and when oYertaken the vessel had been
running away without a hand to guide
her on her course. While this chase was
going on the balance of us made all sail
and escaped from the Virginia waters"
The LuddingtOn belonged to Mr. Levin
-uSNdihdlds VI OdulDIluEe. mus she was
commanded by Capt. Andrew Steidle,
who resides at No. 1917 Cough street. The
only other Baltimorean known on board
was the mate. Frederick Steubey. There
was crew of nine men, who were shipped
in Baltimore.
1t has been ascertained that the captur-
ing party were from Middlesex county,
Virginia. The prisoners were landed at
Cricket Hill, and thence conveyed to Mid
dleseX court house, where they were
placed in Jail. The Luddington had about
1900 bushels of oysters on board when
captured. Her sails were badly
riddled by the shot from her pur-~
sueTs guns. During the engage
ment Capt. r. +. Hudgins, one of
the attacking party, HAD his right thumb
nearly blown off by the bursting OF a gun.
MIR. Mcnamara will 90 down to Middle
sex to-day to look after his vessel and
crew. The Captain Of the Baltimore ves-
sci giving the information above saws the
dredgers did not return one shot, nOtwith-
standing many of them were supplied
with breech-lOading rifles. When asked
why he did not fire, he said it was be-
cause he feared if he was captured the
VirOini9nG WOuld hanog him