National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-13
A BUzzARD POINT FEUD.
The Clans Of O'Rourko aud Fallahee at War
About a boat.


In little onestory frame shanty on the east
side Of the James Creek canal. below N street
southwest, in the quarter known as "Buzzards'
Point" lives Mrs. Kate O'Rourke. The family
of Mrs. o. Rourke consists of salwnrt son OF 30,
two daughters, and nephew of 10, who is
known rs 'Jamsie." Mrs O'Rourko owns by
inheritance rowboat known as the "Kitty."
About one hundred yards distant over the
canal resides Mike Fallahoc and his family,
which consists of two sons, three daughters
aud Il wife, who weighs 30 pounds
The boat owned by the O'ROurke family II q
source of considerable income to them, and In
the summer months II Is no unusual sight To
see the Kitty, with red aud green flag lying
proudly at her bow, and being propelled in
AMI around the canal boats by muscular young
fellows and their swoethcarts-in fact, II has
become II social requirement OF the Point, aud
all the young men boast OF having had their
best girl out In the Kitty The propfetorship
OF the crnft gave the O'Rourkcs n social stand
ing that the Fallahces did not relish. Then,
too. Jim o. Rourke had been rated asa ilrst.class
laborcr on the dump where they both work,
AMI got sl.O per day, while Mike was only
second class ut sl.25 Although the families
came from the same county in the old country,
aud hnd been warm friends II was not long AT.
ter the O'Rourkcs had purchased the bout
| before they began to elevate their noses n de-
| gree or so whenever they met the Fallahecs,
and II is even rumrocd that Mike Fallahce
| had refused to drink with jim This, how
| ever, is not authenticated. ON Wednesday
Jim and Mike were paid their wages, and be-
| fore going home had their monthly account
erased from the credit slate of the groggcry Ere.
| qucnted by men employed on the dump, and
took several drinks on the strength OF il.
| When they len the store Mike surprised jim
ny producing sLS5 aud Offering 1t to him for
the Kitty.
81 wud not part wild Kitty fur all of Jay
Gonld's money said Jim, and don't thank
yc, Fallnhcc, fur making NJ sich oner.'
'Mull.' gnin Mike. visions oil tho lmUOrtnnpp
and oppulancc which the possession of the
boat would give him arising in his mind, iii
ye mink tho amount too shmal Ill rise II tu
"fallahcc, II yez liver shpeak about buying
that boat agin I'll maui yez, so ! will. tells
we yor can't have her"
Maui who? 'Taint in yes, Jim o'Rourkc,
ani yer needn't go putting on airs wild me,
cntncr. remember in the Ould country when
your old grandInither yuster -" but Falla
hec got no further. In the language of the
locality, they 'scrapped wild each other"
The discussion between two such WE'LL known
iamilies became noisDd about, aud when II
was known that the families did not speak tn,
subject became public scandal. 1t was ru
mored about the Point that they had re
newed hostilities Thursday night, and u re
porter went to the scene of action. In n httlt
Vrogshop on the commons were assembled {
score of men, whose faces aud attire STAMPED
them as laborcrs All OF them were smoking
and discussing the victory OF the Okourkes
, The reporter made himself known ind callct
for further information.
give him IL drink of that new whisky
Maloney,n said IA little, stout man with whis
kers, laying down cents. Tho reportc
chokcd the stuff down us n matter of courtesy
aud listened to the following version OF til
| trouble over the Kitty.
"Whin jim and Mike left each other Win
day night they wus mad, and last night tn
tall0hees they tackled the ORourkcs, an
shure they was licked bad. They wint to tn
, O,Rourkes house wild picks and pistols. III
VRourkes WIS setting out front Mike i
= began the mill, and struck Jamsie O'Rourk
wild u stick, Wull, they kept u Aghtin' nm
had high old times, but the Fallahccs dru
dem into the house, The FGllahees WEI
down to get the boat thin, but when they 81
on the shore Jamsic had the boat ont in q
canal, and wus LATIN Mt the Fallahees. III
Fallahces they oussed, aud thin made q rus
inter the water and got the boat. Tn,
chucked Jamsle overbOord, and towcd Il
boat ashore, when the ORourees and Il
kcllys, what lives on the pint by the q
house, came up. The Fallahees thin runnt
across the bridge, and the o Rourkes got the
boat back"
ITS II bad thing fur thin people to fgh
and shure they'll be after hayin' each 9th,
aioreninst the cuOrt soon,' said Alaloncy, pu
ting up the bottle.
The reporter then visited the domicilc OF Il
O'Rourkcs, Mrs. ORourke, atull woman wi
a red face declared that there "hadn't he,
no fight" She supposed that the "loafcrs
hang around here Is after telling Of the
stories" no" she said, "therc amt been
Z. fight. iis, were got ur boat, and some peol
- has wanted ter buy 1t from us, but we all
selln'. The only fight rs have been tuck pla
| about here was had by Mr.. Shackeliord, a
there he goes up the street"
| Mr. Shuckoliord was pushing hGndci
with some bags init, "Iis' said he, 81 4
| have fight, but its been tree months or mo
and was settled in the coorts. Mike Kelly a
me owned Il boat and we fell out about 1t,
that's over now"
The Falahees could not be found.
always kncwGd that there'd be trouble abe
| that dam boat "said one of the residents, IA
| faith blood II come OF 1t. The llallahccs
| line pcOple-so are the O'Rourkes-and !
sorry to have Il fight, Tor it's bad THU
| IL is"
The police heard that boy, probably Jam
| O'ROurke, hal been drowned, but Investigate
| proved the report uniounded.