Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-11
OYSTER WAR IN MARYLAND.

Bitter Contest Between the Authorities
and DredSers-ShOoting at the Pi-
rates.
Acting under orders of Gov. McLane.
the state oyster police steamer William
j. Hamilton arrived at Baltimore on Fri
day, says special, and secured a stand
Of rifles and ammunition from the Fifth
Regiment armory, in preparation for a
cruise against the piratical oyster dredg-
ers in Hungars river. The Maryland's
crew was increased, and every man being
thoroughly armed, she left port at mid
night for the scene of the troubles. Each
man on board has Springfield rifle. cut
lass and two reVOlVers, and the local
press have all sent out war correspond
ents. The Maryland is a swift steamer
and carries four guns. Her commander.
unlike the Captain of the police sloop that
ran away from the pirates on Tuesday, is
very determined man.
He says he will call on the defiant
dredgerS to either surrender or fight. In
the latter event he is confident that his
crew, being thoroughly armed and or
ganiZed, will be the victors. Governor
McLane has also ordered the police
steamer Leila, now at Annapolis. to pro-
ceed to the scene. The Leila sailed
early Saturday morning and joined the
William ). Hamilton at Hungars. The
Julia A. Hamilton, now at Cambridge.
has also been ordered to the scene, having
been provided with a new Captain and
additional men. The plan is for the three
police boats to simultaneously bear down
on the fleet of dredgers, with guns loaded.
and demand an unconditional surrender.
In the event of refusal a bitter fight NAV
be expected.
The dredgers in Hungars river, who
have been working on forbidden ground
all tie week, were strengthened Friday bv
ten more vessels, making thirty all told
in the fleet. They number nearly 200
men, who boldly declare their intention
of resisting all efforts of the police to ar
rest them.
The pirates have gone about the raid
with much system, and it was evidently
prearrangcd. Three boats have been
kept busy plying between the fleet and
DeaPs Island, where they have establish
ed depot. Here the oysters, which are
Of excellent quality, are d" culled'' and
shipped by SchoOners to Baltimore.
where the prices are now very high, The
residents along the river, which, under
the law is reserved exclusively for tong
men, are greatly enraged at the pres
ence of of the fleet.
Some of the best marksmen in the CITY
amuse themselves occasionally during the
day by taking shots with rifles at the
pirates as they work ON the schooners
half mile out in the river. The OYSTER
men occasionally respond, but they do not
waste much time, as they evidently desire
to make hay While the sun shines. When
the police boats arrive the officers will
receive the cordial assistance of the
residents. The piratical fleet is supposed
to be the same that was chased out
of Virginia waters by Gov. Cameron
last winter. They are commanded by a
Commodore and are under good discip-
line. Not one of the vessels can be iden-
titled, as they are all small schooners,
rugged exactly alike and having boards
nailed over their names. The crews do
not come ashore, but ply their vocation
increasingly.
Thursday night they worked or hours
by immense torches, which lit up the
river with weirld effect. When the
police boats come in the mouth of the
river and thus blockade the dredgers there
is little doubt that there will be lively
fight.