Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-08

how COLoRED MEN ARE KIDNAPPED AND TAKEN
THE OYSTER FIELDS-A STARTLING REvELATI
MADE By An OFFICIAL TO STAR REPORTER.

HOW COLoRED MEN ARE KIDNAPPED AND TAKEN 10
THE OYSTER FIELDS-A STARTLING REVELATION
MADE By AN OFFICIAL TO STAR REPORTER
''Do you know" said a prominent government
Official to STAR reporter this morning that there
is regular press gang in this city," Upon the
porters expressing ignorance OF the matter he con-
tinued: "Every little while you hear OF colored
man suddenly disappearing. Nothing Is heard
from him for months, and his friends believe him
dead He isn't dead but he might as well be. He
Is down the bay at the oyster BEDS and his life Is
hard as it was. perhaps in slave times. There is a
regular system practced in this city OF kidnapping
these men and sending them down the bay to work
on oyster PUNCHES, and there they are treated in
the most cruel manner. Now, this no joke, and
mean what say: One case has incidentally come
10 my notice, which may be taken as a sample OF
many others The facts in the instance refer to
are about as follows:
HOW MAN WAS KIDNAPPED
young colored man was walking along the
street In October, 1 think, looking for work. He
was accosted by passer-by, who asked him II he
answer, he asked, 'what kind Of work do YOU
want?" 81 want Job of waiting on the table -
w ell, now, that's lucky; there Is steamer be-
long to lying at the 18th street wharf that needs
walters. and can insure you lob. Come on and
I'll go down with youn
Upon arriving at the wharf they OF course found
that the steamer had just sailed for Baltimore In
order not to lose such a good place the steamboat
man induced the young cOlored fellow to 90 to Bal
ny Train. 81 as catCl the boat there. At
Baltimore. with the promise Of meeting the steam
eT. ne was Induced to go out in small boat He
was taken to an oyster boat out in the river, and
Wheh once on board he had no chance OF returning
10 shore. He was taken down the bay to the OyS-
Ter peas, and Is now there compelled by the most
cruel treatment TO work at all hours and in all
weather. sick or we'll The friends OF the Young
man only recently learned his whereabouts, ana
are enCeavOrng to secure his release. He is con-
stmpuye, and 1t is feared he will not stand the
hard life TIL spring.
HOW 1T WAS EorND OFT
How did they find out where he waso"
"Hell, Ill tell you. Another young cOlOred fell
low OF this city, who was also pressed into the
oyster service. made up his mind to escape from
his captorS and he promised his sick friend that If
he succeeded in reaching Washington he would let
his folks know his whereabouts. This man did
escape BY jumping overheard and swimming
ashore. He succeeded in making his way up to
W aSn1nStOn. ard upon arriving here kept his
promise He tells heart-ren,ing tale OF the cruel
treatment they receive at the oyster beds. The
Sick man, he says, is
COMPELLED To WORK
at the windlass, when he is physically unable to Go
stroke OF work refusal only brings OH blows This
Is not the only man down there,he says who has
been pressed into the service by some clever,y con-
cocted plan. Now. this is not fiction that l have
Deen relating to You. and If the matter is properly
investigated much more than what have told
You Will be discovered. Make inquiries in Balti-
more. and see Ii they don't acknowledge the exist
ence OF press gang, but that they are unable to
break IL up or course 1t is none OF official bus
mess, but l happened to hear the story, and |
poor Fellow, and any others who may he similarly
situated