New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-27
wife supported him and their three children For sew
eral days he had exhibited signs OF Insanity.
BATTLES IN THE CHESAPEAKE.
FREE USE OF RIFLES AND SWIVEL GUNS.
BOTH THE MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA STATE FORCES
ON THE ALERT-NUNEROUs sKIRMIsHEs.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIgUSE.l

IBI TELEGRAPH TO THE IklBUNEI
BALTIMORE, Dec. 26.-The oyster dredgers
made Christmas eve exciting on the Chesapeake Bay
aud Its tributaries with several lively fuslades Cap
tan Of foreign vessels coming up the bay likely Thought
that had been declared that tie days of Captain
Kidd and his bloody oand had been revived. The air
echoed with the sharp reports OF rifles and the ronS
boom OF small cannon. Commander Waddell, or the
police navy received report at Annapolis OF fierce
battle that took place Tuesday night. and was con
tnued at intervals Wednesday aud Thursday between
large dredging feet and the state fishery force near
Poplar Island The police boat Governor ThOmhs cap
tain Griffith Tuesday put two men ashore at Poplar
Island 10 watch illegal dredgers Mstakng the steamer
Pilot Boy for police boat firing began, and thon
followed lively flsilade Tle Pilot Boy went on her
way uuharmel and the drcdeers directed their guns at
the police boat. when the men from the island vino had
been watching the drodsers were returning TO the
steamer in yawl boat. they discovered and fired
uron and only escaped death by lying fiat in the bottom
OF the boat The police schooner Froc. Captain j. j..
krrwan, came up in the meantime and opened hre on
the trrdgers who began to retreat Immediately About
200 rounds were exchanged between the dredgers ana
the police boat.
The battle was go fierce that Cartain Griffith thinks
OF the dTelcers must have been wounded or Killed
outright. The Frolic chased Of the boats below
James Point and captured It,
The captain of oyster "pungy states that five or
six men wounded Tuesday, encounter None OF
the State police injured. thought the bln and deck
Of the FrOU perforated by bullets. The drc!ger
have held high carnival among the oyster rocks ut the
NarrOwS for time The police boats ara now
watching the dredgers, who content Themselves with
sailing about beyond reach of the swivel gun ANA firing
IN the air in defiance ~ the police sloups Five vessels
have been tured and captains we're heavily fined
Captain James Turner OF the state steamer Governor
Hamilton, captured to-day the Marion. Captain Thomas
Perkins; and the o. p. Roberts Captain joan W.
Doucherty both Of Baltimore, charged with dredging on
Hollands Island Bar before day The Roberts fled from
capture and with sheets spread to fair wind he
Hamilton lively Tor fifteen miles. The Hamilton
gained steadily the fugitive enliyenng the chase ny
occasional rifle shot at tho Roberts When daylight
came the Hamilton In good rifle shot distance. and
with AMPLE HIGHT to take accurate aim. The Roberts,
finding the shots too hot. put up her Ecln and hove to.
The vessels 81 the Vrl iua oyster navy are also crs
abolt tie Virginia side 81 the hay. aud have had
several shrn,aes with the Iiratcs In hght oil the
Somerset CoHnty shore Thursday night in small beats
several mon reported u have been wounded Bullets
pierced the sails o; number o. the passing vessels. The
fight lasted couple Of hours. About $50 men were
engaged ia the fight