Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-12
OYSTER PIRATES.
A Baltic Between the Maryland Yes
sells and DredEeEs.
icy telegraph to the Dispatch. ]

AXNAPoIIs, Mp. December ll.-From dis.
patches received here to.diy Il is learned
That the steamer Governor NcLaue, OF the
oyster navy, had pilched battle with the H.
legal dredgers of HELPS Point, al the mouth
OF the Chester river, asst night The CON-
mander Of tie McLane ast0nished mis- enc
mics by using his twelve pound rtled can
non rs we'll AZ his Winchesiers. Two
dredgers were sunk, one captured, and four
were run ashore. One man on the McLane
was shot through the arm. The suaken
schooners lie of Hell Point with all sails
standing and sails full OF shot holes. OF the
schooners ashore one Is on Carpenters
island, smother on Walnut Tree bar, another
In burdens creek. and the fourth on Kent,
island. This i, the fest fight with the oyster
pirates since the Stsle vessels have been
equipped with cannon, and the first in which
tLc are igeTs were souied. Tho steamer Nc
Lane was riddlod with bullets.
BALrIaORE, MARYLAND December II, 1883
Last nights nght A. the mouth OF Chester river
may have resul cd IA considerable iOts Of nie,
az folcr Mullen. no co0S on beard The schooner
Julia A.. Jones, eay6 no Was the only man Gus OF
crew Of eleven 90 escape. The Stale vessels
we're holly attacked by the dredsers, who were
heavily armed Win repeating rifles, and did not
return tho ore until compelled %. Inc steamer
AcLane vas thoroughly ridiled with bullets,
treme tntasures Backlog TO fteamer on from
the Meet Of sofen dredgors wnicn wore tied TO-
eetheI, DO singled Gus tho Julia A. iOuee, and
putting on fun Roadway OF steam, made
directly for her stern. striking fairly. The how
Oi the NcLAue penetrated clean 10 TIE schoOl-
or's cOmpGuiou-way and tno lAtior seak almost
instantly. Mullen escaped BY cilmNnG up the
steamers anchOf-,haln. nut says the rest OF the
crew we're IN the fOrepaak aud could not have
gotten out As soon as the NcLane got cleared
from The wreck she wac again b>okei on sid
again headed for tie fleet, sLTiklng mo schooner
J. C. halOuey squaroly on he siern. she a.
once cOuamaucc1 70 sink aud tho remainder Of
the reet got away as fast as possible some Of
the crew Of the Aaoney escaped Nv elm Ding ON
board the McLauc. aud as each man came on
board he WAS put IN fho hold. Captain Augustus
Price Was not on board ~ the Time. The rescued
They all say they took no part IN me ngnL
white man named Coleman aud negro named
Bramble, of the crew 81 The Aalouey are be-
lieyed % have been drowned, - they we're not
seen after the vessels we're struck. large heet
OF dredgers Is reported 70 be on uneWinl grOund
to.nighI and Il is not unlikely there viii DO an-
Otner hght before morning. The police boats
have gone back 10 the scene Of last nights night
and declare thAs they viii drive the pirates on.
Tho baltimore oystor-packers declare that "
the war on ne cra1gers continues they Will Do
compelled 10 shut down for want of stock. They
saw dat where the dredgers are allowed 70 work
there are very few oysters and that large pOT-
ton OF the unlawful ground is not WORKED uy
the tOngers because the water Is too deep. Tbs
supply furuisbod by The tonEers would net begin
10 be sufficient for The use % the pkcking-h0pses,
ana the dredgors must stesl or get no oysters.
The dredgers declare that they are desperate and
will have oysters ~ no matter what cost Around
Canton where oystermen conggegaie. there ~
considerable wArliko talk and bloody Eight Is
feared.