The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-12
A FATAL NAVAL FIGHT.
RIFLES AND CANNON USED IN THE
OYSTER PIRATE WAR

TWO OF the Dredging Schooners Sunk
by the Government Boat Attacking
as a Ram-At Least Thirteen Lives
Lost-Another Bloody Engagement
Imminent.
ANNAPOLIS, Nd, Dec. 11.-From dis
patches received here to-day, it is learned
that the steamer Governor McLane of the
oyster navy had a pitched battle with
illegal dredgers off Hill Point at the mouth
of Chester river last night The commander
of the McLane astonisbed his enemies by
using his twelve-pound rifed- cannon as
well as his Winchesters. Two dredgers
were sunk, one captured, and four were ra1
ashore. One man on the McLane was shot
through the arm.
SUNK WITH SAILS SET.
The sunken schooners lie off Hill Point
with all sails standing, and their sails full
of shot holes. OF the schooners ashore, one
is on Carpenters island, another on Walnut
Tree bar, another in Burdens creek and
the fourth on Kent island. This is the first
fight with oyster pirates since the state
vessels have been equipped with cannon,
and the first in which the dredgers were
routed The steamer McLane was riddled
with bullets
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE.
Peter Mullen, the cook on board the
schooner Julia A. Jones. says he was the
only man out of a crew of eleven to es ape
The state vessels We're holly attacked by
the dredgers. who were heavily armed with
repeating rifles, and did not return
the fire until compelled to. The
steamer McLane was thoroughly riddled
with bullets, and Capt Howard determined
70 n.f 30
ing the steamer off from the fleet of
seven dredges, which were tied together, he
singled out the Julia A. Jones, and, putting
on full Roadway of steam, made
directly for her stern.
SENT HER TO THE BOTTOM.
Striking fairly, the bow of the McLane
penetrated clean to the schooner's compan-
ionway, and the latter sank almost in
stantly. Mullen escaped by climbing up
the steamers anchor chain, but says the
rest of the crew were in the fore peak,
and could not have gotten out
As soon.as the McLane got cleared from the
wreck she was again backed off and again
headed for the fleet, striking the schooner
j. C. Maloney squarely on the stern. She
at once commenced to sink, and the re-
mainder of the feet got away as fast as
as possible.
TWO MORE DROWNED.
Some of the crew of the Maloney escaped
by climbing on board the McLane and as
each man came on board he was put in the
hold.
Capt. Augustus Price was not on board at
the time. The rescued men were taken to
Centreville and locked up. They all
say they took no part in the
fight. A white man named Coleman and
negro named Bramble, of the crew of the
the Maloney, are believed to have been
drowned, as they were not seen after the
vessels were struck. A large fleet of
dredgers is reported to be on unlawful
ground tonight, and it is not unlikely that
there will be another fight before morning.
The police boats have gone back to the
scene of last nights fight and declare that
they will drive the pirates off.
WHAT THE PACKERS SAY.
Baltimore oyster packers declare that if
the war on the dredgers continues they will
be compelled 10 shut down for want of stock
They say that where the dredgers are
allowed to work, there are'very few oysters
and that large portion of the unlawful
ground is not worked by tongers, because
the water is too deep. The supply furnished
by tongers would not begin to be sufficient
for the use of the packing houses, and the
dredgers must steal or get no oysters. The
dredgers declare that they are desperate
and will have oysters, no matter at what
ost.
Around Canton, where the oystermen
congregate, there is considerable warlike
talk, and bloody fight Is feared.