The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-26
to sporting men The Augusta Jockey
Cub have secured the services of "Sheeney
Joe, the celebrated starter.
PIRATES VICTORIOUS.
a Fight With Outlaw Oyster
Dredgers on the Chesapeake.
From the Neto York Herald.

FFom the Neto York Herald
BALTIMORE, Nov. 90. Fifteen oyster
schooners and the Maryland ship-of-war,
Governor Thomas, had pitched battle last
night on the little Choptank river, which
resulted iii the capture of the State vessel
and the fatal wounding Of Gus Castis, a
sailor on tue schooner Thomas B. Schan.
Tho fight began yesterday afternoon about
3 o'clock and lasted until sundown. The
dre gers were on TIE forbidden grounds
when the Thomas, which was cruising in
the vicinity, espied them at work. She
swooped down on the fleet, but instead OF
running away, the dredgers stood their
ground and showed fight. The crew of
the Thomas at once prepared for action,
and soon the bullets were flying through
TIE rigging of the dredgers. The pirates
we're not slow in responding. Capt. Thomas
Burns, of the Mcnamara, and George
Kitchens, of the schooner Thomas b. Schall,
commanded the oystermen, while Capt
John Marshall directed the attack. Though
taken by surprise, the pirates fought
bravely aud managed for a time to keep
their enemy at a distance. Soon, however,
the Thomas, by skillful tacking, managed
to got in the midst of the dredging fleet
and then the fight began in earnest. Bullets
and buckshot were poured into the pirates,
who, armed with rifles, returned the fire.
Tho state vessel had the advantage, in that
her men fought under cover, while tho
pirates were compelled to fight in the open.
To escape the enemy's bullets they had to
lie fiat on their bellies and fire as the oppor-
tunity presented itself.
HOW CAsTIS WAS HIT.
Those who could sought refuge behind the
chain boxes, and among these was Castis.
lie thought himself secure and was doing
some lively work 1t was while he was be-
hind this protection that the Thomas sailed
by and sent "A broadside into the vessel
One of the balls passed clear through the
chain box and also through Castis' body. 1t
ST. uck him in the stomach and passed out
near tho middle Of his back. During short
lull IL the fight he was carried below.
The battle was renewed with vigor
Thoroughly worked up, the pirates de-
termined to get even. They did not give
the state boat even a breathing spell, but
continued TO pour shot into the sloop until
her rigging hung in shreds. After two
hours aud a half Of hard fighting the sloop.
fearing that In the night she would get the
worst of it, slowly backed out. The en-
ragged pirates, however, gave chase, but the
sloOp WAS too fast for them, and succeeded
in escaping for the time
Late last night, however, they sailed 70
within Il short distance from Annapolis,
where the Thomas lay anchored, and IA half
dozen OF the most determined rowed silent tly
in small boat to the vessel, boarded her
and grimly announced that they had come
TO avenge their comrades death. They
asked for Capt Marshall, whom they in
tended killing; but finding that he was
not aboard they sent the crew ashore, and
hosting sail, were soon out on the bay
Tho state proposes to recapture the Thomas
but they will have lively time doing Ii.
Casts Is dying here in a hospital.