New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25
CAPTURING THE CHESAPEAKE POLICE
SEVEN DRUNKEN OYSTER DREDGERs SURPRISE
THE CREW OF A MARYLAND sLOoP


Baltimore, Nov "a (SpecaD.-Dspatches from the
Chaptonk River state that since the shooting Of
the dredgcrs the other day IN their encounter with
the police-soop Groome, their pirate companions
have been in arms, swearing vengeance against
the police. They desperate that the people
living along tho river have become terrified. On
James Island, which is surrounded by the waters
where the conflict occurred the people became so
frightened that ono family left their homo and sought
refuge in a remote part of the island The tongers'
look sngly at the destruction Of their reserved
oysterbeds Yesterday hundred sail Of the dredgers
lying the best oyster beds Of the Chesapeake
tho @tongers' unable to save their property, ana
the socalcd navy totally inadequate to protect them
Tho dredgers yesterday separated into divisions
about a halfmIle apart and were literally destroying
the beds To prevent surprise by the State steamer
they had one vessel watch. sailing to and fro
across the rivers mouth to hoist the signal OF
warning a steamer should come In sight.
All this time, while the wholesale depreciation was
going on, the policesloop Groome was lying al
anchor at Slaughter Creek bridge, helpless for lack
OF ammunition and because Of the Generalization OF
her crew. Neither Captain Marshall Mate Gator
was willing again to attack the vioators and both
declare their intention Of giving up their positions
Tho poce-soop again attacked on thursday
night and the dredgers in this instance acted ike
real pirates. While the sloop was lying at anchor,
she was seized. Supper was Just over, and tho
all down III tho C2Dln, Wncu yd"ipoah
with seven men came up. The dredgers were all
halfdrunk and reckless They sent everybody below
One man attempted to resist, but Winchester rifle
was pointed at him. Another was sent below with
a revolver pointed at his head Mato Gator alone
was allowed deck for the purpose of plotting the
ruflians back to Hollands Point. On the way down
to Hollands Point, the dredgors terrorzed their cap
tives by saying that they would all be bound to the
main boom before daylight. All the Groome's crew
stated that they really expected death. and were
as scared as mortals could be. Some OF them were
praying Little doubt is felt by anybody that had
either Captain John Marshall or Captain Goodman
Bramble been aboard, he would have been murdered
Rifles provisions and large part OF the clothing OF
tho crew were seized. Captain John Burns Is the
only man Of tho seven pirates who was known to
the police.
The investigation by Mayor Hewitt yesterday into
the charges against the agents of the dredging vessels
has attracted considerable attention. II Is we'll
known fact that poor Germans have arrived here
from Now York under the impression that they were
going 10 ship on bay steamers or large vessels at
good pay They have been taken to the dives IN
Marsh Market and drugged and carried insensioie
aboard the dredging craft When they recovered
conscousness they found themselves down the bay
ompelled to submit TO the most brutal treatment.
Many of the green hands go willingly, not having tho
lightcst knowledge Of what they VIII have 70 en-