Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-12-20


The Heralds correspondent at Gen.
trevills sends this account of the bat
tie under date of December II: The
hardest and most stubbornly contested
fight between the oyster navy and the
dredgers occurred off Still Point, in
Chester river, last night, lasting from
7:2O o'clock until ii p. m. C4ptain
I. c. B. Howard, in command Of the
steamer McLane, ran into the river
and found fully 100 sail at work in
forbidden waters. As soon as the
dredgers saw the State steamer seven
Of them drew up in line of battle aud
were lashed together. When tie
steamer came within shooting range
the dredgers opened fire with re!eat.
ing rifles and shotguns. and the Nc.
Lane, after repeated commands to
them to surrender, which only brought
forth yells, jeers and increased firing,
opened with the howitzer borrowei
from the United States Government
and with rifles. Even this did 10,
deter the crews and captains Of the
lawless vessels from continuing the
attack, and when Captain Howar,!
found that his steamer was thorough
ly riddled with bullets, every pane 81
glass in the pilot-house shattered aui
Mate Frazier shot through the arm
above the elbow, he determined 10 20
in for blood. Backing the stca,ns,
off from the fleet of seven vessels,
which were tied together, be singled
out the schooner Julia A. Jgues,
Frank Madigan owner, John W.ls.u,
captain, and, putting on fu.I he. d
of steam, headed for the schoonsr's
stern, striking directly in the rear lie
PROV, and cutting into the boat to tie
companionway. After the steamer
struck Peter Mullen, the cook, e.cap, d
by climbing up the anchor chain
aboard of the steamer.
TEN SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN
DROWNED.
The McLane then endeavor,d ia
draw out from the vessels, but il " 5
fully 10 minutes before she cou,d clear
herself, the remaining vcsse'> ccr
tinuing to pour a raking fire into h,r,
and the other vessels in the river
drawing in on the steamer and ouli
forth hot shot from all sides. \ irv
minutes after the McLaue L=c...s
clear Of the Jones The schooner isie.i
and sank, and as far ss is know. IT,
one OF the crew OF IL men oscar Ell, i.
being Mullen, the cook, VIII c.airas
that he was in the cabin, and tL.:t h
narrowly escaped being crusie.l Il
gainst the partition by the bow q IT,
steamer. Mullen says that tie ba!,
ance Of he crew, with the ex.ei ..o, d
the captain, were in the forepc,k AID
that the hatches were down, ani liz
believes that they were all drown,
as be saw nothing of them after i0,
steamer struck.
GOING FOR THE MAHoNEY.
As soon as the McLane clear, j from
the Jones Captain Howard backed lie,
off and headed for the Schooner tied
on the starboard side of tie feet, VIII 4;
proved to be the ]. @. Mahoney, NJ.
r. ]. Webb owner, Augustus Rice i;
tain. The steamer struck the scLcou
er fair on the stern, and she at one.
began to fill and sink. The c.ew u
this vessel escaped from the siak.n
craft 0y climbing over the side # tie
steamer, and as each one came aboard
he was sent into tie hold Of the steam,
er. The captain ofthis vessel WIS not
aboard at the time she was run iowu.
As soon as the second vessel WIS
struck the balance Of the fleet turl, j
tail and retIeated, pursued ty iir
but, as they had a good sail
ing breeze, Captain Howard was ny;
able to oyertake but one, q schooner
by Captain Wrighton
Jones, hailing from Kent island. The
rescued men were brought to CeLtre-
vile this morning aud lodged in Jail,
The captain entering charges against
them Of resisting arrest aud assault
With intent to kill.
The Herald reporter visited tie
prisoners tonight, aud sorrier-lo k