The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-20
A BLOODY FIGHT
WITH OYSTER PIRA TES ON CHES4-
PEAKE BAY.
The MARYLAND Police Boat Foley En-
counters Three Pirate eDredgers-Captain
william wbitehouse ofthe Albert Nickel
Killed

BALTIMORE, MD, February l9-On
SATURDAY. night battle occurred in tie
Chesapeake Bay between the pirate
oyster dredgers and the police boat Foley
which resulted in the death OF Captain
William Frank Whtehouse, whose home
was in Baltimore at No. 909 North Caro-
line street Captain Whtehouse was r
native Of Norfolk, but had been a resi-
dent Of Baltimore for ten years. He was
in command Of the oyster schooner
Albert Nickel of this city
BLOODY SCENE
When the Nickel was towed into
Annapolis harbor this morning the scene
upon the deck was a warlke one. On the
deck lay the dead body of Captain White
house covered with heavy tarpaulin.
Alongside the canvas lay number Of lG
repeating rifles and scattered all over the
deck were the empty shells Of discharged
cartridges. Parallel with the bulwarks
OF the Nickel ran crimson stream.
THE CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY
was this Saturday night about So'clock,
the Foley, Captain George W Clarke,
commander of the State fishery force, lay
on her beat of IIackeits Point. From
Sandy Point mile and half away
came the sound of the falling and wind
ing of dreiges showing that there was
unlawful work going on at that bar The
Foley weighed anchor. Asshe approach
ed The captain saw seven vessels on
Sandy Point and heard voice say,
Here comes Clarke, what are you going
10 dor" The answer came from the
Nickel - tand your ground, surround
him. and don't let him take you" The
Foley came up and called TO the Nickel
10 heaye to- Her captain refused 10 do
so. and put on more sail TO make off
Meantime the other reserve vessels dis
posed themselves go as To place the Foley
in the middle of them. Captain Clarke
avoided this by taking out. keeping
along with the Nickel. Being
within thirty yards OF the YES
sci Captain Clarke hailed Captain
WhitehOuse 10 heaye TO. Finding that he
had no intention to surrender, Captain
Clarke ordered his men to fire into the
rigging of the Nickel. -Four or five shots
were thus fired, and then the Nickel
opened on the Foley. She was joined in
the attack by two others of the dredGers,
and for ten minutes the Foley engaged
the three vessels in
FIGHT OF THE wARMEsT CHARACTER.
Bullets struck the sales of the Foley, cut
the rigging, and whlsted past the heads
of the crew. Finally the Nickel hauled
up, and Captain Clarke, revolver in hand,
jumped aboard. Lying on deck was
THE BODY OF CAPTAIN wHITEHoUsE
with a bullet hole in his left temple A
sixteen. shooter lay by his side Two un
discharged cartridges were still in the
rife The Leary, another vessel, was
captured also, bat not taken into Annap-
oils.
The Foley and Nickel arrived at An.
napolis at 2 o'clock this morning. AT .
o'clock a jury of inquest was summoned,
which, after viewing the remains, ad-
iOurned until tomorrow, when testimo-
ny in the case will be taken
The crew of the Nickel, comprising ten
men. were placed in Jail. Ii is under.
stood that one OF the crew OF the Nickel
has confessed to plot of four dredging
vessels to drive Clarke of the bay
grounds, ana that the conspiracy had
been concocted Saturday afternoon.