New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-10
JUST LIKE REAL PIRATES.
OYSTER DREDGERs FIRE on A PASSENGER
STEAMER
MARYLAND POLICE BOATS ARMED WITH CAN.
NON LOOKING FOR THE RUFFIANs-THH
STATE NAVY TROUBLED WITH
GoRMAN POLITICIANS
TDr TELEGRAPH To THE rRrsr-Syg

Baltimore, Dec 9.-commander Plowman, Of the
state O. stcr Navy. today sent the two steamers
armed with Government cannon TO the Chester River,
where last night the dredging pirates, emboldened by
their recent success, turned their guns upon Balu
more steamboat This was the first attempt At this
sort OF lawlcssness. Heretofore the dredgers have
confined their acts OF violence the tonsers" who
own the oysterbeds and the poceb boats that sought
10 prevent their piracy. Tho steamer Corsica Cap
tain Taylor, Of the Chester River Line left Centre
vile about O'Clock last night for Baltimore, with
forty passengers When tho steamer about
turning into the Chesapeake Bay nom the river. the
passenger who mostly In the upperdeck saloon,
startled by demoniac yells followed BY pistol
shots.
Tic shots from feet Of eight boats,
which were chained together in line OF battle. There
not wind enough for dredging, bat had there
been the vessels could have gone ahead without mo-
lestation, as no State boat in sight number
OF rinc-balls we're found In the steamers side Cap
tain Taylor could assign no reason for his being
fred upon, except that the drcdgers did II, as hs
expressed II, out Of pure devment.' 1t Is hardly
possible that the pirates could have mistaken the
Corsica for one Of the State steamers, she sta
high out OF the water and the saloon being on the
upper deck, tho lights from the windows OF both
decks would show that she passenger steamer
@. c. Roberts, passenger, narrowly escaped being
shot, ball whistlng past his head He stated thss
there about 17o oyserboats In the nver. II Is
probable that they had been dredging on the forbidden
grounds until the wind fell that they could nos
work II Is also thought that the hoats, which were
lying about in fleets OF from eight to ten were keep
ing together 10 make 1t lively for the navy.
Tho neffciency OF the navy and It's use as poit
cal machine arouslng indignation throughout the
State. The people taxed 100000 annually for
the maintenance OF the navy, and in nine fights QUE
Of ten The police feet is woTstcd Jacob II. Povman.
the commander Of the navy, is Hartford County
farmer Who before he took charge Of the navy,
hardly knew the prov from the stern Of the boat.
But Mr. Plowman had political pull with tho
Board Of Public Works which consisted At the time
Of Governor Lloyd, Controller Turner and State
Treasurer Archer. At the time Of Commander Plow-
mans appointment General Joseph b. Seth, OF
Talbot County, was most fsvoraby mentioned for
the place General Seth Is OF the best posted
men on the oyster question In Maryland. He helped
franc the existing law, and If any man understood
its spirit General Seth did. when the question Of
giving General Seth the place raised. IL Was
found that Captain Hedge Thompson. deputy
commander, an influential Democratic politician, also
from Talbot County had charge Of the police-st
er Hamilton. Then the political leaders concluded
that 4, would do TO give the commaDdership
10 Seth, for the reason that they would have 10
drop Thompson, as both commander and deputy CON-
mardcr could not according to the spoils system.
be selected from the same county. Hence Farmer
Plowman was appointed his county had no officer
In the naval political machine. Thus the Maryland
oyster Navy has been run TO give German "w work.
ers" soft places and furnish State officials with
pleasure boats for themselves and their friendA