The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-30
THE OYSTER WAR.
THE SITUATION eErTlHo MORE
AND MORE SERIOUS.
Captains of Two Piratieal Ppns'es Ar
rested Gtsefhor jackson and Governor
Lee Both Appealed to-Bioodshed
Feared, Unless Cool Diplomacy Prevails

Lee Both Appcaien to-
Feared. Unless Cool Diplomacy Prevails
RyrpsyILLT. Va. ria FREDERTcks
BURG. Va. November o.. special. l-Ih'
excitement among the oyster dredgers o.
the Potomac. produced over The sinking o
the schooner lawson. was inteusificd f0da'
| by the arrest Of tapiain swift, OF the pllng,
| up. j. Parkes." and Captain iieadly. of tht
''RgnlatOr," all Of Tappahannock, thi'
State. for illegal dredging on Hog Island
flats. by Captain Russell. deputy com
mander Of the Virginia state oyster navy
The steamer Augusta, CAPTAIN Russe1
while tfilising around the reservation
| sighted the Regulator and Parkes dredging
and when within hailing distance ordered
them to lower jibs and heaNe To. 10 TN.
order he received laughing response, and
| the bold oyster pirates made sail and lei
tho Aug sta far astern' Captain Russo
headed for the mouth OF tOan river, wl'ert
the state steamer Chesapeake lay At an.
chOr. and. reporting the state Of affairs e
Commander Foster. who. after long delile'
ration. ordered the Chesapeake 10 give
chase.
The two steamers went bounding away
over the waves before a brisk breeze IN
their favor after the defiant captains. The
vessels were finally,
AFTER SEVERAL SHOTS
were thrown across their bows from the
Chcsapeake's guns. U,efbauled. ami aitef
being made fast 10 the Augusta the two
pirate crafts were tOwcd 10 COwart' :
on Coan river. where their captains were
given n hearing before Magistrate Win.
stead. who. after hearing the testimony of
:he captains. said they read Governor Jack
sons proclamation declaring Hog Island
reservation open. and producing q copy Of
the SIM 10 verify their statements. They
were dismissed with a small fine and costs.
GOVERNOR JACKSON APPEALED TO.
CAPTAIN lleady. after he was released.
telegraphed a message 10 Governor Jack
son. asking him tO send the state police
steamer 10 Hog Island 10 protect him. and
openly declared that he intended 20 arm
his vessel and Kill the first man that dared
10 board his craft hereafter % arrest him for
dredging.
Mr.. LEWIS DETERMINED TO PROTECT IFS
INTEREST.
Mr.. Lewis. the les-,e Of the Hog Island
reservation, said he intended 10 protect his
interests with the extreme force of powder
and ball. and has 80 instructed the captain
Of his patrol boat. Commander Foster. Of
the Virginia state navy. after the
trials OF the captains. said he had no
orders from Governor Lee 10 protect the
Hog Island reservation. and that had he
known the circumstances would not have
made the arrests. Commander Foster was
very dilatOry in acting when Captain Rus
sell reported the matter to him. and ma
jority Of the OYSTER men i'm this vicinity are
very indignant over the manner in which ne
treated the affair. The magistrate who tried
the ease will in all probability hear from
the Governor. and an explanation asked.
GOVERNOR LEE TO BE ASKED TO PROTECT
MIR. LEWIS.
Mr.. VI. T. smith. commonwealth attorney
Of Northumberland. has forwarded mes
sage 10 Governor Lee reciting the case and
upon what grounds the pirates were re-
leased, and asking that Mr.. Lewis be pro-
tectCd.
SERIOUS TROUBLE ANTICIPATED.
The proclamation Of Governor jackson
declaring the Hog Island reservation the
common property Of the two states Will
cause more trouble than is anticipated. and
the two encounters Of the last few days
between the state authorities and
dredgers are but the forerunners Of
serious trouble. and probable blood-shed and
loss 81 life, as both sides have following
Of bold and resOlute men, who do not fear TO
face death 70 protect what they consider
their rights Dredgers are making for the
disputed grounds. and al each arrival Of a
new vessel the excitement increases, and
trouble il hourly expected unless cool-hcads
and wise counsel prevails. People are com
ing to the scene OF trial from all points.
many Of them are the pirates friends. while
"A majority are for Lewis, and have come
prepared 10 defend his right.