Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-04
ON AN OYSTER DREDGER.
n Washington Boy Kidnapped in Ralti-
mOre-His Rough Experiences.

m0re-His Rough Experiences.
The ressgnation OF Harry james. operator in
the telephone room at the police headquarters.
has been sent to the Commissioners. James
is the son OF Policeman james. who does night
duty at headquarters. According to reports
the young man has gone to Denver to grow up
with the country. This is not his first expert
ence in travelling away from home. During
the early part OF this winter Harry went to
Baltimore on the police boat Joe Blackburn"
and stopped at clearinghouse not far from
the river front. He went out with the boys"
and, according to his notions, he had ''good
time" While in a saloon near the river front
one night he remembered having some words
with some men who attempted to rob him, but
explanations were made and an apology
readily accepted. The drinks were ''set up"
and the young man remembered nothing
more until the following morning, when he
heard the harsh voice of an oyster pirate say:
''aET UP AND GET BREAKFAST"
When the young man opened his eyes it was
shortly after daybreak, aud much to his
prise he found himself on an oyster boat sail
ing for the Chesapeake bay. How he got
on the boat he did not know, hut it only took
him few moments to discover that he had
been kidnapped and that he had hard time
heard, gave him TO understand that he was to
act as cook on the trip, in addition to the other
regular work of dredging and asserting the BIZ
valves. His position was not an eviable one.
Early in the morning and late at night did he
work and the work was the hardest that could
be imagined Shortly after shutdown the boat
would go to the oyster beds and haul until nearly
daybreak. Then the captain would make for
some secluded spot where there were no oys-
tiers and compel the men during the day to
Nc h = l,..r
The work was hard and showed plainly ON the
hands. Often when culling the oysters the
young mans hands would bleed, but that did
not excuse him from work. nor did he have
any cold cream to soothe the pain.
FOR NINE LONG DAYS
did he do this work and cook for the crew. with
an average of about four or five hours for
sleeping. In the kitchen the victim proved
useful hand. The meat kept for tho crew was
kept on the floor under the kitchen table. Ac-
cording to the cooks statement the meat did
not have to be picked up, but it would walk out
and jump in the pan. The meat was both fat
and strong. One would suppose that where
oysters so plentiful the hands on the boat
would fairly live on them. but this is not so.
I'VE haul oysters to sell, ;" said the captain,
''and not to eat"
The dredgers we're closely watched. and no
one except the captain and mate were per-
mitted to eat oysters. None of them ever got
to the kitchen except for those officers of the
boat. and then the cook was watched to see
that he ate none of them. One night when
everybody on the boat was asleep James and
another victim visited the deck and measured
the water with rope. rs they guessed at the
distance to the shore, with an idea of
SWIMMING ASHORE AND ESCAPING,
but the distance was too great and the water
was nearly Is feet deep at the point where
the boat was anchored. Before returning
to their hunks they were discovered by the
captain, who threatened and attempted to
assault them. That time they escaped vio-
lence and returned to their cots. Finally the
boat sprung leak and the men were put at
work to keep 1t from sinking. They worked
faithfully, because it was a matter of life and
death. They succeeded very we'll for awhile,
but afterward the hole grew larger, and, fear
ing all hands would be lost. the captain gave
orders to sail for shore. Some distance below
Baltimore the young Washingtonian was thrown
out in the shallow water and given chance to
walk ashore. Before this, however, he had
beened robbed of almost everything he owned,
including portion of his clothing. He man.
aged to get on shore once more and
WAS AGAIN FREE MAN.
Over hills and through hollows he made his
way to Baltimore, where he again met some
friends. He was given good dinner, the first
square meal for more than a week, and was
then given ticket for this city. He came here,
and received a royal welcome upon his return
home, His distressed parents we're relieved of
a heavy burden. He has since paid strict at
tention to his business until few days ago.
Last Wednesday evening he calledon his father
and made known his intention Of going to
Denver. His father talked with him and
begged him to remain at home. Several
friends also tried to dissuade him from going
west, but with no effect. He had made up his
mind to leave. and OH that night he took the
train for the gold and silver mines of Colorado