Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-13
HISREIGN OF TERROR.
Fish Warden Hague Spreads Utter
Dlsmay in the Allegheny Valley.
SEVEN MEN FLEE FROM THE STATE
Thousands Of Dollars Worth Of Tackle and
Boats Confscated.
EXCITING SCENES At sPRINGDALB

The entire Allegheny Valley is in q state
Of wild excitement over the movements Of
Fish Warden j. W. Hague. He received
orders to proceed against the violators oi
the game laws in Western Pennsylvania,
and In the past ten days he has succeeded
in terrorizing the illegal fishermen along
the Allegheny river. Several thousand
dollars worth of boats and fishing tackle
have been confscated. Several men have
been compelled to pay fines Of 500 apiece,
and seven others have fed from the State to
escape arrest In springdale number of
warrants have been issued, and It Is prob
able more arrests will follow.
On July 2, Fish Warden Hogue, with a
number of deputies, started out to rid the
Allegheny river of the violation of the fish
laws. They started at Freeport, at which
point there were a number of people who
fshed with outlines, nets ana seines. Only
one man was arrested there as an example.
He was fined 500 and costs, and all his
boats, seines, nets and lines were confscated.
ALL OF THEM AT IT.
At Logan's eddy and Springdale borough
nearly everyone who has property facing on
the river, Mr.. Hague says, uses nets and
seines. He arrived there on the 4th Of July.
A party were out using seine 80 yards
long. They were Phil Ramaley, William
Bigley, Thomas Hare, Henderson, Wilson,
Cunningham and George Bigley.
"They caught an immense number Of
fish," says Mr. Hague. II saw them at
work, and when they were done they simply
threw the fish at each other. They played
ball with them. 1 never saw such q wanton
destruction of game. found out who all
Of them were, but did not make any arrests,
because knew there were number Of others
there who were in the habit Of fishing
illegally. They did not come out that night,
though, because, as 1 afterward learned,
their leader was too drunk to handle seine.
/ stayed there and soon afterward found Mr..
Himmslrite, Mr.. Hsnsel, Henry Bigley and
James Z. Conover violating the laws. I
had Himmelrite and Hensel arrested. They
were convicted before O magistrate and fined
800 each. Their nets and boats were oil
eonhsoated. They gave bail Tor the pay
ment OF the fnes and costs.
SKIPPED FROM THE STATE.
Yesterday morning I got out warrants
for the arrest OF Phil Ramaley, William
Biglsy, George Bigley,, Thomas Hare and
Messrs. Henderson, Wilson and Cunning
ham. by some means they were oil warned,
Into the river, Jumped horses, trains, or
anything 10 get away. They had such
start that they escaped. All that I got was
o note from them, telling me TO 90 where
the present temperature 10 not considered
q marker. They said they were leaving the
State, and guess they have left. The
whole town was wild over the affair, and
there was considerable talk, although the
people took no action. The warrants will
hold good for year, and In nine months
they can be renewed.
I'VE then proceeded 10 gather up the
contraband paraphernalia, which was we'll
worth VI 900. The people saw we meant 10
enforce the law and became scared. A COM
mittee Of citizens waited on me, and said II
We would be satisfied with confscating the
nets, seines and boats, and withdraw the
warrants, they would look after the viola
tions Of the law themselves, and be the first
to arrest the yiolators. On these terms
finally consented to withdraw the suits, and
the men may return 10 their homes.
MADE NO EXCEPTIONS.
"From there;" continued Mr. Hague,
1--WE went down through Deer Greek, Acme
tonia, Cheswick and Hutton. At these
places people were breaking the game laws
indiscriminately. They all pleaded ignor-
ance Of the laws, and as I thought l had es-
tablished the power Of the law sufficiently,
simply warned them and confscated all
their boats and tackle. I continued this
work clear down to Coleman station, and
now think there will not be any more game
laws violated in the Allegheny Valley for
some time TO come.
II have ordered to proceed against the vi
olation Of the law in any part of the State,
and intend to do it. Within short time
I will make tour of the other rivers. in
tend to break up the habit of fishing with
outlines, nets and seines. There are some
people who are disposed to question my au-
thority, and even threaten violence to my
person, bnt am ready for them, Ny in
structions in such cases are to let them take
as much line as they want, but we catch
them all the harder in the end"