Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-09
LIFE ON AN OYSTER BOAT.
A Sad story Of Cruel Trea.mcut hy I've
Boys 60 Oftcer Frank

Boys TO Officer Prank.
Two nice-iooking white boys who exhibited
signs OF rough treatment appeared az tie Office
Of Sanitary Officer Frank at police headquarters
this morning and asked for assistance.
According 10 their stories they have
been dredging oysters for Eve weeks
and Oh account Of i'll treatment and poor fooa
they were obliged 10 leave the first time they
reached shore.
The boys gave their names as John G.
Smith and James Black aud their age as nine
teen years. Their homes are in Philadelphia
According TO their statements they were ont of
work.and about the middle of October they went
to AN intelligence Office in Philadelphia, where
they were engaged. not being told whit Kind of
work they were 70 90. They were told that
tho.r expenses wouid be pHid and thew would
receive Sl3 a month IN addition to their board
Not having anything to do they accepted the
offer and were sent to baltimore from
whence they went down the bay on the ,iredger
Robert knight, Of which Robert Douglass. a
white man, Was cap tam, and len Brown, col-
ored, was mate.
THE HI-TREsTMEST RFGISs.
On the trip down the bay they were treated
ali right, Tut soon after they went to work
they said the ili-treatment began because they
were unable TO do a mans work
I'VE told the captain aud mate that va
would do the best we cOnid, said the bows but
We were told that we would have TO do better
than that"
Then they said the captain cursed and abused
them and threatened 10 throw them overheard
There were three other Philadelphia boys on
the boat the boys said. They were Joe Ander-
son, Joe Warner and Will Riley The first
mentioned, they said, was beaten and struck
win culllng hammer with such force that
a piece of hesh Was cut out of his hand.
We had TO get up between 8 and O'Clock
every morning, said Smith, land had TO dredge
all day. -Four Of US had TO do the ork of six men
and at night We had 10 do the calling. Our food
consisted Of corn bread with piece of tat pork
once in a while. Occasionally we were given
coffee without sugar or milk. L kept on the
good side of the captain by telling him that I
liked the business, and IT was not until last
Sunday that the two OF US got chance 10 get
on shore.
oyERrAKEN BY THE CAPTAIN.
Eve landed at Fairport, Northumberland
county, Va, and walked from there to Cones
wharf. While waiting for the boat we wero
overtaken by the captain, who grabbed mo
and would have compelled me 10 return
nv rescue. Then the eaptsin ' said
had on n shirt that belonged % him and to
avoid trouble took IL of my back and gave 1t
TO him he coioree people then purchased =
shirt and gave 1t to me and protected both Il
US Until We got on the steamer Arrowsmith-"
The boys said that the coIored people told
them that three colored men who had been on
an oyster boat were picked up half starved and
unable 10 SPEAK and they supposed that Was
why they lthe colored people, came TO theif
rescue.
After hearing the boys sad story Mr.. Prank
furnished them good dinner and sent them
as lar as baltimore, giving them letter -
Marshall Frey, chief OF the Baltimore police
force, asking tina; official 20 give the boys
proper instructions Concerning the prosecu-
ton of the person against whom they made
complaint The letter Endorsed by Ma
Moore.