Evening journal., 1891-08-14
stan Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.

STAFF Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
PENNsyILLE, N. J i, August l4-The
South Jersey farmers reunion Of 1891
will long be remembered by everybody
who happened to be in this town to-day
1t was a day of blood shed, drunkenness
and riot, and in consequence, this will be
a day of swelled heads, black eyes and
agony. 1t was the most disgraceful affair
that has been known In this locality for
many years.
The Jersey farmers are, as a rule, fine
looking men, honest and whole-souled.
Some of them, however, are very fond Of
strong drink, and when they indulge in
it they do not do so In playful manner
but drink until they are crazy. Thea
they are worse than Sioux Indians, and
60 about wanting to cut slices out of the
air.
Everything went well yesterday until
about noon. Farmers and their families
from all over South Jersey had gathered
here to attend the jollifcation. The big
steamboats, Columbia and Richard Stock
ton had also landed hundreds Of
Philadelphia excursionists, and the
Pa 81 Navigation Companys steam.
DOhLh uhu UIOuAni bEUIEb Ol
people from the smaller places on the
river. Everybody seemed bent on having
days pleasure and they were about to
succeed, but. after eating q big dinner,
beer began to flow from a score of kegs
as freely as water flowed from the
pumps Men. boys and women, II
freshing but poisonous cup.
frhfu dtaoss1ofaI ha concentrations aud
more respectable farmers, and they bun
died up their lunch and picnic para
phernalia and, with their families,
started home About o'clock the crowd
| that was left on the scene was a motley
one. Over 300 men aud youths, who
hailed from all the neighborlng towns,
Philadelphia, and other river points,
had been fairly set on fire by the
liquor.
Soon the army began to serge toward
Browns hotel, in front Of which Salem
youth had begun to punch a ''seed
| from the central part of the state. This
was all that was necessary to start big
| fight, an the opportunity was grasped In
an instant.
From that time until 4 o'clock men
beat each other like brutes. They would
| fight until tired out, wash their blood.
covered hands and faces, take several
more drinks and, after half-hour's rest,
resume the combat. When fists were
no longer sound or too badly swelled to
be used as weapons of warfare. grand
rush was made for the wagons Every
| whip that could be found was snatched
from it's holder and carried down to the
shores of the peaceful Delaware
i The fighters did not play with each
other by using the lash of the whips, bat
took these in their hands and hayed each
other with the butt ends until the latter
were scattered over the sands in many
/ pieces This last pitched battle wore out
even the Philadelphia and Salem
| tonghs and the crowd became gradually
smaller as the different crowds began ia
leave for their homes. at 4.30 o'clock
the fight was all over, and only a few
drunken men lying around the beach anc
grove, several delapidsted fences anC
many pools Of blood could be seen a
twilight.
Several times during the eghting di
Proprietor Brown rush out on III
pavilion of his handsome Riversid
House and threaten to have all of tn
hoodlums taken prisoners. At one time
when depreciation had ceased for a feE
minutes, the proprietor appeared will
Magistrate johnson and threatened ever
man on the beach with arrest.
at one time during the afternoon
when an alteration was about to be re
newed, Salem man and q young farme
from near Pennsvile started to fight to
finish for a prize. at first the mel
wanted TO bet all the property that the,
owned, each declaring that he could whi
the other either into public confession
of the hard fact, or into insensibility
They finally put up gold watch and s.
in cash and the fight began Blow afte
blow was struck but neither gave way
Then there were cries of foul" and cit
draw, " and the whole crowd took u
the battle.
One man was seriously injured In thi
fight After being knocked down he wa
kicked in the head, chest and back unit
blood oozed from his mouth and ears
Nothing was heard Of him after the fight
J but It is supposed that he was taken t
his home after dark in q closed carriage
Over 100 Of the weaker youths and Wis
itors sought refuge on housetops, an
there they witnessed the sickenin
incidents of the day. A sheriff's poss
will go TO work at once on what clue
they now have. and bring most of the OF
tenders to justice. No names OF the in
iured men could be obtained, as the
would be conveyed to their homes as RAP
idly as possible to prevent their arrest
It would have taken three companies 0
infantry with glistenIng bayonets t
have quelled the fight when 1t was at it
height.