The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-09-17
THEY REBEL

Ishp VIII Use Armed Resistance.
SURF HoTET, FIRE ISLAND. n. V. Sept
12.-There has been more excitement
in the last twelve hours at Fire island
than during the whole summer season.
The sale of the place to the state for
quarantine purposes has created great
hubbub among the people Of the towns
of Islip and Babylon, who predict all
kinds of dire calamities as the result of
landing passengers from vessels in
fected with cholera upon the beach.
Saturday night, after the news was
received that Gov. Flower had give or
ders to buy the island, the board of
health of the town of Islip, in which
Fire island is, called a mass meeting of
citizens of the town to protest against
the landing of passengers ut any place
within the town jurisdiction. Suffolk
hall, where the meeting was held, was
crowded when Supervisor w. II. Young,
the president of the board of health,
called it to order. Speeches were made
by many prominent residents, who de-
nounced the proposed use of the island,
predicting great INJURY to the property
adjoining and the ruin of the oyster
anu hSllluR VI lilG
bay.
A committee consisting of Supervisor
Young, Justice Clerks Staley, O'Brien
and Howell DIR. w. A. Baker and j. S.
Gilbert constituting board of health,
was appointed to go to Fire island with
twenty deputy constables to protest
against the use of the island for quar-
antlne purposes and resist the landing
of passengers. They left in sail boats
late at night, arriving there in the
morning.
The deputies were placed on guard
when President Charles G.. Wilson and
board of health, who had come to
Babylon by special train, arrived in a
sail boat at o'clock in the morning.
They were quickly surrounded by the
deputies, who made demonstrations
against ID. S. S. Samis, owner of Fire ISL
and, making all kinds of threats against
him for selling it. President Wilson in
| formed Mr.. Samis that Gov. Flower had
authorized the purchase for S210, 900, and
that he had certified check for $50, 900
to pay as soon as the papers were
signed.
Mr.. Sammis then turned it over to
| President Wilson, as the representative
of Health Officer Jenkins, all the guests
and most of the servants hav-
ing left Saturday afternoon. When
President Wilson appeared about 10
o'clock Sunday morning after break
fast, the local board of health and a
hundred others from the mainland,
the crowd, mostly boys and men, made
demonstrations, using threats against
the state, Mr.. Sammis and everybody
concerned. Coroner w. H. Moore, of
Bay Shore, continually harangued
shem.
At II o'clock President Wilson met
the board of health and explained all
the circumstances of the purchase and
the intended use of the island. Super
visor Young and Dr. Baker stated that
it would ruin property and endanger
the health of the adjoining communities,
and asserted that the local board of
| jurisdiction was paramount to the state
board, and would resist any attempt to
land passengers,
| At the sending of this dispatch affairs
are assuming a serious aspect at Fire
island. Although only 1880 o'clock in
the evening this will, very likely, be
F, the last word sent Sunday night as it
has transpired that the sympathizers
with the local board of health have
been considering the feasibility of cut.
ting off all the telegraphic communica-
ton between Fire island and the city.
The men from Islip and other points on
the main shore appear to have de-
cided to bid defiance both to
the bidding of Gov. Flower and the in.
structions of the state board of health.
They seem to have become utterly
lawless as well as reckless AS it grew
dark men who had been concealed in
the shadow of outbuildings began to
move about more freely as if they were
certain of concealing their identity
l Picliets were posted and a regular sys.
tenn of signals was arranged. There was
no telling the exact number of mer
thus engaged on the island, but there
certainly could not have been fewer
than fifty, and there may have been
double that number.
At 11:15 o'clock Sunday night Dr. Jen-
lSins received word that the passengers
on the Cepheus were forcibly prevented
from landing at Fire island - force
of $50 armed deputies from Babylon
l.. L He has wired for particulars.
|