The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-12
A RIOT THREATENED.

| AUthoFIues-NIoISnt Protest AEainSt the
Purchase of the Island for Quarantine
Purposes = Ansirs Assume Grave
| Aspect
SURF HorEL, FIRE ISLAND, N. Y, Sept.
1l.-There has been moro 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 agreat
hubbub among the people OF tho towns
OF Islip and Babylon, who predict all
kinds OF direct calamities as the result
OF landing passengers from vessels in
fected with cholera upon the beach.
Last night after the news was received
that Governor Flower had given orders
to buy the island, the board Of health
ofthe town OF Islip, in which Fire Is
land is, called mass meeting Of citi-
zens OF the town to protest against
landing OF passengers at any place with
in the.town jurisdiction. Suffolk hall,
where the meeting was held, was crowd
ed when Supervisor W. Il. Young, the
president Of the board Of health, called
it to arder.
Speeches were made by many promi-
nent residents who denounced the pro-
posed use of the island, predicting
great injury to the property adjoining
and the ruin OF the oyster and fish in
dustrios of tho great south bay. A COM
mistee was appointed to 60 to Fire
Island with twenty deputy constables
to protest against the use OF the island
for quarantine purposes and resist the
landing OF the 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
DR.. Cyrus Edison, OF the New York
board OF health, who had come to
Babylon by special train, arrived in
sailboat at 8 o'clock in the morning.
They were quickly surrounded by the
deputies, who made demonstrations
against D. S. S. sammis, owner OF Fire
Island, making all kinds OF threats
against him for selling it.
When President Wilson appeared
about 10 o'clock this morning the local
board Of health and a hundred others
from the mainland made demonstra-
tis0k using threats against the state,
Mr.. Sammis and everybody concerned.
Coroner w. II. Moore, OF Bay Shore,
continually harangucd them.
At II o'clock President Wilson met
the board Of health, explained all the
circumstances OF the purchase and the
intended use OF the island. Supervisor
Young and DR.. Baker stated that it
would ruin property and industries and
endanger the health OF the adioing COM
munities and asserted that the local
board OF jurisdiction was paramount to
the state board and would resist any
attempt OF land passengers.
AT the sending OF this dispatch af-
fairs are assuming serious aspect ut
Fire Island. Although only 1880 o'clock
in the evening this will very likely be
the last word sent tonight as it has
transpired that the sympathizers with
the local board OF health have been con-
sidering the feasibility OF cutting off all
Fire Island and the city.
The men from Islip and other points
on the main shore appear TO have de-
cided to bid defiance to the bidding OF
Governor Flower and the instructions
of the state board of health. They
seem to have become utterly lawless as
well as reckless.
The first news OF the Cepheus had
been received little after o'clock in
the afternoon, when q dispatch came to
hand saying that the iron steamboat
was of Point Lookout, with 267 cabin
passengers on board. This was great
surprise and annoyance to Mr.. Wilson,
who had sent special orders
to have, the Cepheus arrive at
Fire Island as near noon as possible;
and in no event to leave quarantine
later than the noon hour. MIR. Wilson
had already arranged with Captain
Charles Wicks OF the Fire Island saving
station to pilot the Cepheus across the
bar. At first Captain Wicks
had demurred and had finally
told Mr.. Wilson frankly that Superin-
tondent Arthur Dominy had threat
ened him with the loss Of his place il
brought the steamboat in. Mr.. Wilson
then promised him q place which
would pay $1,000 year in case
he lost the 5000 position he al
ready held for bringing tho Cepheus
over the bar. Wicks agreed to this, but
when the Cephous appeared off the bar
he had not turned UP. When it was
quito dark he appeared and said it was
impossible for him to bring in
the Cepheus or even to so
out and explain the situation.
In spite of his protestations it
was evident that Captain Wicks had
been intimidated. An hour later word
came from Fire Island observatory say
ing that the Cepheus' lights were disap-
pearlng and that she had evidently put
back toward New York. Meantime
the watchers concealed in the
shadows about the hotel kept
up their vigilance, while Mr.. Wilson,
after sending appeals to New York for
special policemen to be sept down on
nm extra train, had the Gre buckets
placed at handy points on the piazzas
and the watch arranged for the night
was begun, TO prevent any attempt to
set fire to the hotel.
LATER-FoRCE USED.
QvARAwTlxE, S. l., Sept. l1.-ll:15 p.
m.-pr jenkins has just received word
that the passengers on the Cepheps
wore forcibly prevented from landing
at Fire Island by force OF l50 armed
deputies from Babylon, l. l, lie has
wired for partlculars.