The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-12
WILD WITH RAGE.
The DweI|ers on Fire Island In a
Threatening Mood.

threatening WOOD
SURF HOTEL, FIRE ISLAND, LoNo Isr~
AND. N. Y, Sept. 12.-There has been
more excitement In the last "a hours at
Fire Island than during the whole sum-
mer season. The sale of the place to the
state for quarantine purposes has created
a great hubbub among the people OF
Islip and Babylon, who predict all kinds
OF dire ealamitiesas the result of land
ing passengers from vessels infected
with cholera upon the beach.
Saturday night. after the news was re-
ceived that Gov. Flower had given orders
to buy the island, the board of health OF
the town OF Islip, In which Fire Island
is, called mass IN meeting OF citizens OF
the town to protest against the landing
OF passengers at 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 IL to order.
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 fsh industries OF
the Great South Bay. A committee, con-
sisting of Supervisor Young, Justice
Clerks Studley, O'Brien and Howell, DR..
w. A. Baker and j. s. Gilbert, constitu-
ting a board OF health, was appointed to
go to Fire Island with % deputy consta-
bles to protest against the uss OF the ISL
and for quarantine purposes, and resist
the landing of passengers.
They left In sail boats late at night, ar
irving there in the morning. The depu-
ties were placed on guard when Presi-
dent Charles Wilson and DR.. Cyrus Ed
son of the New York Board OF Health,
who had come to Babylon by a special
train, arrived In a sail boat at o'clock In
the morning. They were quickly sur
rounded by the deputies, who made DEM
onstrations against ID. 8. 8. Sammis,
owner of the island, making all kinds OF
threats against him for selling 1t.
President Wilson informed Mr.. Sam
mis- that Gov. Flower had authorized the
purchase for $210, 900 and that he had
certified check Tor $50, 900 to pay as soon
as the papers were signed. Mr.. Sammis
then turned the island over to President
Wilson, AZ the representative OF Health
Officer Jenkins, all the guests and most
OF the servants having left yesterday af-
ternoon.
When President Wilson appeared about
10 o'clock in the morning, after break
fast, the local board OF health and hun
dred others from the mainland, the crowd
being mostly baymen, made angry dem
onstrations, using threats against the
state, Mr.. Sammis and everybo cou-
cerned. Coroner w. II. Moore OF Bay
Shore continually hsrangued them.
At IL o'clock President Wilson mst the
board of health, explained all the circum-
stances OF the purchase and thu INTENDED
use OF tho island. Supervisor Young and
DIR. Baker stated that II would ruin
property and industries and endanger
the health of,the ad joining communities,
and asserted that the local boards juris-
diction was paramount to that OF the
state board, and the local board would
resist any attempt to land passengers.
At the sending OF this despatch affairs
are assuming q serious aspect at Fire
Island. 1t has transpirsd that the SYM
pathiZers with the local board OF health
have been considering the feasibility OF
cutting of all telegraphic communication
between Fire Island and tn, city. Tee
men from Islip and other points on the
main shore appear to have decided to bid
defiance both to the bidding of Gov.
Flower and the instructions OF the state
board of health. They seem to have be-
come utterly. lawless as well as reckless.
As IL grew dark men who had been con-
cealed In the shadows of outbuildings
they were certain of conceaiing their
identity. P.ckets were posted, and
regular system of signals was arranged.
There was no telling the exact number OF
men thus engaged on the island; but
there certainly could not have been fewer
than ffty, and there may have peen
double that number.
A ta,te OF the temper and cunning OF
these fellows had already been ahordet
President Wilson and his associates. A
search being deemed advisable, piles OF
inflammable materials had bsen found
heaped up against either end of the
hotel, which, IL lighted,
49, A. - kst1 L.
very short tim, for being old and dry it
would burn like tinder. When the
Vaccinations OF the enemy ware full
Mr.. Wilson promptly divid-
ed his associates OF tho health depart
msnt and the newspaper men into
watches OF six men each, who should
patrol the building throughout, the
at a stretch. Even President Wilson
stood his turn; and when this arrange
ment was effected, all hands felt moro
comfortable.
The first news OF the Cepheus had been
received a little after Ave o'clock in the
afternoon, when despatch came to hand
saying that the iron steam boat was OF
Point Lookout with 287 cabin passengers
on board. This wa, 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;
ana In no event to leave quarantine later
than the noon hour.
Mr.. Wilson had already arranged with
Capt. Charles Wicks OF the Fire Island
life-saving station, to pilot the Cepheus
across the bar. AT first Capt. Wicks had
demurred, and had finally told Mr.. Wiz
son frankly that Supt. Arthur Dominy
had threatened him with the loss OF his
placs II he brought the steamboat in.
Mr.. Wilson then promised him a
place which would paw him si2o0
year In case he lost the 500 position he
already held, for bringing the Cepheus
over the bar. Wicks agreed tn this, but
when the Ccpheus appeared off the bar at
6a5 he had not turnod up. When ii was
quite dark he appeared and said 1t was
impossible for him TO bring in tn. Ceph-
Gus or even to 60 out and explain the
situation.
In spite Of his protestations 10 was evil
dent that Capt. Wicks had been intim-
dated. An hour later word came from
Fire Island observatory saying that the
Cepheus' lights were disappearing and
that she bad evidently put back toward
New York.
Meantime the watchers concealed in
the shadows about the hotel kept up
their vigilance, while Mr.. Wilson, after
aendin9 appeais To New York fer special