The Portland daily press., 1892-03-09
A HARD FIGHT.
Captain Craig Keeps Order ON the Tre-
mont, But Suffers in Doing It.

evening, were eight fellows whom Cap
tain Craig eyed with more than common
interest. They were slightly intoxicated
and seemed disposed to fight Moreover
they were big brawny fellows, one of
them, named Hugh McKennan, being
physically giant For the first of the
evening the eight men behaved them
selves, and went below to the mems
cabin, like the other men who took
berths.
Captain Craig went the rounds of his
vessel, as is his custom, about 9.15, when
it was nearing Thatcher's Island. He
found everything all right in the vessel,
the emen's cabin being peaceful. He then
turned in.
He had not been in his room over
three-quarters of an hour when he was
called in great haste by one Of the
watchmen. Five of the eight passengers
already referred to were in a fight in the
cabin. The five were Angus McPhee,
Joseph McPhee, Hugh McKennan, the
giant, John Mcneil and George Red
mond. They were making things ex-
tremely lively in the cabin, although the
fight seemed to be principally among
themselves up to this point.
But the moment Captain Craig stepped
down the stairs to the floor of the cabin
they made concerted rush for him.
One IF the McPhees struck him ir~ the
right side of the neck, another one hit
him in the left side of the neck; and
right upon these blows came staggerer
delivered by McKennan, the giant, full in
The back of Captain Craig's head. This
blow sent the captain headlong towards
the floor, and as he fell the roughs
pounced upon him. One one of them
kicked him in the left side, under the
ribs, and the others pounded with their
fists. Bow Watchman Levi O'Rourke,
who had followed the captain closely
into the cabin was getting similar pun
ishment. Meanwhile Mate James E..
Thompson. arrived, and made a rush
which had the effect of liberating Cap
tain Craig and allowing him to regain his
feet. Then the captain and mate backed
to the side of the cabin, and with their
backs to the partition fought off the row.
dies while help was coming.
AS soon as the captain saw the charac-
ter of the men with whom he had to
deal, he caused an alarm to be sent to
the quarters of the deck hands. They
were just turning in; but answered at
once. Their arrival was none too soon.
The passengers in the other berths had
become thoroughly alarmed, and had
jumped out into the struggling crowd in
the arena only to embarrass those who
were endeavoring to restore order. Only
five of the band of eight participated in
the fighting. One of the other three
acted as peacemaker to no avail, and
made hasty retreat to his bunk.
With the arrival of the deck hands the
captain, mate and watchmen assumed
the offensive. "They were ugly looking
men, said Captain Craig, ''and I knew
that if we did not conquer them they
would take control of the vessel and
might kill some of us. The fight was
resumed anew, the five toughs apparent
ly as ready for it as if they had expected
a battle from the first.
Some idea of the situation may be in
ferred from the fact that the main battle
lasted for half an hour, and that an hour
and a Quarter more were needed to
thrash the five men so that they would
consent to keep the peace. At the end
of that time they were driven to their
hunks, and strong guard put over
them. In the fight they had used chairs,
clubs, and it is probable that knife was
drawn, although no one was stabbed and
the knife found on the floor after the
fight was over did not seem to have been
used.
AS soon as the boat arrived in Portland
the patrol wagon was called for and very
promptly Patrolmen, Sparrow, Webster,
Phillips, Firth and Williams were on
hand and took the five men in charge.
They were hard looking men, being much
bruised and somewhat cut about their
faces.
Yesterday forenoon the men were
brought before Commissioner Rand. E.
Dudley Freeman, ESQ.,, appeared for the
United States, and the men were bound
over in $500 each to appear tomorrow at
ten o'clock.
Captain Craig was able to be about his
boat yesterday, butwas very lame. He
deserves great credit for the determined
way in which he kept order and protect
ed his passengers.
After the Offices.
Mr.. E. C. SWEET says she is not in it,
for the Office of city marshal. We hear
the name of Benj F. Andrews mentioned
for the berth. For City Clerk we are
told that Mr.. John S. Russell is not going
for that place but that Mr.. Arthur H.
Farnsworth, late United States weighe1