The evening times., 1895-10-08
FATAL SEABOARb BATTLE
While Attempting to Steal a Yacht
the Thieves Are hotDown.
Robbers Set Fire to ti3ss boat when
They Are Closely Pyessed, But
Fall to Escape.

| Cape Charles, Va, Oct. S.-About ,-eel
| ago valuable catboat was stolen from
Camden, N. j., and from an investigation
that followed it was supposed that the par
ties VINO had taken il had started soutl
| along the coast.
Instructions were telegraphed to all tn,
| life-saving stations to look out for thu
| boat, for the return Of which handsom,
/ reward was offered.
While one OF the crew OF the Cobb's Islant
life saving station was patrolling the
beach yesterday he sighted boat ans wer
| ing the description OF the one stolen, about
| a mile out. He ran to the station and not l.
fled the captain, who ordered the surf boat
| out. Four OF the crew armed themselves,
and, jumping into the boat, put to sea. The
men in the yacht evidently suspected the
purpose OF the life savers, for they put
about and headed off shore. The expert
enced men at the oars, however, pulled with
all their strength, and in a short time were
within hailing distance OF the boat.
Standing in the bow of the Surf boat
one of the crew saw there were two men
aboa rd the yacht, and hetcalled to them
to lay to, at the same time asking what
boat 1t was. For an nswer came a vol
ley Of bullets rrCm the yacht. Forum.
ately they all flew fide, however, and
the surfmen, paying little heed to the
danger, renewed their efforts at the oars
and gained rapidly OH the fugitives. by
this time the wind, which was very light,
died down, and the men aboard the yacht
saw that escape in her was out OF the
question
They jumped down under the circle
band OF the boat, and, hastily applying a
match to the dry wood, set the ya's on
fire. Then jumping into small yawl at
the stern the two fugitiyes started for
the marsh. One man rowed the boat
while the other stood in the stern and
kept up n continuous fire at the pursuers.
The hail of lead, however, failed TO
intimidatc the surfmen, " no op1y pulled
harder after the escaping thieves. Fin
ally, how ever. the bullets began 10 get
dangerously near 10 them and the man
in the bow picked up hiS rifle from the
bottom OF the boat, " hicsi for a moment
he held in his hands, as if 10 " arm the
fugitives that unless they ceased firing
the compliment would be returned.
The sight OF the rife had no effect
on the thieves, how ever, and soon another
shot came whizzing across the water. By
this time the two boats were about 100
yards apart. Raising his rifle to his arm
pit, the surfman took caIefW aim and
fired The others ceased rowing to note
the effect of the shot and saw the man
in the stern OF the boat ahead drop his
gun and pitch backw ard into the boat
Almost at the samc time the man at the
oars was seen TO fall forward off OF the
seat.
Quickly the surfnien rowed up 10 the
yawl. and going alongside they found
that the man i'll the stern was dead. while
his conipa Mon was mortaliy wounded The
bullet from the lifc-saver's rifle had en-
tered The first mans body between the
ribs. killing him instantly. then passing
through him struck the other man.
The yawi was towed ashorr. and the
wounded man was taken 10 a house and
made as comfortable as possible. He gave
his name as William Hudson. and said the
dead man was his brother Benjamin,
In the yacht. which was onit partly burned,
was found a kit Of burglars tools. while
revolvers were found upon hoih MEN.
The men are well known in Camden as
professional thieves. and are wanted in
that city at the present time upon several
charges.