The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-28
FIRST BLOOD 6F THE AR
Hilton Shot While TAX
ing Q listers From the Dis
puted Beds at Port Norris.
Specinl to tbs Jerscu C:tu Neus.

PORT NORRIS. May %, 1Ss5.-First
blood was shed yesterday in the oyster
mems trouble at Port Norris when Cap
tain James Hilton was shot. and it is
feared fatally wounded. in a pitched bat
tie between the riparian owners, who
have been guarding their grounds with
rifles. and The oystermen. who claim
that the grounds are free for all. Cap
ain Hilton. in the oyster sloop Eliza
beth. sailed upon the forbidden grounds
about noon and was preparing to go to
work when a perfect fusilade of bullets
were rained upon the crew from the
rifles in the hands of the riparian men
on shore. For a time the fire was so
hot and continuous that the crew. after
firing a few answering shots. were COM
PEELED to seek shelter below.
After a while the firing partially
ceased. and the crew jumped into their
yawl and, led by Captain Hilton. rewed
for shore. They took their lives in their
hands, but while. many shots were fired
they all escaped unscathed. Arriving on
shore they started on the double quick
for the sand hills, behind which the RI
parian sha~rpshooters had fortified and
stationed themselves. They succeeded
in putting to rout what they thought
were all of the rifemen, but missed one
in their hurry. On their return to their
yawl up popped an oysterman with a
gun in his hands from behind an elder
berry bush. and taking quick aim, fired
and Captain Hilton. dropped to the
ground shot through the leg, between
the knee and thigh.
THE MAN FLED.
NJ $500 ,-,Al;o4n1~. do1 o,J "a 6rct
the enraged crew thought of pursuit,
but the fact that there might be other
rihemen close at hand and the condition
of the captain made them beat a hasty
retreat toward their boat, when they
embarked and made sail for Maurice
River.
The wound made in Captain Hilton's
leg where the ball entered was large
enough to place a mans thumb in. At
ter the wound was dressed he was
placed on board the evening train fol
Camden. and taken to a hospital. Sew
eral of the crew came out Of the fight
with bullet holes in their clothes ane
slight rounds. One man was struck by
a bullet which grazed the back of his
head and ploughed a furroW along his
scalp for several inches. Oliver Sneee
was struck on the arm and slightly in.
RIDDLED WITH BULLETS.
The oyster sloop Elizabeth, after ths
battle, looked as If she had run an am
buscade down Maurice River for seyera
miles. Her mast and sails were riddlec
with bullets n injured It is though
will have to be placed on her.
The physician at Maurice River saie
tonight, that Captain Hilton's leg will
rave to be- amDltated and the loss q
so much blood during the time which
elapsed in bringing the man to. Maurice
River was 50 great that it might result
When fred upon, the boat was on thu
grounds of. Oliver n Henry Candy
who have been foremost in upholdins
the claims of riparian owners They arr
sons of Captain James Candy, WHIT
erected Notifications overlooking his pos
sessions, and was so ~vigilant in gllardins
them day and night that he contracted
cold which killed him.
On Saturday shots were exchanged ant
the crews engaged in dredging weri
warned to depart. A defiant answer wa!
given that the beds would be cleaned
out and the stakes torn up. AT hat time
a bloody conflict was narrowly averte(
Tonight it Is feared that the e%ncountel
today will p~recipitate a. much more
serious conflict between the two factions
Port Norris, Newport and other. oyster
ing towns are scenes of great excitement