Evening journal., 1895-05-29
WAR IN DELAWARE BAY.
Two Battles Between Oyster Pi-
rates and Riparian Owners.
THE sHORBMBU USED A HOWITzER

peotod- -Thiriy-tuo Vessels Concerned
PoRr Nouns, N. J.. May 20 Tho bait
tie between the Delaware bay oystermen
and the riparian owners was continued.
8'he fire was continuous throughout tho
day Bullets cut tho sails Of the vessels,
splntored the woodwork and splashed in
the water about them, but tho dodgers
kept 90 work while q section Of their llei u
kept continually maneuyering and return
ing tho fire from shore.
It IS not known yet whether there have
been any casualties, as the fleet has not re-
turned, but the oyster villages have been
wildly excited an day The drodgers who
remained 90 homo and their friends were
busy getting their arms In order, for today
q well organized attempt VIII lie made to
capture tho riparian forts, and the men
know that there is critical work before
them.
THAT the owners win make most des-
porato defense u evident from the manner
in which they conducted the fight Tues
day. Their numbers must have been In
creased for thor shooting was rapid and
| continuous at almost regular intervals
above the sharp crack Of repeating rifles,
sounded the boom of the howitzer, mount
ed on the land fort The marksmen who
worked Sc had improved since yesterday,
and many Of the shots told
They Intend TO XIII.
The men ashore are far better armed
than the dredgers, the majority of whom
/ have firearms of an obsolete pattern, muz-
zle leading muskets and pistols and shot.
guns that nre hardly effective at extended
range. So it is that IN tho assault planned
for today the men will rely upon their
strength of numbers to carry the strong
hold and kill-for that is what thoy will
do IN their present tomper-the mon who
Monday shot down Captain James Hilton
and wounded two of the Grew of the Arm
| strong Hilton, who IS in q Philadelphia
/ hospital will have TO have his leg ampu-
tated and the doctors are still of the opin-
i ion that no cannot survive.
The scene of tho conflict is about 800
/ yards of Fortoscue pier. Oliver and Harry
/ Candy, who have several hundred thou
l sand dollars invested in the beds are the
leaders Of the riparian owners. The bay
men hopo to capture them before the law
has done so. That the baymen will adj
minister their own law no one heroabouta
has the slightest doubt There has been
some uncertainty as 60 who wero behind
the fort during yesterday S engagement.
Ono thing, however, is settled IN the
minds of the oystermen-O Oliver and Frank
Candy were there, II no one else
Two local fishermen declared that after
the shooting Of Captain Hilton and the
retreat of tho oystormen he saw the Gan
dys with rifles in thoir hands wadinp
| across the marshes. Warrants have been
issued for thoir arrest
IA fleet of 32 vessels sailed to the beds
at daybreak Tuesday morning. All o
thom wero well armed and carried oxtrl
crews more eager to fight than TO work
And they did both, for the dredgers haC
well arranged their plan for sailing. The
had no sooner appeared at the disputed
grounds than tho land forces let loos
their batteries.
Heated Engagement.
While one portion of the fleet went Il
work dredging tho other engaged the ri
parians The oystornon gunners kop
themselves well under cover, for the mol
ashore were good marksmen, as ono Of th
crew Of the Volunteer discovered when b.
incautiously exposed himself TO shout hi
defiance and had his hat shot Off.
It was hot work, and the busy, dee
toned howitzor caused the dredgors tn
3 greatest concern. A shot from it beloy
the water limo would have boon serious
| They knew this from ugly gaps that ha
Q been torn in the bulwarks Of several of tn
3 sohoonors The dredgers, however. di
/ not lose their heads, and after the frs
9 division had done its fighting a seoon
swung into action, and the first retire
! among those at work dredging.
? Tho scheme worked we'll and was direct
g cd at diiieront times by Captain Risly 9
8 the Emily Smith, Captain Adams Of til
q / Aokerly, Captain Laws of the Volunteer
Captain Kirk temporarily in charge Of tn
| Armstrong; Captain Sneod of the War
/ B. Smith, Captain Nobbs Of the Cottinf
J. ton and Captain Winkle of the Elizabeth
o al Of whom were under fire in Monday
n engagement.
d A secret meeting of moro than 30 oystC
s captains was held at Maurice River, an
v a plan was devised to capture the riparia
q fort. This morning at daybreak tw
squads Of heavily armed men-40 in eac
p | squad-will start from given point f'
\ the SCENE of battle The intention u
e completely surround the fort by water an
land, and at q signal to the boats a sooi
e OF yawls full Of men will attempt to NAL
landing under cover Of a heavy nr
n Then 4 combined attack viii be made.
~ oaso this is successful it is probable the !
n paFians win die fighting
Fire In the Brooklyn Navy Yard.