New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-17
A PRIZE-FIGHT ON BOARD.
THE STATEN ISL ND POLICE. AT LEAST
THOUGHT SO.
THEY PURSUE A MYSTERIOUS Tud Ann
SCHOONER HALFWAY AROUND THE ISL
AND WITH THE HELP or TROLLEY
CARS AND BOATS. AND FAIL
TO CATCH THEM

TO CATCH THEM.
A tug and a big schooner made things l'vefe
for the police Of Staten Island about noontims
yesterday. The police Of two precincts turned
out and boats and trolley-c called into
service, but the tug hauled the schooner out OF
reach and escaped There IS a mystery about
the boats which could not be cleared up yes
terday.
About II o'clock the tug steamed up tho
Lower Bay, coming from the direction OF Perth
Amboy She the George w. Belts, OF that
place, it is asserted by those who saw her
through glasses. She had the schooner, craft
about thirty forty feet long. with sails
fured, in tow. The two boats went slowly up
the Bay until off Kings Dock, at South Beach.
There were about thirty forty men or tho
deck of the schooner When the boats were of
Kings Dock and about two hundred yards
away, the anchor Of the schooner was dropped.
Those who had noticed the two boats thought
they carried fishing sailing party. and the
anchoring was considered singular especially
at that point.
AS soon as the anchor was down the men on
the deck Of the schoSner began to stretch
canvas about seven feet high along the shore
side Of the boat. The tug lay alongside. Tho
anchors on board were watched with considera-
bic interest by bathers and people on the board
walk. The wind and tide finally swung the
schooner about that the canvas curtain DID
not altogether hide the deck from the shore
The movements Of the people seemed TO Indicate
that there prizefight going on. The men
on the deck became greatly excited. and finally
O. man was seen to fall overheard. but he was
soon rescued.
Patrolman Consadine, OF Staten Island. had
been an interested onlooker. and when the boat
swung about so that he could the deck he
signalled Patrolman Sullivan 10 Join him, ana
they took boat at hotel close by and started
to row to the schooner No sooner had they
started than some one on Kings Dock shouted
to the schooner a warning and the tug at once
began to work her screw. The officers We're
bending 20 their work and rapidly gainins~
There was not time to raise the anchor. so IL was
allowed to remain. the hawser running. Thus
free the tug swung the schooner about. and was
soon speeding away from the police She headed
for the Narrows.
The policemen returned TO the shore and In.
formed the headquarters at Stapleton OF what
had occurred. orders sent TO the Second
Precinct in West New Brighton for the reseryes
at that place to head off the tug and schooner
as they went through the XIII Won kull SER
geant Brant, with platoon OF men started
The tide was running strong through the Kills.
and this with the screw OF the tug, sent tho
pursued craft along at rapid rate. The West
Brighton police had just entered SKIN wheh
the two boats they sought went past them
Pursuit IN a row boat was useless. and the men
leaped ashore again TO make an attempt IN
head the tug and schooner on AT trastina-
When they reached Richmond Terrace a trolley
car bearing Chief Blake and Roundsman Shea,
with second platoon OF police ran along ~
full speed from Staploton 10 aid In the capture.
The men under Sergeant Brant Joined the
chiefs party and the car was run for Howlands
Hook There it intended TO press into SER
vice the ferryboat Uncas plying between Eliza
beth and Howlands Hook. and capture the rug
and schooner There were delays on the trolley
line which from Port Richmond to the Hook ~
a single-tracked one. and when the police reached
the ferry the captain Of the Tncas reported that
he saw the tug and schooner pass down the
Arthur XII fifteen minutes before the police ar
rived. Chase was useless. and the police had to
abandon it. The police of the Third Precinct, at
Tottenvile. We're told to be on the lookout for a
tug and schooner. and make the arrest if pos
sible Sergeant Cornell, commanding at Tot
tenville. watched for the two boats TIL evening.
but they did not appear 1t Is thought thae
they must have turned up the Railway River.