New-York tribune., 1897-08-02
AN UNLUCKY EXCURSION.
TRIBULATIONS OF THE GALWAY MEMS PA
TRIOTIC AND BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.

TRIRTrIATIONS OF THE GALWAY MEMS Pa
TRIOTIC AND BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
The NTH annual excursion of the Galway Mems
Patriotic and Benevolent Association started from
Pier g. North River at o'clock yesterday after
noon for an excursion to Union Grove, ~ J. After
many adversites the barges containing the pleasure
seekers ran aground at Erastina, Staten Island
while returning from the grove In the evening The
excursion had not got back to the starting point at
an early hour this morning. Just before this accl-
dent occurred it Is said that man who was knocked
overheard I'm a fight fouled the rudder Of the
steamer which was towing the barges. thereby
causing them to run aground. The excursion was
attended by about three thousand men, women and
children
The steamer Crystal Stream. the tug Genesta
and the barges Meyers. Haskett, Cocksackie and
Morton carried the pleasure seekers. everything
that the Galway men and their friends could wish
for was provided for the OCCASION including beer
whiskey, cigars. music to dance by and rowboats
in the stern OF the barges in any one should
fall overheard. The rowboats however, proved
more effective in enabling a number OF people 10
escape from the exciting scenes which ensued about
two hours after they left Pier g.
Dancing began soon after the hotilla reached the
bay, and there was lot Of drinking. All went
merrily until o'clock, when the fotilla went
aground in the mud about mile south of Eliza
bethport y. J. The steamer and her barges re-
NAMED faSt IN the fnud until O'CLOCK, WHICH tHey
again proceeded. thanks to the foodtide
At 4:3U O'Clock number OF pickpookets, who
had sneaked on board. started fight This is sup
posed to have been prearranged by the pckpockets,
and they Ieaped harvest during the excitement
which followed the fight they had started. Michael
FOrde, Vce-president of the association, was one OF
the victims. He lost his gold watch He was sitting
with half dozen friends one of the DargeS after
when, looking down. he discovered mis- watch chain
dangling over his shirt front He exclaimed: Boys,
my watch is gone" His friends looked 10 see
whether their watches were safe, but found they.
also, had been stolen. 1t reported by several
people who left the barges and rowed in small
boats to Staten Island that the excursion promised
to be full of excitement and adventure before its
return 10 the city.
Joseph Ol3rien of those who found 1t
too warm for him. He rowed 10 the Staten
Island shore from Elzabethport with five others in
the boat. So many OF the pleasure-seekers became
an hour rowing persons to the Staten Island shore.
Mr.. O'Brien said that when he left the party two
crap games were in active operation the barges.
He also said that he had heard that as many as
.iXty watches had been stolen, and a number OF
women lost their pocketbooks.
At 10 O'Clock the harbor police had not been in
formed of any disturbance on the excursion though
by that time according 30 those who had returned.
there had been number of fights, and many per-
sons had found that their tewery and money had
been stolen. -
1t was reported at late hour that the fotilla had
gone ashore, previously told.
The officers of the Galway Mems Protective and
Benevolent Association are: NJ c. Flynn. president:
NJ j. FOrde first vice president j. T. White. second
vice president: J. T. Ryan. treasurer: T. Flynn,
tary: William Hazel. corresponding secretary and
J. f. Kenny Sergeant-at-drmS.