The times., 1898-07-18
A BRAWL At BUENA VISTA
As Usual, the Peacemakers Get
the Worst of Ii.
ADAMS WON A WALKING STICK
The Fight Began After a "Cane-
Ringing" Contest. aud When Luke
teryened In the Interests of Peace,
They We're PunmeIed.

A drunken brawI, in which a score or
more persons participated came near
ending in riot late yesterday afternoon
river resort on the Eastern Branch, op-
pcSite the arsenal grounds.
The affair was reported at police head
quarters early in the evening. with sew
eral alleged serious casualties. including
the killing of one OF the participants.
Investigation by the police authorities
showed that no weapons were used. and
no arrests were made.
Buena Vista is a small river resort. fire.
quented for the most part by Germans.
The feature of the place is an organiza-
tion known as the Potomac German
American Pleasure and Outing Club" It
has numerous members, who are accorded
the privileges of the association by virtue
Of tickets which are given them. No one
is allowed TO enter the grounds before
presenting membership card. and in
this respect the club boasts that it is
uItra-exclusive.
The clubs grounds are easy Of access.
The small steamer G. J. SuenerIe phys up
and down the river all day long from a
small wharf near that of the steamer
River Queen.
The alteration Of yesterday occurred
shortly after O'Clock. A crowd of South
Washington toughs was just beginning
to have good time Edward Adams and
his cousin. Michael Hayden. thought they
would Try their luck at the cane stand.
and Adams won a walking stick. Hay
den disputed its ownership and they be-
gan TO fight
Luke Sweeney and William Rupert. the
latter residing near Fourth and c Streets
southwest. took it upon themselves to be
peacemakers but the fighters turned and
attacked them. Little by little the crowd
was drawn into the difficulty, and
Sweeney and Rupert were badly dis
figured. Their eyes were blackened and
their faces badly bruised and cut
Among the principals were ChiIds
Worsted and William Keane, both of this
city
Sweeney received the worst of the fight.
He was sent up to the city on the $50
o'clock boat, but Sergt. Barry and the
reserves from the Fourth precinct were
in waiting and he was again taken down
the river Fear was probably entertained
that he would be arrested. He managed
to get 10 the city late in the night. as did
the other participants.
When the report first reached the city,
/ Sergt. Anderson and a detail of five
mounted officers rode To Buena Vista by
/ way of Anacontia, No arrests were
/ made. The reports had it that it was a
shooting affray, but Sergt. Anderson re-
ported the affair as fist fight.
/ There was a notable tendency among
. the persons connected with the excursion
+ to suppress all news of the affair 1t was
with the greatest difficulty that The
Times reporter and the policemen could
( get anybody to discuss the fight
/ The police all condemn the resort and
| think that it should be either closed up or
! its tone improved. At present two special
! policemen are the only representatives of
the law to be seen on the club grounds.
The resort is within the limits of the
Fifth precinct, but it is so isolated that
( the local police under present conditions
cannot oversee the place effectively.