Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-29
1T WAS MURDER
Fireman Brent, of the Tug Gov
ington, Dead.
His Death Resulted From tho Pro-
miscuOus Fighting Between tho
lug Men In Norfolk ma on IInmp.
ton Roads Monday Night

There was scrapping galore Monday
night on the docks, and although no ar
rests were made. the planks ran gore
from the iisticuff shocks, where boat
men III battle engaged. Twas n long
drawn fight. lasting over an hour, ana
the scl1pper.s numbered seven. Fight
followed fight. with blows in shower.
and ended with honors even.
The sum of the finish was a captain
badly cut ana Il fireman nearly killed,
If ii may not yet prove quite II murder
III his case.
HOW IT BEGAN.
1t seems that the engineer of the tug
Covington had Il friend Mr.. Alonzo
leale. call on him at the boat while she
lay at pe;tit',s dock. While they were
standing talking Fireman Brent. OF the
Ccvinston, Slightly the worse for hay
ing met several cornwall friends. came
down the dock. and i'll passing the two
Knocked OFF i5ealeS hat. An argument
started. which ended in blows and the
engineer took his friends; part. AS
result Fireman Brent got a severe
thraShnE. This started the trouble.
The tug j. c. Hill lay at the dock next
nearest the FERRY. and a brother of the
Covington's fireman. who was punished.
runs on this boat. lie at once came
over to see why mis- brother had been
whipped. got into hot argument, and
turning to severely pummelled the Wis
itor. while his brother fireman No.
thrashed the engineer. So badly was
the engineer getting beaten up that
Captain McTiorney, of the tug Mary
land, came on the scene. took q hand
in the fray and when he got through
with Fireman Brent of the Covington,
lie was fairly well satisfied.
LEFT TOWN SINGING
All this happened while the police
were relieving each other. about $40
u. III. When the night police heard of
the row ana went to look up the mat
ter the men all bundled aboard the
tug Maryland and pulled out for Berk-
ley, singing. Good bye. my honey.
Goodbye, my baby. Good bye. my rag
time girl" in derision of the officers.
They got away all safely. and the
Maryland pulled barge into the
stream from Berkeley and then came
back 10 the dock. No sooner had the
Covington men gotten on the dock than
another of that tugs men and Fireman
Brent who started the fun. pitched in
TO the engineer of the Covington and
gave him whipping No. =. lie called
for Captain Mcliorncy, of the Mary
land. who quickly responded, and gave
Brent whipping No. 3.
1sAl AIN 11olt.N L.. CO L.
Starting to go back to his own boat
Captain MctIorney uncautiously cross
ed the Covington'S stern, and rs he did
so the colored cook stepped out and
slashed him across the back with a
razor, the cut extending across the
back below the shoulders and being re-
ported by the authority for the above
and what follows. as a nasty. severe
cut. This ended the Maryland's cap
ialn'S share the evenings ont a. a
mcnt.
THRASHED THE COOK.
The mate OF the Covington here took
hand, thrashed the cook and dis
charged him OH the spot-another done
for. In the meantime Beale had dis
appeared. and the curtain rang down
on his speciality.
The engineers troubles. however.
were not done with. He took as much
killing as a dime novel detective.
y FATAL ASSAULT.
The CovinSton started on Il trip UP
rhc bay, but had not Travelled far to-
ward Hampton Roads. when Fireman
lirert was struck over the head by the |
engineer with a monkey wrench-down
and out in one round. SO badly was
the fireman hurt. according to inform
ant that the tug had to put in at old
Point and land him, putting him under
a doctors care. From there he was
taken To Il hospital or, it was 80 re-
ported. at least; and rumor says he
has since died OF his injuries.
THE CONVICTION CAUGHT.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. j. 4. Bren;
and son. George, were Informed by the
Norfolk officials that three revenue
cutters from Norfolk. Baltimore and
New York We're in pursuit of the tug.
ana as soon as overhauled it would he
brought back to Norfolk. and asked
Air. Brent If he had heard anything from |
iis son, whereupon George. Il brother
OF brent. went to Old Point Ncwport |
news ana Hampton In search of his
pro'her' but without finding or hearing
anything of his whereabouts He re-
turned and told the Norfolk officials of
ms Search, and they informed him thar
MS brother was on the tug serving his
OCULAR watches and that the tug had
hecn overhauled by the New York rev |
ehue cutter. and that the cutter would .
arrive mere sometime last night with
the tug Covington in tow.