The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08
GAMBLING ON GEORGEANNA
rio ROW WHEN PASSENGERS FOUND
THEY'D BEEN BUSCoED.


near the Course-Cnptain Threatened
with Desth-Battle Between Grow and
Misunderstanding Signals of Dis
tress Fifteen Arrests-Bob Nelson 10
said to he Responsible for tho Trip.
Fivo hundred persons who had paid 81 each
LEFT this city yesterday morning on board the
steamboat Georgeanna to see the yacht races.
They returned at 3 O'Clock In the afternoon.
hours before the other boats came in. having
seen nothing OF the race and declaring that
they had been made the victims OF the worst
film. fam game ever practised on unsuspect-
ing citizens. The Georgeanna is an old side
wheeler that was ~ mature age when the Civil
War hroke out. She belongs in Philadelphia
Advertisement in the newspapers announced
yesterday morning that she would take a
limited number OF passengers to see that days
race The low price OF the tickets was very
tempting and the boat was loaded to her
utmost capacity when she left Pier in the
North River bout $3.50 O'Clock yesterday morn
ing. The hour was late. but Capt Alexander
Sterck, who wore n stylish blue frock coat with
cilled buttons and n gold-lace yachting cap
assured every one that there was plenty OF
time.
The first trouble came when tho boat in
stead OF pushing straight ahead under full
steam landed at the Battery to take on more
passengers belated train had just brought
a host Of Connecticut amateurs into this city.
and these en- braced the opportunity offered by
the Georgeauna. 1t was 1870 o'clock when
the boat was headed down the bay again
After the furry occasioned by the start was
over. the passengers began to look around.
The first thing that attracted their attention
uasa gambling table with a number OF men
10. on If IN nd
and then one more-the whole boat seemed to
be full OF them There were eight large tables.
at least, at which poker. faro and poker dice
were played and there was roulette table in
the cabin. Tho GeorReanna had not passed
Iibe rty Island when passenger cried out
that he had been swindled out OF $3.50.
Most Of the passengers withdrew to the upper
deck after that Some went down to the in pro-
vsed restaurant. where another unpleasant
surprise awaited Thorn. Ham sandwiches were
quoted at 20 cents each. while 30 cents was
asked for diminutive piece OF pie.
The crisis came when the boat slowed down
Just outside OF Sandy Hook and finally stopped
altogether. It was then O'Clock and the
chance OF seeing anything Of tho race was ex-
aejng slim. A howl went up from PROV to
stern. but abated for a moment when the sig
nal bell was heard to tinkls and the George
anna began TO make Roadway again.
I'VE are turning" some one criod suddenly.
We are going back to the city," walled
hundred voices in the next moment.
grievance committee OF ten was formed on
the spot with Capt. c. A. O. Norton OF Hartford.
man. The committee sent q m essage to Capt.
S'erck asking for an explanation. The reply
he sent was: Everything will be all right"
The committee found the answer too vague to
be satisfactory and marched In Q body to tho
pilot house. The captain still had on his
gded buttons and his yacht cap. but he had
lost his smile.
Il am sorry" he said. but cannot help It.
Engineer Schwartz has Just reported that an
important steam pipe is breaking. The safety
OF all these passengers requires me to put back
to port"
"Rats!" was the answer OF the comm lttee.
When the members went back and reported to
tho other passengers what the Captain had
said rOar went up.
We have been cheated" was the cry on all
sides. We have been lured on board float
ing gambling hsll Lynch that scoundrelr
Il have lost S63!' piped one passenger.
My field glasses wero taken from me by
force by one OF tho gamblers" howled an
other man.
MY wife has been insulted!" yelled third
Lynch them ALL" cried a dozen passengers
as The crowd scrambled up the ladders to the
pilot house
They found young sao--liko chap in the
pilot house, who said that he was Capt. Daniel
i, Brown. the boats pilot. and that he did not
know what had become OF the other captain
with tho gold lace.
Why do you turn" demanded a passenger.
We have paid to see the races"
Can't help it," replied the mate. Il have my
orders"
Turn this boat around at once or there will
be trouble. said an exaspsrated passenger.
Do what you please" answered the pilot
suUenly. but Capt. Sterck commands this
here boat and you can't get any man on board
10 dsobey his orders"
The excited crowd left the pilot house and
began search for the captain.
Here he is" was heard from the lowest
deck, and all made for the spot from which
tho voice came Capt. Sterck had been
found in the stokehole. A knockabout had
taken tho place OF tbs Yachting cap and
the gilded buttons were hidden under
very common yellow overcoat He
looked scared, but managed to explain that
he had only been examining tho leaking
steampirS. He was dragged out OF tho stoke
h. q, while some OF the crowd yelled: over
board with him.
The captain was led up tho stairs to the pilot
house, where he was left with an admontion
not to move II he valued his life. The passen-
ge's then turned on the gamblers.
number OF their tables were thrown over
board, together with many decks Of cards I'M
p-oviSed tables. OF which there was ono in
nearly every corner OF the boat were reduced
TO kindling wood. Tho roulette wheel aud
most Of the other paraphernalla had been hid
den before the passengers began the attack
and they could not DO found The Union Jack
which noated above the pilot house. was
lowered to half mast and the American nag
In the stern was reversed. This had hardly
been accompished when Henry B. Post. said
To he another one OF the GeorEeanna's many
captains. advanced at the head OF a dozen
men and began to pull down the reversed flag
IN" passengers rallied to the defence OF the
nag and hot fight began. during which Peter
Purdue OF SO Raymond street. Brooklyn. .
passenger. was beaten over the head with a
chair and badly hurt. A man who aiterward
'ad he was Charles Berry and who was said
70 be the real representative OF the unknown
lGNATs who had oh rtarad thu hoat triad n IA