New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-22
NEARLY A RIOT ON A BOAT.
DRUNKEN NEGROES CAUSE A LIVELY
DISTURBANCE ON THE CITY
OF LOWELL

Magistrate Mott was much disgusted yester-
day morning at the close of a long morning
watch" in the Jefferson Market police court
when, as he was about to give the welcome or
der to the court officers 'close the DOORS" he
saw thirty-two negroes brought before him
prisoners.
Colonization, I suppose" shifted the aged
Magistrate
John B. Boardman, boatswain of the Sound
steamboat City of Lowell, which plies between
here and New-London. Conn. the COM
plainant against the men. He said that they
were taken by the steamboat company to New
London last Friday to take the places of a num-
Der Of dockmen who are on strike there. James
Vaughan. thrty-four years old, Of No. 172
Johnson-st., Brooklyn. the reputed leader of the
imported Iaborers, on learning of the strike
fused to permit his companions to fill the places
of the strikers. and. after large potations OF
waterfront whiskey, the thirty-two boarded the
City of Lowell In New-LondOn at 12:3O o'clock
yesterday morning to return to New-York- They
were placed on the forward main deck, but,
according to Boardman, they were all drunk
and had smuggled board many TASKS Of
whiskey, which they consumed in the early
morning hours and then went In search Of more.
They tried to break into the barroom of the
boat, but were met by Captain Meisters and his
thirsty ones at bay and drove them to the main
deck. The negroes. not content with shooting
craps began firing revolvers, of which accord
ing to BOardman, they possessed a number The
few passengers on board, alarmed by the pande-
monium below, left their berths and huddled in
the main saloon for safety, guarded by the cap
tain and his officers.
About 8 o'clock in the morning bullet fired
at random by one OF the negroes ploughed
through the woodwork of bunk in the fore
castle occupied by Henry Casey. a deckhand.
and entered the feshy part of his right arm. in
ficting a slight but painful wound
The negroes had the lower deck to themselves
until the boats arrival at Pier No. &C. North
River. between Spring and Charlton SITS, at
o'clock yesterday morning.
Policeman Albert l.. Meyer of the Steamboat
Squad, who was called. summoned patrol wag
ons from the MacdOugal-st station. and three
wagonloads of the prisoners were taken to the
station, where their names and pedisrees were
entered on the bIotter. The charge against
them was disorderly conduct. Only a few
weapons were found in their possession.
Caseys wound dressed in the station and
the bullet extracted. He was able TO ap
pear in court Casey was unable to identify
any one in the crowd as the man who shot him.
Boardman was asked If he could identity any
Of the leaders in the trouble. He passed up and
down the line and picked out Vaughan and An
drew Frisbie, twenty-seven years old, of No. 10
LafaSette-st. Brooklyn, as those foremost in
the disturbance.
Vaughan denied that he took any part in it.
He said that it against his principles to
take the bread out of another mans mouth.
and that was the reason he would not allow his
men to fill the strikers places.
Why. he's got my coat on now" said Casey.
Vaughan said he paid 81 cents for the coat on
the boat. He declared that he had bought it
from little brown man" who he thought was
a waiter
''I never carried gun in my life" Vaughan
| asseverated. Amt that so. Bill?''
A short, powerfully built negro came forward
and Magistrate Mott asked the man If he had
seen any revoIvers carried by his companions.
YES" said "BtlL' Il seen this man (pointing
to Vaughan) with one"
Things began to look bad for Vaughan who.
on the Magistrates order, surrendered the coat
he wearing TO Casey.
Frisbie frankly acknowledged that he had car
red a revolver, and identified one as his prop
erty. He said he carried it for protection. but
denied firing it on the boat. A charge of carry
ing concealed weapons made against him.
and he was fined SO Casey not desiring to
make any charge against Vaughan. the latter
was discharged All the rest were permitted
to go.