The Washington times., 1901-11-14
TALE OF SAVAGE CRUELTY
The Experience of Edward Herzog
on an Oyster Dredge.
starved. beaten. Hung Up to the
Yard Arm. and Forced to Sit Down
on n Hot StOve-Marooned on q
River characterization Serious.

River characterization serious,
Edward Herzog, who was brought to
the city yesterday morning on the steam
er Harry Randall in pitiable condition,
sufficiently responded to the treatment re-
ceived at the Emergency Hospital during
the day TO be able to relate a story of
the most revolving cruelty which he al
leges was inflicted upon HIM by the cap
tain and officers of an oyster dredge on
which he had secured work He was not
only starved. overworked. beaten and tied
up TO the yard arm, but as climax to
the fiendish treatment he was set upon a
red-hot stove and held there, as it seemed
to him, for several minutes.
The physicians at the hospital consider
his case most serious, and believe that if
his life is saved. it is probable that ne
will be a mental and physical wreck
Captain Boardman interested himself in
the matter. and after receiving a report
from Detective Tyser, whom he detailed
to investigate the case, called up the Ball
timore authorities and reported the find
ings of his officer to them. They assured
him that they would bring the matter to
the attention of the United States Com
missioner at that port, and that every
effort would be made to bring the guilty
parties TO Justice.
Helzog Is twenty-three years of age.
and lived with his sister and Invalid
mother, of whom he was the sole support,
in Baltimore. He at first gave their ad-
dress as 723 Calvert Street, but as he be-
came more rational. he told Detective
Tyser that the address should be l123 Ar
lington Avenue. Fer some years he was
employed at the works of the New York
Bakery. ON Walcote Avenue, but several
months ago lost his position. Beip. una
BILE to secure other employment he, about
month ago. shipped the oyster
schooner Sunny South, sailing from Light
Street wharf. The crew consisted of eight
men, and their destination was Sandy
Point, on the Potomac River.
Captain Sam was the only name ~
which he knew its commander. There
were two mates. One of them was called
Berry and the other was known only as
Mate" From the start he declares he
was treated In the harshest manner. beat
en- and kicked about the boat and required
to work almost continuously.
The food given him was OF the poorest
kind. and the allowance was continuously
decreased until from sheer exhaustion he
was unable to work longer. Last Satur-
day, he says. when it was impossible for
his prosecutor to get any further work
out Of him, the captain and his two mates
Set him on a red-hot stove and held him
there for several minutes.
The following morning he was put
ashore on Virginia Island. without food.
money, or clothing. and told that he
would have to live the besl he could. Viz
ginia Island is unknown to the rivermen,
and from where nerzog was found IL Is
believed that he was put ashore near
Edgewater. Va, about ninety miles be-
low Washington. Herzog has no knowl-
edge as to what occurred after he was
put ashore.
He appears to have wandered through
the woods until he was found by coun-
tryman. who, seeing his frfghtful condi-
ton, took him to Edgewater on the
lower Nachodoc Creek, and sent him 10
this city IN the steamer Harry Randall.
He was given suitable food on the steam
er, en- route to this city, but Was unable
10 eat.
about o'clock yesterday morning. he
was hurried 10 the hospital in the police
ambulance. There even the physicians
We're shocked at his frightful appearance.
His face was badly bruised, and his eyes
swollen and hnlging from their sockets.
having been badly biackened. His body
was blistered and burned in places. In
addition to his other troubles. the physi-
clans discovered that he had well-defin-
ing type. He was poorly and thinly clad,
having no underwear. and the exposure
had proved too much for him.
While the physicians are doing every
thing for him that they can. they fear
that he has slight chances of recovery.