The Washington times., 1901-12-08
NEW OYSTER DREDGE VICTIMS.
Three Negroes in PitiabIe Condi-
tion Arrive i'm This city.

The abuse and brutality to which the
waters OF the lower Potomac are subject
ed continues TO. be kept prominently
before the public by the frequent arrival
Of new victims
Yesterday three colored men arrived in
the city on the steamer patomac. They
were Henry Knight, William Green and
James rd=ards. Tho mon claim 20 have
been worked necessarily for two months
with but scant food and clothing. Al
though they had been promised SIS a
month. they were each given pair Of
shoes and 4 second class ticket to Wash
inzton.
They were orly put ashore when from
exhaustion and exposure they were no
longer fit for work. knight ard Green
were also suffering with frost-bitten feet.
They were temporarily provided for by
the Board Of Charities until further pro-
vision can be made for them.
Knight Is nineteen years old and lives
al ie3 Main Street. Richmond. Va. When
he shipped from Baltimore October ne
was told that he was to receive SIS
month
Capt. Jim Summers commanded the sail
boat which took him to the mouth of the
Potomac River. where. on October. 4. he
commenced work On the dredge James 4.
Hooper. Capt. Tom FrGnck. He aud the
others were required to work eighteen
CT twenty hours day. were poorly fed
and badly treated he claims.
Finally his feet were srCst bitten. and
exhaustion rendered further work mpos-
SiDln th--ra
Thursday morning in the vicinity Of the
St Marys River. They had each received
Fair of shoes worth Sl.50. an old oilskin
suit. valued at s. and were furnished with
d ticket TO this city.
The men wanted to go to either Rich
mond or Baltimore. but the captain, they
say. told them they could go to Washing
ton or nowhere. They did not receive any
compensation for Their two months work
they say.
Major Sylvester yesterday forwarded to
Governor Tyler. of Virginia, such addf-
tional information as has recently been
accumulated by the department concern
Ing the brutal treatment of Edward Her
zog by the captain ard mate of the oyster
dredGe on which he was employed. The
names and ADDRESSES OF several witnesses
Lave been furnished, and everything pos
sible has been dcne TO assist the Virginia
authorities in suppressing a savage prac-
tice. that has become only too common
in recent years
The determination OF the Virginia au-
thoriues TO bring The guilty parties to
justice and to institute i general crusade
against these men is maGe evident b. the
fitting cut Of patrol boat, which will be
sent after the culprits.
Following the discovery of the serious
condition Of Hsrzog, report has it that
the ctfer oystermen liz the yicinIr CT
Machcdoc Creek. where the assau oc-
Cured, were aroused to action ana ar
ranged TO mete out summary vengeance
on the offenders. The guilty parties be-
came alarmed at the feeling which was
evident on every side. and, in the middle
OF the night. raised anchor and departed
They have not been seen since.
The fact hos been recalled by many Of
the men that have business in the vicinity
Of the lower Machodoc. that during the
past year several drowned bodies have
heen found in the vicinity. In each in
stance they have borne evidences OF hay-
ing net with violence.
Eerzns Sc s-.Hir . -.-es .-s-se.. --,a.'s IIUspr-
tai, and is believed 10 be slightly i'm
proved. although he is by no means out Of
danger.