New-York tribune., 1901-08-18
RIOT on EXCURSION BOAT.
PATERSON PLEASURE SEEKERS IN A
FREE FIGHT
SEVEN MEN FINED WHEN THE GEN
ERAL sLoCUM REACHES ROCKAwAY
SEVERAL PEOPLE HURT.

Made ambitious by the exploits Of neighboring
red shirted anarchists seven young fire eaters
Of Paterson. Y. J., determined yesterday TO carry
The terror Of the name Of their city TO the high
seas The plan proved a howling success and
resulted in d riot on board the excursion steamer
General Slocum. in which twenty-three women
tainted. thirty-four men hunted for life pre-
servers and TWO dozen nursing bottles were
broken. Another result of this Captain Kidd
undertaking was that the seven were finally
landed in the Rockaway police court
Il is said that the young rioters expressed
nothing hui surprise at being arrested. and at
tempted 70 vindicate themselves by simply say
ing they were from Paterson. and had right to
do anything they pleased. In an effort 10 back
Up this assertion they said that their city, al
though known on the map as Paterson. was
virtually no other place than hell itself. AS
proof Of this, the fact was mentioned that a let
Ter directed 70 Hell, y. j." was sent TO Pater-
son Friday.
THEY PRIME Up FOR TROUBLE.
These seven free thinking fire eating young
men took passage yesterday morning on board
the steamer General Slocum. which was 70
carry large crowd OF Paterson silk weavers
10 the happy bathing grounds Of Rockaway. In
order 10 carry out their liberal minded pro-
gramrle without any slip the seven drank a
large amount Of Paterson whiskey before the
boat sailed. To stin further for,ify themselves
against failure. they took aboard several more
quarts of spirits in bottles for use on the voyage
The General Slocum eft the Erie Railroad
pier n Jersey City At $50 q m. At the Battery
the ship took on crowd OF peaceful New
Workers in addition 10 the weavers. The captain
Of the ship was ". H. Van Schaick. and his first
mate was William Somerville. The boat reached
the Narrows by 10 a. n.
few minutes later the man ar the helm
was startled BY a strange cry and the sight OF
seven uen, each with a bottle raised te his
mouth.
This must be launching" said the man az
the wheel 10 himself. softly. Each one Of those
fools pears 70 be trying 10 launch himself"
The seven men with the bottles then leaped
upstairs 20 the top deck. and marched aft They
struck al who were in their way. and replied
10 any who tried 10 retaliate that they owned
the ship. and were going 10 run il out TO sea.
The first show OF fight came when the gang ap-
preached First Mate SomerviIle.
Get out ot here, you Dutchman." said one
striking al him.
The first mate turned on his assailants and
attempted 10 wrest their bottles from them He
received heavy blow on the back Of the neck
THE BABIES HowLED
The blow drew blood. the sight Of which threw
haf dozen women into faint. and started
howl from q nursery Of babies on the quarter
deck
I'm killed." shrieked curly headed man
snidships. and then he began hunting for
life preserver.
Aroused by the hubbub, Captain Van Schaik
rushe5 on Geek His full rugged uniform mo-
Ientarily cowed the seven rioters In this IuI
the captain n1arshaIed his crew. Then he tried
70 arrest the men. The fight that ensued caused
several more omen 10 faint, and drove the
curly headed man down the hatchway.
In the fight camp chairs. tables and beer
glasses were hurled. Several OF the passengers
were severely hurt by the hytng missiles.
Three of the ringleaders were finally locked
Up in the cabin. In Jamaica Bay police launch
No came alongside and took the prisoners OF
The police boat hurried its pier and called out
the Rockaway reserves who arrested four more
ot the rioters, on the arrival of the General
Socum. The seven were taken 10 the police
court They gave their names as follows: Alfred
Brooks Edward Jackson, Harry Hang. Richard
Kusick Edward Goodhorn. Edward Courier
and Edward Rose. All are said 10 be employed
II a factory in Paterson
After their pedigrees had been taken the pris-
oners were arraigned before Magistrate Healy
on e charge OF disorderly conduct. The more
serious charge Of rioting was not brought The
magistrate imposed q fine Of s. on each Of the
prisoners. on payment Of their fines all were
discharged
There was no disturbance on the return trip.
Captain Van Schaick. OF landing a the Battery.
dscreGited the story Of fight, and said that IL
only Z case OF q little too much red shirt
gin"