Evening journal., 1903-05-26
Was Taking Deserters to
League Island When
Sailors Set Upon Him
With Clubs and Stones
Wilmington Constable Is
Compelled to Flee and
Take Refuge in Office
of the COmmandant

Constable Lucius c. Jones, Of this city,
and Philadelphia detective had narrow
escapes from death at the hands Of "A mob
of about three hundred apprentice boys
connected with the League Island Navy
Yard yesterday afternoon. The officers
arrived at the naval station with two de-
serters and upon leaving the yard were set
upon by the infuriated jackies.
Bricks, clubs and rocks were used as
weapons by the sailors upon the detectives
and although the latter drew their re-
volvers, it did not intimidate the jaclSies
in The least. Regardless OF the revolvers
" they rushed at the detectives and rained
blow after blow upon their heads and
& bodies until they were almost unconscious.
Seriously Injured.
Both the detective and constable were
seriously cut and bruised, but their in
+ juries might have been more serious had 1t
not been for the interference of a sergeant
of marines and a detail of men. The Win
dows in several Of the buildings, including
the cOmmardant's office, where the de-
ztectives took refuge from the enraged mob,
swere broken.
According to one of the officers at the
yard the blue jackets have grievance
against the men who make It their busi-
mess to locate and bring back deserters
from the navy. and it was this that caused
the sailors to attack the men when they
returned to the yard with two young tars
who had overstayed their leave by several
weeks.
Jones Roughly Used.
The molt seriously wounded Of the two
vas Jones. The Philade.phia detective ar
rived at the navy yard shortly before
: Tones and was the first to be assaulted
4 nhree hundred iacl1es awaited his return
lining up on Broad street, a few feet away
rom the dock. As he stepped from the
sangplank of the receiving ship Mlnneapo-
Is he was struck upon the head with a
'ock.
This was a signal for a general attaclS,
md the mob made a rush for him. He
ook refuge in small shanty and the
acldes followed and, after pounding him
With clubs an dtheir frsts, were about TO
hrow him overheard when Sergeant of
he Marines Sherman, with several men,
rrived. The detective had drawn mis- re-
oliver and this enraged the sailors so that
was with much difficulty that they
we're persuaded from carrying out their
iesire in throwing him overheard.
This disturbance had hardly blown over
when Jones arrived with his man. 1t was
ecided ito deal with him in the same man
er. Jones ran into the equipment building
ollowed by the mob He took refuge in the
lgging loft, where he was attacked and
eaten until he fell exhausted. Captain
Reynolds and a detail of marines arrived
nd rescued the man, who was taken to
he hospital in the yard.
Over One Hundred Arrested.
one hundred and six jackies were ar
ested and a negro, who struck Jones
luarely upon the head with a heavy club
as also put in the brig. The wounded
fficer identified eleven of his assailants.
n the prisoners were placed on board the
uritan where they will be closely guarded
ntil tried 1t is likely that the local con-
table will be summoned next week no ap-
ear against the rioters.
The deserter whom Jones took back to
le navy from this city was arrested by
pecial Officer Hoover, of the Baltimore
nd Ohio Railroad Company and arraigned
sfore Magistrate George IL. Hollis on Sat.
rday night. The prisoner confessed that
e was "a deserter and said he preferred
Ding TO the navy yard rather than to the
orlShouse. He was accordingly taken rC
Philadelphia yesterday at noon.
When seen by a reporter of the Evening
1urnal this morning Jones told the story
the assault, and taking off his hat
lowed a bad wound upon the centre OF
head. His hat was broken and showed
he effects of having been roughly used.