Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-05
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
STORY OF HARDSHIP TOLD BY
OYSTER DREDGER.
Says Life for Three Months Was Near
ly as Bad as Slavery-Gen-
eral News.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, January 5. 1905
Another story of the hardship and suffer
ing endured by men emplyed on oyster
. boats in the Chesapeake bay this winter
was told last night by an able-bodied, In
telligent looking man who called at the
police station for a nights lodging. He
said he had not been "shanghaied," but
declared that the life he had been COM
PEELED to lead during his service of three
months on the bay was nothing better than
slavery, and even at that 1t was his opin-
ion that he had received better treatment
than most of the men employed on the
Chesapeake oyster boats He gave his
name as George Smith and said his
home was in Chicago. According to his
story he shipped early last October from
New York and was engaged on dredger.
He understood that he was to receive
salary of sl4 per month and board but
when the crew was disbanded a few days
ago the amount given him, after certain al
legged personal expenses were deducted, was
1925 Smith stated that the hands on the boat
were In practical captivity from the time
they entered the service until they were
dismissed. He said the letters the men
wrote to their friends passed through the
hands of the captain, who informed them
in the beginning that he would read what
they had written and that they might as
well govern themselves accordingly. Smith
SAID the Gay WOrR began between s ana 4
CLOCK in the morning and lasted until 3 at
night, and the men were compelled to be
at their posts IN all kinds of weather. He
said he had not the slightest idea of the
conditions prevailing on the oyster boats
when he entered the employment, and It
was his opinion that no sane man, with
a knowledge of the hardships and rough
treatment of the service, would voluntarily
become a member of an oyster dredging
crew
Funeral of Daniel Ruben
Funeral services over the remains of
Daniel Ruben. whose death occurred We'd
nesday night as the result of an accident
in which he fell through the elevator shaft
and fractured his skull at his place of
business on King street, were held this
afternoon at his late residence, 916 Cam
eron street. Rabbi Stern of Washington
conducted the services, which were attend
ed by many friends and relatives of the
deceased. Delegations of Masons and Elks,
TO which fraternities Mr.. Ruben belonged
followed the remains to the Hebrew ceme-
terry, where the interment took place with
the honors of those organizations and with
the rites of the Hebrew Church. The pail
bearers were Messrs. E. Goldsmith, Sam
uel Bendheim, August Oehlert, George T.
Cation, Courtney Acton. G. Gentzberger and
Alexander Kaufman of this city and Mr..
Field of Washington.
Columbia Company Officers.
Tie Columbia Fire Engine Company has
elected the following officers for the ensu-
ing year: Col. William A. Smoot, pres-
dent: George Uhler, first vice president;
William X. Griffith. second vice president;
n. c. Treakle, secretary; {. r. Herbert
assistant secretary; Edward Hughes, treas
urer; J. F. Pettey, foreman: John Travers,
commander; Edward Fornshill first as
sistant commander; r. l.. Merchant second
assistant commander, ]. l.. Duffy and Rob-
q III l.
II. Murphy, H. Sutton. c. Philips H. Luns-
ford pipemen; P. Hall, U. Roberts, F.
Mansfield, G. Crump, E. Craven, E. Rog-
ers and T. Crump, hosemen; William era
van n. c. Treakle, E. Rogers and f. l..
Entwisle, iremen of engine; Charles Duffy,
George Uhler and E. s. Leadbeater. men,
bers of executive committee.
General Matters.
The following officers have been elected
for the ensuing year by the Friendship Vet
eran FTre Association of this city: r. Z.
DOwnham, president; F. ]. Paff, vice presi-
dent; W. T. Emerson, treasurer; Julian Y.
Williams. secretary; A. D. Brockett, James
+. Webster and John H. Trimyer, trustees:
z. f. German and Fred Didszoneit and ].
L. Webster. committee on the engine; B.
Wheatley, P. NJ. Bradshaw and W. w. Bal
lenger, committee on applications.
The funeral of Mrs. Sarah Peverill whose
death occurred Wednesday took place this
morning at IL O'Clock from her late home,
In Alexandria county, and was attended by
many friends and relatives from this city
Rev. ]. A. LETTERS Of Trinity NJ. e. Church
conducted the services, and the interment
was made in Union cemetery.
The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year at the annual meeting of the
stockholders of the George ". Knox Ex-
press Company, held in this city yesterday:
W. s. Knox, president; G.. v. Knox vice
president; J. o. Knox treasurer: J. Git
tngS, secretary; ]. J. Darlington, attorney
In the police court this morning the case
OF Ferdinand f. Derndinger, who was
brought here recently from West Virginia
10 answer the charge of bigamy was con-
tinued until tomorrow