New-York tribune., 1906-07-16
FIGHTS ENLIVEN OUTING
MANY THROWN IN RIVER.
"JoIgy Bachelors Run Riot on
Steamer and Barges.

Fights with fists and bottles, shooting and
many escapes from drowning were the chief
features OF an outing TO Orchard Grove. on Long
Island Sound, given yesterday by an organiza-
tion known as the "Jolly Bachelors" The fight
ing started as the steamboat and two barges
which carried the party left the pier az s1st
street and the East River. and continued until
the last passenger was set ashore on the return.
riot at the 91st street pier, which required
twenty policemen TO quell, marked the party's
return.
The excursion started about 10 o'clock yes
terday morning on the steamboat Sea Gull. Of
the Starin Line, and two barges. which had been
chartered for the occasion. The captain of the
steamboat is Charles Pearsall. The start was
made from S1st street and the East River, where
about half Of the excursionists were embarked.
From there the steamboat went to 9Ist street
and picked up the remainder OF the party
detail OF police were on hand TO that
there was trouble at 91st street at least until
the steamboat and barges cleared the dock, and
the embarking of the crowd was accomplished
without any serious outbreak. AS the Sea Gull
swung out into the river, however, the ringlead-
ers in party Of roughs pushed and showed
other men and right and left This
quickly became too tame, however, and then the
toughs began to throw other excursionists over
board.
According to Captain Pearsan no less than
twenty men and boys were treated to involun-
tary baths in the East River, being hurled from
the decks of the steamboat and the two barges
The Sea Gull was stopped each time man
went overheard and rowboat was sent to his
assistance Luckily no one was drowned Cap
tain PearsalI kept the Sea Gull's whistle sound
ing the police signal almost continuously, but
the police patrol boat crew evidently failed to
hear the call for help as 1t did not appear.
11oI aa4~
destination and the excursionists got off. Dur
ing the day fights at the grove were frequent,
and it was said that one man was stabbed, prob
ably fatally The start back 70 New York was
made late in the afternoon, and the return trip
was one continual rough house"
Heads were broken by beer bottles and there
were innumerable bloody noses and blackened
eyes Of Riker's Island, during quarrel over
a girl some one drew a revolver on the barge
Warren and began shooting. One Of the bullets
it is believed, struck a young girl who was
seen to fall to the deck. She was picked up by
two men and hidden in a corner Of the barge.
where she was surrounded by crowd that kept
back the captain and and refused to allow
them to see her. The men surrounding the girl
declared that she had only tainted.
AS the Sea Gull approached the pier at S1st
street Captain Pearsall sounded the call for the
police with his whistle, and Roundsman Gargan
and twenty reserves from the East SSth street
station hurried to the pier. About hundred
yards offshore Captain PearsaI stopped the
Sea Gull and, leaning far over the bridge Of
the boat, shouted to the police on the pier:
There has been murder aboard! Don't let
any one go ashore until you have made sure 1t
isn't the murderer
The policemen surrounded the gangway as II
was showed ashore, and also guarded other pos
sble exits from the boat and barges. Then the
excursionists were allowed to disembark slowly
the police looking them over they passed
Thomas Casta. nineteen years old, OF No 32I
East 10th street, who had revolver in the
breast pocket of his coat was placed under ar
rest Two Of the chambers Of the revolver ap-
parenty had been discharged
Two men carrying girl came down the gang
plank and were stopped by ROundsman Gar
gan, who wanted to know what was the matter
with the girl. There were bloodstains on one
Of her sleeves.
''She was cut by a broken beer bottle" re-
piled one Of the men,
For some reason Gargan was satisfied with
this answer and allowed the men to carry the
girl ashore. They quickly disappeared with her.
Later the police. so it is said learned that she
was the girl that had been shot. search Of
the steamboat and barges failed to reveal any
other injured persons.
After all those who had embarked at SlSt
street had gone ashore Captain Pearsall re-
ouested the police to clear the Sea Gull and the
barges He admitted that he had taken them
aboard at 31st street, but said that he would
carry them further
Il don't want murder done on my boat" he
exclaimed
The police drove everybody ashore. The excur-
sionists insisted that the Starin Line had con-
tracted to take them back to 31st street, and de-
clared that if this was not done they would
smash everything about the steamboat and
barges. Scores were looking for bricks, stones.
beer bottles and other missiles and things looked
squally, when Captain Pearsau. on the advice of
the police, agreed to carry to 31st street those
who wanted to go there. Several hundred men
and women clambered aboard. and the Sea Gull
headed down the river.
She had proceeded less than block when an
excited individual rushed up to Roundsman Gar
gan and said that five men were prisoners in the
hold OF one of the barges. where they had been
thrown by gang Of toughs. Gargan managed
to hail Captain PearsaII. and the Sea Gull was
brought back to the pier.
A dozen policemen rushed aboard and searched
the holds Of both the barges and also Of the
steamboat. but found no men. When the search
was completed the Sea Gull was allowed to pro-
ceed toward the 31st street pier The prisoner.
Casta was locked up in the East ssth street sta
ton on a charge of carrying concealed weapons.
He denied shooting any one.
Captain Reedy Of the Department of Correc-
tion's steamboat Mohican which plies between
Riker's Island and East 13Sth street. heard the
shots fred and young woman fall. Speak
ing of the trouble last night. he said:
had just started with the Mohican for the
Manhattan side of the river and close to
the Sea Gull when 1 heard several shots fired
and young woman dressed in white fall to
the deck I could not tell whether she had beau