The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-20
Clash Expected To-Day
Between Oyster Tong
ers and Planters.
LATTER DEMAND
TO BE PROTECTED
Notify Governor That They Will
Hold State Responsible for
Damage-Planters Work
Leased Grounds, From
Which Tongers Threaten
to Expel Them.

L
to Expel Them.
While no formal request has como
to Governor Mann for the services Of
the State, militia TO preserve order In
the James River oyster grounds, such
contingency may occur at any mos
ment,
1t Is the desire of the Governor to
preserve peace and to prevent the
shedding of blood as long as possible.
but there is little doubt that both he
and State Eth Commissioner w. Nc
Donald Leg will see that no reign OF
anarchy will be permitted In the
oyster bottoms.
The situation has now reached an
acute stage through the refusal OF the
oyster planters to be parties to tho
truce which was declared last week
between Commissioner Lee and the
tongers. by the terms OF which they
were to take no more oysters from
disputed territory pending a resurvey
OF the natural rocks In the river. They
take the position that they have their
rights on the leased grounds, and
their boats were worked yesterday.
Trouble Likely To-Day.
Renorts from Battery Park last
night We're to the effect that there is
pretty sure to he trouble on the river
to-day. The tongers protest that the
| agreement has been violated In that
the planters are taking oysters from
the ground which they claim is part
of the natural rock.
A.ding to the evidence that the
siSuatlon Is most serious, a communi-
cation has been addressed to Cover
nor Mann and Commissioner Lee by
some Of the largest planters in the
IiYer, notifying these officials that
they viii hold the State responsible for
any damage done TO their property.
,unose 70 subscribing to this official nos
aee are Armstrong Brothers. tha
James River Oyster Corporation. w
=. = folk. 7. Bonewell. C. III.
Bonewell. John G. Wilson and Al ~
Iull. They warn the Governor and
me commissioner that all sorts OF
tareats have been made, and that loss
o. o. liz Ire as well as damage to property
- likely 10 follow unless the situation
Is properly and promptly dealt with.
hat such condition will be toll.
erated by the executive no one he.
lieves.
Expected Lee To-aIorrow.
ne Governor said last night that
ne would avoid anything that would
tend to bloodshed as long as poasib1e II
was his understanding Of the sftuation
.nas g commissioner Lee would be In
ilcnmond Tomorrow to consult WITH
MN and with the Acknowledgement
regarding the situation, However,. tba
actlon of the planters In CONTINUING
70 exercise what they regard as their
face on the matter. and may nrecinis
tate immediate action.
lhls is the day set by Commissioner
Lee at the compromise last week for
peslnnlng resurvey of the Jama,s
a,.veI 80 natural rocks for the purpose
~ ~! ascertalning whether or not nor.
ans isasss q the public ground have been
py the tongers. State snrvsyo.
'g, nuuiger, who was to begin the res
1 survey. arrived in Hampton last nie,h+
20 await the arrival of Comm1ssInn ~,
lee, me latter was last night nro,
CCssuins 70 Hampton on the police hoat
~ tomlnoaore Maury. and was expected
70 70 arrive some time during tha ninh.
lt was the intention to start the NIa,,,.,. asm..
eallS this morning for the owstay
grounds. She carries a gun. n,hict 80
be used to-day "i41n may
Direct Conflict.
al was said late last night to 4
hu.et ~. at Rescue and at Battery Pars
~ ene ne, tongers We're as determined as
sser eHat t ne planters should take NO
~, ,,o'e =. oysters from the natural rocks.
cH the other hand the planters Ella IN
mat they hold their contract ! fron, IN
state and declared they would oppose
any EFFORT TO change their lines.
tAdJutant-General w. w. Sale, who Ia
restinS at The home OF his parents IN
il,,ecKDrldge county, is in touch with
me SITUATION. and knows that his de-
partment may he brought into plav
at any time. His chief clerk, joseph
is, 1t Is understood ready
to act at any moment
| na afpr 10 Z
surned that In the event Of calling
out the militia. those Commands
nearest to the scene would be the FIRST
z" SO into service, such may not be the
case IN this instance. 1t Is within the
province OF the Governor to select any
commands. and II for any reason fs.
might think 1t best not to order out
the Norfolk and Newport News COM
4 panles, he would perhaps come "a
Richmond for this purpose. In fact,
the Richmond Light infantry Blues'
battalion has already been mentioned
In this connection.
i TonEers Excited.
4 With the tcngerss wrought u,, TO the
4 highest pitch OF excitement. swearing &
that they Will pull up every stake In
the river unless the planters are driven,
from the natural rock, and with the
planters calling attention to their con-
tracts with the State and demanding
the protection or the law for their
property, tho situatlonis most serious,
When to this is added the action OF
the planters In continuing to work
|their leased grounds. In spite OF the
agreement made by Commissioner Leo.
1t would be surprising Indeed II there
is no trouble to-day Commissioner
Lee viii have use for all his powers
OF diplomacy. s
Az the conference held last weak.
tho tongers placed some OF shelf
women and children In their boats. he.
4 lieying that the Maury's guns would