New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-16
FISTS FLY IN FLAG
SALUTE To LIBERTY
Brazilian Banner Waved at
Statue Causes Row
Aboard Liner.
VISITOR FELLED BY
ENRAGED YANKEE
Free-for-All Fight Is Narrowly
Avoided After Striking of
South American.

OOhAii
Wordy warfare which ended in a
Knockout on the promenade deck Of the
I.amport & Holt liner Verdi occurred
yesterday under the shadow Of the
Statue OF Liberty as the vessel was
steaming into port from Buenos Ayres.
Prompt action on the part Of the
Verdps officers prevented a general
clash between Brazilians and Amerl-
cans, and when the vessel warped into
Pier 10 Brooklyn, everything was &C.
rene.
William W. Yager, real estate man Of
san Francisco, and Senior Jose II.
Ferraz, a coffee merchant Of Rio de
Janeiro. were the two men who clasned.
The cause Of the trouble was an inno-
cent Brazilian flag that futtered from
the end Of an umbrella in the hands Of
Ferraz.
The Brazilian merchant pinned the
flag on his umbrella that he might
wave It as the ship warped into dock
and attract the attention of his three
sons, who he expected would meet him
on the pier.
Several passengers. including some Of
his own countrymen, we're jesting with
him about the flag as the Verdi came
abeam the Statue Of Liberty. There
was much babble going on at the time,
and Ferraz, according 10 Wager, got
too close TO him with the Brazilian
flag. The noise and confusion annoyed
Yager, who was undergoing a mental
worship Of the statue. and he remarked
quietly TO Ferraz: Hey, youl We've
had about enough Of that stuff about
Brazil-and stop waving that flag.
You're In the United States now"
Ferraz said something in Portuguese
which Yager did not understand. and,
according to Yager, waved the flag
several times unpleasantly close TO his
face.
Yagers right arm came up like
flash and a right hook sent Senior
Ferraz sprawllng on deck, cutting a
crescent shaped cash across his fore
head about the size of half dollar.
A free-for-all fight was imminent,
but the ships officers soon separated
the growing factions. and the affair
became q mere flash IN the pan.
When the passengers came ashore
Ferraz was surrounded by HIS three
sons, Paulo, Olavo and Jose, jr., and
they asked about the abrasion on his
forehead When they heard that their
father had been knocked down for
waving a Brazilian flag they became
enraged and besought Deputy Survey
or O'Connor TO have Yager arrested.
Having no authority TO make an arrest
or cause one to be made, O'Connor in
formed the four Rraz:lians that it was
a matter for the police, not the Gus
toms officials.
Paulo Ferraz, the oldest son, said
the attack upon his father was an out
rage and that men were shot in Brazil
for such things.
Yager, who made no effort to get
away from the four men, said, after
his baggage had been examined, that
he was sorry he had punched the Bra
lillian, explaining that his temper had
gotten the better Of rim when annoyed
by the fag-waving. He said he was
willing to apologize to the man he had
struck il the latter was willing TO ac-
cept it.
Yager had been 10 Buenos Ayres 20
buy land and erect houses for specu-
lative purposes. but decided that the
field was better in San Francisco. He
will go TO the Coast to-day.