The New York herald., 1874-08-28
CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND.

History Of the Settlement-The Antique
Breed Of Ponies and its Origin-ssPen-
ming Day''-Railroad and Steamship
Connections-The Advance of Civiliza-
ton.
CHINCOTEAGUE, Accomac county, VAIL
August 25, 1874
The other day there was an informal conference
of few railroad men here-Amos Y smith, John
Hickman and Jacob Moore, Of Delaware, and w. I.
Fitchell, OF Easlville Va. The. road from George
town. Del. to Berlin, Nd, Will be completed by the
1st of September. Thence it Is proposed to finish
1t to Cherrystone, passing through Snow Hill and
Horntown. HorntOwn Is the post office directly
communicating by water with Chincoteague. ana
the completion OF the railroad to that point will
give it daily mail facilities The object OF the con.
terence was TO quicken measures for filing up the
gap from the line Of Accomac county, Virginia, to
Snow Hill, Nd, which cannot be done under the
charter granting the Frankfort Railroad, but 1t
can be under the charter Of the New YORK and
Norfolk Railroad. On the 18th OF September next
A GENERAL ELECTION
will held in the counties of Accomac and North.
ampton 10 vote on the proposition OF donation
OF $50, 900 from AccOmac and $4,000 from North
ampton Tor purchase OF right OF way. 1t is quite
apparent that the vote VIII be Overwhelmingly in
favor Of the donation. The completion Of the road
will give a great stimulus to local trade and
frelghtage to the larger markets further north
1t Will also MAKE this terra incog,itd, almost,
cesslbe to travellers, and every way more
valuable.
CONNECTIONS WITH CIVILIZATION.
It may also be stated as fact that the Old Do
mnon Steamship Company Will place steamer
this fall on the Chincoteague Bay to gather oys-
tiers and impart new impulse TO this branch OF
commerce. The Old Dominion Company have com.
pleted the purchase OF the railroad from Harrlng-
ton to Lewes, Del, known as the Junction and
Breakwater Railroad, and they propose to put on
a new line Of steamers from Lewes TO New YORK.
1t Is very easy to see the advantages to the New
York market in this arrangement, and much en-
largement TO the fish and oyster commerce Of this
section
A BIG BEAcHING PARTY.
MIR. English, proprietor OF the Atlantic Hotel,
will entertain on the 9th OF this month beach
party of 500 people from Baltimore. lower Maryland
ana all around. Their tents and pavilion will be
erected on Wallop'S Island. or the beach half
mile from here. wallop's Island is without hu
man habitarion and without an interesting Item of
history.
THE ANNUAL PENN1NG
OF the ponies Tor the purposes OF sale and brand-
ing took place on the 18th inst The King OF Chin
colleague, Kendall Jester, came in first with about
The ponies, ana by three O'Clock at least $50 were
in the pen. The sale was slow one, not more
than dozen all told being disposed OF, and ut
prices averaging some $50 me owners are ev-
IDENTITY little excited on the subject OF the market
value OF these animals, ana are holding them too
high for the purposes Of specniators The original
possession or this lsano before 1t was
trodden by human feet. ..o. !, is sor believed wed
coast having Von on board Shetland ponies and that
some OF them swan ashore. They have been inter-
mixed with imported blood, however, and now
only bear resemblance to the real Shetland pony
IN the fact that they are small. Some OF them are
very handsome aud they are full OF spirit and
fire. drove one TO sulkv on the beach at a
gait inside OF 3:45 and without the slightest train
ing. They run wild on the island. Very few are
ever broken TO harness, and IN no instance do
they ever taste mouthu Of grain. King Jester
had mare IN his drove from whtcn he has sold
sl,loo worth OF colts, none over and most OF them
at rates much less than 500 apiece Alter the colts
mad been branded they were again turned loose to
roam and iced at Will over the entire island. Al
together there are some 500 of them.
HISTORY OF THE ISLAND.
This island, as near as can be made out, was set
the Joneses from Scotland, the Tunnels, Hills and
Corners were among the first settlers. One OF the
Oldest settlers. Guinea negro by the name Of
OcKer Brlnney died here in 1908 at the age or 100
years. He was first landed at the Rhode Island
slave mart, ana was brought to the eastern
Shore" by one Captain Taylor, who sent him over
to this island to look after stock. He could never
be civilized, and was tattooed all over. In 1850
marble slab erected in a 6urying ground was to
Eba wheaton, who died In 1864, and the first
brick al Ch over grave was in 1850. Previous to
that time the 'inhabtants OF the silent cty'' were
very lucky even II they had wooden post
to mark their graves. The oldest white man on
the island Is Captain James Burch. He IS eighty
two years OF age and Is the father of child only
eleven months old. 1t Is place, by the way pro-
life of children. Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Tim Hill,
two malesic matrons have each been the mothers
OF seventeen children, and Old Joshua wheaton
log school house was built in 1885. 1t is now torn
down. The first church was built in 1853 Thirty
five years ago, with three exceptions all the
houses were built OF logs. There has always been
from early times some attention TO
THE FORMS OF MATRIMONY.
The minister used to publish the banns, and being
required to do 1t in three different places would
go to three corners OF the house to do It, getting
the law in that way. The minister usually received
lee OF twelve and half cents ior marrying.
but now they get all the way from 81 to s5. the
Chincoteaguers have no great idea oil paying
ministers much OF anything for their services
$50 per annum used to be q tremendous salary
They now get from 500 to $4OO. AS a rule the
houses have only one room, and in that the fam
lilies have to live and die. vast improvement in
this regard. however, Is rapidly taking place.
THERE Is NOT MUCH LAW
business here The local magistrate can warrant
up to $50. Beyond that case must 20 to court
and the nearest court house Is at Drummond
thirty miles away. The expense deters the
people from the law. Many have moved away
| and some to the far West. The field Is not bad
| one for a Catholic priests missionary work.
The people are very curious and original in
| many expressions. For instance, In speaking OF
the number in family, they always say "a man has
| so many 'head OF Children"
| only iddlcrs are crab-like insects which swarm the
marshy grounds near the beach, In Walkinp here