Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-08
EASTERN VIRGINIA.
COiy r.Edwards-Produ or North
mberland Couuty-Oysters, Fish,
Corn. Etc. Etc.

CoAN WHARF, VA, Dec. 2tst, 1870.
Editor Star: When Sam Colyer and Billy
Edwards encountered each other for the irst
time and extended, with pugIlistic intent,
the '2t-fOOt ring" on the sandy plateau at
the mouth OF Coan river, the harmony OF the
bivalves lying in rich quantities meath the
waters contiguous may not have been dis
turbcd thereby; bat the peaceful locality aud
Inc pheasant surrounding were no doubt
greatly shocked at the presence OF the SlaIia-
tors and much iGcensed A. the belIiZereut
demonstrations aud conduct during their
brief stay. But that their lines may t6lI IN
pleasant places and ever be free from the
intrusion Of the police, is the wish and de-
sire Of such gentry as COlyer- Edwards; AMI
the place was found, when Cnan river was
selected and on its shores did those combat
ants meet and 90 battle The river perhaps
has been made famous IN cOnSe IuenCa, and
the descendants of Edwards may, in wears 10
come, speak VI Tn pride OF COan river and of
It's being the locality where their ancestral
parent met and WOrsteJ the TedOuSt2ble Col
Yer. But not being on a search after prize
nghting material, your CORES OndenL wan
dered further up the river and here, ut Coaa
wharf four miles from the scene OF the pugi-
Hstic contest of more than seven years ago.
gathered facts pertinent TO the productions
OF land and water OF this section Of Nlr-
ginia.
is the shipping point to Washington, Alcx-
andIia and Baltimore, for a great portion OF
the produce OF NoTthUm berland county
Bevis' wharf, two miles higher up, also c0l-
trlbuting largely To the freight list of the
steamers bound TO the localities name,I; the
steamers Sue and Express, of the Baltimore
line, and the John W. Thompson, OF the Ia
land and SeabOard COaSting Company of the
Alexandria and Washington line, being the
boats touching here. At COan wharf on
''steamer day" there is considerable hustle;
and large quantities Of corn, sweet potatoes
nsh, tOWls- oysters. etc, are put on board the
boat, and {, financial return for the same gen
orally looked for when the steamer again
makes her appearance. The shippers of this
sfrFft u
and condition Of life--the gentleman, with
his wild game, present to friend; the
WoCdsman, with his lumber; the farmer
with his corn and potatoes; the waterman
with his fish and oysters; old Aunt Sally,
with her chickens; and the boy with
his rabbit or solitary mink skin. There
these daysUo an extra amount Of business:
the prOprlctOTs being courteous and obliging
TO all, and evidently reaplng harvest IN
consequence. In the matter of groceries,
pretty much everything is kept; in LIQUORS
the same; in dry goods, no silks or satins
but any quantity of calicOcs and some little
alpaca. Directly across the river is SINH
lar institution, and, from the crowd passing
in aud ont, judged the business was iucra-
tive. BeEis wharf, two miles above, has
but recCn tlS been bUilt-a young and enter
rTiSinG JeISeyElan OF the same name being
the owner. Mr.. Bevis located hereabOuts a
few years since, and Immediately went to
work. He purchased land, cleared and un-
cleared, ana went at the latter portion,
hewing out crOSS-ties, cGrtIug them to a
place of shipment and sending them north
al west to railroad companies, TO whom he
disposed of them. He built a small house
for the accommodation of his Young family
and then erected a wharf fronting it. Tie
Inland and SeabOard COasting COMPANY
promised 10 touch with q steamer al the
wharf, and do sO-the j. W. Thompson going
there regularly every Saturday. Here was
al opportunity for shippers; and many re-
siding above and on the opposite side OF the
river from COan wharf find IL ID their inter
est TO snip from Bevis' wharf. and which is
% SfgF 10 70.
a good percentage on all produce sent
from il.
Bat We will leave Coan river ro- 4 tine.
and with liz" steamer run ont, caterin. tn.
Potomac; and ten miles north, on that riy ~
enter the YOcOmicO, and toucniug atLlisl
Landing ard the village OF R;nOa'e, PICK L
what fire. ght we can, ami which sometime
is considerable, and then running ont -.
1ocomicO into the Potomac, head away -
CuTiOmen.
CURRIOMEN
is about thirty miles north OF the mouth 0r
COan river, and nearly opposite Blackfst1l
island Here freight similar to that ut II.
quantities. Some fine oysters can here D
mad, and at prices very reasonable. A. IN.
landing on MADDOX creek, q couple nOGrs rIF
nom CurrIOmen, are quite extensive trairl
depOts for the products of WeStmoT:.auf
cOunty-the shallow water in the craa't a.
times being the only drawback. But COan
river is the most pleasant locality OF al. Ia
the spring, summer and early autumn the
scenery around and about is beautiful. Wild
game Is mere IN abundance, and tlo CDdQ
river oysters are famed for thair luscious
ness and delightful flavor. And these latter
are more than plentiful. And here comes in
Il little story.
a Washingtonian with more enterprise
IMAM sagaClty, more energy than judgment
thought to build him a house-a warehouse
or packin g.house for oysters near the mouth
OF the river, and directly opposite the scene OF
the COlyer- Edwards gladiatOrial contest.
lie had immense quantities of oysters
tODged and dredged and then planted In the
immediate vicinity of his packing house
But the house was not yet finished. No house
is, until Ii has a roof; and this latter il had
not. To buy the shingles in Washington and
have them shipped TO COan river was too |
expensive. A happy thought struck him. A
business man in Richmond county had a
mill in which shingles were cut out. CLONE
manufacture must be encourage l." The mill
was not far from the proposed packing house;
and so the business man was written to, and
an order sent for the shingles; telling him to |
draw on --, as soon as the order was
6llet. The order was filled; the shingles were
supplied, the packing house was failure,
and the Washingtoni5 drawn on. That was
more than six months ago. The business
man has been drawing ever Since but has
caught nothing. Your correspondent met !
MIN on the steamer John w. Thompson, On
his way 10 Washington to see If a lawyer
could not draw something fer him; and I |
could not help thinking that it was a poor
way 'to encourage home manufacture" But |
more anon. S
VERDICT IN LIFE INSURANCE CAST
Tee suit Of Mrs. CathaTiae q. ShepharPs
imlnlstrator against the New York Mutual |