The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-01-25
MARYLAND MORsELs,
And the Dangers and Hardahips Of Pro-
curing Them.

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curing Them.
maryland Morsels" was the title Of an
epicurean article written years ago, we
think, for Parke Bcnjamin's paper, the
Western Contiae'u, by Charles Il. Mayer,
Esq. of Baltimore. OF course, no such
article could do justice to the subject with
out due mention Of our luscious bivalves,
the oysters, and Of diamond-backs and
eanvas-backs, to say nothing Of our rock,
perch, sheeps-head and bay mackerel, the
most delicious parrish in the world, aud
our incompatible soft crabs. The latter
is summer luxury, though We once had
them served upon our table on the first of
January. Oysters, canvas-baeks, diamond
backs, and swan, are winter Injuries, and
while We are enjoying these delicacies, We
little think of the exposure and danger
braved by those who procure them fer US
at this Indictment season. The oystermen
and duckers on the Chesapeake bay and
its tributaries have encountered more
perils within month past, from the ice
aud storms which have prevailed, than
would ordinarily happen to the crew of a
whale-ship. Ship-wreck, frozen hands and
feet, and loss Of life, not unfrequently hap
pen. CHANGING over the St. Michael's
Comet, of the 18th inst. we find mention
Of several wrecks and other adventures,
some OF which we transfer to our columns
to give our readers an idea of life on the
Chesapeake in the winter season, and to
illustrate more clearly tho object of this
article, which is to present some account
Of the incidents and adventures of those
whose business is prosecuted upon the
waters of our bay. The Centrerile o..
seruer relates the following:
The oyster schooner Berlin Hall, owned by
Frederick Backheimer of Baltimore, with
500 bushels of oysters on board, was sunk
near the mouth Of Chester River on Friday
of last week. The vessel was trying to make
safe harbor from the gale, but lost some sails
and commenced leaking The vessel filed
rapidly, and sunk after the crew took to the
yawl Their small boat was jammed in the
ice more than mile from shore, and they
were forced to get out upon the ice, which
was drifting about in heavy fields. They
crawled on hands and knees from one ice field
to another for long distance, until solid ice
was reached, on which they walked to the
shore. Their fingers were frozen in clutch
ing the ice, aud their knees were cut aad
mangled. The crew came to Centreville, and
took the train for Baltimore. The men lost
everything but the clothes they wore.
The subjoined incidents are given by the
Comet ;-0n his last trip down from Balti-
more, Capt. Joseph S. Harrison, Of the |
schooner Ellie Estelle, encountered impassa.
BILE ice off Mulberry Cove, Tilghman's point, |
and was forced to anchor his vessel there. |
Capt. Harrison, and his crew, went ashore, |
leaving on board a eolored man to keep the |
vessel, and Mr.. Gilbert NJ. Sears, who was 1
passenger on the vessel and who preferred to
stay on board until the next day, so that his /
carriage might be sent to the shore for him.
The next day was the Thursday of the terrific
gale Of wind-January 2d-and in the midst
OF the storm Mr.. Sears and the colored man
started ashore in the schooners yawl When
hitN kol u SHUT htatdiiCC AtOul lut hCuOOutT /
the gale had so increased in its fury and the
sea was so rough they could not make head
way, and concluded to put back to the sehoon-
err, before thewind. They missed the schoon-
er,-passng about an oars length astern, but
fortunately Just at this critical moment the
schooner veered with fresh blast of wind,
and this placed the yawl in the comparative
ly smooth water astern. The occupants of
the yawl quickly saw that this was their last
chance, and took advantage of it in an instant
and with admirable presence of mind brought
the yawl up near enough for them to seize the
schooner which they Immediately boarded.
The yawl got away from them and drifted off
10 leward until she struck solid ice, filled and
sunk. Mr.. Sears remained on the schooner
until Monday, by which time the ice had
frozen hard enough from shore TO the vessel
for him to make his passage ashore in small
boat dragged on the ice.
On Sunday last a tug-boat broke through
the ice to three oyster schooners that had been
frozen in, opposite Knapp's Narrows in the
Chesapeake. The tug took three vessels in
tow, and carried them some distance through
the ice, when she cast them loose, and pro-
eeeded to break a track in advance Of them.
After the tug left, one of the vessels sunk,
suddenly, and yet remains at the place she
went down. The tug returned and took the
other two vessels of.
On Wednesday, sth instant, as Mr.. Ira X.
Caulk, and a colored man, William Paca,
were shooting ducks ON Tlghman's creek,
the nipple OF Paca's gun blew out, knocking
of the hammer, SCATTERING the stock, even
blowing off the ramrod guards, and filling his
face with powder. The hammer was sent to
such distance as not to be found on the ice
His escape from death seems almost miracu-
lous.
Notwithstanding the frozen condition of
the rivers and creeks there has been some.
thing doing in the oyster trade here this week,
and Mr.. Willis has shipped considerable
quantity Of shucked oysters. Some shoal bars
in Broad and Harriss creek are open. aud a
few oystermen can make quite a good days
work catching and shuckiDg these oysters,
which though small find ready market at so |
cents gallon.