The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-02-23
The Oyster War.

The laws Of Virginia provide that no person shall
take or catch oysters with dredges or instruments
| other than ordinary oyster tongs.
During all the present winter, as we'll as In pre-
ceding winters, large fleet Of alien oystermen
have been dredging oysters In Virginia waters at
the mouth of the Rappahannock, and in other
streams, in violation OF the laws Of the Common
wealth for the protection of oyster beds. Their
method of procedure has been to invade the oyster
beds in force with feet Of light draught fast-sal
ing vessels and drive Off the local oystermen The
numerous 1nles Of the Chesapeake afford these pi-
rates opportunity to avoid pursuit Already sever
al skirmlshes had occurred between the county Off
GERS and the trespassers, the latter threatening
when attempts to stop their operations were made
that If not let alone they would land and destroy
property and life In localities where they with
resistance. AT last their depredations became SO
eXasperat1ng that an expedition was fitted out a
few days since by Governor Cameron for the pur.
pose OF administering proper chastisement to the
Offenders. The feet, consisting Of two vessels the
Peed and Lousia, armed with howttzers and
musket5 and was made up of the volunteer compa-
MES of Norfolk. They proceeded to the mouth
or the Rappahannock river Friday morning and dis
covered fleet of seven schoOners. The Peed took
the Louisa In tow as a ruse and sailed up abreast
OF the mouth of the Rappahannock, where the fleet
was dredging about two miles distant The Peed
then cast loose her tow and dashed at full speed
into the fleet Of dredgers creating no little couoer-
nation among the oystermen
When within mile of the first schooner Gen.
Groner ordered YOlley of musketry and one solid
shot to be tired across the bows Of the nearest
sci, named the George w. Cresswell, which 1mmedi-
ately surrendered. Another shot and a yoIley was
fired across the bow of the schooner j. c. of Nor.
folk, which also promptly surrendered, with five
men. At this juncture the Louisa came on the
scene, and captured the following vessels Schoon-
ers, Fannie Tarline, Fashion, Hamburg Annie and
Alice. While the crews of several Of the captured
vessels were being transported to the Louisa 1t was
noticed that the schooner Philip Ktrkwood was
sailing away at full speed, with every stitch of
vas on she could possibly carry. A solid rifle shot
was sent after the fugitive from the Peed,
ana then began most exciting race down the Ches-
apeake bay. The schooner had fully three miles
start of the Peed and a spanking breeze to favor
her. After the chase HAD lasted about two hours
and half or more the wind lulled and solid shot
was dropped a few feet in advance of the escaping
schooner. Eight more shots were successfully AIRED
pefore the Kirkwood stopped and surrendered. The
race was about forty miles from the mouth Of the
Rappahannock, nearly to Fortress Monroe. Nine
more prisoners were thus secured and placed In
the hold Of the Peed. The steamer then put back
with her prize In tow for the Piankatank river, the
point in Matthews county to which the other
schooners had been taken by the Louisa.
Saturday morning Sheriff Sands Smith, of Mat.
thews county, was summoned on board by the Gov
ernor, and the batch of sixty-one prisoners was
turned over to his custody for safe keeping until
such time as they can be brought to trial. The
sner1T at once summoned a posse of fifty citizens
and receiving from the Governor suitable supply
OF arms and ammunition, marched the prisoners Off
to Matthews county JAIL distance of five miles from
the river. The captured oystermen claim that they
are Yirginians and that the dredgers from ary-
land and other States mostly went up the bay on
Thursday and escaped trouble. Those caught were
entirely taken by surprise, and showed no resist
ance whatever after being put under arrest They
are all well known In Norfolk
Governor Cameron directed the movements OF the
steamers in person, and Is said to have fired the
shots which brought the oyster schooner to bay.
The expedition was fitted out upon information
given by Messrs. A. B. Evans, member Of the House
OF Delegates from Middlesex, and J. T. Christian
Senator from the Matthews district. They had re-
ce1ved numerous letters from their people COM
planning that the laws being violated and their
own lives threatened by oyster fleets. In accord
ance with the provisions of the law, Messrs Evans
and Christian made formal complaint to the Gov
ernor under oath embodyng these facts