Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-09
TIE ylRCINIAOYsTER WAR.

no very long time, either.
TIE VIRGINIA OYSTER WAR.
10 properly write the sanguinary history
of the Virginia oyster war would require the
pen Of an Irving; and surely no warfare has
been wsgei sine. that chronicled IN Kucker-
rockers Immortal history more worthy Of the
genius OF that author The mere chronicle
of the facts of the case however reads like a
chapter from the vetacious history Just refer
red to. 1t appears that for several years
oyster pirates from Maryland have made fire.
quent raids upon The beds in Virginia waters,
aud finally succeeded In driving doughty
Virginians from the field. Tie latter there
upon applied 10 the governor Of their State
for protection from the Maryland pirates, md
two years ago troops were sent to the scene
of the disturbance 10 see that the Virgnians
were not interfered with in the pursuit OF the
bivalves. The sapguinary miliiamen were
embarked upon mud scows and schooner.,
but as the pirates, as is Incoming such gentry.
were provided with vessels Of greater speed
they managed to escape; and when the SOL
diers were recalled the pirates from MARYLAND
returned and again drove the Virginia oyster
men from the favorite localities a few days
ago Gov. Cameron made solemn proclama-
ton for military forces to ''put down the re-
bclon' in the Virginia waters, or, in other
words, to protect the citizens of that State
from invasion from Maryland; and soveral
companies OF infantry, commanded by briga-
dcr generals, and two batteries of artillery
we're armed and equipped, the governor as
sumed command of the expedition in person,
and, warned by previous sad experience, the
mud scows were discarded and the contin.
gent put to sea in fast vessels, on ono of
which nhe governors flag ship were mount
ed four field picccs. With this rcdoubtabe
armament tue pirates would individually have
been blown TO pieces, or, to use the sppropri-
ate marine metaphor, sent to the locker OF
David Jones, Esq. but the CORY buccaneers
(whose chief, by the way, bears the heroic
battle from afar and discrcetly sailed away
into neutral waters. OF course this was con-
trary to all precedent to be found in song or
story, and tends to show that the piratical
the days of Cooper. But Governor Came
ron was not to bc entirely deprived of glory
by the pusillanimous conduct OF the pirates.
Mounted on his quarterback, he disccrncd
pirate sloop, the Dancing Molly, at anchor
in an inlet on the Virginia shore and par
TALLY hidden by trees and underbrush.
Thereupon the cannoneer5 we're toled OIL
aud stationed at the guns, the decks were
cleared for action and the brisadier- generals
10 command of the troops were given deli
mite instructions by the commander in. chief.
But as the latter bore down upon the fated
craft 1t was discovered that her CORY crew,
consisting Of the captain and two men, had
gone ashore for fuel. leaving on board to
imam" the boat only the captains wife and
her two daughters. But these pira,ical fe-
males, instead Of obeyiug the Governors
orders To surrender crowded on all sail and
headed for the mouth Of the inlet. The
Governors ship started in no. pursuit and
right lively race ensued, which ended IN The
triumph OF the female buccaneers and the
complete discontinue OF the Governor.
The Dancing Molly left the gubernatorisl
craft far in the rear and sailed
smelly out of the inlet and away into neutral
waters. The Governors cannon blazed away
st the escaping boat, but it ,srried not. The
race was witnessed from shore by large
number OF persons who had been attracted
to the locality by the booming of cannon and
when they saw that the Dancing Molly WAS
manned by three women their sympa,hies
were with her, and when she escaped into
neutral waters tho people on shore gave three
cheers for the pirates wife and daughters.
This unpleasant episode stirred up the
Governor to renewed exerlions; and later on
lac captured five piratical schooners and tlir-
ty-one pirates. But still the noble Virgnian
struggled against adverse fate, lie proudly
towed his prisoners into court, when 10 and
behold they swore that they were not dredg-
ing for oysters, but merely going up the Po-
tomac to dredge, which they had an uudoubt-
ed legal right TO do and thereupon the mag
israte discharged every mothers son of
them and they went on their piratical way
rejoicing. Still, the Governor doesn't give il
up. Immediately after the legal proceedings
mentioned he sailed of again for another
mess Of buccaneers and at last accounts he
was sailing the ocean blue with blood In his
eye. The whole country waits with bated
breath the issue Of the expedition. The next
breeze that blows from the South may bring
to our ears the clash Of arms, and is we'll to
be prepared for something very CORY.