The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-09
CAPTAIN TURNER'S EXPERIENCES.

CAPTA1N IuhNkh kAfkhlENShos
Among the residents Of this section Of
the State who were engaged in dredging is
Mr.. John Turner, captain and owner OF the
schooner Palo Alto, which was captured by
Governor Cameron, and while the crew
was conveyed to Jail in Norfolk the captain
escaped. He has an unpretsntious but
comfortable residence on Carter's Greek,
with q surrounding which is altogether
homelike. Everybody in the neighbor-
hood expresses much sympathy with him,
because, as they say, he is native, and
this is the only time he ever violated the
law. He is good citizen, but II this Is the
only time he violated the law, tongman
remarked to me, "Maybe it's the only time
he was caught at it." He has the sympathy
OF the whole community, and every one ap-
pears to rejoice that he escaped. l was
told by more than one resident OF Carter's
Creek to watch for him in Baltimore, to
tell him that his family are well, and 10 as
sist him as far as was in my power. This
from men who, aside from their regard for
Mr.. Turner, were bitter opposers to
dredgers, was an evidence to your CORES.
pondent that he must be good citizen, and
accordingly he states these facts for his
benefit. The one cause OF complaint that
the men most interested in the suppression
Of illegal dredging have to make against
the State authorities is that
TIE GOVERNORS ACTION CANE TOO LATE.
Illegal dredging, which has impoverished
many tongmen, has this year been sue
cessfully carried on since September last,
and now, when the season is nearly over,
when the steam and raw houses Of Balti-
more and elsewhere are about to suspend
operations, the Governor takes two or three
military companies and gives them brief
picnic on the waters. He, they think, has
done agood thing, but he has done it too
late, and they state freely that in their
opinion II Governor Cameron had started
bis excursion in the fall OF the year and it
which il did later in the season, he would
have accomplished much more than he
has upon his spring picnic. II is well
known that only the stress OF weather-a
sort OF forecast OF Virgins prediction storm
drove the Governors fleet, OF which the
Virginia Peed was flagship, and Governor
Cameron's Admiral into smooth waters.
There is a very funny joke on the Governor
in connection with his aquatic war which
maybe he does not know. The United
States Government makes custom certain
times in the year OF sending out steamers,
revenue cutters, to watch suspected
smugglers, and other steamers whose sole
business Is to attend 10 and watch the
light house department; and again there
are lighthouse supply vessels which cruise
at certain intervals all around the Chesa-
peake Bay. Governor Cameron had but
scarcely dismissed his private secretary,
who held the basin into which bis excel
lency had deposited his previously eaten
breakfast, us the edge Of Virgins gale
struck his vessel on Saturday last, when
he concluded that important business at
Richmond needed his attention, and the
order "South half west" was quickly given
the man at the helm. Norfolk was reached,
and, the walking being excellent, the Gov.
ernor dismissed his military staff and start
ed for home. Meanwhile revenue cutter,
u lighthouse inspection boat and supply
steamer reached the ground which
the Virginia Admiral had but few
moments before left. The illicit dredger.
had been watching the Virginia Peed, the
tlagboat or the squadron, and, seeing her
depart, were about to resume their illegal
work, when the three United States boats
hove in sight. "Great Scott" cried an
Eastern Shore dredger; 1--WE are cooked
Here are three more Of 'em after US. ]
heerd this was war but didn't think
they had such navee. And quickly and
quietly the different vessels OF the dredg
Ing fleet exchanged their private signals
aud lay innocently at anchor, Just as il
they were forming marine Sunday
School, where only the interests OF the
tongmen aud their children were concern
ed. The steamers lay about in the neigh
borhood OF the dredging schooners for 9
day or two, and during their presence
nothing illegal was attempted; and unit
the captains read this issue OF the paper
they will never know that they were fright
ened at a shadow.
WHERE TIE PIRATES CONE FROM.
The tongmen in the different rivers run
ming out Of the Chesapeake claim that the
thieves who drcdge over their planted
beds are all from New York, New Jersey
Maryland and elsewhere, and that few, i
any Of them, are Virginia dredgers. In thil
city they are right, to a certain extent
Maryland has hundreds OF vessels dowr
the bay, and doubtless, many OF them
dredge in Virginia waters. Still, II these
men will take into consideration the faCl
that every vessel captured was Virgins
boat, maybe they will change their opinion
Of the propensities Of the dredgers Of theil
sister States.
MORE HOPEFUL.
Il a. L. 70 n L. n-n.f ,t,a. n N ~ n.