St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-07
PONY-PENNlNG BY THE SEA.
A Queer Custom Down In Maryland.
Points and PenP Pictures From Chincoteague,
the Green Strip of Sea Pasture Where
Hardy Little Ponies Nip the
Growing Grass. *
Correspondence Philadelphia Times. |

correspondence Philadelphia Times
CHINCoTEAGUE ISLAND, Va, August 49,
''Pony-penning" amt what it useter be-"
said Uncle Kendall Jester, the oldest resi-
dent of Caincoteague Island, at the ann ual
penning of the ponies yesterday. II re-
member when de liam was live with 'em,
but that thar storm fo' or FIVE year ago wash
ed purity nigh all de colts away an good
many de ole mares too. Right smart lef'
thought
'Here come de horsesl Git outen tn
way" yelled ragged little urchin, and
around the corner of a clump of pines dash
ed small drove of the ponies, about forty,
followed by crowd of small boys on foot.
The boys, assisted by two men on horseback,
had no difficulty in driving the ponies into
the pen or corral, where the colts we're
branded and the mature animals offered for
sale. The branding was accomplished with
little trouble and then the auction began.
The bidding was not spirited, and only four
ponies were sold, averaging in price about
$40 apiece.
THE CHINCoTEAGUE OF THE PAST.
There are few people nowadays who have
not heard Of ChincOteague. Its oysters, fish
and game have become celebrated. But the
island is rapidly losing its distinguishing
! feature-raising wild ponies-and the inhab-
itants are fast becoming acquainted with the
modern methods of living. Only few years
ago the late Bayard Taylor not inappropriate
called all that portion of the peninsula from
Selbyville, Delaware, to Chincoteague Bay,
terra incoguita. At that time Chincoteague
was known to the natives of the peninsula as
only the breeding place of race of ponies
which ran wild, feeding on the strong beach
| grass, except once year, when they were
rounded up, the colts branded with their
owners marks and the mature animals Sold
ChincOteague was then kind of Botany
Bay for lower Delaware, Maryland and Vir-
| ginia, and the Island boosted of many very
hard characters who had sent their man to
grass. Ten years ago, before the completion
of the railroad down the peninsula, on the
spot where now stands the Atlantic hotel,
was little tavern with three rooms, in one
of which liquid refreshments were dispensed.
4 pine board served for bar and on shelf
behind it were four bottles labeled in big
letters, whisky" Brandy" "Gin,"
Rum" clad to have them thar in them
days. said my informant. In fact, at that
ans. There was little OF no communication
with the mainland and the islanders sub
sisted on fish, ysters, CLAIMS and game. All
this has charged of late years and the island
has made such rapid progress that it is now
nearly up with the times. Many sportsmen
now come here from New York, Philadelphia
Baltimore and from allover the PENN ula.
TIE OLDEST NATIVE.
Oy,;p a. 4
Gle Kendall Jester was hunted up. The excite
ment of the day and too much rum had near
| " paralyzed the oldest native on the island.
The old fellow, although well advanced in
years, is more active in handling the ponies
than any Of the younger generation. He was
seated astride bay mare with sheep-skin
for a saddle-rough and rugged and as tough
looking as a pine-knot. Close by him stood
gaunt-lOokng female, who was urging him
to 90 home. ''Mister,'i she said, desc pen
min days mighty bad on the ole man. He al
us gets the wus for Ticker. Come on, now,
KindalI"
''Oh, you git out exclaimed the old man.
''She's raised by General Lee, gen 'lemen, my
ole woman wus; she was all through the
war;
The crowd believed him. for she held on
to the old man with dead determination and
evidently had fought many battles with him.
''Best mare on the island,'' continued the
| old fellow; chad her fuss colt when she was
three years old and had one every year since
for twelve year. I'm goin in my seventy,
but kin ride yit," and away he dashed over
the sand at rapid gait. He rode well for
man three score and ten loaded with fre-wa-
ter. His sole woman Followed after him on
foot, but he good naturally resisted her eff
forts to get him home and it was well on to-
ward night when he finally started for his
cabin at the other end Of the island.
NOT FOR BLAINE OR AcCoMAC
local politician from the main land was
moving around the natives, ''We,l, Cap'n
Dave,n he said accosting weather-beaten
specimen of humanity, show do you want to
vote this year!'' II hain't got no iearnin',''
was the reply,'' but l want to do what's
right. Who's de menu
"Grover Cleveland, of New York, is the
Democratic candidate
Never herd of him, but I'm Dimecrat, :"
sain the captain
'And the other man is Blaine of Mainen
go, yes" exclaimed Cap'n Dave. ''Bill
Blaine, over on the main, nigh Drummond-
town. I'm be dod dast il I'm for him."
"You old fool" yelled the local worker,
''Blaine of the State of Maine; not the main
land over there, pointing in the direction of
the Virginia shore, which is called by the ma
tives ''the main"
II hain't gor no learnin'," meekly an
swered the captain, with an appealing look
at the newspaper man. 81 ginerally gifts
some feller to give me one of the papers an
l puts it in. I'm a Dimercrat though Ny
father and mother were both Dimercrats.' -
The politician adjourned for drink I'm
5ibing firewster was the chief amusement
The regular-szed drink was glass brim-
ming full aud by nightfall good many had
''more'I enough
EX-GOVERNOR HALL.
There had been a number of visitors on
the island this summer Among them were
Ex-Governor Hall, of Delaware The ex-
Governor of Delaware attracted much atten-
ton, several of the hilarious natives ex-
claiming to their bibulous COMPANIONS ev-
cry few minutes; ''Gosh Almighty have
you seen the gov'ner! I'm burned if there
ain t one here. Thar he is-the man with
the white hat on" And the genial ex-gov-
ernOr smiled pleasantly, as though reminded
of his gubernatorial canvass.
The church and the school house have "a
pidly civilized Chincoteague and any one
who visits the island now win find it but lit
tie different from other portions of the coun-
try. To the sportsman 1t offers every iu-
ducemeut and there is excellent fishing and
Grabbing, with good shooting, in both sum-
mer and winter. A good pony, unbroken,
can be bought for fifty dollars. They are
medium-sized, kind and gentle when broken,
little rugged-loOking, but as tough as sole
leather. They make good saddle-horses aud
can be driven to small buggy holding one
person. A pair of them make good team
and can carry two persons nicely