Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-21
A VISIT re ACCOMAC.
Roundab sut Trip-fiospitaiity Of the Pco-
ple-Ihe Accomae Baptist Association.

4
Especial Correspondence ofihc DispatchI
OYANCOCK. August Is, 1884.
A trip from Richmond to this interesting
aud important section OF our good old Com
monwealth is roundabout and somewhat
difficult undertaking, but one who loves
salt water and its concomitants will find ii
very pleasant. Either you must 80 by Old
Point, take q steamer TO Cherrystone, and
cone by private conveyance forty miles up
the Peninsula TO OnancOck, or else go by
Baltimore, where daily steamer will con-
yey you directly 10 Onancock.
A party Of us have just found the latter
route an exceedingly pleasant one. Com
ING by rail TO West Point we took the
steamer "Danville." As we steamed up
the bay into the Patapsco and into Balti-
more harbOr. we were attracted by Fort
Carroll, Fort MclIenry, the Baltimore and
| Ohio elevators, and other points OF inter-
est. But the most interesting feature was
| TO see the extensive wharves, crowded with
craft OF every variety, from the splendid
ocean OF bay steamer 10 the plucky little
tug-from the magnificent sailship that
crosses the ocean to the smallest sloOp or
saiboat. These last were loaded with wa
termelOns, vegetables, fruit, fish, crabs,
and marketing Of every variety.
will not tell Of charming day spent In
Sightseeing In Baltimore-a visit TO Druid
Hill Park aud other points Of interest nor
describe in detail delightful trip down
the bay in the good steamer "Tangier."
We found the Eastern Shore OF Virginia"
one OF the most charming regions OF the
State, and the warm-hearted hospitality OF
the people made us inclined to spend
month instead Of the few days at our dis
posai.
Our party OF two ladies and four gentle
men were met at Flnney's wharf, near
UnancOck. and rowed across "the creek"
1--WE should call It a large river in upper
Virginia) TO "Only " Qhe former residence
OF General Henry A. Wise, now owned by
Mr.. Thomas Pitts), where we found
"home" whose beautiful surroundings
and magnificent water scenery were only
equaled by the thoughtful and untiring
Kindness OF its inmates. On Wednesday they
had arranged a fishing party for us. and we
enjoyed intensely the sail down the creek,
the catching OF crabs for bait, the fishing
(albeit we struck the wrong tide and only
caught about twenty-five fish,. dip in the
salt water. the delightful sail back under
the command Of Commodore Edward Wa
pies, and the elegant dinner at his house.
which, fortucately for us, the "gude viii"
did not allow to depend upon our "catch."
But we have been attending for several
days most delightful meeting OF the Ac-
conac Baptist Association, which has just
clo.ed It's seventy-fifth annual session with
the OnancOck church. This body is COM
posed OF fourteen churches, located in Ac-
cOmac and Northampton counties. and is
i'm many respects one OF the most efficient
Associations in the whole country.
Of. a To- affrst
day-School and Bible Work. Home Mis-
sions, Education, Ministers Relief Fund,
and ether topics Of interest were discussed
before large congregations in speeches
which were listened 10 with most COM
merdable good order and attention on the
part Of the people.
The Introductory sermon was preached
by Rev. J.. }. Haley, late Of Louisa. now Of
Northampton, and was clear. practical,
and every way admirable sermon from the
text, " Your Work OF FAITH"
On Yesterday Sunday very large con-
grcgatioBs assembled 10 hear Rev. W. \.
Street at the Methodist Episcopal church.
Rev. Carter Helm Jones at the Baptist
church. DIR. j. William Jones at the Meth
odlst church. and Rev. Mr. Hope, OF Della
ware, at the Baptist church at night.
In the afternoon an immense crowd, in
the house and under an admirable shelter,
built alongside OF the house. 80 that q
speaker standing at the window could be
heard by all, assembled in Sunday-school
mass-meeting, which was addressed by
Revs. George c. Bundick, W. 4. Street, 5.
VI. Hope, j. William Jones, and Carter
Helm Jones. have never seen better or
der or more attentive listening than was
shown ON this occasion, or Sunday-school
meeting which seemed to make better i'm.
preston.
The singing, led by the pastor, Rev. j.
W. lluudley, who seems TO excel in every |
department Of pastoral work, with Miss |
Bessie Pitts at the organ. was particularly |
sweet and inspiring. Rev. Carter Helm |
Jones aud +. II. Boston also preached on |
Friday and Saturday.
John j. Gunter, Esq, was made modera- |
tor, and Rev. George G. Bundick clerk. |
and 1t was pleasing to see how admirably |
these two young men, sons OF Richmond |
College, where they served an apprentice |
ship In the same society, discharged their |
respective duties.
There was not only the most ample pro-
visions made to feed the crowd at church |
every day-tables, plates, knives and forks,
and hot coffee and vegetables, besides every
other variety OF substantials and delicacies--
but the houses OF the people were thrown !
wide open. There was luxurious enter
tainment for every conner, and we are tear
ing ourselves away from pressing invita-
tions 10 stay longer. and find II especially
hard 10 resist the temptation TO stay TO a |
"heach party" on the Atlantic coast, given |
from the elegant home OF Judge B. L. |
Gunter.
Aeeomae and Northampton are among |
the richest counties in Virginia. and are IS |
true as steel 10 the old Commonwealth, but |
their Isolated position has cut them oirfrom !
Richmond and made Baltimore their mar. |
ket. They raise immense quantities OF !
sweet potatoes, fruit, and truck OF every |
variety. which they easily put in the Bali- |
more, Philadelphia, and New York mar
kets. The new railroad, which has been |
already completed 10 the neighborhood OF |
OnsDcock, and will soon be finished down i
the Peninsula TO Cberrystoae. will give the
truckers very great advantage in quick
transit. THIS road will also bring this re-
eion in much closer communication with
Richmond, and our merchants would be
WISE to note the fact, and send over in ad-
vance their " commercial travellers
Rut l have written enough, aud must
close. Not. however. without making my
special acknowledgements for courtesles re-
ceiyed from many Of these good people,
and especially from my old friend +. Z.
Brent, who is principal OF the Onancock
Academy and editor Of the Eastern Shore
Herald. LANGLEY.