Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-11
THE EASTERN SHORE.
The swse-Psssse Repisns--siekness-A Bia
Scare.

Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch
ONANcocK, April 9, 1885.
The farmers who had their sweet
potato beds ruined by the recent cold
weather have generally succeeded in
getting another supply Of seed. A few
days ago more than hundred barrels
Of sweet potatoes were landed at the
Onsncock wharf from Baltimore, and
on the same day nearly hundred bar
rels were put off the railroad at Tssley
station, only two miles distant from this
town. This will give you some idea Of
the damage done our farmers by the
cold weather and the amount OF pota-
toes they have had to buy back from
Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia.
The bank failures in Norfolk created
considerable excitement over here and
entailed serious losses on many of our
people, especially in Northampton
county, whose citizens are said to have
had deposits in the Exchange National
Bank amounting to more than two hun
bred thousand dollars. Several promi-
nent citizens Of Accomsck will lose
considerable amounts. but nearly all
the trust funds of the county were de-
posted in another bank.
There has been An almost unprece-
dented amount of sickness among our
people for the last few months, result
ing mainly from pneumonia. In one
part of the county ccrebro-spinsl menin-
gifts is prevailing almost like an cpl
demic. Two deaths have already oc-
cured from this disease, and several
patients are low with it. Our valued
townsman, George w. Powell, Esq, is
gradually growing weaker, and the doc
tors have but little hope Of his recovery.
Several long-haired individuals ar
rived here some days ago and passed
themselves of as Indian doctors among
the colored people. Last Sunday night
they went to colored Methodist
church near here, and before the regu-
lar religious exercises began went
through with certain performances in
order to excite interest among the con-
gregation, and thereby increase the sale
Of their medicines. One Of them
rushed down tho aisle, brsndishing
a tomahawk and whooping like
Comanche, whereat some of the
frightened women swooned away
and the others, with the mon, took to
the woods. IL required considerable
effort to recall the fugitiVes and revive
the frightened sisters. The colOred
people now say that the msdicine-men
are not Indians, and that their long
hair, which is fine and wavy, is sup
posed to be the dowry Of other heads.
On Tuesday night the stables belong
ing to Henry Rev, farmer living near
Guilford, this county, were destroyed
by FIRE. Two valuable horses-sll that
be hsd-iogether with farming imple-
ments and other property, were burned
at the same time. Mr.. Rev thinks the
FIRE WAS the work Of an incendisry, but
suspicion does not point to any one.
The south-bound afternoon express
yesterday killed two valuable oxen near
Hsllwood station. They belonged to
Elijah Kelly, ST., the father Of the late
Riley Kelly, who was killed by the
train two months ago on the very spot
where the oxen met their death. 1t is
rather curious coincidence that the
engineer who killed the oxen is the same
man who had charge Of the engine that
killed Riley Kelly two months ago and
L. p. East last week.
DR.. John 4. Bowdoin, aged sixty
six years, one Of our most prominent
and popular physicians, has just re-
turned from q visit to his venerable
mother, Mrs. Susan NJ. Bowden, Of
Esstyille. She has just celebrated the
completion Of her eighty-ninth year,
and i. remarkably vigorous for her age,
rising early and going regularly to her
meals, and reading and writing without
the aid Of glasses. DR.. Bowdoin him
self was never sick day in his life.
AS yet the Eastern-Shore farmers
have taken no action to send delegates
to the Industrial Convention that as
sembles in your city on the 18th, but |
bear that efforts will be made to induce
some Of our leading sgriculturists to
go as representatives of the local
oranges. kALLIAs.