Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-02
on THE EASTERN SHORE.
Marine Disasters lncendiary Firss-Chrisi-
may Atutmpt to shoot a Judge Mail Mat.
ien.
correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch
ONAxcocR December Al 1894


may A,utmp, to shoot judge Mail Mat.
fert.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch. ]
0NANcocK. December 81, 1884.
The recent stormy weather has been
quite disastrous to light shipping along
the Atlantic coast, but fortunately no
serious calsmities are reported and no
lives have been lost. The crews Of the
life-saying stations worked nobly TO
rescue the distressed and imperilled
sailors, often exposing their own lives
TO fearful risks in order to reach strand
cd and disabled ships. In going to a
wreck off Chincoteague island last week
Captain Wheaton, of the, life-saving
service, had to make his way twice
over a dangerous line of breakers a
mile and half wide before he could
reach a wrecked schooner, which was
bound from Jamaica - Philadelphia
with cargo Of cocoanuts. The schooner
went TO pieces. but the crew we're res
cued and the cargo saved.
Tomorrow the Chesapeake ant its
inlyiDg sounds and inlets will be open
to our drcdgers according to the act re-
Gently passed by the General Assembly.
provided the oystor-police steamer is
ready TO enter on its duties and enforce
compliance with the law. 1t is needless
to say that Marylanders have been and
are still engaged in taking oysters with
dreGges from Virginia waters, in def
ance of our local authorities, who are
p0werless to enforce the law against an
organized band of pirates. People here
are asking whether the Board of Public
Works have spent $50, 900 of the States
money for an oyster navy only TO allow
Maryland pirates to plumber our oyster
beds and rob our waters Of their trea-
sures, which Governor Wise contended
were more valuable than the gold mines
of California. An expedition started
without such flourish of trumpets
would very probably result in the cap
ture of some Of these thieves and put at
least a temporary stop to their depreda-
tons.
Incendiary fires have not yet ceased
in this section. Taylor Ames's store
at Bridgetown, Northampton county,
was destroyed short time ago, with
all the contents, except money and
books; and an unsuccessful attempt
was made cde night last week to burn
an unoccupied furniturc-store at Acco-
mac Courthouse. The impression pre-
walls here that these frequent fires have
been caused by some crazy iire-bug,
who kindles conflagrations merely to
have big blaze and see excited people
run about to extinguish the flames, but
as yet there is not the faintest suspicion
as to who the crank is.
Christmas was celebrated here mainly
with church festivals and theatricals,
though the small boys held tin-horn
pandemonium in 0nancock Christmas
day. John Barleycorn, though not
sighted entirely, was not so plainly
visible as on similar occasions in the
past. This was noticeable at the Court
house on Monday, where large crowd
assembled to attend the December term
of the County Court. During the day
1jill Addison Kellam, once deputy
sheriff of the county, came into the
courtroom in n state of intoxcation.
ard Notwithstanding the admonitions of
Judge Parramore and the sheriff, per-
sisted in boiSterOus and turbulent de-
monstrations which compelled the Judge
10 send him TO jail. Being liberated in
the afternoon. he went home but re-
turning the following morning, ne en-
tered the courtroom and attempted to
shoot Judge ParTamore, who was OH
the bench. Fortunately, tie pistol re-
fused to Gge. and the slsegiG seizsd the
would-be murderer and carried HIM
of to jail, where he now lies awaiting
the penalty Of the law. Judge PARA
mo1c's conduct was cool, and much in
dienation is expressed against the man,
whose conduct is thought to be due to
an excessive use of strong drink.
Much confusion and delay resulted
from the recent change in carrying the
mails ON the Peninsula. At first the
cars did not bring us the mails as regu-
larry or as promptly as the old overland
stages; but things have improved in
the last few days. and our mail facili-
ties arc ROW excellent. KALLIAs.