Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-31
THE EASTERN SHORE
eoxyor THE HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY.
Anew Episcopal church-Bishop Whisties
Rough Weather After the
oyster Pirates Local Option.
,.,..rceo f,be RIchmond Dispatch. !

(Correspor dence ofthe Richmond Dispatch
OSAYcocK, March 90, 1886.
Last Friday was a proud day for the
Fpiscopalians Of Onancock. They had
been making efforts to get their new
church here ready for occupancy on
the occasion Of Bishop Whites VISIT
and when the good Bishop arrived the
church, which is one Of the prettlcS'
edifices / have ever seen in town
of this size, was ready for use.
The church fronts on the nam
street of the town. and is built
after the Gothic style Of architec-
ture with steep roof and tall tower
and steeple. The interior is PLAIN out
very beautiful. There are five memo,
rial windows Of handsome design, and
all the others are Of pretty stained
glass. The baptismal font, presented
by DR.. and Mrs. E. r. Leatherbury, oil
Onancock, in memory of their daughter
Sarah. who died in 1873, weighs $50
pounds and is made Of Scotch sandstone.
| doubt whether there is hsndsomer
font to be found in any church in Vir-
GINA. The church is heated from hot
air furnace in the basement. The build
ing is not yet completed; but when
the finishing strokes have been put on
it will be by far the hsndsomest church
edifice on the Eastern Shore. While
Onancock is the largest town on the
Peninsula, ard while Episcopal services
have been held here regularly for years
past in the Town Hall, yet Friday was
the first time in the history of the place
that the rite of confirmation was adj
ministered here. The church was we'll
filed with a fine congregation to
hear the Bishop, who preached
an able and excellent sermon and
confirmed six persons, all Of them,
with one exception, being young. The
Bishop preached yesterday at Acco-
mack Courthouse, and returns to the
Western Shore to-day. He confirmed
about sixteen candidates in Accomack
during his visit, and expressed himself
as pleased with the churches in this
part Of the State, especially with the
work done at Onancock. The Bishop
told your correspondent that while on
recent visit to Hampton he had con-
firmed three different races at the same
chancel railiDg-Caucasian, Indian, and
Misunderstanding that does not often
happen even to bishop. lie also re-
| ferred to the strange fact that the In
dams are now brought from the far
West to be educated with the negroes
at the very spot where the first perma-
nent English settlers landed in America.
During the rough weather last week
three schoOners went ashore on Dlw-
sons shoals. on the seaside. Two we're
gotten off by the life-saying crews with
out trouble or injury. The other,
vessel bound from Keyport to Rich
inond, with o cargo Of fertilizers, had
to be lightened by throwing sixty tons
Of her cargo into the sea, when she got
off and proceeded on her voyage.
Last Saturday war broke ont in
Tangier sound between the OYSTER
tongers and dredgers. The latter are
said to have made frequent incursions
on the grounds near Tangier island,
where it is not lawful to take oysters
except with tongs. The tongmen had
frequently warned them off these
grounds and threatened to take the
law into their own hands unless their
warnings were needed. Accordingly,
when the islanders saw the dredgers on
the forbidden grounds last Saturday
morning they got into their boats
and sailed out to capture them, but
the dredgers, with canvas stretched,
ran away before the wind. The
tongmen succeeded, however, in cap
turing a sloop belonging to captain
Henry L. Crockett, of OnancOck, which
they brought into Chesconnessex creek
and turned over to the county authorl-
ties. but on examination no evidence
was produced that the captured boat
had violated the law and she was re-
leased. The other boats, though holly
pursued, made good their escape. The
tongmen have got their blood up, and
declare that the pirates will not be so
fortunate the next time they attempt to
take oysters from the tonging-grounds
in Tangier sound. 1t is said that
the greater part of the piratical boats
come from Maryland, and this is proba-
bly, true, as the Maryland oyster
thieves have frequently overawed our
local oyster-police force and carried oil
thousands Of bushels Of oysters from
Virginia waters in the very face of our
officers, who say that they cannot en-
force the law unless their force is In
creased and better arms provided. The
pirates are generally armed with re-
peatipg rifles, and are bad, bold set.
The judge Of Accomack County Court
has issued a writ for local-optlon
election to he held on Chlncoteagne
island on the Goth day Of April, and
the liquor dealers in this district are
circulating petitions for an election to
be held here as soon as possible.
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