Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-24

CHNcorEAGUE ISLAND,
August q, 1893.
The prosperity OF this island is due al
most exclusively to its oyster interests.
The bays and inlets that surround the
island are the best natural oyster-grounds
on the Eastern Shore. Chlncoteague
bay is literally covered with planted
oysters. and each man has his ground
marked of. The last season was the
most prosperous one for years, and 1t 10
estimated that the money derived from
oysters alone amounted to nearly Sl5O,-
600. or neatly $50 for every man, woman,
and child on the island.
PINE lIsBIyG.
Fish OF all kinds also abound in these
waters Hon. II. X. Ellyson, OF Rich
mond, with his granddaughter, Miss
4 Nav tllyson. went ont one afternoon last
week. and soon returned with eighty
odd fine trout Almost every inhsbitant
has a boat, some larger, some smaller, snd
/ during the oyster season Chlncoteague
bay is alive with boats. All oysters in
these waters are taken with tongs, and
while disputes sometimes arise as to the
limits Of oyster planting grounds, nosuch
thing as an oyster-war has ever occurred
here.
WILD PONIES.
In times agone Chincoteague was
known abroad chiefly on account OF Its
ponies and pony-pennings. How these
ponies first came To the island no one
now knows but tradition says that
South American ship containing cargo
of monies was cast ashore off Aesateague
in the latter part OF the seventeenth CEN
tury. and that some OF the ponies man.
aged TO swim through the breakers to
the island, where they went Wild and
propagated their race. There are now
! five or six hundred ponies on the two
islands, and those that are not used are
allowed TO roam wild over the marshes
and meadows, in which they live
throughout the year with no other food
or shelter than the marshes and pine
trees afford.
PESHING THE PONIES.
Every year during the month Of Au-
gust the ponies are driven into pens,
where the Younger ones are lassoed,
hauled out by the neck, aud branded.
This il an immemorial custom OF the
islanders and WAS formerly observed as a
great Jetc day, attracting large crowds
/ FROM the mainland and many from New
| York. Philadelphia. and other eastern
cities. The pony-pennings OF the present
day are rather tame affairs. Formerly
the whole population OF tho island turn
ed out-meD, women, and children-
and there was much fun and excitement
rs the Youngsters, mounted on tame pO-
MES. chased the wild ones over the
marshes and drove them into the pens.
Now they are quietly driven up and
penned the over night, and the lassolnR
and branding excites no more interest
here than hog-killing or constructing
in other parts Of the State.
HIGH PRICES FOR PONIES.
Persons still come from distance to
buy ponies, but they are dear at present
prices. The young mare colts are rarely
sold, but when they are sold they bring
| from S75 to 500 each. Unbroken three
year-oId horse colts bring from $50 to
s75, according to size, appearance, &c.
The crowd present this year was larger
than for some years past owing to the
fact that the Baptist Association was
| holding its sessions here at the time.
Richmond was well represented, while
there were delegations here from Mary
land, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jor-
sey. and New York.
TIE FASTEST sKIFF AFLOAT.
Mr.. A. j. Ford and Colonel Howard
| Svineford OF Richmond, and the DIS
patch correspondent we're honored while
on Chincoteague with a sail in Captain
Kendall Harmon's celebrated boat the
John W. Edwards, the fastest skiff
ahoat in Eastern Shore waters. She has
won every race that has been run in this
section since she was built, and has
brought her owner many handsome
silver pitchers and fobIots This skiff,
which belongs at Wachapreague, sailed
up to Chincoteague outside IN the open
sea in the hope of getting up q race, but
was disappointed. She was greatly ad-
mired and when she moved ont from the
wharf with the party mentioned above
the crowd that thronged the waters edge
to see heramove Off was larger than that
which witnessed the pony-penning the
next day.
"UNCuE" KENDALL JESTER.
I had forgotten TO mention that
"UncIe" Kendall Jester, who has wit
messed all the pony-pennings here for
the past seventy years, and who is him
self an extensive raiser OF ponies, was on
hand this time, and promises TO DO SO
for many years to come. Though seventy
four years old his hair is still untinged
with gray, and his frame is as erect and
robust "a that OF man OF forty. He is an
expert horseback rider Ia rdra 0ris in this
clime), and never fails to get unco happy
on horse penning days. and his wife never
fails to come down and teke him home.
He has probably the most numerous pro-
geny OF any man in this section, If not
in Virginia.
ACCOMACK BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.
The meeting of the Accomack Baptist
Association just closed was one Of the
most pleasant aud successful ever held.
There are ID churches and 7 pastors in
| the association, with a total membership
of 1875, with 1897 Sunday-school
scholars and teachers. During last year
there were 1G3 persons baptized and l52
gained in membership. The total con.
tributions during the year amounted to
-, 7l4.02, distributed as follows; Pas
tors salaries, S4,697; State Missions,
S29S.29; Foreign Missions, S349.49
Home Missions, S259.S pay for board
of ministerial students at Richmond
College and Southern Baptist Theologi-
cal Seminary, Sl13.33; colportage,
$685.. 81 Z; support OF aged ministers and
their families. S33Sl.
The next meeting Of the association
will be held next August at Atlantic
church, on the mainland just opposite
Chincoteague. hALLlAs.
ATRAGEDY AT A EsPTGZiNG.
Three Persons KILLED by Lightning
I'm Richmond COunty-Acet-