Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-28
SHOOTING AFFRAY.
LIVELY FUsILLApr ON sYKEys ISLAND,
AcCoMACK COUNTY,
But the Lovers Were Married AL the
sams-Attempted Assault
Artesian Well.
OSANoooK. March 26, 1888.
tcorrospondonce of the Richmond Dispatch.l

OSANoooK, March 26, 1888.
A shooting ARRAY occurred several
days ago on Sykes's island between Will
liam Allen, q well-known resident OF the
island, and his father-in-law, Henry Will
liams. who lives some miles distant on
the mainland. Some years ago Allen
married Wiliamss oldest daughter, very
much against her fathers wishes, and
since that time the two men have been at
deadly enmity with one another. Will
liams is said to have made re-
peated efforts to induce his daugh
ter TO desert her husband and re-
turn to her old home, and Allen
has been heard on more than one occa-
sion to utter threats against the life of
his father-in-law. About one week ago
younger daughter OF Williams, who
had recently become engaged to young
man of the neighborhood, left her home
without the knowledge Of her parents
and went to the house Of her sister, Mrs.
Allen, on Sykes's island, where she pro-
ceeded to make preparations for her ap-
preaching marriage, to which her father
was known to be violently opposed.
Williams suspecting where his daughter
was and what was her object in leaving
home, armed himself with q shotgun and
proceeded to the island with the inten-
ton of taking his daughter back home
with him.
Allen, who had all the time been look
ing out for Williams, saw him approach
ing and went out to meet him, shotgun
in hand. As soon as Williams came
within range Allen opened fire on him.
striking him with anumber OF shot about
the face and hands. Williams immedi-
ately returned the fire, missing Allen,
but striking William Marshall III the leg,
inficting painful heshwound. The in
reference of outside parties put en- end
to further hostilities, and Williams went
in search OF an officer, who arrested both
combatants and took them before Justice
Taylor, of Atlantic district, who re-
quired them to give bond for their APP
pearance before the grand jury of the
County Court, now in session. Williams
failed to induce bis daughter to return
home with him, and she and her lover
were married the day after the shooting
took place. All the parties are well con-
nected, and the affair created much ex-
citement In the neighborhood where It
occurred.
One night last week some unknown
rufian attempted TO assault the person
Of a highly-respectable lady living at
Wattsville, in the northern part OF this
county. Her husband was away from
homo at the time, and the villain seized
the lady as she was coming out Of her
house Just after nightfall. Fortunately
her cries for help frightened off her
assailant, who fed to the neighboring
woods, pursued byan angry crowd. Had
he been caught no would have been
hung on the spot. A negro arrested on
the following day on suspicion was re-
leased after an examination, which
failed to connect him with the crime.
The Artesan well on Assoteague
island, of which mention has been made
in this correspondence, has been com
pleted, an abundant supply of fine water
having been obtained at the depth of 800
feet. The flow is 700 gallons per hour.
The last ten feet passed through was OF
solid bed rock. beneath which water was
struck. The total cost of the well was
only about $3.50. This establishes the
fact that Artesian conditions exist here
on the soa-coast at moderate depth.
The water obtained is said to be OF supe-
rior quality, pure and cool.
An attempt was made to sink an Arte-
sian well in this town last summer, and
after reaching a depth of nearly $50 feet
the enterprise was abandoned. II is now
almost certain that if they had gone fiji
teen or twenty feet deeper water would
have been obtained. The muddy ooZe
in which the work here stopped is identi
cal with that which lies on the primeval
bed rock at Assoteague marking the old
sea-foor.
Much complaint is heard here against
the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk
Railroad Company for the poor tele-
graphic facilities afforded the people of
this region. Since the recent storm they
have declined to send all press tele
grams, though the railroad business goes
on all right over the wires. KALLIAs.