Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-15
EASTERN SHORE.
whIte-Csp Fooiishness-Wher Are
the Constables

Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
OYANCocK, March l3, 1889.
The White. Cap excitement is at feyer-beat
IN eome localities. Several nights ago young
man In Sluthkill Neck dreamed that he he'd
found q large and valuable treasure in m
old Indian burying-ground. On the follow
ing night he took several friends whom be
let into his secret, and with them proceeded
to the spot asd began to dig for the buried
treasure. They had hardly commenced
work when they saw band oil men
With long white caps on their heads
emerge from neighboring forest The
hunters fed from the scene, leaving
their implements on the ground, and have
not yet resumed operations. The greatest
excitement, however, prevails around Grad
dockville, In the southern part oil Acco-
mack.
i. A. Ashmead, the father OF Andrew
Ashmead, who imagines himself a woman,
and who recently got into a shooting scrape
with John Kelam because the latter would not
marry him, is very much agitated over so
called White-Cap notice which he found
early one morning posted on bis front gate.
The notice was embellished with skull and
cross.bOnep and warned the elder Ashmead
TO stop loaGng about the village and go to
work or else he would get a cow-hidirg.
Ii was misunderstanding document and
pretended TO be "signed by order OF the
Grand Master Of the White Caps" Ash
mead tore down the notice and for some
time said nothing about il, but finally be be-
gan to get mad, and tho more be thought
about IL the madden he got Day before yes
terday he posted the following notice on the
store doors OF The village:
ain reply TO the notice nailed TO my gate
post say to the White Caps OF Craddock-
willie and neighberbood that are interested in
my family affairs select one OF your men and
name your place, day. and hour, and l will
meet him and gaze on his beautiful face, then
we will both 20 TO - together.
"F. A. AsHMcAD."
Mr.. Asbmead's neighbors say that he has
lately shown a greater fondness for work
than ever before aud that he now gives the
White Caps but slender opportunity to catch
him from nome after nightfall.
One young man living in the same locality
has received notice telling him that be will
be handled il he continues to have so many
sweethearts, and another nas been ordered
not TO 20 TO see his sweetheart oftener than
twice a week nor remain longer than 10
O'Clock at night.
The negroes in that section are very much
exercised on the subject, since James Hat.
ton, prominent colored politician, has been
roughly handled by White Caps. lie bad
boasted that he was not afraid OF them and
bad Threatened TO shoot them II they inter-
fered with him. He was intercepted several
nights ago by a band OF masked men while
going through pine forest and pretty badly
used up. His iDjuie les, however, are said to
be very slight, but be was so badly scared
that he did not 60 out Of his house for seve-
raj days after the occurrence.
The weather Is far and farmers are busiy
at work bedding seed sweet potstoes, clean
ing up fields, and getting ready for spring
crops. An old and experienced farmer told
me yesterday that be expected to see larger
acreage planted in round and sweet potatoes
here than ever before. KALLIAs.