Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-01
THE HOG ISLAND WAR
SERIOUS CONTENTION BETWEEN MA
RYLAND AND VIRGINIA.
Tho Governor of tho Former state Issues
Premature Proclamation, Which
Brings on Trouble.

river. by tho Virginia tug Ida Augusta.
This was the result Of a proclamation
issued by Governor Jackson, of Maryland,
whereby he undertook to throw the Hog
Island fats open to oyster-dredgers.
He assumed that tho opinion Of Mr..
Whitney, United States officer employed
to trace the disputed line, was an arbtra-
ton, whereas that officer could commit
Virginia TO nothing-the Legislature only
could do that.
The Governor Of MARYLAND should have
awaited the assembling Of the Virginia
legislature. and had hc done so, he would
have had the pleasure OF seeing that body
approve the finding Of llr. Whitney as to
the true course of the boundary limo be-
tween the two States.
Governor Lee therefore thinks the action
Of the Governor Of MARYLAND rather hasty.
TWO CAPTAINS ARRESTED.
Friday CAPTAIN Swift. Of the pungy p.
=. Parker. and Captain lleadly, of the
Regulator, of Tappahannock, were arrested
by Captain Russell. deputy commander OF
the Virginia oyster navy, TOR illegal
dredging in tho Hog-lsland flats. They
were taken before magistrate and their
cases were dismissed on the payment of
n small fine.
WHAT TIE cowMoNwEALIH's ATTORNEY SAYS.
Governor Lee is in receipt Of the follow
inc TELEGRAM from the Commonwealth
Attorney Of Northumberland:
Hr4THvmLr, Va, Nov. %, 1889.
Gorrn0r Fizut7b Lee, Richmond:
The boats Officers and crews dredging
on Hog island Yesterday were, with the as
si-tance Of Captain Seth Forster, arrested;
and ~ the Justices trial this Captain tc5tl-
fed that Forster told them 10 act under
Governor Jacko0n's proclamation.
II vas said III the presence Of Forster.
who stated that If he had 1t TO do over
again he would not make the arrest. Upon
this statement the Justice discharged the
prisoner.
ore likely to be on Lewis's reservation on
Monday
Forster says he has not received instrrc-
tious from you in regard To Hog island.
Won't Won. under these circumstances.
telegraph Forster and Captain ". =. hus-
sell e. see that Lcw.sls protected, notwth-
standing the action Of Governor Jackson
". T.. SGIrH.
ATTORNEY Tor the Commonwealth.
LEWIS MUST BE PROTECTED.
Upon the receipt Of this telegram Cover
nor / .ce sent tho following instructions 10
Captain Forster:
Captain Fors'er. Commanding state S'c0mT
Chesapeake, Acr1ob, "a:
llr. Lewis enjoys certain rights under
the Jaw OF this State.
j. is my duty % see that such law Is ex-
ecuted.
You are instructed therefore TO fully pro
''11 -, -'i t'...,,t -orooloJ
L.g l'" '4 ol, 80. H.. C,-,.,,,,- ~
~ .ic r )'i'''-- '''D' "a L,a..,,,,.'.,, NE
LEE 10 'AoAsoN'
Governor Lee has sent the following let
ter TO Governor Jacks0n:
Co,D.o.,,r.tTr5 or NrrGIvrAl
Govrr~or's Ogucr.
p,.u,,oSn - November " 1880.
~ ,,.. ,,.-.r...., I'm, ,, t,l..,. corc.,,o,.
40 ~. H'.' '''g 10 ''
D -u"J ''''' A"'''P ~ ~
Ny Dear Silt having 9een nro19ht t'
my utiehuou .ldt you DiQ Wy pune Pil-
ciannuon declared Hos-l 7laLd Aal- oirA
20 Maryland and NE54h'A pNSle' ..-.u 10y
dredging purpose. ana 'ni.l1..-. s'-t- sue
9, non on your P'It ,"'7 ,It'Dil'.,"t "'
heiV 10 reg 10 c'Iu-c. u, e'11
tuorlli'7 OF -dtlN ltiu "ilt ID --L'' WI r"
You requesting }ou TO take DO @-1lon u1,ii
couI' o." He4IH u ~. ,.... .... c..-.
since tneh / gay I.aih'l ..."t l.f
were Wen I'uhd'u' ~ y tl 'I' '"-
1url dnhte ocr uIien'. OBJ re iiF u'i'i g.
ttrtav when N9rNIand hoat NA7 ut" 10y
% ho-J con mlhden of "H
oiu'er oi virginia. whose ""t' il. ".s ''
pr tees Alr LOWS ia MS lease OK tue L"--
Island rats. ,..
mo state oi irSlhIia 10y up ~ "c' ~ n'I
General Assembly, mas "'cl"Icl ll0--l 1'@,iu
lat open Tor planning PVT P",S' 1He 'il;
Owls uAurI lA"l III" I'., nv i'.s, wv,
I'D hllh' an" upon '"' la,'H va s'''. "0' H
hihae i1I-' 'Ai'H"l'uic "a "'""'J iH
pl1Ntiu" oysters llt!
Inc Lrel9l tuIe Oh 'he Hlat' Oh lI-liilA'
Ivy passing ihe aci ABOVE IeieiLrd .', MAS
solemniy asserted the r.eht oil Virginia 10
tins wafer ana uhth tAe contrary j. Gt
clared ~ tAe same Douy 10y u ZEN oil 'uaI
state of Virginia 10 MainlA an mgr claim alr
o. pTot'ct hcr lessee I'D inc leh'5 siaA'eu
him uy TINS state. g.,
j think That your commissoner' ~ wen
as Mr.. Whiting, mas ehtHel{ III stoAc
inc purpose ana oNJ'ct OF 'ID j"iu1 INV VS.
tigat.on in the disputed locality.
Mr.. Jones was requested by me IN com
piiance with Your request 10 be lTs7e III
when the line was examined. nm ord,r ~
give our Interpretation OF the me idll
down by Me5sIs. Black and assoclatcs AID
their award, and especially TO get the
opinion of an expert coest surveyor az 10
the meaning OF tine word headlanls a.
used "a that award. That this was the sole
object ID calling in an officer from the
United States Coast Survey is shown Dv
your statement that You were gong 70
make such an investigation whether IL
gina acted with YOU or not. 60,
4 reference 10 our correspondence VIII
show chat 1 consistently maintained tna'
/ had no right 20 appoint arbitrators to iay
OF the boundary line, and that suCni powers
were vested IN tlc Leg l9Jure Oh Virginia
alone. l therefore consider 1lr. mun@.
letter As mere expression Of ms own
opinion a. 70 where Il. Jenkins ana Biack
line runs III the locality OF hog island
and in no sense as an award binding on
either State.
am informed by Mr.. Jones, who Is
present GEES the representative OF Virginia,