Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1889-06-29
Reply to Coaster.

Mr.. ED1ToR-Are we a community Of
robbers. and have we been for time inn
memorial rs your correspondent, Coast
er. would make those not acquainted
with us believer Have we from time
immemOrial appropriated wrecked
property to our own use regardless of
the ownership thereof, as this writer
virtually charges upon us? This is a
serious charge, sir. to make against US
and the one making it should be;dnubly
sure of his premises before making
such damaging accusations against the
good name of our people. Can Coaster
point 10 an instance in his experiences
i'm which wrecked property found has
not been restored to the owner without
demand, When the individual ownership
WAS shown by the marks thereon or tile
character of the property itSelfr Speak
ing from our own experience ,mewhat
and from that of others who are famll
lar with the matter we will say, that
we have never known or ever heard OF.
!, case in which this was not done. 1t
is,true that in numerous instances, III
which the Individual ownership OF
wrecked property could not be known.
that it has been appropriated to the sole
use of the finder OF finders. 1t is also
true that in IL few instances when large
amounts OF wrecked goods were on the
shore ungualded. that portions were.
stolen and carried off, as is the case
everywhere and in every community
when disasters of Il kindred nature,
overtake property, such as fires, rail-.
road wrecks sc. Bnt these cases are.
exceptions and can't so far to establish
the sweeping charge made against us
by Coaster, who in making itseems 10
act ..upnn the principle that misery
loves company. The charge is false
and the man that makes it, either ig:
noraitly or malciously puts lis iii a po
sitiOlI before the world, that for vii
lainy will not compare unfavoiablywit
the crimes alleged against the wreckers
Of the Florida reefs. This we have to
say, for the Charge that We appropriate.
property to our own nse found along our
shores whether any present clue to the
rlehtful heirs is apparent thereon. or
not. But how about the case i'll ques.
ton the case of Capt HelryI. Sniith
Of Welltleet, Mass. whose bodyswas so
unfortunate. as 10 be Cast upon our in.
Unsuitable shoresY Can it, all that WIS
left of gallant and noble seaman be
classified az wreckage? Would you
spak Mr.. Coaster OF the 'human form
divine''-malred by elemental wrath
and cast at your feet mutually pleading
for YOUR protection and care--as you
would piece of broken rope or empty
water caskr Is there, MIR. Coaster.
seen in your own catalogue OF crimes
alleged against us and listed by your
self, and which extends back even to
time immeinOrial Il case 10 compare
with the rne under considerations
case in which tile yultures OF the air
aud of the sea, and of the land COLI
spirpd together against form that was
made even in the image of tho Great
Architect and Master Himself to dives I
il of all that was valuable To each. and
to wine from the face of the earth for
ever every vestige, every sign Of what
was lately a noble man loving nus
hand and son? Search well yourrecord
MIR. Coaster, and gu to the public re.
cords of the county themselves and lind
there, if you can, a case para lei to the
one which has so lately brcl0ud.d their
fair pages. 1t is useless, Mr.. Coaster
to enter into tile merits of this DOto-
rious affair llere-tlie records speak for
themselves. 1t is useless to attempt to
garble or tal>iiy them. These pages
are open to the world, However much,
we may regret it,and therein these men
Al e condemned out of tlieirown mouths.
We deplere tile character of the event
in QUESTION. sir. We are grieged at
heart for these unfortunate Ones, for
their families and their posterity, but
let Justice lie done, MIR Cuaster, though
the heavens fall, nOt-only to the princi-
pal actors i'll the tragedy, but to our
community also, and while We would
exercise to the extent of our will that
divine attribute charity, i'll dealing
with this matter, yet We protest that
you attempt not tO make Of this COM
munity scapegoat for their sins, to
justify their acts by charging us with
crime. MANY CITIZENS.