The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11

press gang served three years on a British
man 'o-war. and then escaped TO fight with
Washington; Uncle ken's father John: was in
men. Iabout half the voting population OF the
Island at the time. were in the American
over and over made the Chincoteaguer revere
the old flag as few others In the South did.
Then. too, the ChincoteaguerS were oystermen
and co8sting sailors rather than farmers. and
traded to New York and Philadelphia for their
merchandise. which they bought with oysters.
which they were part was through the sale of
ponies while OF sentimental interest there was
little or none.
When the ordinance OF secession passed ut
Richmond. was sent to the people for ratiiica-
ton. ChincOte8gue turned out toaman to vote.
voted against the ordinance. J. A. VI. Wheat
ton; az Justice OF the Peace. Kept the registry
81 them e xh
Having voted to stay in the Union. the Chin
coteaguers hoisted the American flag TO pole
Bell and Everett. The peninsula was over
whe lmingly. the flag was seen from the
warned the Chincot eaauers that the Yankee
flag" must come down or tho terror- OF war
would burst over the island. Justice OF the
the spokesman Of the committee with gravity.
and then stroknG his htI o 2 < beard said va
hosed thas as K dan Gown less
dram Of powder and an ounce Of lead and are
And there it did stay. and there was never an
hour when the American flag could not be seen
there until after Lee surrendered.
Meantime forty eight men from the island
fought for Uncle Sam-a larger proportion of
the male population than any other Northern
State sent to the war. The islanders had a
deal OF trouble about supp les Mt first for they
We're beset BY the rebels on shore and the
Federal cruisers at, sea, but Justice OF, the
sent George ". r Smith with the registry OF
votes on the secession ordinance to Washing
Lincoln for fourteen Chincoteague vessels 20
trade to New York and Philadelphia, Then the
steamer Louisiana came and anchored IN the
bay to keep off the rebels. and Gen. Lockwood
came down and occupied the peninsula with
mon forces. and thereafter peace reigned.
high prices for oysters prevailed. and the him
coteaguers drank whiskey and danced with
vigor and frequency unknown before.
cHINCoTEAGUE PIETY.
1t should not be supposed that because tho
ronsts he was irreigious From time ont Of
mind the Methodists and Baptists have count
ell many Chincoteaguers among their num-
bers. and every year the presiding elder OF tho
Methodist district came ovor with two or throe
eyangelists and host OF mainland citizens
ana held Gamp E menG NO better pgse for
LhincOteagne could be asked for The sand.
Garneed with pine needles needles, made a per,ett
lacing over head made such domes and arch
ways rs no cathedral ever boosted, and shut
tho forest in drges, At night tho dark vaults
were lighted up by huge 4, fires Of pitchy pino.
W till tho ghosty limbs above appeared and
then died away I'LL all was din and uncertain
10 6aIe s b Se terrors Of mi
wrought up by their superstltons, tho agdi-
ence swayed TO and fro and went and shrieked
Then. when the excitement rose to a danger
Gus holnt the skilful preacher To- change the
Shall hindah me- for love Jesus" or "Wo are
WIN s%ons q Slofy lie Whole thro lSsP PO9e
There was no donhtns tho Chincoteasuer's
eigiouslenthusiasm while t lasted,
church people had become SO great " thnt Tie
natives. were far outnumbersd. and then
wave OF prohibition sGntiment swept from the
united, speakers were brought over from the |
mainland. meetings were he'll by night In the
clurfhes. and parades by day in the streets;
their money in liGuor repented, and told over
ana over again how mean ana wicked they had |
tncy stopped drinking. and thanked God amid
II chorus OF ,amen9, that they were not rs had |
held unler the local option law OF the State. |
and ChincOteague cast - votes In favor II |
Licensing LIQUOR dealers to about 800 against it. !
A most interesting old native Is Kendall Jes- /
tor. For no one knows how many years Uncle |
zen has met the stranger who visits the island |
with one set OF expressions. He introduced |
himself to me as he has done TO every other
visitor
" My names KennalI Jester"
Glad to meet you. sir"
DRINKS q little whiskey sometimes
Indeed! viii you have some now
Reckon. Doc or says RotS drink quart or |
iay-keen away bilious-drink quart N pint |
never have bilious"
And he does il. He has no trouble getting !
i, lIo came down the other day 10 celobratc
MS seyenty,-tiith birthday. BY noon no had |
AIKEN his daily allowance and concluded TO .
larry n bottle home to his wife so she could |
help celebrate. But no was driving a half |
vi d pony and In his eXuberance OF youthful |
spirits Uncle Ken dropped the relns as he start. |
ID away that he might drink the health OF a |
rlend who happened along Thereupon the |
DonY ran away up the street With Uncle Ken !
sitting bolt upright whooping like boy at n |
oase bal match, and having almost as much |
un as he did at oyster roasts in hi- youth. |
People expected to see him tipped out an kill; !
ID, but when the pony had kicked the thilIs and ,
dashboard 70 pieces II got away was captured |
again, and Uncle Ken mounted and rode homo |
bareback In triumph. If there Is any place |
where prohibition does not prohibit 1t Is on |