Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-03-07
chapters CT unwrls.en History
: By SEPTUAGEHARIAN.

By SEPTUAGENARIAN.
The first cargo of sweet potatoes
sent from the Eastern Shore to New
York was shipped in 1927, by the
schooner Providence, Capt. Lewis
Mathews. The Providence was built
by George Floyd, of Bradford's Neck,
and was launched from what is still
known us the Salt Works landing.
She was sold afterwards to u company
composed OF John Il. Wilson, Thomas
Bull, ST., and Capt. Lewis Mathews.
Jesse Phillips was her sailing-master
and pilot, and two colored deck
hands completed the crew. On the
trip referred to, Thomas Bull, Jr.,
deceased but q few years ago, and the
writer, John w. a. Elliott, aged thir-
teen, were passengers. The 200 bar
rels of sweets making up the cargo
were grown by probably u hundred
farmers of Accomac and Northamp-
and loaded at various landings on
each side of Mlachapungo creek. The
experiment of testing the market of
New York with 200 barrels of pota-
toes was considered at that day du-
bious venture, and many doubts were
expressed in regard to the result.
Along with the best wishes of the
shippers, Capt Mathews was duly
freighted with at least a hundred
memoranda. The proceeds of the
| cargo were to be invested III Hour,
cheese, boots, shoes, and even dress
goods, along with numerous notions
aoniurcd up by the fancy of the
females of many households. in ad-
dition to the bulkier shipments of
the farmers, was the private venture
Of the two passengers, to wit: bar
rels of black walnutS duly hul.cd and
dried.
Perhaps the incidents Of this voy-
age cling to the memory OF the writer
MS distinctly MS those OF any enter
prise of his life. The novelty of the
trip, his situation and Surroundings,
were well calculated to make them
impressive. The hoisfinG aboard OF
the yawl, the weighing of the an
choS, the flashing of water barrels and
everything movable about tie decks,
in preparation for an approaching
encounter with the high seas, made
up a revelation of adventure not
without it's heroic inspiration to the
two youthful passengers.
Crossing Hog Island bar with fa-
roring breeZes, we babe goodbye to
home and set our course for Chinco-
league shoals. In those days the
navigation of the coast was quite
different from what it is now. En-
cept at the Delaware Capes, no friend
w beacon light stood between Hog
Island and the Hook, the compass
and lead-line being the only Guide
posts of the route. But in spite OF Il
propitions beginning, the voyage was
not fated to end without adventure.
The autumnal season was waning
towards winter, and after brief
lowering of the skies with portentous
clouds, the wind came dead ahead,
accompanied with fitful snow squalls
and heavy seas. Under close reefs
we attempted for awhile to hold our
own, but were eventually driven back
to find harbor in some favoring inlet.
Essaying to follow a sloop across
Chincoteague Bar we grounded. luck
ilv beating our way over with the
rising tide. The Chincoteague Island
of that day was a very different place
from what it is now. The great oys-
ter industry which has since built up
its town of handsome residences,
business houses, capacious churches
and comfortable schools, had not yet
been dreamed of; and the character
and appearance of its inhabitants
were as primitive and crude as their
4 L. S,oo,,I,,,fr 10 CHI
we again dared "the vastly Deep"
reaching our destination without
further incident worthy of note.
Though small lots of Carolina
sweets had been sold in New York,
the arrival of q whole cargo from
Virginia was an event which stirred
the market with no little excitement.
The deck of the Providence was soon
throngcd with q motley crowd and
our skipper pressed with many curl
Gus inquirers The price of single
! large potatoes was placed at shilling
and many sold for curiosities. When
the rush had subsidized, Capt. Mathews
took a sample of his cargo to Mr.. IL.
p. Ravens, at that day the only COM
mission merchant known to the E..
Shore. The idea of a whole cargo of
sweet potatoes evidently took his
/ breath. 1.-TWO hundred barrels Of
potatoesgn he exclaimed; more than
enough to glut the whole market of
New York. The people here do not
known what to do with sweet pota
toes" Nevertheless something had
to be done. Advertisements of this
remarkable importation were sent to
the morning papers, and clerks dis
patched to solicit sales with the cor
ner groceries and marlet-men. Even
tually we opened our matches to the
wholesale trade; some of the market
men taking a whole barrel, a few of
the bolder ones two. Meantime the
Captain had ordered the "old-wife''
potatoes spread out on the quarter
deck, where a brisk retail trade was
carried on at the rate of a shilling
apiece; while young Bull and the
writer found ready sales for our
count" Our two hundred barrels of
sweets were closed out in about two
weeks at prices averaging from $500
to S250 per barrel, and the Captain
began the arduous task of filling a
| hundred wants, representing 80
many farmers, their sons, wives and
daughters, and embracing about
every conceivable commodity known
to the mercantile trade.
Fine weather and favoring winds
gave us g pleasant passage home,
where the excitement greeting our
return was scarcely less than that of
our arrival in New York. Many a
larder was stored for the coming win.
ter, many long-felt domestic want
supplied, and the heart of many an
anxious belle gladdened by our com
ing. Capt. Matthews was heartily
congratulated ON his successful voy-
age; and thus ended the first venture
in line of trade destined to open up
a new era in the industry and pros
perity of the E. Shore. Of the mode
"a of+ [a c1raat r1nt, RI q r tI a I.