The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-07

Whu6 lmpteknAgA0 W
then in use but 1t was not defended b
forts until during the Revolution, whel
our American privateers were 90 hvel.
In their menaces II not attacks upol
British ports. When the Cinque Port
OF Dover, Hastings, Heythe, Romne!
and Sandwich, considered the keys o
the kingdom from being nearest France
were instituted by William /, in 107S
and their jurisdiction vested in barot
lord wardens, such Jurisdiction, but mo-
the title, being abolished as late as 1855
Yarmouth endeavored to attain to thu
same dignity, but only secured sort O
municipal jurisdiction through deputed
balifs Of the Cirque Ports lord.wardens
Bat the city secured better than dignity
in her great annual Free Fairs," which
shortly became the headquarters o.
hordes Of Dutch traders, and eventually
made Yarmouth the greatest herring
mart OF England. Yarmouth furnished
40 sail, and 1915 marines for the mem
orable siege OF Calais; and II was here
that was fitted out the beautiful ship
sent TO Norway to bring to England the
kings daughter for marriaget to Prince
Edward, afterwards King Edward IL
Among the strange customs OF the old
city none were more curious than the
mode of electing the mayor, high stew.
ard, recorder, sub-stewaFd, and other
municipal officers, which was only
changed as late as the middle OF the
present century. An Inquest Of twelve
persons was formed by placing thenamea
OF "a freemen into four hats: Then q
person callel an "Innocent," usually
child, drew three names from each Of
the four hats. These twelve persons
formed the inquest; and they we're lit.
orally incarcerated in the city hall
"without meat, drink, FIRE or candle"
until nine OF them agreed upon the
officers; and there was no ap'
pesl from, or contest arising out Of, this
primitive procedure.
The Dutch have left their mark plain
" upon old Yarmouth. Indeed one will
and similar traces Of continental inhuen.
ces, though very old and remote, in a
number Of the seaports OF Great Britain.
IN Berwick, Scotland. and in many Of
he fishing villages Of the Firth Of Forth,
,s well as in old Edinburgh itself, you
will find a type Of lace, manner, and oc.
,asionally suggestions in ancient archi-
lecture, which point straight and true to
orogenitors aud builders from the Nor.
man French. At Plymouth and Pen.
,apce, in Cornwall, the old Hebrew
train is clearly descernable, though the
Jews were never in Cornwall In num-
,ers less than 500 years ago, when they
ound q source OF wealth in the tin Of the
mines. Up in Aberdeen, Scot
and, the Morse blood still tells mar.
,elonsly, in complexion, hair, figure,
md in local names OF places and men.
A way up in Lerwick, Shetland, oil the
I'D portions Of the city are as typically
Dutch as the. Oldest portions oil HARLEM
and Amsterdam. At Cork you will find
races OF the French. Away over
Il old Galway, on the weat coast
Il Ireland, the faces and
5orms OF the Spanish fishermen Of BARGE.
Qua are reproduced in those OF the fish.
wives and men Of Ciaddagh; and you
will find bits Of arch, column, balcony
and tiny patios or courts, in Galway, as
Moorish as any in Granada or Seville.
In like manner, you are continually re-
minded OF Holland in Yarmouth. Am
,terdam lies but little way distant,
straight across the North Sea. Thegreat
'Dutch Fairs" OF olden times brought
aither all the provincial folk Of Suffolk
md Norfolk and OF the "North Oour-
tree.. Many Dutch factors and mer'
chants settled here, married, and be-
came merged with the local population.
Yarmouth herringfshers copied the
Dutch method OF taking the fsh, and
the curers, their process OF "pickling"
The herring. The grand plan OF the
harbor was executed under the direction
Of Joas johnson, a Dutchman. And
everywhere among the ancient shops.
habitstions and Hshermen's homes Of
Yarmouth are numberless structures,
behind which one feels certain muet be
found folk with tasseled caps, short
skirts, boddiced waists, wooden shoes
and the marvellous pipes Of Holland.
This is nowhere more noticeable than
in the narrow maze Of streets intersect.
ing the main thoroughtares from east to
west. There are nearly 200 OF these.
They are called Grows" None OF them
are ten feet in width; the most are less
than six; and across many friendly
hands can be shaken. believe that it
was Dickens himself who in HouSelsoId
Words said Yarmouth is one vast grid.
iron, Of which the bars are represented
by the 'rows.'" Asa rule this portion
OF the city houses the lowly. At nearly
every door some indication Of the fisher.
mans life Is apparent. Bits Of wreck
are lying In this one to be transformed
into lighters" or kindling. Sinkers
and buoys are piledin another entrance.
Models OF anchors, smaCks and full
rugged ships adorn ground.tloor win.
doWs; while from the easements and
meager balconies above everything that
can hang and dry in go little space, from
a suit Of "oilskins" swaying like q fisher
man Bcarecrow, 10 quarter.mile her,
ring net in folds, or a mainsail OF a
smack, flaps and FLAPS the facades on
either side in easy and friendly tamll'
iarity.
There is but one vehicle in all Var
month which can traverse these shadowy
"rows," many OF them as close and din
as the sunleSs thoroughfares of old
Alsiers. This is called the yarmouth
Cart It ia genuine antique, but re-
mains in general use, because necessary
for service in "the rows" It has hui
two wheels, low and heavy. The stout
rack or frame which they support, run!
rearward and upward at an obtuse angle
and, 10 the front, the same distance, a
the same angle along the lower part Of
the shafts. One horse only is used
The cartunan usually balances the cart II
loading directlyiover the wheels, but !
not, aCcomplishes the same by the add
ton Of his own weight. The shafts arr
OF extraordinary length, like those Of thu
curious Cuban UoLGnte. You will IRE
quently find them fully 14feet long from
tips TO socket, where they really begin
A cavalcade Of the empty carts, CHATTER
ing down the quaint old streets on theiI
homeward way Of eventide, with th'
dimiy.defned perspective OF sncten
facade and tower, will easily flash int
ones fancy the suggestion OF q process
sion Of Chariots returning from tn
Roman races OF old.
There is little at Yarmouth AM
roundabout for actual identification
the thlngs and folk Dickens made yol
l. 4 Ia