Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-28
,oudsuce Of The Evening star.

conespoDdsnce Of The Evening star.
CHERRrsroSE, Va, November 26, 1891.
| Tangier Island lies in the Chesapeake bay
| we'll over toward the eastern shore, nearly
opposite the mouth of the Potomac river. The
lower or southern end 10 long sand pit re-
sembling the handle Of . large gourd curved tc
| the right, the inner or eastern side forming Z
harbor for small craft My acquaintance with
Tangier began in 1854. Ny host was going te
camp meeting, in fact everybody seemed TO b
going, and went too. The skipper for the
occasion Vas retired captain. A number Of
pungies had left our creek that Saturday morn.
ing, and although We were several hours be.
hind the last one our skipper determined "a
surprise the others and get TO TanRier be-
| fore them by taking . short cut across the
north end OF Watts Island instead of following
| the usual channel had known our skipper
years before and his benevolent face had in
spired me with q firm belief that he Was q
bright and shining light in the church, and this
belief ives fully strengthe ned BY the eagerness
ne manifested to 60 to camp meeting on this
occasion.
We missed the swash channel by nearly a
mile and ran aground; but, worse than that, my
idol was shattered. Wehad barely struck when
our skipper gave vent to more oaths in five
minutes than could write in half an hour, in
fact believe couldn't write them at all IL l
she was deaf and could only imagine what he
was saying. There We were miles away from
land, night approaching and nothing on board
TO eat. There were plenty Of crabs around, and
liked crabs, but had no line. But wanted
crabs. went down in the hold and found g
short end Of rope, which I untwisted and tied
the yarns togetherfor . line. selected O small
stone from the ballast for sinker and happily
found an end OF Q shoulder of bacon which had
been left by former crew as UNBEATABLE. cut
| q 0hr1pk nf fax 80 g. l~-.< -
In the punt nice mess Of jimmy crabs IN
fortunately one of my crabs bit one Of the
barefooted crew, who scooped them all over
board before l could intsrpose, crabs, in the
estimation Of most eastern shoremeu, being ct
only for hogs. We lay there all night and the
boat that happened to come along to Tangier,
where the camp meeting was already under
way.
TAxorrn HAnBoR
The harbor presented forest Of masts of
crafts of all sizes, such a. I never saw before
nor have seen since-crafts Of all sizes
from steamboats, from Baltimore to the
smallest canoes that dare venture on the
bay. The whole Chesapeake bay region
in palmy days focked to the camp meet
ing held there yearly. There was nothing at
tractive about the place where these meetings
were held, on the lower end OF the island de-
scribed, unless the attraction consisted in Its
centrally. There was no water and no shade,
except that afforded by eleven pine trees,
which have since disappeared, and BY artificial
bowers. I am told this point was thickly
wooded when the British landed in 1914 and
cut nearly all the trees down. 1t was here that
Father Thomas preached to the invaders and
told them plainly they would fail In their
attack on Baltimore.
The upper or northern end Of the island
spreads wider and affords . scant tillage to the
fisher folk lnhabitants, who were the recipients
Of the ministrations of Father Thomas parson
of the island, as he was called, whose circuit
extended to Kent Island. This Father Thomas
was famous man in his day, and his cures BY
prayer and Amounting, as related in his
biography, would put the modern faith doctor
to the blush. His influence over his flock was
remarkable, though on one occasion he had to
seek legal advice to help him through a
creed of the early Methodists' and the the
discipline, too, il remember rightly.
to go to law with each other.
which Father Thomas had been unable to ad-
just The men were angry and would not
listen to their pastor nor to any one else. The
urgency of the situation impelled Father
Thomas to seek the advice of Thomas Joynes.
the father Of the late William Joyness Of the
court of appeals Of Virginia, q then eminent
lawyer in Accomac. Mr.. Joynes advised him
to return to the island, get bis whole flock to-
gether, including the two irreconcilables. and
hold prayer meeting, which was to last until
the difficulty was adjusted He acted upon
this advice, and happily the two were recon-
all-night meeting. These islanders have always
been loyal to the northern Methodist church.
which made them objects of dislike to
those on the main loyal to the Union cause
throughout the war.
FATE OF THE LIQUOR sELLER.
While there is no law against the sale of
spirituous liquors in the island no one has
ever successfully engaged in that occupation
there. The house Of such one always burns
down. The hardy boatmen dwelling upon the
creeks and estuaries of the main have fur
nished their quota to the merchant and naval
marines on the utmost seas Under the age of
steam their numbers are constantly declining.
The late war furnished congenial occupation
to these adventurous spirits in running the
blockade. Strange as it may seem Washington
city was the principal point of departure The
manner Of operation was this: As soon as .
pungy "a small schooner) arrived with Q load
Of oysters potatoes or whatever the captain
would 60 to the Georgetown custom house and
clear light. This had been the custom from
his cargo after several days had elapsed he
would lay in such stores as he desired to land
in the confederacy and then return to the GUS
tom house, manifest his cargo and clear with
q load TO such port, say Onancock or Balti-
more, as the nature of his manifest offered the
safest suggestion. When he was boarded of
Alexandria by the naval officer he showed his
load clearance. Watching his opportunity on
his way down the Potomac, favored by the
darkness Of night. he would slip up some creek
beyond the observation of the hotilla and dis
charge his goods, slip out and proceed on his
way. When he was again boarded of Piney
Point he would show his light clearance. Some
times It would happen that no opportunity was
afforded him to discharge his load en- route, so
he was compelled to proceed to his loaded des-
tination, perhaps to repeat the effort with ad-
ditional goods.
1t seems incredible that this traffic should
have continued under the nose Of the federal
government without the connivance Of some of
its officials. Whisky and salt were contraband
of war. and were only permitted to be sent to
the eastern shore Of Virginia in limited guam
titles and under severe restrictions. Salt was
made here by boiling sea water.
TRIP DURING THE War.
left Baltimore in 1868 ON board schooner
having on board Ave barrels Of whisky, for
legitimate use 80 far rs knew, but yet contra
| band. The skipper expressed confidence in
his ability to get il through. When We were
boarded of Fort McHenry he took the board
ing officer down in the cabin. What occurred
there do not know, but when the officer came
on deck he expressed himself satisfied and we
pursued our way.
Leading a life Of exposure and hardship
these seamen have no sympathy with those
disposed to eybaritic indulQence and vet no