Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-24
4 BATTLE In THE BAY
Tapgjer islanders Attack a Fleet
of Oyster -DredgerS.
GRAPE AND CANISTER REPLY.
...,.v Aner yoIicy Exchanged-Csptain
pies Knled-others struck Excite
ment-Board's order Too Late
,..n-l,l ,elegram % the DIspatch.l

fs,o-ial telegram 20 the Dispatch.l
r...rv Va. March 2s.--War has broken
,-o,n among the oystermen IN the
...,,ko bav. Some time ago Morse.
... and Martin took mp about 800
II o,s,er-ground in the Pocomoke
sou,hcasi of Smiths Island, and
.'4,l 70 plant oysters on 1t. The
l...-~.n on Tangier Island claimed that
,,-.t 90. had taken MP natural oyster
..n.rarv 20 the laws of Virginia. and
,-.,scdea to disregard Morse d Co.'s
.'.r.n by dredging on the planted
.s. Morse q Co. brought suit last
che Circuit Court of Accomsc
..t iIe Tangier oystermen, but lost
d.. r.o They took al appeal TO the
y-.r.a court Of Appeals.
rwrLvE sCHOoNEBs.
r.r. moan time the Legislature passed
.r.trr law which gave planters the
+. takc mp their planted oysters.
-- .aler this Jaw, Morse 4 Co. en-
f lcot Of twelve schoonors 10
nn their planted oysters. This
.- erra.cd the Tanger oystermen,
.t.l..i complaints with the Common
-...,,- attorney Of Accomac county and
....1 linn t1 go 20 Richmond and lay the
t.f,re tle Board OF the Chesapeake
urcIARED voIn.
-... ,-s- done. and on last Monday the
-. .ri.rel 40 order declaring Morse d
r.,. r,ston VOID. owing to the fact
...... ground had been surveyed and
..I...rhv an inspector who resides In
s...l,rlrI.ct.
Arrest THF DREDGERs.
r,. yesterday morning. before the
~ fia boards action had reached
ISLAND. about seventy men from Tan
rrf.-tle command Of Captain Pa
...0r.0n. manned two sloops and
.....lt 90 where the dredging fleet lay
'......-. They carried with them a war
....-..i Justice Joseph Cooper, of Tan
.... directing them to arrest the dredgers
.-,....nr tine Jaw. When they came
..etrt.e fleet an the boats were lying
.....-.u beng too calm for them to
r0rIrr BOAT SURPRISED.
rts l.-.in.s oyster police boat " Tan
...r c.r.a.n Alfred Read. was lying
'.-sf. the feet toprotect the dredgers.
.. t.e -loops from Tangier sailed up
,.--..l. tio oyster police boat. and made
l.... Irr tcforc Captain Read and ms
.-.. .r.v chat they were approaching.
U. coming out Of his cabin, and seeing
a...n.i occurred, Captain Read ordered
q of thar
H-, nI when they refused 10 90 so, no
..f limos and set the boat adrift.
II.u "a. now followed between Cap
,.. E..I and Captain Connorton. and II
,...rI ..a of the men from Iangier tried
t.l..f Cartan Read. but was prevented
n. Dar'au ConnortOn, who Knocked the
r.1 o.t Ot his hand.
GRAPE AND CANISTER.
TlI now turned his cannon upon the
r.r..er islanders and began TO pour grape
r! lanms'er into their boats. The
I..-.lers. who were nll armed, returned
f..rre. which now became general. The
.-.icers now came on deck and opened
f-. on The islanders, most of whom were
rred 90 taAo refuge 10 the holds of their
BEATS
afruVrD yoiLyY AFTER vOLLEY.
Clrts-n Coruort0n stood at the wheel
0t I.s hoat and ffeored her right along
.I.fhn virginia oyster-pOlIce boat, while
t. Affsr was pouring vOlley after volley
r... beg. Ibelslauders finally withdrew
nt made for Iangier. Both the island
i...fal been badly damaged by the FIRE
Gam ODD. rohco-hOat The mast of one
$3.50 -p1tarcd and her rigging torn TO
slr..-.
cNTAN DIS KILLED.
Daring tie engagement Captain Thomas
j. uU.. commanding the schooner Cal
b ..r. one If the dredging boats, was shot
n ODD. ireast and has since died OF his
wound. His body was taken to his home.
% Unfman's wharf, this afternoon. No
.r. among tine islanders was seriously
vurlsi. though several we're struck. The
f-.' .ook place about twelve miles north
Of lAl-Ief Island.
WATCHING TIE BATTLE.
W.Ie.t was going on the entire popula-
t.aO tAe island, amounting 20 about
people. stood on the beach, and with
rr..miu. ewes and bated breath watched
o.. tatt'e from afar. The islanders re-
tf..l home about nightfsll IN great dis
.rl.r. 1ud during the entire night hardly
a.F .ur slept. Great excitement still pre-
Sal. tlsre. and 10 is feared that hOstilties
w.. lrsak out afresh,
THE ORDER ARBIvTs.
a messenger arrived on the island short
Us after the fight, carrying the order Is
-..l tv the Board OF the Chesapeake. for
il Ile the dredgers TO take up the plant
Cd oysters. III tho islanders had waited
.r.r a few honrs all the trouble might
l4Io been avoided.