Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-25
.TANGIER- SOUND WAR
Complaints Lodged by The Islanders
Against the DredgerS.
BITTER FEELING on BOTH SIDES.
Burial of Captain Dies, the Dead Dredger-
Warrants Issued for I'landers-
Greater Troubles Looked For.
fsosc,al telegram to the Dispatch.l


TAsLEY, Va, March 24-The oyster war
in Tangier Sound continues to be the all
absorbing topic of conversation here.
Late last night sloop arrived here from
Tangier Island, having on board number
of the islanders. who came of TO lodge
complaints with the Commonwealth's at
torney Of Accomac against Captain Alfred
Read. commander Of the Virginia oyster
police-boat, and the dredgers employed by
Morse Il Co. for their action in the hostile
engagement last Tuesday AFTERNOON.
THE DEAD DBEDGER.
The body OF Archer Dies, who was
killed by the islanders IN the fight. was
taken Yesterday to his home at Honman's
wharf on Pungoteague creek and an in-
quest held. The body was buried to-day:
large crowd attended the funeral, and
the bitterest feeling was manifested
against the islanders.
VENGEANCE SWORN.
Many we're heard to swear vengeance
against them, and 1t was proposed by some
to get up an armed expedition and proceed
TO 1anpler and take summary vengeance
on the islanders. The dredging fleet OF
Morse 4 Co. is now at Crisfeld, Md. Had
the feet continued TO operate IN the dis
puted oyster-gfounds the islanders would
have renewed the war yesterday. The
feeling on the island is as bitter as II is
around Hoffmans wharf, where the most
of the dredgers live.
WARRANTS ISSUED.
The dredgers have sworn out warrants
against n number of the islanders VINO
were engaged in the battle, and early this
morning Justice Taylor, OF Pungoteaeue,
and Constable Gusts. OF Onancock, after
consulting with Judge Gillet and Com
monwealth's Attorney Fletcher. proceeded
to Tangier Island TO arrest and try the
persons against whom the warrants had
been issued. correspondent OF the Dis
PATCH accompanied them. Ihey have not
yet returned.
INTENSE ExcITEHEST.
A report that the islanders who had par
ticIpated in the fight would be taken TO
Hoifman's wharf for trial prevailed on
IangIer this morning and caused the in
tensest excitement there. The islanders
swore that they would not be taken there,
as they feared violence at the hands of the
Infuriated dredgers and their friends.
WOULD DIE FIRST.
While they expressed Willingness TO go
to Onancock for trial, yet they said they
would die before they would be taken out
of their district to Pungoteague. where
the dredgers live. IL is known that the
worst feeling has prevailed during the en-
tire season between Captain Read, of the
State ateoyster-police force, and the islanders.
and on several occasions collisions have
been imminent between them.
CURSES AND ABUSE.
The islanders say Captain Read has
cursed and abused them on every occasion
and it il known that Captain Read has not
dared for some time past TO land on the
island without a strong guard of armed
men at his back. He has even been forced
to go elsewhere to get a supply of water
for his boat.
GREATER TROUBLES.
The conflict on Wednesday is looked
upon here as only the beginning of greater
troubles in the future unless the State
authorities intervene TO arrest what now
threatens TO be sn oyster war in dead
earnest.