Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-25
FIGHTING IN THE CREsAPEAKE.
Tangier Island Oysterlnen Attack DredgeI
and Are Repulsed.

Aangier Island Oysternen Attack Dredgers
and Are kepulsed.
A furious battle occurred on Tuesday after
noon between the oystermen in Chesapeake
bay. Several years ago some persons residing
in Accomack county took up large tract of
oyster ground in Pokomoke sound. The oyster
men in the neighboring island Of Tangier
claimed that the planters had violated the law
by taking up a natural oyster lock. The courts
decided against the planters, who, under an act
passed by the Virginia legislature last winter,
proceeded to take up the oysters from their
reservation. This greatly enraged the island
ers. who determined to prevent it at all
hazards. Early Tuesday morning they
manned two eloops with a force numbering
about seventy-fiye men and proceeded to where
the dredgers were operating. They found
twelve schooners at work and close by was one
OF the Virginia oyster police boats to protect
the dredgcrs.
The commander of the state police boat or
dered the islanders to keep off, and when they
dlsregarded his orders he opened fire on them
with his cannon. The islanders were armed
with rifles and soon the firing became general
The dredgers came on deck and fired yolley
after volley into the islanders who finally with
drew from the unequal contest
In the engagement Capt. Thomas Diez Of
PungOteague, Va. who commanded one of the
dredging boats. was killed and several of the
islanders received slight wounds. The fight
took place in full, view of Tangier Island and
while 1t was going on the entire population Of
the island watched its progress. Many Of the
women tainted and the children ran screaming
along the shore. Great excitement prevailed
on the island all tuesday night and scarcely
any OF the inhabitants went to bed.
The dredgers and the islanders are both
greatly incensed against each other and it is
feared that hostilities will break out afresh
The body of Archer Dies who was killed by
the islanders in the fight, was taken ON Mon
day to his home, at Hoffman's Wharf. on Pun
colleague creek. and an inquest was held.
The body was buried yesterday. A large
crowd attended the funeral and the bitterest
feeling was manifested against the islanders.
Many were heard to swear vengeance against
them and 1t was proposed by some to get mp an
armed expedition and proceed to Tangier and
take summary vengeance on the islanders.
The dredging fleet of Morse 4 Co. is now at
Crisfield. Had the feet confined to operate
in the disputed oyster grounds the islanders
would have renewed the war. The feeling on
the island 10 as bitter as it is around Hoffman
Wharf, where the most of the dredgers live.
The dredgers have sworn out warrants
against u number of the islanders who were
engaged in the battle, and early yesterday
morning Justice Taylor of Pungoteague and
Constable Custis of Onancock, after consulting
Win uuSc ulAict huu httOr-
ney Fletcher, proceeded to Tansier Island to
arrest and try the persons against whom the
warrants had been issued.
A report that the islanders who had partici-
pated IN the fight would be taken to Holman 6
Wharf for trial prevailed on Iangier and Gre
ated intense excitement there. The islanders
swOre that they would not be taken there as
they feared violence at the hands Of the in
furiatcd dredgers and their friends. While
they expressed n willingness to 60 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.
1t is known that the worst feeling has pre-
vailed during the entire season between Capt
Read OF the Virginia oyster police force and
the islanders, and on several occasions COLT
sions have been Imminent between them. The
islanders charge that Capt. Read has cursed
and abused them on every occasion, and il is
said that he has not dared for some time past
to land on the island without a strong guard OF
armed men ut his back The conflict OF Tues
day is looked upon as only the beginning of
greater troubles in the future, unless the state
authorities intervene to arrest what now
threatens to be an oyster war in dead earnest