The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-30
cur oFF WITHOUT FOOD.
SuHerlngs OF the People on mn Island -
the Nirgininn Cnns.

Suncrings OF the People on nh Island On
the Nirg ininn Coast.
Snow HUI, Nd, Jan. 9.--Stnrvation Is
staring in the face 1000 Inhabitants Of
Chineoteaguo island. which lice lust inside
Of tho outer reef off franklin City, va. In
winter the whole district along loves Vie
einia beach ia isolated, and news always
comes in slowly, but during tho recent cold
weather it has boon almost impossioie TO
obtain any information from the outer reef
fishing villages, hunting clubs ana oyster
stations, Five days ago Capt. JoAh A,
Hudson of the No tn Beach Life Saving
station, reported that only three barrels u
flour remained on the island. Since then
all means of communication have been cut
off, Chineoteague bay IL covered with
hsavy lee for the first time III many years.
But it IL so full of flaws ana az
holes hidden under fourteen ihohes
of SNOW and it is impossible 10 cfosa
the foe eight miles wide that al etchea be-
tween the island and Franklin City. The
islanders are provided with an ice yaons
that in former Seasons has been useu 70
half float and half akate over the bay to ths
mainland, but this winter the depth OF
snow, which ia without crust and badly
dritted by tho wind, has made its use I'M
possible.
The latest authentic information from
Chiucoteague was received by state Attor-
nov Il. ID. Jones. of this place, whose
brother has Il urug store on the island. A
messenger who succeeded IN G ossinI upon
tho ice brought word that provisions were
very short, and that unless help soon came
there would be much SUITE ms. rms. WAN
the information brought by Capt. u
son. ID the only direct news from
the island since the cold snap began.
Preparations are being made to sena a
rescuine party out from Ocean City, Md.
aa IL ia thnpuht thev can lgNCN CnlnCOE-
eague by going down the desolate outside
beaches. but there is a great deal OF q
about the success of sucn an EXPEDITION, al
it will have to travel for fifty miles through
two feet of snow. broken only where tidal
inlets make in from the ocean. There Is
scarcely "A human being along the whole
distance, excepting the captain ana the
keeper of the North Beach life saving sta
ticn. and even they were on short allowance
tn 90 days ago, but the cltlztns from the
mainland succeeded in d living across Sine
nuxent bay with provisions. This was the
first time IL horse and sled sver crossed the
bay on ice.
Nothing has been heard. as far as can he
learned, from the SCORE or more people on
Hog island, where Cleveland spent several
days last fall, and il is feared that the PEG
Pile Of that place are in much the same
blight as those on Chincoteague land.
There are also half a dozen missing ham,
let's across from the mainland that people
here are alarmed about. An attempt will
be made TO. morrow IL the ice is soft enough
to reach Chincotengue with . powerful
Pennsylvania steamer stationed here, but
if the mercury drops. as is Indicated, 1T
will also be impossible. If it fails there
will be the greatest alarm here.
Chincoteague island Is famous for being
the only place in the eastern part OF the
United States where there are wild horses
and cattle. 1t ia here that the noted Polo
ponies are raised. and summer and winter
they roam over the salt marshes without
other care than that which nature gives
them. The place is also noted for a fishing
and hunting resort for a number of men
who spend weeks there every fall. Old
coassing men hero saw it is probable that
the Same condition of affairs exists at the
fishing hamlets from the cape down to
Hatteras.
The inhabitants of these dreary outer
barriers are a strange folk, and the world
rarely hears anything of them, and if. dur
ing a severe winter, a few more or less
starve or freeze to death, no one is any