Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-08

CRIsFIELp, Mn, May 3l.-Captain Gas
klns OF the Virginia state fishery force
has withdrawn from PocomoSe sound and
the crabbers have pursued their work there
to-day unmolested Captain Reed of the
virginia police, however, has fired several
times in the Tangier sound. The crabs are
worthless if they are not taken within 81
hours after they have shed their shells
and to hinder these crabbers in their work
causes loss to them and no profit to Yir-
glnia.
CRGsFIELD, Nm, June 1.-The crab war
has opened in earnest and there were ex-
citing scenes in both Tangier and POGO
moke sounds to-day. About 100 boats
from Smiths Island were Grabbing at the
mouth Of Tyler's creek this morning,
when Captain Reid came up and opened
fire on them. He shot at the crabbers six
times with his cannon and kept up a con
slant fuslade with his small arms. The
crabbers replied with their rifles and shot
about 40 rounds back ut him. The can
non balls fell in the midst of the fleet
not 10 feet away from several of the boats
One Of the balls passed over the ieech of u
1oresail and the captain narrowly escaped
death by dodging. -...
Captain Reid is reckless in his shooting
and runs the risk of hitting vessels at
anchor, boats passing along the channel
and houses on smiths Island, As an illus
tration OF this, George I. Evans, whose
vessel the Powell, is ashore in Sandy
creek, was on his way to Smiths Island
To day to secure assistance in getting his
vessel ntloat. Captain Evans has never
thrown Il scrape IN his life, and yet Cap
tain REID, it is claimed, shot directly at
him. Had the ball gone five yards farther
it would have struck his boat George
Nelson was On his way to smiths Island.
Helwas hailed by Reid and asked from
what port he had come. Nelson replied
from Crislield. Then Captain Reid. it is
sad opened fire at once and Nelson was
compelled 10 dive down in the bottom of
his boat. His head came in contact with
the mast, which rendered HIM insrnsiblc.
When he recovered consciousness his boat
was drifting about the sound.
The people of Smiths Island have two
grabbing grounds, oncat Tylers creek and
the other at Herrings Point. When Reid
drives one psTty of from Herrlngs Point
those at Tyler's creek come out and crab.
There are about l5O boats on the island,
and the poor fellows whose living must be
secured from the water manage to exc out
% bare subsistence. There are no oysters
ON the bars that the Crabbcrs work, and
the statement that they make grabbing a
preteXt to steal oysters is false. A merchant
on the island boarded Captain Reds
vessel and Reid, 1t is alleged said that the
crabbers must stop working i'll Virginia
waters or get killed.
Captain GasknS gave his attention tc
the crabbers IN the POcomoke sound. He
came up about . o'clock and commenced
firing nj the JOO boats at work there The
boats retrcated across the line and then
stopped, but Captain GIskins kept sending
cannon balls after them until they were
compelled to retreat through the marsh
Some OF the balls struck So close to The
boats that water was splashed over the
occupants. Men who could have made
from 50 to $40 to-day We're compelled t.
return home to their needy families
empty handed.
With the crab business of CrslielC
paralyzed, the want caused by "A hard win
ter is intensified. The crabberS are arm
ing and lively times may De expected,
Captain Gaskilis is reported TO have said
to one who boarded him that lie would
drive OFF the crabbers il he died and went
to n warmer latitude in the attempt
CKlsFIELp, Mn, June Chaplain Foster
of the Virginia fishery force, who TOOK
the crab scrape from Isaac Byrd, has re
turned it to him, and said that he did not
care if he caught all the crabs in Virgins
so long as he let the oysters alone. The
crab trouble is ended,