Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-09
OFERRALL TOBROWN
WI Goiofnof Writes narylands Con.
earning Oyster Dspredatlons.
CIR THO CAPTURED SCHooSEUS.
Ms EIcelltncy Expresses His Readiness
10 Return Them.
HAVE 7HE RIGHT TO PURSUE
virxfnia's Fleet VIII Follow Marauders
who Enter Her Watcrs-rir6, But
Courteous and Friendly.

him by the General Assembly In tho
JOINT resolution OF that body appointing
a committee 20 act with a similar com.
mittee OF the Legislature Of Maryland
TO Investigate the question OF fact In.
Solved in the capture last February by
the State oyster steamer Chesapeake OF
the Maryland schooners William f. Price
and ". c. Stevenson. Governor O'Fer-
rail- has formally offered 20 turn over
said schooners 70 Governor Brown. OF
Maryland
This action was IN accordance with the
Recommendation of the Virginia commit
tee and the tender was made in a let
ter from Governor O'Ferrall TO Governor
Brown, which was delivered TO the latter
in Baltimore yesterday by Governor
O'Ferralrs Chief OF Staff. Colonel C. OBJ.
Cowardin. who was sent TO the Monu-
mental City for that purpose.
Tho reports OF the committees Of the
two General Assemblies were exchanged
some time ago. and the Dispatch pub
lished exclusively fun synopsis of that
VI tns NlISinld COIninlIite.
GOVERNOR O'FERRALLs LETTER.
Governor O'Ferralps letter TO Governor
Brown gives a succinct history Of the
trouble which arose between the two
States. and the questions that were at
issue. and IS as follows;
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
RICHMOND. VA, September o. 1884.
10 his BSoellency. Frank Brown. Cover
DOR OF Maryland. Annapolis. Nd;
Sir,-On the % OF March. 1894. the Gene
raj Assembly OF Virginia adopted the fol-
lowing Joint resolution. of which you were
duly informed:
Resolved Qhe Senate concurring). That
q committee of five. consisting OF two
members from the Senate and three mem
hers from the House of Delegates. be
appointed, who may act separately or
conformity with q like committee 10 be
appointed by the General Assembly OF
the State OF Maryland. to whom shall be
referred the message OF the Governor OF
the Commonwealth. this day communi-
Gated TO the General Assembly OF Nir-
GINA, the joint resolution Of tho Gene
raj Assembly Of Maryland. with reference
20 the conflict between the steamer
Chesapeake and the dredging-vessels men
toned in said message, together Win ths
copy of the said joint resolution. whose
duty It shall be 20 investigate ana as
certain the facts in connection with the
said conflict. the said committee TO nave
power 10 sit during the recess OF 'he
General Assembly. and 70 send Tor per
sons. and 70 enforce the ATTENDANCE Oh
witnesses. and such other powers as may
,rlt,ee 10 make a full and complete IN
yes,iration Of the subject referred to
them. ,..
"Resolvsd. . That the said committee,
unon the completion of the investigation
20 be made by the hereunder shal re-
mort the facts ascertained, together WIN
their swn conclusions as 10 the SUBJECT
matter Of their investigation, to the Cow
ernor Of the Commonwealth, who is mere
BY empowered 10 take such action as no
may deem proper IN the premises.
Resolved. 3. That the said JOINT COM
m,stee shall have power and authority IN
their discretion to employ such clef'caI
aid as they may need"
Pursuant 10 this resolution the COM
mittee appointed made an investigation
and have submitted their report with
their conclusions 10 me for such action
as l may deem proper in the premises.
A COPY OF said report is appended hereto.
THE FACTS as FOUND.
The facts as found by said committee
are as follows:
That for years-cortainly rs far back
as 1SS-the oyster-beds Of the state OF
Virginia in the Tangier and Pocomokc
sounds have been invaded by citizens of
Maryland. and the State Of Virginia has
been thereby deprived not only Of her
- III,
have been greatly injured by the dredg-
3ng-machines used by said Maryland
tepredatofs: that on the 18th day of Feb
ruary last the William II. Price and G. w.
EtevtnsOn and other vessels. owned and
manned by citizens Of Maryland. In the
early morning, and before daylight, were
discovered by the Virginia oyster-police
Fchooner Tangier to be engaged in dredg-
ing FOR oysters in Tangier sound, on what
IRE known as "Old Woman's Marsh"
and 'Hurley's Rock" within the terri
tory Of Virginia, and when approached
by thid police schooner. retired into Mary
land waters: that about O'Clock A. NJ.
Of the same day the said vessels returned
20 the said "Old Woman's Marsh" and
'Hurley'S Rock and began to dredge
thereon; that when approached again by
the police schooner, almost simultaneous
~ the said vessels, with rifles. and the
police schooner with cannon and rifles,
opened fire. but the police schooner. with
her small crew and insufficient supply or
ammunition. could not cope with the large
force and many crews Of the said vessels.
and was compelled TO retire and leave
the oepredators 10 pursue their Illegal
work without molestatiOn.
OPENED FIRE AGAIN.
Then again, on the afternoon OF the 18Th
CAV OF February last. about O'Clock. the
eaid Maryland vessels were found in the
locality and waters already described. en-
faged, as before. in dredging and when
again approached by the said police
schooner. they opened fire upon her and
Nfain overpOwered and forced her TO re-
tire from the scene and allow them to
continue their depredations. That "A few
hours later. after nightfall, the Virginia
oyster police steamer Chesapeake entered
Tangier sound and proceeded to the scene
o! trouble and found the said vessels. in
Guiding the William T.. Price and G. ".
Stevenson. sim engaged in dredging on
Old Woman's Marsh and Hurley's Rock:
that the said vessels embOldened no
doubt by their success in driving off the
pO!loe-schoOner, as soon as they discoV-
cred the Chesapeake opened a vigorous
fire upon her with rifles; the fire was i'm
meoaie!y returned By the Chesapeake.
NlittcLlDu "" SAlA NtSstl@ ElNlNlluE tnc
William T. Price and &. W. Stevenson.
reiTtated In the direction OF Maryland
waters keeping up constant fire upon
the Chesapeake az she holly pursued
them. That while in this pursuit. which
was continuous. and under this constant
and sharp firing from the retreating yes
ne!s. the Chesapeake in the darkness OF
The night and with shOre-marks obscured.
crossed the diviing-line between the
States, but as soon as her commander
was Informed that he was In Maryland
waters he ordered the firing from his
|oAt 70 cease and returned 10 Virginia
waters, and in returning he found first
The William l.. Price and then the c.
w. stevenson aground. and suppOsing
seey were In Virginia waters. ne picked
them up. and with their crews (the cap
tains having fed In small boats and their
cargoes OF culled and uncuIed oysters
taken from Virginia waters. towed them
10 Accomac county Virginia, and
oehvered them 10 the proper Of
Meals OF said county. where they
were subsequently condemned as forfeited
70 the Commonwealth and ordered 10 be
so!d by the County Court thereof
This concluded brief summary OF the
Facts and circumstances connected with
the conflict between the Chesapeake and
tho vessels aforesaid ana 49, ao..,..