Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-21
FIRED NINE HUNDRED SHOTS
Another Fight With the Oyster Dredg-
ers.
Gov. O'Ferralfs Message Aroasea the
less Marauders From Maryland.-

A second and prolonged battle between
thirty Maryland oyster boats and one Viz
ginia oyster police boat at the upper end of
Tangier Island. Monday afternoon and
night, is reported.
1t seems that after Saturdays battle
when Capt Reed Of the police boat Tangier
retired because of lack of ammunition, he
secured another supply and about thirty
men. and returned to the attack on Monday
About o'clock the steamer Chesapeake
Capt Hudgins, commander of the Virginia
force, appeared on the scene with sixty men
aboard. all armed. The two boats opened a
vigorous fire at once on the dredgers with
cannon and musketry. The attacked vessels
replied with Winchester rifles, and firing
was kept up until o'clock at night The
moon was full and shone brightly upon the
scene.
The flashes from the guns were witnessed
from the pier at Crisfield, and the boom of
cannon and musketry reminded the inhabi-
tants Of the memorable battle in Hampton
Roads in lS62.
The schooner S. w. Stephenson. E. T.
Lowe, master. and the schooner w E
Price. w. E. Die. master, were captured
with their crews. although the masters es-
capped in a yawlboat. While doing so their
boat was pierced with nine balls. The
schooner Stephenson discharged 800 shots
from Winchester rifles, and the schooner
Price 995 shots. before surrendsring. Six
other boats fired an equal number of shots
The steamer Chesapeake is reported to have
her pilot house riddled and other damage
done
The steamer Chesapeake took her prizes
to Tosley, Accomac county, Va, and turned
them over to the Virginia authorities II
was reported at Tosley that the schooner
James E. Stansbury of Baltimore, Capt NJ
White, was sunk in the engagement. and
that cannon ball from the Chesapeake
passed through the cabin of the Tony Frost
a 20 hon In he l,,1l
Of the schooner Moore & Brady.
1t is also reported that Capt. Thomas Of
the state schooner Pocomoke CAPTURED a
Maryland schooner dredging in Pocomoke
sound. The people of the Eastern shore Of
Virginia are reported to be jubilant over the
capture of the vessels and Gov. O'Ferrall
telegraphed his congratulations to Capt
Hudgins.
No Yielding 10 Marauders.
Gov. O'Ferralrs message to the Virginia
legislature. described in yesterdays Star
giving an account of Saturdays battle, Gre
ated considerable excitement.
1t began by referring to the fact that oys-
tiers in Tangier and Pocomoke sounds, on
the Maryland side, are very scarce. while
the beds on the Virginia side are rich For
TINS reason, the governor said, the dredgers
from Maryland are determined at all haz-
ara TO make Expectations on the Virginia
beds He said further that the statement
that the Virginia sloops-of- war had been de-
feated by the marauders was most humiliat-
ING TO him, and he urged the legislature to
take steps at once to put him in the position
to defend the honor of Virginia and to pro-
tect her interests. He declared that il is
not merely material question, but one in
VolyinS the dignity OF the commonwealth
When the clerk of the house of delegates
read Gov OFerralrs peroration. in which
the governor asked If Virginia would tamely
submit to the high-handed lawlessness OF
Maryland marauders. there were vigorous
cries of Never, Never"
The governors message in conclusion
recommended the passage. Immediately. OF
an act authorizing the construction of two
men-of-war, strong. swift and armed with
guns OF improved pattern and long range
the cost of which, he thought, would not ex-
coed $1,000. He said he would also be
pleased If there could be such reciprocity
between Maryland and Virginia as will al
low the law officers of each state to pursue
vfolators of the law in Tangier and POGO
mohe SOUNDS into the waters of the other.
and there make arrests.
Col Catlett Gibson of Culpeper county.
winch Is known as the fighting county OF
virginia, rose in his seat, and with great
vehemence moved that the governor OF Vir
GINA be authorized to declare war agains,
all enemies of Virginia oysters
This was received with great apnIapsa
Inc matter was finally referred to the COM
mittee on the Chesapeake.