Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-25
OLD WoAAN'S MARSH.
= seas y ID Rssslt Oyster Battle n
Ttless Sound.
AE -THE MARYLAND PIRATES.


oNNNSock. VA February 23.-(Spe-
l.)--The light between the Virginia oys-
scr-sseamer Chesapeake and the Maryland
osstcr-pirascs has been almost the only
Topic OF conversation here to-day,
mo Dispatch correspondent went over
70 Aocomaek Courthouse and had long
ana pleasant talk with Commander Hud-
gins. OF the Chesapeake. and Captain Read.
OF the State schooner Tangier, concerning
We battle in Tangier Sound last Monday
uiGnt These two officers came up from
funsoteague creek with eighteen prison
ers. whom they turned over to the au-
snorstiss OF this county. Both of them
gave your correspondent much informal
ticn. not only concerning the battle Mon
nay night. but also concerning the plans
OF the pirates. as they learned them from
the prisoners. nearly all OF whom are
sough-iooking Characters, though they pro.
test that they did not know they were
working In Virginia waters. II is learned
that they all shipped from Baltimore under
Tho promise OF getting IS each for
The trip. The recent activity in
tho oyster-market Induced the dredgers
70 make a concerted effort to clean
up the Virginia oyster-beds in Tan
Eier Sound. They went TO Baltimore. en-
pioyed crews OF the toughest and most des-
perate characters they could find. armed
them with Winchester rifles. and in full
force descended on the oyster-beds of Tan
gier Sound.
They successfully defed Captain Reed,
who, with one poorly-equipped schooner
and q crew of six men. was not able to
cope with so formidable a fleet. The
scene of the depredations is in Tangier
Sound, just south OF Smiths IslanN and
only few miles south of the Maryland
and Virginia line. The sailors cali II Old
Womans Marsh. 1t Is one OF the richest
oyster-rocks in the Chesapeake Bay, and
on II only tongmen from Virginia are al
lowed to take oysters. 1t is from these
beds that the people of Tangier Island
make their living.
DESTRUCTION.
Destroy them, and the prosperity OF the
Island, with its loo Inhabitants. would be
destroyed. Hence the jealousy with which
Tangier Islander guards these waters.
Smiths Island. lying just north Of these
waters. has about the same population as
Tangier. and lies almost entirely in Mary
land. The people. together with those liv-
ing In Crisfield and elsewhere along the
Maryland shore pretend 70 claim that
they have a right TO take oysters in Tan
gier and Pocomoke Sounds under the pro-
visions Of the Maryland and Virginia
Camp act of 1851, on the grounds that
these sounds are only part OF the POGO
moke river, in which they claim an equal
right with Virginians 10 fish and catch
oysters The right to do so was involved in
the cases tried IN Richmond last fall be-
fore the United States Circuit Court
of Appeals and decided against the
Marylanders. Captain w. w. Marsh
one of whose boats were captured
1n the engagement Monday night. is one or
the parties to this suit he having been ar
rested. tried. and convicted in the County
Court Of Accomac for Illegally dredging
In Virginia waters These cases are to
come up on an appeal before the United
States Supreme Court next month; but
every well-informed person feels sure that
the decision of the lower court VIII be al
flrrned The pirates think so. too. ana
hence they are trying to get all the oys-
tiers they can from Virginia waters before
the Supreme Court settles this contro-
vcrsy once for all. Nobody here believes
that the decision Of the Supreme Court
will end the depredations Of these piratical
rnarauders but they know that the moral
power OF the Federal Government Will he
arrayed against them when that court pro-
nounces it's final decision.
THE ENGAGEMENT.
Nearly all of them are men of desperate
fortunes. and a certain kind Of physical
courage When they discovered the steam
err Chesapeake among them they opened
fire on her from all sides. nor did they
fee till she sent balls from her cannon
crashing through the sides of their YES
sells. When they did start. the rout be-
came general. and many Of the pirates
tumbled headforemost into the holds OF
their vessels In their haste to get away
the two schooners that were captured ran
ashore on the southern end of Smiths
Island. During the engagement. Com
mander Hudgins fired several volleys from
the cannon with such well-directed aim as
to create the greatest CONSERVATION among
tho fast-hying squadron. Both Commander
Hudgins and Captain Read speak In the
highest terms of the bravery and GOODNESS
of their men; they were especially loud In
their praise Of Captain James o. Struggles,
yef Tangier Island who acted as pilot dur
ius the engagement. and stood at the bow
of the Chesapeake while the pirates were
firing yolley after volley from their
rifles.
!. The Chesapeake draws about eight feet
n water, and II required "A skilled hand
"a the helm to keep her off the shoals
during the fight. When. after the pirates
had been routed. the Chesapeake returned
10 Tangier Island. the people came down
10 the shore en- masse to salute the Chesa-
teake and her gallant commander.
UNDISTURBED.
The prisoners did not seem TO be at all
disturbed at their fate, but on the con-
trary many expressed their qualification
al being confined In the county jail rather
than being forced TO work ar the dredge
!. all day and a large part OF the night on
scanty food. and still scanties pay.
Tho two captured vessels together had
about 100 or 1900 bushels of oysters on
hoard. These vessels will be confiscated
and sold by the Sheriff OF Accomac, oys-
ters and all.
The names Of the other vessels that
were dredging when the Chesapeake ran
upon them are known, and II is probable
that the Governor of Maryland VIII be
asked 10 surrender them TO Virginia Tor
trial. Thus far, Maryland has done mo-
thing 10 suppress these piraticai expeui-
fione hut has. to a certain extent. en-
ceuraecd them by employing counsel TO
sssist her Attorney-Generai In oefendmg
The pirates before the courts.
SHORT WORK.
The people here nave great confluence
that Governor O'Ferrall will make short
work of the pirates, as he promised he
would do when he was here last fall. In
his telegram 10 Commander Hudgins con-
graduating him on his victory over the
p,rates. Governor O'Ferrali says tho wa
4ors Of Virginia must and shall be pro-
feetcd This kind OF talk has struck re- |
rp.nsiye chord In the hearts of the Eastern. !
Shore people.
let the State dispose OF the two anti /
ouatod schooners now policing Tangier |
and Pocomoke Sounds. and put In their |
,piaes two llght-draft steamers. wei
iequIpp<d and armed and the Maryland |
pirates will soon be exterminated.