The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-03


that were shipped from England to one
of the colonnial Governors and were ship
wrecked off ChIncotcagse Island, some OF
which were safely landed on the islands.
They roam at large all the year ronnd,
aud feed on nothing but the wild grass
that grows there. In the summer they
are pestered half TO death BY mosqul-
toes. ncas. and kindred insects, until for
a large part Of the day they are forced to
stand Ia water up TO their necks, ana IN
winter they have no shelter. except what
IL afforded by the few pine. trees found
there. They have, therefore, degenera-
I'd into rather hard lot. At their best
fhey look half-starved 1t is said that
when domestcated and taught to eat
corn and other grains. they show some
thing Of their blooded origin.
WITH THE UNION.
Chincoteague Island claims to have been
the only part OF Eastern Virginia that
was true TO the Union IN 1861. II Is said:
when the ratification Of secession was
returned to the votes OF the people, only
one man in Chincoteague. Joseph Hin.
~ name. cast his vote for II, and then
died. An immense Bell and Everett
fagpole, 125 feet in height, was erected,
chiefly through the fundamentally OF
Mr.. j. a. NJ. Wheaton, now one OF
the most prominent men of the Island,
and to the top OF the pole was raised a
great bell and flag. 1T was distinctly seen
from the mainland. \ deputation soon
visited Mr.. Wheaton. depanding It's re-
moval. Gentlemen said the gallant
little Cnionist, 4 erected that flag and
bell, and when they go down / so with
them; but so long as have drachm OF
powder and an ounce OF lead, and am
able TO use them. there they stay.
And there they stayed"
ON the islands TO the south Of Chinco-
league allops. Parramore, Cedar. Hog,
Cobb's and Smiths Islands-are located
n number OF club-houses. which are fire.
quented by sporting men Of the North
and West IN search of fine fishing and
cunning. Their isolated location and
distance from large cities render them
quite inaccessible to the average sports
man. one of these. Hog Island has
had quite a large amount Of advertising
Of recent years. on account Of President
Cleveland's visit TO that place for rest
and recreation. When he was there he
was clear Of the average oiiice-seeker
who could not. as a rule, find this place
on account of its isolated location.
On the bay side, opposite 10 where the
father-in-law Of Martha Washington once
livcd-the old GUSTS mansion on Airing
ton plantation-is located "Dale's Gift"
where the first settlement on the East
ern Shore was made, in 1915. Ten sol
diers and ten men, under Lieutenant
CraddOCk, were sent from jamestown to
the Eastern Shore to establish a salt
works. They landed originally on Smiths
Island, but being driven off, no doubt by
the mosquitoes. settled a few miles north
OF IL, on Dales Gift. short distance be-
low what Is now Cape Charles City. This
place retains it's original meme, and is
now owned by Mr. Edward Nottingham.
Cape Charles City, which twelve years
ago was q corniicld-a part Of the old
Governor TazcWell farm (nOw Holly
wood the property OF the estate Of the
late Hon. W. j.. Scott, Of Erie Pals
now "A prosperous town, with popula-
rion Of about twelve hundred, and steadi-
~ growing. Its seed was planted when
the New York, Norfolk and Philadelphia
Railroad Company selected this place as
it's terminus, and through the hberality
Of that company 1T has enjoyed many
benefits.
THE RAILROAD.
The railroad was completed and opened
for business in November, 1854, at which
time there was not single house Of any
kind on the land which is now Cape
Y
road purposes. The railroad company
dredged out an artificial harbor one
thousand feet long by six hundred feet
wide. with depth of twelve feet or wa
ter. and erected a large freight house
and passenger station, round-houses and
repair shops. They also erected two
large slips or bridges for the transfer
of freight cars from the wharves to the
barges. These barges are towed by pow
From n Fll s.
Portsmouth for a distance of about thir-
ty-six miles across Chesapeake Bay.
Some idea can be had Of the magnitude
of the business transacted by TINS rdll-
road when il Is said that for the year
1894 there were about thirty-seven thous-
and freight cars transferred across the
bay on these barges. Passengers, man
and express goods are carried over IN the
steamers Old Point and New York, two
handsome steamers. from Cape Charles
70 Norfolk and Portsmouth, touching at
Old Point Comfort, the latter place beng
about twenty-four miles from cape
Charles city. BY means Of this railroad
YOU can take a Pullman sleeping car III
New York city at 8 o'clock, or in fhila-
delphia at IL o'clock al night ana wake
up at Cape Charles about or I next
morning, and, after fine breakfast, win
all the delicacies of the season, and
two hours rue AL OcS NiiD '"S -
the New York or Old Point, find your
self at Old Point Comfort or Norfolk
about or a. Nj.
Immediately after the opening of this
line for business town sprang UP from
the weeds in a cOrn-feld and prospered,
and in two years had a population or
about five hundred. IL was Incorporated
March l. 1886. and now has regular
town government, with its Mayor, coun-
cilmen and other officials. It's churches,
rublic school-house and Mayors office are
quite creditable, and are Tar ABOVE tle
average Of other towns on the shoIe' WIN
the possible exception OF Onancock. III
now has about two hundred dwellings,
etore-houses and other buildings ana
seven churches, all denominations pelns
1t Is here that the ohly
Poman Catholic church on the Virginia
part of the peninsula Is located III Is
handsome brick structure, erected
through the aid Of the Messrs. Abel OF
the baltimore Sun, at an expense or
about $4,000. Services are held at times
besides I'm their own edifce at cape
charles at Eastvlle, Pungoteasue' oman
cock and Drummondtown.
Among other things that followed IN the
Vic ~ this railroad was the foreigner
IIc vas prior TO that time, an unknown
o,,artitv and was at first an attractive
I'D interesting individual TO the hallNe'
IVo wore oftimes reminded or an Eastern
shore man. who had some years ago VISIT
cd philadelphia. and not having seen any
foreigners i'm his native place Uhey pelhs
,.aro even at this time in that section oil
Virginia. was somewhat SURPRISED "nen