Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-19
A DEATH RECALLS A TRAGEDY.
The TaylOr-Byrd Fight and Trial of
the Former-DisastersO on the Coast.

The TaylOr-Byrd Fight and Trial of
the FOrmer-Disasters on the Coast.
ONANCOCK, VA, February ls.-(Spe-
cial)-Intelligence has been received here
of the death of Mr.. Samuel 7. Taylor
at his home. on Messengo creek, In the
northwestern part of Accomac. He was
~ years old and is said 10 have been
the oldest man in the county. His death
recalls a famous tragedy that occurred
about ten years ago MIR. Taylor. who
was then more than 80 years old. had
neghbor. Benjamin T. W. Byrd. who Tor
some reason entertained hostile Feelings
towards the old man. and did everything
he could to annoy and exasperate him.
One day Taylor saw Byrd trespassing on
his premises and ordered him OFF Byrd,
who was a powerful man. seized fence
rail and struck at Taylor. who was stand
ins on the other side Of the fence. The
blow missed Ns mark. and Taylor picked
up his gun. which was lying on the
ground. and fired at Byrd. The load
struck Byrd in the left side, breaking
his arm and tearing great hole In MS
side. Byrd died in a few hours. Taylor
surrendered himself To the authorities,
and was committed to prison to await
trial His aged wife insisted on sharing
his confinement. and spent much time
with her husband i'm his cell. The trial
which was one of the most notable in the
annals OF the Eastern Shore, lasted seve-
raj days. and ended In a. verdict OF ac-
quittal. Old Mrs. Taylor. who sat by her
husband throughout the trial. was so
delighted at the verdict that she threw
down her crutches, which she had used
for many years, and rushed out or the
bar. and shook hands with all the jury
men. and in her transport Of JOY em-
braced some OF them. She died several
years ago. and her husband lived alone
hardly the Old-Silc Messengo Baptist
church, Of which he was one of the pill
lars until he was turned out several
years ago for digging out muskrats on
SUNDAY. His long white hair and beard
gave him somewhat the appearance OF the
patriarchs of Old With all of his pecu-
liarities he was a good neghbor and
hospitable host.
SWEPT TO SEA.
Intelligence OF disasters along the coast
are beginning to come i'm. The schooner
| Boneta left Wachapreague. ten mile,
| southeast Of this place, Tuesday last with
| "A load Of oysters for New York. and in
| Passing through the inlet was caught in
| the ice and swept out TO sea. The crew
! leaned out on the Tee and reached Cedar
| Island She was taken up by her anchor as
| she was passing over the bar and the
| Wachapreague iife-saving crew rescued
| her the next morning and carried her
| into harbor without much injury to her.
| The schooner Sunbeam, Captain stiles
| loaded with oysters. from Wachapreasue
| 10 New Jersey, went ashore Wednesda,
| on Assateague shoals. The AssateaSuc
| life-saving crew. under the command or
| CAPTAIN Tracey. responded promptly t.
| the signal of distress: but they had nor
| gotten far out before their boat was SUR
| rounded by floating ice and was unable
| TO move i'm any direction. One Of the
| surfmen who had been left at the sta
ton. seeing their peril, manned another
| lifeboat with a volunteer crew OF twelve
| brave men from Assateague Island. put
on, 10 sea. and after beating about and
ing through fields of floating ice Tor
hours got close enough 10 the lce-
| bound crew to throw them line. with
which they pulled them through the Ice
| and rescued them after they had been
imprisoned for fully six hours. The two
| crews then went to the Sunbeam ana
| succeeded in carrying off all her crew
| safe to land.