The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-28
CHINcOrEAGUE ISLAND.
The Queer Customs OF the People and the
Fine Ponies.

John blackburn. n well-known mer-
chant at Piney Point. on Chincoteasue
Island Is at the Bingham Chincoteague
is an island Of several hundred acres IN
the lower Chesapeake, and belongs 10
Virginia The inhabitants OF Chinco-
league have OF late excited great deal
Of hubble interest on account Of their
primitive customs, and the fact that
they possess the most wonderful breed
Of Monies known IN equine history.
Il have lived 20 long on the Island,
remarked Mr. Blackburn, that the PHI
mitive habits OF residents are hot OF az
much interest TO me as 10 occeslonai
visitors The people, like all others VINO
live an isolated existence, are, VIII al
nit. peculiar. No one knows exactly
when the island was FIRST populated, OF
what led 10 it's settlement when there was
so much cheap land TO be had on '"e
mainland. a..
..,rhe people who live on the island nsh
for a living and raise oysters. They cult
vafe the soil. too. In kind OF desultofy
fashion. but systematic farming Is not
carried on. The religion OF the peopio
is a strange mixture Of superstition Tree
loveism and socialism, They nave camp
meetings once a year. usually III Tue su'"
NOR or fall which last from one 10 TWO
weeks and which are attended the h'os'
part by the women and the young iheu"
one might truthfully call IL pic-.lc
rather than a camp-meetins, as "hI' Wy
preaching is. going on ana tne piHs1'
meetings are in full bast, the SV"n7 30,
ule are having q good time generally win
the flying iennies ana lhuuise III e"'''0
OF various kinds 49,.
"The island is naturally productive, Out
the land is only titled sufficiently as 10
nroduca tho noccssaries Of life. wheat
broad is "A luxury not frequently INDUCED
I'm. coru-bred and bacon are "A staple ut''
ana when the bacon runs low lAe'.
uloufv OF nsh TO take its place. nc
peoulo OF tho island are lanky ana sal'o"
and melancholy - .
"Tneir EXPIRE ssions are unique
woman Is suffering from headaehe 81" =.
has misery in her head. III hei Hl''N
troubled. it IS termed mimi hl9'ls. ~
uaia Is termed misery. Inc you"s No' .'
ara great Oh attending prayer-meel iiss
al ,i,,in.- the ACCORDION The highest
ambition Of the young men j. 10 p'":
Tho fiddle. \ mans wealth u not e4"
| ,n.tod bv tho amount OF land he OWLS
| or Tho amount Of cash he may nave on
hand or loaned out. but by the number o'
ponies he owns. ,,. s.,..os
"'rhese ponies roam the island IN dr~VeS
| anu A., common Their only Distinguish
inc mark As a brand Every spring VI.
ronies are rounded mp I'm common hh0
| the several owners brand thei Yo"l.sa
ters. Buvers from Pniladelphia' No"
| York ana Boston generailF aPP'"'
-, ,nts rofiod aud sciec; such ponies
for the home market as they Ne" -.
eirahle A pony brings all the way HoiN
i rrE In
| ton, and finish. -,
.'rhs Monies are the wonders OF me
| horse world They run IN insLlonAoie
coiors. They are nearly an cheS1A.'
| ord bavs 4 calico pony Is a rarity
| AIMING them. They have the heads anu
lers OF thorouphbreds. You VIII "eE',
| T. among them such hammer "e"u
brntes as you viii find II you l"HPre1 q
herd of Texas ponies or bronchos n','
legs and feet are perfect ana so y eli'.'
| disposition. a vicious one Is raieiy se ~
"They are easily broken, ana uH''Ne Wy ~.
Accountants of the wild horse. wnen
-, ,l,c,. rernain so. How these ponies
came on the island no one Knows uo' .
is not a acran OF history on the subIec'
evtsnt They have eli the characteristics
| If .ba thoroughbred, therefore they are
unlike any pony In the wofl1. Inc ~
noeftion is and Il Is a tenaple oNe' ma,
lora fine an the latter half OF the las'
ccnt,,rv or the forrpart Of this one a
vessel carrying some imported thorough
breds comprising stations and mares.
was wrecked near the island anu va
the animals swan ashore and multiplied multi. ss.
IN the spring Of the year when when lol,
age is scarce, the ponies seek thelr I lou
| down In the water. where the seaM .s',.
crows. IN this way scores OF the my
creatures are carried into the oee"" ,r ~
the treaoherous waves and are losl "'
average height of chncote"sue w.
about thirteen hands. These ponies ni an.
! good roadsters. Some OF tneM man p'u
fro,tors The celebrated Sadie bei
o.sc1-9 was a ChincOteague pony, ana W
| her dav was successful campaisner au0
rnorev-winnor until her owners lace'
| ber off her legs" Washington star.