Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-04
THE EASTERN SHORE.
A Reminisccncc of the Queen
struck by Lightning.

ONANCOCK, VA, July 3.-tSpeciai)-
The recent celebration, of the sixtieth
anniversary of Queen Victoria's Access
sion to the British throne has revived
the memory of an incident that connects
native of the Eastern Shore OF VIZ
glnia with England's good and noble
Queen In the early part OF this CEN
tury Captain William Dixon, OF North
ampton, was first officer on large mer-
chant vessel that traded between North
America and England. The vessel was
owned in part by an English nobleman'
closely connected with the Royal family,
and whenever the ship anchored In the
Thames this nobleman came ABOARD.
He learned to know Captain Dixon well,
and frequently intrusted to him the
transaction of important private busi-
ness in foreign ports. One day captain
Dixon accompanied the nobleman from
the ship to his handsome country resi-
dence. where he found a number or
children playing about the grounds. OBJ
serving that the English gentleman took
much interest in their. sport Captain
Dixon asked him If they were all his
children; whereupon the nobleman called
to the children. and when they had
gathered about him he introduced them
to the bold seaman. One was the child
Of Lord A, another Of Duke h, and an
other of Earl c. Finally he came to
little girl of or years, who. he told
Captain Dixon would one day be Queen
Of England. The old sailor took the
little girl in his arms and kissed her.
Twelve or fourteen years later, when
Victoria assembled the throne, Captain
Dixon, then an old man, related the
circumstances TO q company Of friends
in Northampton, one Of whom, the vene-
rable John w. Tankard still survives,
still vigorous in mind and body at the
ripe old age of So years. Mr. Tankard
is the honored president of the Board
of Trustees of Margaret Academy, in this
town, and while present at the recent
commencement exercises Of the Academy
he related the foregoing interesting in
cident. He knew Captain Dixon well.
and has no doubt that the story Is true
IN every particular.
BISHOP RANDOLPHS VISIT.
Right Rev. A. M. Randolph, Bishop Of
Southern Virginia, paid a flying visit
to Onancock yesterday, to arrange for
settling a minister in Trinity parish, of
which Onancock is the centre. The
church here has been without rector
for the past eight months. After con-
sulting with the vestry, the Bishop de-
cided TO send TO this parish the Rev.
Carey Gamble, who was recently gradu-
ated from the Episcopal Theological
Seminary, near Alexandria. Mr.. Gamble
is said to be a young man of fine parts,
great industry, and genuine piety. The
Bishop was unable to hold any services
here and returned TO Norfolk on the
afternoon train, but he has promised to
visit the churches in Accomac some time
in August.
Onancock is to have a new weekly
paper, 10 be known as the Accomac
News. Mr.. ]. c. Rowles, long foreman
in the Peninsula Enterprise office. at Ac-
comac Courthouse is to be the pub
Usher, and arrangements have been
made TO secure proper editorial co-opera-
ton. The first No. of the paper will be
issued about the middle Of the current
month.
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
During the recent thunderstorm light
ming struck the sloop Dennis, lying in
Pungoteague creek, shattering the main
mast and topmast, and doing considera-
BILE damage to the deck. Three men were
on board at the time, but they escaped
injury. At the same time, a tenement
house nearby, belonging to Henry Bat
tale, Esq, was struck by lightning and
a hole as large as a fiour-barrel was
made in one corner. but all the occu-
pants-a man, his wife, and fourteen chill
dren-escaped unhurt.
The Democrats of Northampton will
hold a meeting at Eastville on Monday,
July 18th. 10 appoint delegates TO the
Roanoke convention.
The new Board Of Pension Examiners
for the Eastern Shore of Virginia have
organized, with the following officers:
DR.. r. r. Taylor, president; DR.. Charles |
L. Harmanson, secretary, DR.. George T. !
Ames, treasurer.