The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-14
Historic Oyster Pirates.


The killing of Balm Webster. a Deals
island oysterman and crabber, I'm Hol-
lands straits. on the Somerset county
Maryland shore ~ the captain Oh
mate Of the Dorset oyster police boat
| folly. attracts attention TO the peculiar
conditions existing in the lower Ches-
apeake, says the Washington Star. For
many years, il is said. there has been
an intermittent war between the SOM
erset county and the Acomac county.
virginia, oystermen, which has result
ed In the loss OF some lives and tho
uestruction or .connscation of much
Nsssei property. The Somerset people
'iaiiled that under the compact of 1885
"a compact noted i'm United states
history as the first entered into by free
anu sovereign states and which Is uni
que IN the history OF treaties in Ameri.
Sa-they had an equal right Of fishery
III the whole PocOmoke and Potomac
l'Nefs with the Virginians The Nir-
Slnla oystermen and police were in the
haDlt or resisting what they regarded
as an encroachment on their rights
aiter the treaty had been. as il was
claimed. abrogated by the Federal laws.
hihally, line was run between the two
states over the waters I'm controversy.
Dy the Black-Jenkins commission.
However the Somerset oystermen per-
SISTED In crossing the line and were
hred upon, captured. jailed and their
vessels confiscated by the Virginia au-
thofities. The Somerset oystermen,
constantly appealed to the authorities
OF Maryland for armed aid, but moth
ing could be done for them. A few
years ago the long pending controversy
was permanently settled by decision
Oh the supreme court Of the United
states upholding the Virginia side.
since then the war has been trans
ierred TO the waters lying between the
counties Of Dorset and Somerset in
Maryland. The people of the former
claim that the Somersetlans boldly fish
IN their waters, with an outcropping of
,ne OLD predatory spirit which. before
the battle of Chester River. i'm which
Capt. Tom Howard, commander of the
oyster navy. and late lieutenant i'm
tne volunteer navy. attacked a big fleet
of dredgers. sunk several Of their ves-
seis ana put the rest 10 flight made the
oyster pirates OF the Chesapeake bay
known throughout the United States.
lhere have been several collisions. re-
sulting In homicide. between the Dor
sci and Somerset oystermen. The re-
cent killing is claimed to have been
aone by Capt. Insley of the Folly. who
Aou pursued seNefdl alleged Somerset
crabbers from Dorset waters To IN.
somerset shore, although Mate Conner
OF the Folly claims that he shot Web
ster, thinking his captain was I'M NOR
tai danger
The case promises to be cause cele- |
pre- In criminal annals of the eastern |
shore. Efforts will be made TO have |
oyster policemen indicted and tried in |
ne Somerset court. and. OF course. the |
Dorset partisans will rally to their de.
tense.
Deals island. where Webster lived is
SAID to be one OF the queerest communi-
les 10 be found I'm the United States.
rs Isolation, the fact that all its in
iapitants are engaged i'm the oyster and
'ther fisheries, their frequent inter
marriages. the lack OF immigration 10
he Island OF of emigration from IL
combine 10 make it peculiar i'm the
lghest degree. IL was the house OF
oshua Thomas the "parson OF the
Stands, who was told by Gen. Ross.
n the British invasion of 1914. that he
roposed To 'eat his supper in Balti-
lore or i'm hades." The Methodist par
ON let his patriotism get the better of
is religion. and prayed for the latter
lternative. Ross was killed at North |
ONT. and TO this day Deals island be-
ewes that he fell in answer 10 Parson |
hOmaS' appeal TO the god of hattie