Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-03
WAR AMONG SOYSTERMEN
Killing of Balm Webster Recalls Peculiar
Condition ofAffairs.
Historic "Pirates, of the Chesapeake
Bay-Status Of Deals island
ParsOn Th0anas' Prayer.

The killing Of Balm Webster, a Deals
Island FISHERMAN and rabber, in Holland
Straits, on the Somerset county, Md, shore,
yesterday by the captain or mate or the
Dorset oyster police boat Folly attracts at
tentlon to the peculiar conditions existing
in the lower Chesapeake. For many years,
1T Is said there has been intermittent
war between the Somerset county and the
Accomac county, Va, oystermen, which
has resulted in the loss of some lives and
the destruction or confiscation of much
vessel property. The Somerset people
claimed that under the compact of lisa
compact noted in United States history as
the first entered into by free and sovereign
states, and which is unique in the history
OF treaties In America-they had an equal
risnt OF hshery in the whole Pocomoke
ana Potomac rivers with the Virginians.
Inc virginia oysternen and police were in
the habit of resisting what they regarded
as encroachment on their rights, after the
treaty had been, as it was claimed abro-
gated by the federal laws. Finally, a line
was run between the two states, over the
waters IN controversy, by the Black-Jen-
klns commission. However the Somerset
osstefmeh persisted in crossing the line,
ana were fired upon, captured, jailed and
thelr vessels confiscated by the Virginia
authorit1es The Somerset oystermen con-
stanty appealed to the authorities of NARY
land for armed aid but nothing could he
zone Tor them. A few years ago the long
peHuihs controversy was permanently set
tieo by decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States upholding the Virginia
side. 80 e1i'i"
Base of War Transferred.
Since then the wa- has been transferred tn
the waters lying between the counties of
horset and Somerset, in Maryland The
people ol the former claim that the Somer-
seuahs boldly fish in their waters, with an
outcropplng of the old predatory spirit
winch, before the battle of Chester river
IN which Captain Tom Howard. commander
OF the oyster navy. and late lieutenant in
me volunteer navy, attacked a big fleet of
ufeugerS, sunk several of their vessels and
put the rest to flight, made the "oyster nj
rates OF the Chesapeake bay known
throughout the United States. There have
been several collisions resulting in homi
clde, between the Dorset and Somerset oys-
termen. Yesterdays killing is claimed to
nave peen done by Captain Insley of the
Folly, who had pursued several alleged
Somerset crabbers from Dorset waters to
the somerset shore, although Mate Conner
OF me Folly claims that he shot Webster
tn nm his captain was in mortal danger.
me case promises to be a cause celebre
IN CRIMINAL anrals of the eastern shore
Efforts VIII be made to have the oyster DO
ncemen indicted and tried in the Somerset
court, and, of course, the Dorset partisans
will rally to their defense
Home of Joshua Thomas.
DeaIs Island, where Webster lived, is
said to be one of the aueerest communities
to be found in the United States Its isola-
ton, the fact that all its inhabitants are
engaged in the oyster and other fisheries
their frequent intermarriages, the lack of
immigration to the island or of emigration
from it, combine to make it peculiar in the
highest degree. 1t was the home of Joshua
Thomas, the "parson of the islands," who
was told by General Ross, in the British in
vasion of 1914, that he proposed to eat
his supper in Baltimore or in hi" The
Methodist parson let his patriotism get the
better of his religion and prayed for the
latter alternative. Ross was killed at North
Point, and to this day Deals Island believes
that he fell in answer to Parson Thomas
appeal to the god of battles.