Evening journal., 1899-02-23
QUEER ISLAND HOMES.
Peculiar Group in Mingled
Maryland and Virginia Waters.
rsEIR HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT

A. lN1D IN l1iE L1LAtN1 Of tntL
LATE 8AAIES vlAIlrANr-LGFE ON
TIE sRHDSES." MARSHES AND
WATERWAYS -ToPOGRAPHICAL
CHANGES GOING ON.
St. Michaers. Md. Feb ga diary
Of the late James Valiant, Of ST. Mich
aei's. gives some interesting facts in
relation to the islands OF rangier
sound. based on observation made in
1895. From this diary the following
has been condensed:
THE TANG1ER GROUP.
Tangier sound is a perfect network
OF is.ands. the -four most important
OF which are Deals, formerly "Dell's,"
Hollands. smiths and Tangier islands.
Deals Island was settled in the year
1900. when three houses were consuulct-
ed in different parts OF the island by
James Wallace, John Windsor and
Nicholas Rowe. The houses Of the
two first named have l1ng since dis
appeared, but a part OF the last mem
toned may yet he seen. II was built
partly Of brick. and was in the last
half century owned by Lylbrand
Thomas. Sr The ground on which it
stands is adjoining the land OF Ly-
brand Thomas. Jr., who is yet living.
Many cf the descendants Of these three
settlers are now living on Deaps ISL
and. Other early settlers we're Will
liam Evans, grandfather Of Will
liam T. Evans, ex-postmaster, and a
family OF the name OF Timmons.
Johnny Webster came here from Eng
land scme two decades before the war
OF the revolution. and was the first
school tearhed this island could ever
boast OF. HIS descendants on the island
are very numerous. Among them is a
great-grandson. Rev. zachariah H.
Webster. cf the Wilmington Confer
enee, also the late Rev zachariah
webster an earnest co-worker OF the
late Joshua Thomas.
The strait separating this island from
..he mainland ORock Creek district)
was long known. as Laws Therefor
It is now known as Misters Therefor
named after Captain Severn Mister
who Lived some fifteen or twenty yeart
on the island and died on beautiful
estate near Royal Ooa'k.
DEALS ISLAND.
Deals 1sland is about three miles
long and it's extreme width is abou
one and a han miles. AT least one
third of the island consists Of marsh
in which are some ponds, but no ditch
es. A seGpentine road traverses tn
entire length of the Island, winding ii
way in every conceivable direction
through patches cf cultivated groun,
upon each of,which stands an oyster
mans cottage. When It rains th.
roads are impossible by pedestrian
without gum boots. The averag
height CT what is called the soil
ground above the Water--or sound
level cannot exceed three feet Tn
highest elevations are probably si
feet. During a southeast gale, II tn
MARSHES be Included, cne-half OF tn
Island has been submerged in sal
water The people OF the island sect
to have little, il any, conception OF III
Importance Of draining. An occasions
water-lead may be seen on one or NOR
sides OF berry patch, but they do nc
seem TO .ead anywhere. There ar
no sanitary precautions, and the pee
pie drink surface water only. and. til
mus be impure. Wells are very sha
low. Graves are also 50 shallow ths
the top OF the box covering the coffi
IS only six or seven inches from II
upper edge OF the grave. The soil t,
the island is very rich and can gro
IN the greatest profusion small fant
and vegetables as we'll as corn. N
wheat is raised on this island and NJ
one-ifth as much corn as the neon
need The chief industry Ct the peop
is Clustering in Winter and cralbbin
in Summer Grabbing during Il
Summer months is much more ri
munerative than oystering in Winte
and the times are better. The chi
agricultural industry of the island
the berry. "A few OF the larger farm
raise about enough corn for their ow
consumption. The farms. of whi,
there are but very few. vary in 81,
from five to fifty OF tirty-fye acre
There are but two farms containing
much as fifty acres. The farmer rails
corn enough to feed his Two horses. a,
he Owns a valuable COW. He sells
few vegetables to such OF the islande
as are not so fortunate as himself. ri
chief source Of revenue is derived fro
the strawberry patches The hous
are scattered about on this isla,
here, there and everywhere. within
any order, and removed from ca
other by distances varying from TWEEN
TO 200 yards. They are neat, oft