Evening journal., 1899-08-10
OLD FENWICK S ISLAND
Situated Partly in Delaware
and Partly in Maryland.
AN OLD BOUNDARY QUESTION

LIAM PENN AND LORD BALTI-
MORE FOUGHT EACH OTHER IN
EHHR DELAWARE PENINSULA
DISPUTES.
Fenwick's Island, Nd, Aug. s.-The
opening Of campmeetiRg on Fen
wick's Island August under the au-
spices OF the Methodist Protestant
Church affords the historian a good
opportunity OF calling attention to GER
tain interesting historical data. This
is especially true with reference to the
numerous boundary disputes that have
characterized the history OF Maryland
from the date OF her settlement to the
present time. One OF the most inter-
esting OF these boundary Disputes had
reference to the part Of Fenwicks Is
land where the camp is located.
The long strip Of coast line, fortified
by sand dunes and backed by the AS
sawoman bay and broad stretches OF
marsh. called Fenwick's Island is, in
deed. an island. But this was not the
case in former years. In 1863. when
William Penn assumed possession OF
his purchase in the peninsula this strip
OF territory was connected with the
mainland During the early part OF
this century, however a ditch was dug
on its landward side. Through the ac.
tion OF the tide this ditch has become
a chaanel.
The island is about forty miles long
and a mile wide. one-third Of it being
in Delaware and the rest in Maryland.
In former years the abundance Of wild
celery made it the feeding grounds for
canvasback ducks, but the entrance OF
the ocean through the artificial chan
nel killed the wild celery at the head
OF the bay. Now the only game the is
land affords is quail and beach birds.
BOUNDARY LINE WRANGLES.
The part OF Fenwick's Island that is
interesting from a historical point OF
view is where the boundary line be-
tween Maryland and Delaware cuts
the coast. The line is almost touched
by the Fenwick Island lighthouse. The
lighthouse is a tower so feet high,
showing alternately a bright and a
dtll light. 1t was erected in 1857 to pro-
tdct shipping from the sand bar that
extends out into the ocean about 12
miles. Many vessels had been driven
upon the shoals in foul weather, and
the place had come TO be considered
dangerous. There may be seen at pres
ent Old hulks upon the beach in differ
ent stages OF decay. silent proofs OF the
former dangers OF the coast Yet. not
withstanding the existence OF the light
house and a lightship and foghorn on
the shoals. the International Line
steamship Rynland ran ashore near
this spot last Winter
The establishment OF the boundary
line at this point marks a most import
ant event in the many wrangles thai
finally settled the territorial disputes
between the successors Of William
Penn and those OF Lord Baltimore
The history OF Maryland could bl
easily written from the point Of view
OF the establishment Of her boundaries
The urgency OF the Virginia Marylan,
boundary dispute was one OF the i'm
mediate causes OF the assembling o
those conventions and congresses tina
led finally to the formation OF msr
perfect union in 1889. In turn the adop
tion Of the Federal Constitution mad
possible a peaceable settlement OF tn
boundary disputes The unsettled son
dition OF the boundaries OF MaryIan
was q legitimate inheritance of tn
vagueness Of colonial grants and char
ters. In some instances they overlar
ped. and in other cases an interyer
ing neutral space was left that aiforC
ed grounds for dispute In most case
however, the disputes arose from mil
understanding with reference to n
exact location Of some natural object
tree, a stone. hill, tributary or
cape. This was the case in the bounl
airy dispute between william Per
and Lord Baltimore that especial
concerned Fenwick's Island.
SHREWD WILLIAM PENN.
William Penn was one OF the shrew
est proprietors that ever held a era,
for rood Of land on this continer
He had Quaker forbearance and BrI
ish pugnacity. and with this hap
combination OF viptues he very selds
entered upon a territorial dispute b
that he came out victor. And. O
might add. there was not a square fc
Of territory upon which he had ghs
of a squatter claim but that he back
that claim with all the cunning. foI
and influence at his command. VIII
cunning would serge his purpose b
ter than enythiAg else he used II