Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-13
CAPE CHARLES.
COURT MATTERS-WILD GEESE
THE OYSTER TRADE.
Especial to The virginian-Pilot.)

Cape Charles, Va, March 12-The
March term Of the County Court of
Northampton began it's session in East
Vile Monday. While the criminal and
civil dockets were light, and while His
Honor. the Judge, the Clerk, the Attor-
ney for the Commonwealth and the
members of the bar were in conse-
quence not overworked, yet this term
has a distinctive and fascinating fea-
ture. and 1t drew a big attendance. 1t
is known on the Shore as Horse Show
Court" The finest blooded stock on
the Peninsula (and the Eastern Shore
is famous for fine horses and pretty
women) were on exhibition on this oc-
caSion, and each owner We'd with his
neighbor in n friendly cndeavor to carry
off the honors for the best strain of
blood. for style and for speed. The
month Of January was the Fertilizer"
term of the court, for on that occasion
the farmers attended to sign contracts
for their guano for potato and other
crops.
most remarkable illustration of
the attraction of brant, wild geese and
other wild fowl, by the strong shipping
lights placed along our Virginia coast,
Is afforded in the recent experience of
Mr.. Brown, one of the keepers of Hog
Island light, located on the Atlantic
coast. Along about the last of Feb
ruary says Mr.. Brown, the keepers of
IiiS liSul were dTOuScO lTOHl Their
slumbers by the 'honking'' of geese and
brant. The keeper, who was on duty
at that hour, had to call for assistance,
as the fowl. bewildered and blinded by
the powerful light. were flying in such
numbers and with such force against
the glass in the tower as to SILVER 1t in
every direction. The men procured
their guns and fired away ut the
feathery assailants OF the light until
their ammunition was exhausted. The
result was 26S dead brant and geese at
the base of the tower.
The subsequent Saturday night the
Hog Island light was again attacked by
brant and geese as before. There was
no ammunition at the tower and the
force of keepers turned out and with
their hands captured $50 Of the fowl
This was kept up until an immense
flock. fully a thousand, came rushing
against the tower with such force that
the keepers fed inside for protection.
The birds continued to strike the glass
tower. breaking 1t into pieces and put
ting out all the lights in the watch
ROOM
Hog Island is a first-class light and
has a powerful lens. 1t is a steel tower
$50 feet from the top to mean high
water. and can be seen from the bridge
OF steamer distance of twenty-five
miles out at sea. This tower was COM
pleted only few years ago.
NIL II. hOOTC, OIL BlEQ Nest,
Northampton county, u. S. Voluntary
Meteorological Observer, has furnished
the following statement for the month
of February for the Eastern Shore:
This has been an unpleasant month,
with many dark and cloudy days
Spells of quite warm weather. then cold
and then warm again. Maximum tenn
perature GO. minimum r. mean 3943
Rainfall. 3.95 inches; snow. $50 Inches
Some early potatoes planted and more
will be as soon as the weather permits
Wells and streams gaining in water"
The oyster trade on the Eastern
Shore has been quite good the past few
weeks. especially from the shipping
points in Northampton and Accomac
AS reason for the increased trade II
is stated that many OF the oysters from
other sections, especially north of Vir-
ginia, have been inferior in quality
Prices. too. have been good and the
stock better than usual 1t is a fact
that no finer or better oysters in the
world are those of Cherrystono
Kings. Hungar's and Mattawan creeks.
and this without attempting to dis
parage the bivalves taken in other
creeks along the shore Tine shipments
over the New York, Philadelphia and
Norfolk railroad have been very heavy.
Among the citizens from the Eastern
Shore who visited Norfolk last week
were DR.. Walden, Judge G. S. Kendall
Ihoinas I9 Robinson. Samuel J. Costin
Joseph b. Savage and A. w. KeIlam,
of Northampton; G. Walter Mann
NJ Nottingham. L. ]. Hyslop and
Messrs. Bull. Dougherty and Byrd, of
Accomac county. The people of the
Shore are quite partial to Norfolk. and
were all things equal business relations
between the points could be extended
almost without limit
Capt. G. S. Morgan. one of the most
prominent farmers on the Eastern
Shore, who owns a splendid estate on
the seaside, near Cheriton. left last
week on visit to Baltimore. He was
accompanied by his wife. Cant Nor
gan says he Is tired of country life, and
VIII, IL he can. sell his home In North
ampton and spend the remainder OF his
days In the Monumental City, where
his friends are legion.
BREVITIES.
Mrs. Caroline Hutchinson died sud