New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-24
ION THE EASTERN SHORE.
Gradual Disappearance of Islands
Belonging to MARYLAND.

Easton Nd. Jan. % (speciaD.-Some years ago
the question of proposed canal between the Chesa-
peake and Delaware bays. the object being to
connect Baltimore more directly with the Atlantic
Ocean, greatly alarmed the inhabitants of the
peninsula which is composed Of the whole OF Della
ware and the eastern shores OF Maryland and Vir-
gina. They believed that cut off from Pennsyl-
vania by the canal. their beloved country would
floating cut to sea- like a ship broken loose
from its moorngs and eventually get involved In
the fow OF the Guie Stream. be switched off in
northeasterly course to the ancestral shores or
England, where, after lingering awhile, it would
at last wind up at the northernmost point Of Nor
way, in the icebound regions Of the midnight sun
This the result OF untutored imagination
alone but of n serious statement made by well
known scientist that the peninsula was floating
on subterranean sea- and was in reality as I'M
stable as the fotssm OF the Sea OF Sargas5o
Be this as it may. strange geological changes,
most alarming in character if one takes time to
think about them. are taking place on the pen
insula. Cobbs Island. Off the Atlantic Coast-that
happy hunting ground OF ex-President Cleveland
and other true and famous sportsmen-is now no
more. Swordfsh and sharks disport themselves in
the deep waters that cover it. Where ten years
aSo were hotels and cottages swarming with human
lie; where there was shooting. and boats put out
for deep sea fishing; where there were flirting and
dancing. and the drinking of mint juleps (for which
the place was famous) shaded verandas is
green water. stOrm-a succession Of several
storms, 70 be eXact-swept the island away, its
terrified inhabitants escaping in boats and the
place thereof knew il more
There is rather picturesque circumstance con-
nected with the destruction OF this island Although
it was obviously doomed. one cid woman refused
to leave It. She had been born there and. please
God she would die there" she said. Her neghbors
went away. but she remained. and. If she were
really under the protection OF the Providence she
so trusted, for long time her little cabin Of one
room remained intact after all the other buildings
on tho island had been destroyed. Recently, after
m yneu from he IN I'm
a boat found the water to her window sills. and
inside they discovered her crouCning upon her bed
with cod. for the water had Dut out her ire
Seemingly dazed, she was put into the boat and a
rev nights later her house was beaten down by
rho destruction Of this island is one instance but
the same thing IS happening all along the coast
and even Ocean City. Maryiands principal summer
resort on its long, narrow island between SnepuX-
eht Say ana the Atlantic has recently had warn
On the Chesapeake side Of the peninsula geological
Changes are gentler but no less sure. separated
Sound IS chain OF islands called variously Bioods-
wortns Island. Hog Island. Billy's ls!ano, and so
OF sand, with high bacltbones scanty covered with
Smith, that picturesque adventurer who explored
these shores and waters they existed only as a
part of the mainland from which they are now
separated 10y twelve miles or water. ,..,
captain smith IN his history tells an interesting
story about LANDING on these shores and discover
phenomenon terrifying TO ms sailors VINO ran from
IT as II the devil was after them Now one looks
out from shore within the compass OF a small
circle about the size OF dinner plate Is at all
times, though moro turbuently at low tide n
strange agitation OF the waters which sailors call
the puppy hole" This gnot has never been known
70 freeze. and at any season upon dipping in the
hand one finds IL almost unp!easanuy warm.
In spite OF tho far famed malaria and the inter-
marrying for many generations these Islands have
bred a hardy rnce. The women have little beauty,
but great Independence. They wear sunhOnnots-
the dainty affairs OF the boardwalk. but clumsy
cylinders stiffercd with pastehoard-and smoke
pipes. and long anticipated the fashion OF short
skirts. They probably anticipating another
ruEf# IA In
ers. by going barefoot The men occupy their
time IN catching oysters fish crabs. tcrTapln and
mUskrata and IN wild duck shooting. The mouotony
Of these isolated stretches OF marsh Is broken only
by Shiny laEoons. breeding mosquitoes bv the
million small cases OF sand and occasional solitary
pine trees Nothing edible grows here except figs.
and vet persons not yet fifty years OLD remember
when wheat and corn wPrs cultivated with great