Evening star., 1909-08-21

Considerably more than four-score years
ago there was born to Mr.. and Mrs. PEN
nifieId, residents of Elizabeth City, Va,
son. 1t happened that he first saw the
light of day the morning of February y,
and his parents named him after the
father of his country-Georse Washington
Pennifield Today Capt. Pennifield. as he
is known far and near, is domiciied near
lock ~. about twenty miles UP the Poto-
mac on the Chesapeake and Ohio canal,
or near what is so well known to anglers
as Pennifield's lock. Living with him is
the woman who has been his life's part
ner, Mrs Mary j. Pennifeld, who was a
Miss Fields of Rockville before her mar
rage to the Virginian.
For nearly a quarter of century Capt
Pennifield has had charge of lock - or
lived there, and during all these years
hundreds of anglers have partaken or his
hospitality. among them the late Grover
Cleveland, his visit there having been
made while he was President OF the
United States. 1t is still with as great de-
gree of satisfaction that Capt. Pennlneid
tells of the Presidents visit, of the fish he
caught and of the fish stories with which
he amused the President while at dinner
There is probably no more delightful
place along the upper Potomac than the
stretch of water. islands and shore IN
ple The longest island in the Potomac.
q wide strip of land three miles long. is
there and is now one big corn field. De-
spite the advanced age of the captain he
IS still able TO attend to business and
gets full enjoyment out of life.
I'VE both work hard. said Mrs. Penni-
field to Star reporter, "and | guess it's
best that we do.
I'VE work for our living, she ADDED,
'and we get it. The old man is still able
to catch bait. hire out his boats and
gather food for his pigs, and l feed the
fishermen"
Both Capt Pennifeld and his wife are
proud to be able to tell their guests of
the visit and fishing trip enjoyed by Gro
yer Cleveland.
And he was great fisherman" said
Mrs. Permitted. He caught lots of fish
when he was here. and some good ones,
too.
There are not many of the more ex-
pert anglers for bass WHO do not know
Capt. Pennifield and his wife. and who
have not enjoyed the sport in the vicinity
OF their home at some time during the
many years they nave lived there. Their
son. Charles Pennifeld. who long ago
celebrated the fifteth anniversary of his
birth, is now lock tender
Asked how old he is. Capt. Pennfield ad-
mits he does not know exactly. the rec
ord of his birth having been washed
away the time of the Johnstown flood.
He had been in charge of the lock only
q SHOFl WHlle at Inat time. ana despite
the fact that he lost much of his per-
sonal effects he remained there and sue
ceeded in building himself a comfortable
home. Mrs Pennifield says there was a
time when people in that section suffered
from chills, but none of them now suffers
from such ailment.
Camp BLACK Horse is thing of the
past William n. Frey, William F..
Knowles. David Anderson and Aubrey
Knowles having caught black bass and
frogs until they lad h2cNnrn f;rpi nf Hcfi
diet. concluded three DAYS ago to wind up
their vacation and return TO their husi-
ness. and the FISH and frogs are breath
ing easier.
stakes and spread canvas on the big Is
land opposite Pennifeld's Jock. and pro-
ceeded to have an enjoyable time The
frst mornings outing netted more thar
enough bass for breakfast. and II was
found convenient TO arrange live box e
keep fish for future use
Aubrey Knowles drew the 10. OF CON.
missary not fully realizing what dutie:
he had to perform. but when the camper:
tired OF FISH and wanted something more
substantial he made the discovery that 4
was case of hiking for chickens and
eggs.
"But it's no: like couldn't get en-
Re said. when he returned from a farm
er's house the mainland with egg,
that had been laid only an hour or two
and chickens that were the fattest ths
campers had ever seen.
Next month the quar-. ct will camp above
Harpers Ferry William F. Knowles hal
the pleasure of knowing he landed abou
the largest small-mouth bass caught IL
this section. the FISH having weighed
about Ave and half pounds
Good fishing is attracting hundreds al
anglers TO Chesapeake Beach this season
and the sight of so many of them LINED
along the pier Is an attractive one u
those who enjoy the sport. Men, womer
rhilAran included
some trying their luck for perch ant
spots, while others seem satisfied with