Evening journal., 1922-11-25
OYSTER TONGER
Shot, MAY DIE
Oystermen's Battle Is Fear
ed Beween Maryland
Counties
HAVE TROUBLE
OVER PRIVATE BEDS
speclaI . The Evaning journal.

Special 10 The Evening journal.
CAMBRIDGE Nov 25.-Emer-
son Prichett, aged 80 years. who was
shot from ambush on Wednesday.
while longing oysters in Deep Creek
in the Nanticoke river, is in crieical
condition in the local hospital and
his death is looked for At any time.
No arrests have been made but the
case lis being investigated by the
county authorities
The shooting is thought to have
been the outcome OF trouble between
oyster tongers OF Dorchester and
Wicomico counties.
The trouble which resulted in the
shooting of Prichett had its inception
in the claims of the private planters
of wicomico county. whose oyster
beds are located on the Nanticoke
river adjoining Dorchester county.
The Dorchester toneers. n is said,
have paid no attention to the pri-
vate ownership or those beds hut
have been gathering oysters freely
there in the same manner as in free
rock bottoms.
From the Information available II
was learned that Prichett, accom-
panied BY his brother. Cory Prichett
and IVY Bramble went TO Deep Greek
on Monday to tong for oysters. While
so engaged they were ordered of by
Captains william and Frank Trsvers
who stood in the marshes and de-
clared themselves the owners OF the
tonging privileges.
Prichett and his companions thep
left but they returned again Thurs
day after they had received word the
waters were free TO all This in /
formation is claimed 10 have been |
received by Moses u. Prichett. the /
injured mans father who is said
to have communicated with the
Conservation Commission and TO
have received a reply that the wat
ers were common property and not |.
owned or leased by any one.
Consequently Prichett and his
brother and Bramb.e returned to
the oyster beds and began their
work While so engaged their was
a rattle of firearms and Emerson
Prichett pitched over in the boat
with blood squirting. from wound in
his head. with his fall the firing
ceased and his brother and compan-
ion picked up the wounded man and
finding him badly wounded attempt
ed to staunch the flow OF blood.
They succeeded in a measure and
then hurried him TO the Cambridge
Hospital where he was given treat
ment.
Neither Of the men in the party
saw the men that fired the shots as
they crouched in the high weeds Of
the marshes.
Sheriff Ivy Whestley. OF Wicomico
county, has organized a posse and
started search for the persons
guilty of the crime and friends of
Prichett are also said 10 have
armed themselves and gone on
a private search and more trouble
IS feared.
This season the oystermen Of Dor
chester are contending that those Of :
Wicomico holding only a Wicomico !
county license should not he per- {
mitted on what they term the Dor
chester portion Of the river bed. and
have threatened. IL is said. To stop
them by use of force. II necessary. .
As far as can be learned this action
Is taken by the Dorchester oystermen E
Of their own initiative and not by =
the authorities Of their county. ,
Wicomico tongers state that they =
will not accept this new rule and IN 4
nterferred with by the Dorchester >
men, trouble will almost certainly +,
'esult. Some OF the Dorchester 4,
raiders it Is reported, have pre-
Jared themselves with guns and am r
nunition and have threatened 10 h
hoot TO kill IL bothered while TAX
ng oysters off the beds OF private
'arties.
The only boat OF the oyster navy
n the scene is commanded by Cap =
ain Ernest A. TAYLOR, and 1t is
laimed is not provided with either ~
un or ammunition
This has been an unusually favor =
bic year for the bivalve in this sec =
ion and oysters have grown large, \
at juicy and Of excellent flavor ~
he yield is much larger than for r'
many years previously and have CON
lstently commanded high prices. W
It is these facts that is supposed 3
Q have aroused the cupidity OF the ~
ongers and led them 70 seek oysters Z.
'egardless of private beds The pri- n
'ate beds Of William Travers have di
'een the greatest sufferers from the
tongers. az
is
PROPERTY SALES bi