Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-12-20

istics. The Chincoteague Islander has
no southern drawl. He puts in the
letter 'r" every time the book calls
for it. Indeed, in speech he is more
of brother to the people in southern
New Jersey than to those in Vir-
ginia.
And this is not surprising, for he
has not mixed much with other Vir-
ginians. It is likely that some of the
old-timers were not off the island for
years at time. And the visitors to
the island are generally people who
travel down the peninsula from New
York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
Maryland and Delaware.
. When the first settlers arrived they
found ponies running wild on the Is
land, together with Indian cattle, both
feeding on the long saltwater grass.
The Indians said these ponies had
originally come to the island from a
wreck off the coast, which leads one
to believe that they were horses from
IA Spanish ship. t
The descendants of these ponies and
Of the wild cattle of the Indians still
roam the salt marshes Of Chinco-
league. The pure-bred Chincoteague
pony is a distinctive breed, with long
tail and name, but the Shetland pony
was subsequently introduced, and
perhaps others, and the breeds have
become mixed. ZEE
These ponies and cattle up to the
number of about 2O0-roam about the
salt marshes at will, feeding on the
salt grass and myrtle bushes. They
require no care or attention, other
than branding the young for purposes
of Identification. Water has no ter
rors for these animals and they readi-
ly swim the small streams that are to
be found throughout the island and
also the channel between Chinco-
league and Assateague, another is
land nearby.
In former years the ponies and cat
tie were allowed to roam over the
whole place, even invading at times
the streets of the town; but now, by
a system of fences, they are restricted
to the lower part Of the island.
On July 3Oth of each year, Chinco-
league holds a pony penning day,
when buyers come to the island from
Baltimore and elsewhere and the po-
MES ar rounded up in wild west style,
which performance attracts crowds
of visitors. AS may be supposed,
there are some frst-class riders on
the island, and the thought occurs to
stage a public performance of trick
and fancy riding in connection with
the roundup each year.
It is also suggested that some of
the Chincoteague boys who ride well
might find it profitable and enjoyable
to take few half-wild ponies and
give exhibitions at fairs in Maryland
and Virginia.
| Because these pones are spoken of
as wild it should not be taken for
granted that they are ferocious. The
writer and young man friend went
out one August afternoon to look at a
mixed herd of ponies and cattle feed
ing near the shore and were allowed
to approach within about 100 yards
without causing a stampede or invit-
ing attack.
Some of the natives on the island
say the pony business will die out in
the next five years., that the increas-
ing popularity of the automobile is
killing it. If this is true, it is to be
regretted, for the pony is one Of the
few remaining things that link up
Chincoteague's progressive present
with it's picturesque past.
The wild cattle on the island are not
rounded up once year as is the case
with the ponies, but are captured and
slaughtered from time to time. The
cows in the herd go unmilked, for
they produce only enough to feed their
calves.
Across small stretch of water and
bit of marsh lies ,Assateague, a
wooded island washed by the waves
of the Atlantic. This island, on which
only a few people live, is also utilized
for the raising Of cattle and ponies.
Ocean fishing is conducted off the
shore, and there is plant for ex-
tracing fish oil. Assateague Light,
established 1882, is located on the is
land.
During the War between the States,
says one of the old-timers, many Of
the men on Chincoteague were either
forced by circumstances or persuaded
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