Milford chronicle., 1961-07-07
Big Carnival At
Chincoteague, Va

CnlncOteague annual Summer
Carnival, IA big days and nights
of fun" is the way ii is advertised,
will open on Chincoteague Island,
Virginia on Friday. July IA.
Built around the world famous
wild pony roundup and pony auc-
tion which had its start about the
beginning of the 18th century, the
1861 edition of the Chincoteague
Volunteer Firemen's Carnival will
be bigger, gayer and better than
ever.
With the recent release of the 20
tn Century-Fox movie Misty, it is,
perhaps, well to relate a bit of the
story of the origin of these wild
ponies.
Misty" is a direct defendant of the
original wild poniesof Chinco-
league. The movie is an adoption of
the popular childern's book by Mrs.
Marguerite Henry.
In collected records from the
very earliest history of the island,
one finds information which
reveals the following true story.
Early in the 10th century a Span
ish boat transporting Spanish
mustang horses was wrecked off of
wild and desolate Assateague Is
land, named for, the Assateeg
Indians who lived in that area OF
what is now the northeastern corn
er of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Assateague was separated from
Chincoteague in those days by a
narrow waterway called a gut
which could be jumped by a horse.
Because Assateague was so barren
and exposed, it is assumed the
horses came to Chincoteague for
food and shelter from the flashing
storms of the Atlantic.
Proof that the ponies were on
Chincoteague when the first four
white men went there as settlers
is found in the early grants.
Over the long years the ponies
increased rapidly until they be-
came a problem. High fences were
required to protect the cultivated
fields from them. they Travelled in
great herds They even pushed
down the fences or jumped them
especially when the settlers corn
was green.
Around the start of the 18th cent
ury the early settlers started to
round up as many of the ponies as
possible on one day each year.
Pony penning in those longago
days was for men only. The women
prepared the food, but were not
allowed to join the fun. Scheduled
| for early August, the occasion
drew visitors from far and wide
who came in all sorts of boats. The
food was free to all. so was the
homemade whiskey.
In 1924 the Chincoteague Volun-
teer Fire ompany was organized
and through their efforts this
annual roundup, swim, (the ponies
swim across Assateague ChanneD
penning and pony auction has
grown into one of the nations ma
jor summertime attractions. Held
the last Wednesday and Thursday
of July, it is the high point of the
14-day carnival,
The carnival features free en-
ny lOD
TV and movie performers and some
of the currently popular recording
stars. In addition there are rides
of all kinds for Children and adults.
Traditionally the feature OF
Opening night" is the selection OF
the Carnival Queen who reigns
over the festivities for the 2-week
period.
Other highlights of the carnival
include wild pony riding and the
midget car races.
A non-profit enterprise, all pro-
ceeds of the carnival and the sale
of the ponies are used by the Chin
colleague Volunteer Fire Company
for equipment and building main
tenance, the purchase of the new
fire fighting equipment and life
! saving and first aid equipment and
supplies and other worthwhile civic
projects.