Year: 1876




ers were all against secession; they dealt will


the North and held intercourse with it, while


with Virginia and the South they had little o


northing in common. Only one man upon tn


Island, Joseph Hill by name, voted for the rat


ifcation of the secession act Of the Virgini;


Assembly. The inhabitants of Chincoteagu


raised an immense flag pole, hundred ant


odd feet in height, to which, being Bell


EFT men, they hung great bell and a United


States flag. Prominent in this action was Mr.
J. A. NJ. Wheaton, man of an intellect anC


education not often found among native Chin


coteaguers. Upon deputy coming from the


mainland to protest and threaten, "Gentlemen,
said the courageous loyalist, 81 hung that flag
and bell, and when they go down go down
with them, but they hang there SO long as
have powder and bullets and can use them
| And the Mainlanders were satisfied and lei
them hang


At this season of the year Chincoteague is
visited by quite number OF guests from other
sections OF the country, drawn by the excep-
tionally


| GOOD CUNNING AND FISHING
| to be found upon the island ne less than by the
| legitimate attractions of the ponies. Among
| these we had great pleasure in making the ac-
quaintance of Prof Otto Leugger, the German
naturalist of the Baltimore Academy of Natu-
raj Sciences, who was there, puzzing the ma
tives with his strange implements and proceed
ings; his butterfly nets and insect chasing
his seines and dredges and deep sea fishing
A pleasant expedition we bad through the pine
woods and thickets that clothe the island,
though from that expedition and those thick
cts we emerged covered with myriads of seed
ticks. Seated upon the edge of stranded boat
we endeavored to remove them from our per-
sons with but Indifferent success. Among the
many insects which the Professor has collected
it may be doubted if any have cost him more
pains than those be doubtless still carries about
him.


Of the same subject correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun speaks as follows:


Captain Daniel Chericks, the "oldest inhabi-
tant," now in his SD year, says he is not old
enough to remember the first of the ponies
They were thick on the island when he was
born. 1t is estimated there are now 900 of the
sturdy little animals who roam the beach and
earn their own living. Though unbroken, and
herding together as wild mustangs on the
Southern plains, each full grown pony bears
the brand of an owner, and all are driven up
into common pen every year, when the colts
are known by the dams, and are also branded.
Many of the ponies are in daily use. 1t is
I'll 1 L e
there are now comparatively few pure breeds
of the original stock, the characteristics of
which are long names and tails, black color,
perfect formation, short heads and great vigor.


Kendall Jester is reputed the largest owner
of the ponies. He every year puts off num-
Der on Wallop's Island, near by, which is CON-
paratively uninhabited. The ponies are left to
themselves and lead rough, hard life in win
ter, struggling against the freezing weather,
which is severe enough to lock up the scanty
grasses and cold enough to keep them herded
closely together for warmth. In the spring
and summer they luxurate on the salt marsh
provender and gambol in troops on the beach.
At regular hours they feed in the marsh, and
when the mosquitoes or sand fl les trouble them
at midday, troop down to the beach and plunge
into the surf for a bath juSt Tho ~ieitn-s do
at Ocean City. To be leader in the pony
troop implies prowess as fighter. There is
always a "head devil" among them who wins
his way with his heels, by kicking and by BIZ
ting. When pretty evenly matched two of
these little light weights will make the earth
shake with their combats until finally one is
paramount, and then all the rest succumb to
his dictation. In former times, before the herd
became divided among so many owners, the
exposure and combats, together with other vi
cissitudes destroyed very many Of the ponies
every year.


Last week there was penningo of some thir-
ty head belonging to the estate of deceased
testator for sale. The herd was driven by
mounted riders down the beach into the en-
closure, where the squealing, kicking biting
and tumult was immense In order to catch
and reduce or break them, the lasso had to be
used, and fight, in which several men engaged
with each pony, was the invariabe result
Breaking is alway a difficult matter, but when
finally accomplished and the mastery secured
the animal is always characterized by doclity
afterwards. One thing it is said the islanders
never attempt, and that is to direct the beach
pony through marsh. He won't be directed,
but if left alone will always safely tread his
way. Many of the ponies have never tasted
grain of corn or an oat and have to be taught
to eat the grain. They don't refuse it long,
however, when they can get nothing else. The
prices paid for the ponies on the spot range
from $50 to $3.50. Some of them polish up
beautifully and would bring in the city $500 a
pair. Many of the little fellows are beautiful,
and make fine driving animals for ladies' ph@-
tons.