Peninsula Enterprise, June 20, 1885

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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Baseball

In a match game of baseball between "baby nines" of Onancock and Drummondtown, at Onancock on last Saturday, the infants, who represented the Shire town, came out second best by a score of 3 to 12.

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African-Americans -- Race relations

Dinah Winder a very respectable old colored woman, honored and trusted in the ante bellum days as a faithful and efficient servant, died at her home near Drummondtown last Tuesday, aged about 75 years.

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Transportation -- Railroad - Litigation

Decision in the case of Bates against the N. Y., P. & N. R.R., was rendered by Judge Gunter on the 12th inst., in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $250. In this case, suit was instituted by Bates to recover $20,000 for services as secretary and treasurer of said road for several years before the building of it was commenced.

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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionMental illnessInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Welfare

Accomac C. H.

Work has begun on a handsome residence to be erected in our town by Mr. L. Floyd Nock, attorney.

Spencer Parker, committed to jail a few days ago for an attempt at suicide on railroad, is now an inmate of our alms house.

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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Other storesInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial construction

Belle Haven.

A butcher shop has been opened in our town by Thomas Savage.

A building boom is prevailing in our midst. A new dwelling has been erected by G. L. Doughty, Trower's storehouse has been rebuilt and enlarged, the dwelling of Capt. D. R. Mister is being repainted, and three more new dwellings are to be built during the summer.

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Sea -- Fish factoriesSea -- Finfish - Catch : DrumSea -- Finfish - Catch : Menhaden

Chincoteague.

The fishing crews of Bunting's Factory succeeded on Tuesday in loading their boats with black drum fish. They counted about one thousand. Thus far no menhaden have been taken.

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Laborers -- FisheriesTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - LodgesSea -- Fish factories

Locustmount.

The piscatorial business in this neighborhood is at a low ebb and many of our people are disconsolate, fishing being their chief employment.

A fine new yacht belonging to the "club House" at Rob's Island, arrived in our waters last week. She is owned by enterprising New Yorkers, and they have no doubt come to stay.

The factory on Cedar Island has begun operation; but many of the men employed are sick, and on shore under medical treatment at this time.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Clamming : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : DredgingInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Public : Schools

Saxe's Island.

Our oystermen are not "laying on their oars" this summer as in previous years, but have turned their attention to catching clams and find it lucrative employment.

Dredging vessels are being purchased by some of our citizens and put in order for the coming season.

Dwellings are being erected by Decatur Linton and Welly Young.

The School census taken here last week by Mr. John D. Parsons, showed that Saxes' school population was one hundred.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Clamming : SeasideSea -- Fish factoriesSea -- Finfish - Catch : MenhadenTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - ResortsInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential developmentForests -- Forest products - Lumber

Wachapreague.

Fishermen have become disgusted with the small catch of fish, and have turned their attention to the clam business, which proves more lucrative.

Ale wives seem to be scarce this season, as we have heard of none being caught so far by the fishermen in Cedar Island. Should this thing continue much longer, your correspondent would not be surprised to see some lively stepping around, and hear some language from our worthy and enterprising citizens in the Fish factory business, that would suggest the thought that he didn't care whether the original place of torment was called, hell, Gehenna or Sheol.

Mrs. Arthur Bowden and children, daughter-in-law of Mr. Severn Bowden, of Baltimore, will occupy for the summer months, the "Custis" property so beautifully located on the banks of the quick and sanguine Wachapreague River.

There will be quite a batch of improvements in our place this season. We are credibly informed that Mr. A. T. James, L. C. Bulman, Capt. Jos. Hargis, E. Powell, and Capt. Rhodes have purchased lots and will build this season. Messrs. Powell and Garrison are furnishing the lumber for some of the buildings now, and in a short time we expect the dull monotony of our town will be broken by the sounds of saw and hammer in carrying on to completion the work already commenced.

N.Y., P. & N. R.R.

reprinted from Norfolk Ledger.Transportation -- Railroad - Freight

The Philadelphia News, after saying that there are "panhandle" lines, "air" lines, "grapevine" lines, &c., suggests that the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad be called the "strawberry" line. Very good, as far as it goes but it is not comprehensive enough. It is pushing through a vast amount of vegetables and fruits.

Dr. Pitts' Trial Postponed.

reprinted from Norfolk Virginian, June 13.Moral -- Murder

Dr. James D. Pitts, who was convicted of murder in the second degree for killing Dr. Walter, on Tangier Island, and sentenced by the Elizabeth City County Court to eighteen years in the penitentiary, was brought to this city Thursday evening and lodged in jail. -- He was granted a new trial by the Supreme Court, and will be tried in the Norfolk County Court, his counsel succeeding in having the case removed to this county. The trial was to come off this month, but Hon. John Goode, one of the attorneys for the prosecution, will not be able to be away from Washington at the time, and therefore it has been postponed to July.

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Farmers -- Innovation

MR. EDITOR -- Your paper of last week contains a letter signed "X," giving to the N. Y. Post an account of this peninsula and people. It is rather interesting -- bar its pharisaism and general impertinence. Among other most interesting items, he details a speech by a "railroad magnate" to the gaping crowd he was "deputed to address." -- As became a magnate his gravity was owl like, his impudence corresponding to his station, and "he was very frank with them." He with one fell blow "took all the starch out of them." With awful majesty he addressed his trembling auditors. "You are incorrigibly lazy;" "this is your great trouble," and "you are wedded to pertaties." How awful that audience felt as Magnate scowled! Well, he, the Magnate, who by virtue of the fact that he is a Magnate, and "a railway Magnate", is able to say what no other man ever presumed to say. But the trouble with Magnate, or his Boswell, is that the statement is untrue.

Magnate lashing away thunders, "you are in a rut and lack the knowledge, courage and enterprise to climb out." -- Here is a modicum of truth -- and let us accept it. We are not "in a rut," but "the railroad will bring new ideas and new methods." Our people are slowly and cautiously advancing because they "have no money to spend in experiments," yet they are pushing on. Hundreds of acres one year ago in corn and potatoes are being laid down in fruits and preparing for the trucks. With supercilious impudence Magnate says we "are patiently waiting for some northern man to come down and teach us." Well, some have been here -- and of these many are as good citizens as we have -- but we have thus far learned from them only how to lose money farming after their fashion.

Despite Magnate, X, et id omne of that ilk, our people will "climb out of the rut," and through that road an almost free gift in lands of this people to its builders we shall with a "knowledge, courage and enterprise" roused by the opportunity, develop into a garden our country so blessed by climate and soil. Still, we must remember we have to "climb out the rut." Let us not be afraid, because of the mendacious and ignorant gibes of Magnate, X, & Co., to look over our affairs squarely in the face. Gather wisdom, as the bee honey whenever it can best be had even from Magnate when he may show it. -- Gather it and garner it, and apply it to make our waste places glad and our productive land mines of gold. If we are behind the times let us squarely face the disagreeable fact, and to the triumphant music of a new departure bravely seek and apply the remedy. If there are northern men, with capital, brains, "knowledge, courage and enterprise," who desire to cast their lot with us let us heartily welcome them; and if they can "come down and teach us" so much the better. Let us learn "what they know about farming."

KEGOTANK.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
June 20, 1885