Peninsula Enterprise, May 5, 1888

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Sea -- Finfish - Markets

Fish were never more plentiful in our market than at present and the oldest inhabitants say their quality is the best ever known at this season of the year. The supply is greater than the demand and they are being shipped by the barrel, daily to Baltimore.

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African-Americans -- Race relationsAfrican-Americans -- Work - Business And professional

Levin W. Gaines, colored, agent for the sale of Houghton's celebrated reversible, political map of the United States, a very excellent publication, is now soliciting subscribers to same. He is an intelligent public school teacher, and being a Democrat has the "courage of his convictions." He voted for Fitz Lee in 1885, believes he did the right and will continue to vote the Democratic ticket.

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Moral -- Other violent crime

Wm. Allen, of Sykes, was convicted of "shooting with intent to maim" Wm. H. Williams, at this term of court and sentenced to pay a fine of $10 and 60 days confinement in jail. A motion for a new trial was overruled.

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Infrastructure -- Public : ChurchesInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionProfessionals -- BuildersInfrastructure -- Public : Camp meetings

Crowsontown.

The M. E. Church of this place will be enlarged shortly and $150 has been subscribed for that purpose.

The contract has been awarded to Mr. Levin T. Crowson for the erection at an early day of a handsome dwelling here for Capt. John R. Ewell.

A campmeeting will be held again this year near Parksley, during August, under the auspices of the members of the M. E. Church, a large portion of whom reside in and near our town.

The carpenter shop of Mr. L. T. Crowson of this place has been enlarged so that he may be better enabled to meet the demands of his patrons upon him. He says he is now ready to compete with the best in his business on the Shore.

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Transportation -- Water - WharvesWeather -- Northeast stormsWeather -- Snow stormsSea -- Finfish - Methods : Pound-netInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial construction

Hoffman's Wharf.

The Eastern Shore Steamboat Company have built, since their purchase of the steamboat wharf here, a comfortable waiting-room for the accommodation of passengers, which was a great convenience to the traveling public during the past cold winter.

The American Fish Guano Company have just received 42,500 feet of dressed flooring, and 10,000 feet No. 1 North Carolina pine, furnished by S. K. Martin & Co., to be used in repairing and enlarging their dry wharf, damaged by the recent blizzard.

The fish pound and fyke men, all took up their traps, as required by law on 1st day of May.

The signs of improvement can be seen here as well as in other sections of the county. A new blacksmith shop has just been completed by Mr. W. L. Hutchinson, and a handsome dwelling is in course of erection for Mr. Almer J. Evans.

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Transportation -- Water - WharvesWatermen -- Personal injuryInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial constructionInfrastructure -- Commercial - MillineriesWomen -- Work - Outside the home

Onancock.

Messrs. G. B. Fosque & Co., with characteristic enterprise have converted their wharf from a wooden structure into a solid shell, and none therefore now, is more substantial.

Capt. Carey Crockett, of Tangier, who fell from the masthead of his schooner last week, a distance of 52 feet, and was brought to our town for surgical treatment, will, it is thought, recover sufficiently from his wounds, to be out on his crutches in a few weeks. A shorter leg will be the only serious result of his mishap.

The annual spring building boom will soon be in full blast with us. A large and handsome storehouse for Mr. E. E. Miles, a cozy and attractive millinery shop for Mrs. Thos. Coxton and a pretty and commodious dwelling for Mr. Henry Carmine are already in course of erection.

Sad Accident. Two Young Men Drowned.

Transportation -- Water - WrecksWatermen -- Personal injury

The sloop Belle, Greenbackville, was swamped in Metompkin Inlet, last Saturday and her crew, consisting of Rudolph W. H. Young and Benjamin Tull were drowned. The sea was running very high at the time of the accident and it being very calm the sloop was thrown on her end or to use a nautical phrase "pitch-poled," breaking off her mast and leaving her at the mercy of the waves. The two young men for an hour or more after the sloop was disabled were seen clinging to her and were washed off only a few moments before the boat sank. An effort to rescue them was made by parties who witnessed the accident but without avail, it being impossible to reach them in the boat at their command. Young was about 25 years old and had been married only two months. Tull was 18 years old. The boat is a total loss. According to the latest advises their bodies had not been recovered.

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Transportation -- Road - Maintenance

MR. EDITOR. -- Knowing the deep interest you hold in everything concerning the welfare of this county, and in little, more than the better care of our public highways, I venture to address you this note. The Legislature of Maryland has enacted a special road law for the county of Somerset, and in Section II of that law provides for a tax to be "used exclusively for the improvement and betterment of the public roads," and directs the county commissioners to purchase a road machine and to "employ the same under the direction of the road supervisors in their respective districts and, if it shall be found, after actual trial, that such machine and other labor-saving appliances are useful and economical, they are directed to purchase as many machines or other appliances as they may deem most conducive to the public interest. Here is a suggestion for our Board of Supervisors. We have laid already a tax of $4,100 for road purposes; some three years ago the Board bought a road machine. Suppose the Board considers the matter and use some of the money in hand in such road precinct as they may deem best to work their machine, and then "if it shall be found, after actual trial, that such machine is useful and economical" other steps may be had. Private parties who have used the machine for road and race track purposes speak highly of it. It is to be hoped the Board will discuss the matter.

JOHNNY CAKE.

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Professionals -- TeachersAfrican-Americans -- Work - Business And professional

In another place will be found a notice by Dr. John E. Mapp, county Superintendent of public schools, of a "two weeks Teachers Normal Institute: to be held during the month of September at Cape Charles City. He sets forth the value of these gatherings of the teachers to them -- and, if they have conceived a right estimate of the teachings to be had there, the advantages so gained must be productive of great good to the scholars whom they are to teach. If we estimated correctly these Normals have a three fold object; the teaching of the teacher; the discussion of the better methods of teaching; and a free interchange of opinion not only as to results already obtained but suggestions for the future. That all these are greatly needed none can deny. -- The fact that a teacher has "passed through college" is by no means an assurance that he can teach others. Teaching is the imparting of what one knows to another, and there are, unfortunately, many who having knowledge themselves have not the faculty of imparting readily and clearly to others. They may be taught, however, how to impart their knowledge to a greater or less extent. It is a fact, nevertheless, not so well recognized as it should be that the teacher like the poet "is born not made." Many there are who assume book and birch who can wield the latter with greater discretion than intelligently unravel to a pupil the former. To them a Teachers' Institute is a necessity for their growth in the business which but too often necessity, rather than inclination, preference or adaptability, has made them choose. To those to whom teaching comes as song to the bird an Institute is a haven of delight and little is needed to insure attendance that the soul and brain may be feasted with the sweets surely to be found there.

It is to be hoped that every teacher in the county will feel it a high duty to be in attendance at the coming Normal. Howsoever well one may feel qualified to assume the charge of a school or the control of a class we venture to say there is yet much for that one to be taught that the scholars may be better taught. Of three things the teachers of the Eastern Shore may be very sure: the better they qualify themselves for their great work the more will their schools be sought: the greater will be their pride in them, and the greater the stimulation to yet higher exertion. Be prompt then in attendance on the Cape Charles Normal For the same reasons we urge the colored teachers to attend the Normal at Hampton. General Armstrong bears a high reputation as a teacher and they may be assured he will leave nothing undone to aid their advancement. To them in no little measure is committed the welfare of their race -- they have a high duty to fulfill toward those committed their charge. We hope their attendance will be full. Finally we urge upon all "be teachable" that you may be fit to teach others. If you would have your scholars sit in humble hope and faith at your feet to learn of you, prepare yourselves fully to meet their demand. Otherwise you fail.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
May 5, 1888