Dispatch, July 14, 1888

Untitled

African-Americans -- SocietyAfrican-Americans -- Work - Business And professional Infrastructure -- Utilities - TelephoneMoral -- AlcoholInfrastructure -- Public : ChurchesTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Boat racingFields -- Livestock - Horses

Onancock, July 12, 1888.

The colored people in and around Onancock are considerably stirred up over some family fights that have recently occurred in this locality. Several days ago the wife of Caleb Taylor, a prominent colored merchant of this town, suspecting that her husband was unfaithful to her, and having obtained what seemed to her positive proof of his infidelity, went to his store armed with pistol and cowhide. She gave him his choice, and Taylor promptly chose the cowhide, which his wife proceeded to lay on in regular old-fashioned style.

The case came up before a justice of the peace, who put both husband and wife under bonds to keep the peace.

Taylor's wife has instituted proceedings for a divorce.

The exploit of this woman has inspired some of her sisters to go and do likewise, and the consequence is that nearly a half dozen colored men have been thrashed by their wives during the past week. In all the rows thus far reported only one woman has come out second best.

Parties are engaged to-day in surveying the telephone line between Onancock and Accomack Courthouse, a distance of four and a half miles. The line will pass right by Tasley station, which is equi-distant between the two places, and the wire will be run into the telegraph office, in which one of the instruments will be placed. Men are now engaged in cutting the poles, and it is expected that the line will be in working order some time in August.

The Good Templars are extending their organization on the Eastern Shore. They have a number of lodges in both Accomack and Northampton, and one has recently been established in this town with thirty or forty members. Next Wednesday the 18th all the lodges in this section will meet at Savageville, several miles south of Onancock, and hold a big open-air meeting. T. H. Carmine, district deputy; W. T. Bundick, of Onancock, and other will deliver addresses.

It is reported that enough names have been obtained to cause an election to he held in this district on the local-option question. The man who has the petition is said to be holding it back to see if he can rent a house at Accomack Courthouse; and in case he cannot secure a house there he will pocket the petition and go elsewhere. The petition has not been circulated in this part of the district at all.

The people on Chincoteague island are making extensive preparations for the entertainment of the Accomack Baptist Association, which meets there on the 16th day of August. The association comprises all the churches on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The celebrated pony-penning will occur just one week earlier.

Young Mears, who was recently kicked in the abdomen by a vicious stallion, at the Wachapreague boat-races, died yesterday of his injuries.

There will be another boat-race at Wachapreague next Wednesday. The race will be between the skiffs George T. Garrison and John W. Daniel for a purse of $50.