Sun, December 1, 1892
MR. CLEVELAND SUED.
Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebirdTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - GuidesTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - LodgesInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Life-saving serviceInfrastructure -- Utilities - Telephone
Duck Shooting on Hog Island Interrupted by the Sheriff.
A SUMMONS FROM RICHMOND COURT.
The Suit Grows Out of the Virginia Debt Settlement, and the Plaintiff Took Advantage of the President-Elect's Visit to the State to Have the Papers Served.
EXMORE, VA., Nov. 30. -- Broadwater Inlet rang from shore to shore today with the continuous reports of shotguns as Grover Cleveland and his fellow-sportsmen from the Broadwater Club fired at the enormous flocks of wild duck and brant, which wheeled about in surprise and terror only to be met by renewed volleys of death-dealing shot from another direction.
It was a great day for sport and the President elect entered into it with a spirit that showed his appetite for the slaughter had only been whetted by previous disappointments. He was out of bed at daybreak. After an early breakfast he left the cottage of his host, Mr. Ferrell, who remained at home, while L. Clark Davis and Mr. Parvin, of the Broadwater Club, took charge of the expedition, which included four visitors from Philadelphia, beside Mr. Cleveland. The President elect was well fortified against the cold northern wind which was rushing the whitecaps outside into spray. A pair of high rubber boots reached well above his knees, where they were met by a heavy top coat of dark gray cloth buttoned to the chin, with a soft felt hat to match.
Accompanied by a dozen attendants, the gunners were driven to the little cove on the shore of the inlet near the club-house, where a small fleet of sail boats were moored. These conveyed the party to the blinds, where they could hide unseen by the sharp-eyed and swift-winged water fowls.
Here Mr. Cleveland found another evidence of his host's forethought. Instead of the stationary shelter which he had used last week, a floating blind had been constructed by fastening bushes about the gunwales of a comfortable sixteen-foot scow which could be towed to any desirable shooting-ground. This furnished accommodation for Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Davis, who were attended by two experienced islanders, George Doughty, a bright young man, loading for the President-elect and Cut Hargis performing a similar service for his companion.
Supt. B. S. Rich, of the life-saving service; Dr. J. W. Bowdoin, chairman of the Accomac county democratic committee; Dr. G. W. LeCato and Editor N. B. Rich, of the Farmer and Fisherman, paid their respects to Mr. Cleveland last evening. He received all with great cordiality. He had just alighted form the club coach, in which he had been driving on the beach, and his cheeks were aglow from their contact with the ocean breezes. He carried a gun in his hand, and a bunch of sand snipe on the coach attested that he was not averse to gunning for this small game, which he had picked up along the shore in the absence of something larger.
With the exception of the gunning party who accompanied Mr. Cleveland, the visitors to the island returned home today. Before leaving they learned that the stay of the President-elect would depend upon the weather largely. He will decline the invitation of the Old Dominion Club to try the sport in their neighborhood and may remain at Hog Island until the end of the week, if the present fine weather continues.
An event of great importance to the occupants of the island occurred today in the opening of telephone communications as far as Cobb's Island and Smith's Island to the south. In a day or two a line will be completed to Cape Charles, where a telegraph office is located, thus enabling the islanders and their guests to send messages in any direction. The cable which will afford this communication belongs to the life-saving service, being one of the chain of 135 miles which will connect all stations on the coast from Lewes, Del., to Cape Charles, Va.
Superintendent Bolton, in charge of the telephone service, succeeded in laying the cable to Cobb's Island this morning after one or two attempts and an instrument was placed on Hog Island Station.
Many of the natives of the island have never seen a telephone and view the innovation with wonder. They can hardly believe the story when told that Captain Johnson, of Hog Island Station, rang up Captain Crumb over at Cobb's Island this morning and remarked that it was a long time between drinks. As a matter of fact, however, the two men conversed with ease, and the telephone is a life-saving auxiliary that has come to stay.
Sheriff Samuel Jarvis, of Northampton county, arrived today with a summons which he sought to serve upon President-elect Cleveland. He came over from the mainland at 2 o'clock this afternoon, but was forced to wait until the gunning party returned from their day's sport before presenting the document.
The sheriff was unable to furnish any information except that the summons was to appear before the Chancery Court at Richmond, Va. He did not know what case was involved.
He stated that when the summons reached him for service at Cape Charles City, which is the county seat of Northampton county, he regarded the whole affair as a practical joke. Upon wiring the clerk of the court at Richmond he received an assurance that the document was genuine, and came to Exmore at noon for the purpose of carrying out his instructions. He could give no particulars on the subject.
The ducking party returned shortly after 4 o'clock and reported excellent sport. Mr. Cleveland bagged 9 brant, 6 redheads and 5 butter-balls. Mr. Davis occupied a stationary blind and killed a total of 14 birds. Hargis picked up the game for both Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Davis. Tom Doughty took out Thomas Parvis, a member of the club from Philadelphia, who was also successful in shooting water fowl. Each party was entirely independent of the others.