Peninsula Enterprise, February 29, 1896
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Transportation -- Railroad - Stations and sidingsTransportation -- Railroad - MaintenanceTransportation -- Railroad - Rolling stock
A Cape Charles telegram says: "The New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad has been laying considerable new steel rail in its main track, as well as extending and putting in a number of new sidings, preparatory to handling their business during the coming season. They have also just received two new Baldwin locomotives, of the large, ten wheel type, for their freight business."
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Transportation -- Railroad - Litigation
According to a decision of the Court of Appeals of Virginia, on 20th inst., the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk R. R. Co., will have to pay Miss Thomas, of Northampton, for damage to her woods by fire.
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Moral -- Other
The jury in the case of the Commonwealth vs. Edward T. Guy, rendered a verdict on Thursday, of involuntary manslaughter, and assessed damages for the offence at five dollars.
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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Lectures
Ex-priest Daniel McFaul, will lecture in Town Hall, at Onancock, on Tuesday evening, March 3d, 8 o'clock, and at Leatherbury's M. E. Church, Wednesday evening, March 4th, 8 o'clock. The subject for both places will be, "Ten years in Roman Priesthood and why I left it" -- explaining baptism, confessional, nunneries &c.
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Moral -- Alcohol
The question of "license or no license" will be decided by the voters of Franktown and Eastville districts in Northampton county, at an election to be held in said districts on the 9th of April. The voters of Lee and Metompkin districts in Accomac will vote upon the same question on the 18th of April. A similar election for Pungoteague district will also probably be held on last date, a sufficient number of petitioners having been obtained for said district, though not passed upon by the Judge at the time of going to press.
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Sea -- Market huntingProfessionals -- SurveyorsWatermen -- Personal injurySea -- Wrecking
Chincoteague.
Wild game was never so plentiful here. Our sportsmen are making from $20 to $25 per day. Red-heads are abundant and they kill from 6 to 10 pairs a day, worth from $3.25 to $3.50 per pair.
U. S. Surveyor H. Bumbe, of Philadelphia, spent several days on Assateague this week, surveying the Government land and establishing boundaries.
Capt. Theodore Young, aged 65 years, was drowned in our bay on 20th inst. He went out in the bay early in the day to tong oysters, and lost his life either by the capsizing or sinking of his boat in his effort to return. Parties who were watching him went to his rescue but could not reach him in time, and could not find his body on arriving at the place where he was drowned a few minutes thereafter. He was a life long member of the Baptist Church. His wife and five children survive him.
Mr. Edward Powell also came near being drowned on same day. Mr. Young attempted to rescue him, but could not. Other parties, however, succeeded in reaching him and taking him to Franklin City, when he had given up all hope and was about to tie himself to his boat so his body could be found.
Merritt's wrecking steamer, William Coley, A. Browne LeCato, captain, was here last week with load of coal, which was placed in their bin on wharf of Atlantic hotel.
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Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebirdInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Lighthouse serviceTransportation -- Water - Freight
Hog Island.
Ducks and other wild fowl are plentiful in our waters at this time. An average sportsman kills from 10 to 20 every day.
One of the storm panes of the new light was broken out by ducks decoyed thither recently, and several entered and were captured by the keeper, before the light could be replaced.
Schooner Maggie Sutton is loading here with oysters for Norfolk market.
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Professionals -- Seafood dealers
Modestown.
Mr. William Wigton is making a tour of Pennsylvania and New York to place orders for oysters for Captain Frank Lewis.
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Infrastructure -- Public - Government : TownInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Bonds
Onancock.
This town is in a state of excitement over the loan of $5,000 asked for, to be used in the improvement of the town. Several petitions have gone up to the Legislature pro and con. Some are for no loan, some for $5,000, some for $10,000, and some say borrow $25,000 and fix the town up as it should be.
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Forests -- Forest products - BarrelsInfrastructure -- Public : SchoolsMoral -- Property crimeTransportation -- Railroad - Stations and sidingsTransportation -- Road - Maintenance
Onley.
Our barrel man, Mr. S. H. East, will manufacture only one size barrel this season.
Our place now well supplied with schools -- two private and one public.
Thieves broke into the smokehouse of Bony Hargis last week, and carried away 5 pieces of his meat.
The potato kiln of J. R. Outen, was raided by thieves on Saturday night. They got several bushels of his potatoes.
Section Boss Pickled is making preparations to put in a passenger siding, nearly half mile long, at this place.
Capt. J. T. Burton arrived here with the road machine last week, and will commence soon to work on and open the narrow roads.
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Fields -- Crops - Strawberries
Parksley.
Owing to the low prices of strawberries last year, there does not seem to be much demand for plants in this section, this spring.
Four Men Drowned.
Watermen -- Personal injury
The pungy Transport, returning from Washington, where she had been to carry a load of oysters, was struck by a furious northwest wind just as she was opposite the lighthouse on Tangier Spit on Thursday afternoon of last week and capsized in about 18 fathoms of water. She sank at once, and all on board, Capt. Tubman Pruitt, Capt. W. H. H. Crockett and two colored men were drowned. Efforts were made to rescue them -- both by Keeper Wilkins of the Tangier Light-house and the crew of the State oyster police boat which was lying in the harbor, but to no purpose. The waves were running so high at the time, that the boat of Keeper Wilkins was swamped by the time it was lowered into the water, and Captain Murphy of the police boat did not get half way to the sinking boat before it went down, and when he reached the scene of the disaster nothing was to be seen but the wild waste of roaring waters.
The diaster was witnessed by many people on the Island, who had recognized the boat as she was approaching the entrance of the harbor.
Captain Crockett was about 50 years old, and leaves a wife and five children, one the wife of Captain Pruitt. Capt. Pruitt was about 30 years old, and leaves a wife and two children. Both were highly respected and leading citizens of the Island. Their bodies have not been recovered.
It is one on the saddest and most distressing accidents in the history of the Island.
Fox Island Lines.
Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Surveying
The following resolution introduced by Senator LeCato speaks for itself, and will be generally approved by the people of the Eastern Shore:
Whereas William Ellinger, of Accomac county, in accordance with an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, entitled "An act to define and establish by straight lines the low-water-mark lines for the riparian owner of the shores of Fox Island or Fox Islands, in the county of Accomac, in the State of Virginia," approved February twenty-six, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, did apply to the fish commissioner to establish such lines; and
Whereas a survey was made and lines established, by which it does not appear that the aforesaid act has been properly complied with according to its true intent and meaning, or with due and proper observance of the interests of the State;
Resolved, That a joint committee of the General Assembly, to be composed of two from the Senate and two from the House of Delegates, to be designated by the representative presiding officers to be hereby constituted to investigate into the facts pertaining to said survey and the establishing of the lines aforesaid, and to report as to what further action should be taken in the premises.
Big Blaze at Wachapreague.
Infrastructure -- Public : Fire companies
Last Tuesday night, when the inhabitant of Wachapreague were yielding themselves to the sweet embrace of sleep, the startling alarm of fire called them out to witness the destruction of some of their most valuable property. The fire first appeared in the lower room of the Masonic building, and soon devoured the entire building, stock of goods of The Fowler-Foote Co., and post-office outfit. Within fifteen minutes after the alarm was sounded nearly half the town had gathered around the burning structure. Every bucket, bail and pump in reach were brought in use to saturate the surrounding buildings with water. The faithful citizens worked like trojans to keep the flames from spreading. Despite their efforts, the infuriated blaze leaped across the street to Mr. Tull's new store and made quick work of laying it in ashes. Excitement ran high, everybody predicting his own ruin. The greatest consternation and fear reigned. Mothers rushed frantically into the streets with their sleeping infants, while the young ladies sacrificed every comfort to save what seemed to be inevitably doomed. Fortunately when the roof of the buildings fell there were little or no breeze, and by continued use of water the fire was soon declared under control. The origin of the fire is unknown. Probably the most plausible conjecture is, that the rats got foul of the matches, as the fire seemed to be in the neighborhood where they were kept. The losses cannot be very great as the buildings and stock were insured.
Mrs. Hudson wishes to express her gratefulness to all who rendered help in saving her home.
H.