Peninsula Enterprise, October 22, 1887
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reprinted from Cape Charles Pioneer.Forests -- Sawmills
A destructive fire occurred on last Saturday night about 10.30 o'clock at Machipungo station, by which the steam saw mill, blacksmith shop, warehouse and entire lumber yard owned by J. C. and Z. W. Dennis were destroyed. Total loss $6,000, no insurance. These young gentlemen had about three weeks ago purchased the mill and property, from their father.
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Mental illness
Sally Williams, Sparks Nedab and another, all colored lunatics, confined in our jail; were taken to asylum at Petersburg, last Friday.
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Architecture -- Jails
Bill Hopkins and Jim Butler, colored, picked a hole through the jail wall at Accomac C. H. last Wednesday night and made their escape. The former "was serving out" sentence for larceny, the latter for assault and battery.
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Migration
Messrs. William Fisher and Elijah Sims, who have been visiting friends on Messongo for several weeks, returned to their homes in Missouri last Monday. The former was a citizen of this county about 25 years ago. He has prospered in his adopted home and madame rumor has it that the object of his visit at this time was to secure a help-meet to share the fruits of his labors.
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Infrastructure -- Public : ChurchesTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Fraternal orders
Belle Haven.
The new M. E. Church, South, is being painted, and will receive the finishing touches by November 1st.
Belle Haven Lodge, A. O. U. W., is the banner lodge of the Eastern Shore of that order. It has now 35 members, a gain of 17 since it was organized.
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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PricesFields -- Livestock - HorsesMoral -- MurderTransporattion -- Railroad - Wharves
Chincoteague.
Choice oysters are selling here at 81 per bushel, and the large and small together at 80 cents per bushel. In some places owing to calm and warm weather, they are getting a little green.
A confectionery store, with a splendid restaurant attached, has been opened here by uncle Billy Clayville.
The first oyster boat of the season, commanded by Capt. Wm. Risley, is now loading with oysters in our channel, at 80 cents per bushel.
Mr. Edward Timmons will engage in the stock raising business here, and with that object in view received a drove of horses on Wednesday.
George C. Lewis, who was stabbed by W. T. Dryden on the 7th of July, can live only a few days. (Our correspondent failed to state, but we presume he is dying of his old wound. -- Ed.
A party of railroad officials, while on their way to this place some days ago to arrange for the new steamboat wharf to be erected here, were detained so long by an accident on railroad, that they had to return home and have not yet put in an appearance here.
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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeedInfrastructure -- Public : Schools
Greenbackville.
Oystermen, both from here and Franklin City, are busy catching the small oysters from the lower bays for planting purposes in the waters of Chincoteague bay. Oysters in the waters of Chincoteague bay are looking well, and the prospects at this time is very favorable for a good oyster season.
The public school at this place, of which the Misses Nannie and Minnie Gibb are teachers, is filled to overflowing with pupils. Would it not be well to add another teacher to the school?
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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - FootballInfrastructure -- Public : Churches
Onancock.
The Academy defeated the Town, in a match game of football, Wednesday evening.
The Baptist parsonage, which had to be vacated some time ago, owing to the repairs being made on the building, has been again occupied, having been remodelled and extensively enlarged.
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Infrastructure -- Public - Government : School administration
MR. EDITOR -- The news item (so termed) signed "An Ex- Teacher" which appeared in a late issue of the ENTERPRISE, does gross injustice to the school trustees of Metompkin district, and should not be allowed to pass unnoticed. "Ex-Teacher" complains that the public schools are made political appendages. As far as we can learn this charge is positively untrue in reference to the schools in any part of our county. "Ex-Teacher" probably meant to apply this to the action of the trustees of Metompkin district in selecting a principal for Zion graded school. We mildly suspect that "Ex-Teacher" is smarting under an individual grievance -- in other words that he sought and expected the position of principal himself, and that hopes blasted have lent a hand in raising this indignant howl. We think that "Ex-Teacher" could, without trouble, have designated some gentleman of "experience and ability" who would have consented to accept the trust, but the trustees saw fit to act for themselves, and another was selected -- hence this outburst of righteous indignation. If "Ex-Teacher" wishes to know why this change of principals was made, we imagine the information can be had for the asking. He has only to interview the trustees and he will find that numerous complaints have been made to them of continued neglect of his classes by the late principal -- so much so that several parents have withdrawn their children from the school; moreover that he, forgetful of his position, had on more than one occasion sought to instill into the young minds of his pupils doctrines false and distasteful to his patrons; he taught them, as we are credibly informed, to entertain a feeling of reverence for Old John Brown, a convicted felon -- a man whose crimes were so heinous that the laws of the land punished him with death; he taught them, too, that during the late war the South fought for dollars and cents and the North for principle. In these complaints lie the sole cause of his dismissal.
One word in reference to the petition and the "remonstrance" alluded to by him. It is true the petition was not numerously signed. It was not deemed necessary, nor was any attempt made to get a lengthy petition. Every one who did sign it was a patron of the school, and as many could have been gotten to sign it as were deemed necessary. The "remonstrance" was engineered by those who are not patrons and many of the signers are childless. This attempt to show up the action of the trustees as a political trick is itself a political trick -- a weak, miserable effort made by a few to manufacture a little neighborhood 'buncomb, and furnish a theme upon which this few can wax eloquent, and by means of which they hope to work upon the prejudices of certain persons for political ends.
"Justice has been done" and the heavens have not fallen.
C.
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Transportation -- Water - Strandings
FOUND -- By the undersigned on the 17th inst., in Hog island inlet, Northampton county, Va., one schooner 9 4-100 tons just rebuilt, without masts, named Gertrude, and hails from New York. The owner will please come forward, prove property, pay charges, &c.
John Lee Doughty,
Wm. Doughty, Jr.,
Exmore.
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Transportation -- Water - Sailboats
SLOOP -- I offer for sale cheap, a small sloop, rebuilt last May and in good repair, has new sails including jib topsail, new standing and running riggin, new anchor and chain and hawser, open hatches, carries 450 bushels of oysters under deck, just painted and ready for use.
E. J. Foote,
Wachapreague.