Peninsula Enterprise, June 4, 1892

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Farmers -- Farmers' organizationsTransportation -- Railroad - Rates and faresTransportation -- Railroad - Regulation

At a meeting of the County Alliance held at Accomac C. H., last Monday, Dr. George W. LeCato and Benjamin T. Gunter, Jr., were appointed a committee to confer with the Inter-State Commerce Commissioners in regard to the reduction of rates ordered by them over the N. Y. P. & N. R. R. Co., and report at the mass-meeting to be held at Parksley, next Saturday.

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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial development

The sale of lots at Onley, advertised in last issue of ENTERPRISE, has been postponed until further notice.

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Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Life-saving serviceTransportation -- Water - Wrecks

Secretary Foster has awarded a gold life saving medal to Captain J. E. Johnson, keeper of Hog Island life saving station, Va., in recognition of his skill and heroism in rescuing the officers and crew of the Spanish steamship San Albano, wrecked in January last.

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Farmers -- Farmers' organizations

The Modestown Alliance meets next Saturday night and requests a full attendance of its members.

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Fields -- Livestock - SheepMoral -- Property crime

Chincoteague.

The annual sheep-penning will come off at Assateague Island, on Wednesday, June 8th. A big day is expected as there will be no other 'penning' on any of the Islands. All owners of sheep combine in fact this year and pen together, instead of having four or five 'pennings' as heretofore. It will be the gala day of the season with us and big preparations are being made for the event. Refreshment stands will number fifteen or more, and cheap and comfortable transportation will be furnished to all who wish to be in attendance. A thousand people or more are expected to be present.

H. C. Edmiston, of New York City, was here this week to take back to that city the yacht stolen from him last Fall and captured at this place by some of our citizens.

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Infrastructure -- Public : CemeteriesInfrastructure -- Public : Churches

Onancock.

The Onancock Cemetery Company has presented each church in Onancock, with a lot, for deceased members unable to purchase one. The Baptist Church unanimously accepted same last Sunday, and passed a vote of thanks. The cemetery is now being enclosed by a substantial cypress fence.

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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Public : Churches

Parksley.

Work begun on Oscar Ewell's house, on Bennett Street.

John S. Collins, of Dover, Del., and Harry R. Martindale, of New York, are visiting S. T. Jones.

Prof. H. E. VanDeman, Pomologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, spent several days in Parksley last week.

F. S. Harmon, of Baltimore, agent for the Globe Furniture Company, has contracted with the trustees of the Parksley M.P. Church, for polished hardwood pews and fittings.

Ex-Confederate Memorial Committee

Infrastructure -- Public : MonumentsTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Veterans

Pursuant to a call of the Chairman, J. W. Broughton, the Memorial Committee of Harmonson-West Camp of ex-Confederate Veterans met at Accomac C. H., on Monday, May 30th, 1892, Dr. G. T. Scarborough in the chair, by request of the chairman, detained at home by illness. On motion resolved:

1st, We approve the address of the sub-committee.

2nd, That Comrade G. G. Savage be directed to print 200 copies of a subscription list to be distributed to the district soliciting committees for their use.

3rd, That we ask all who believe our dead fought for what they honestly believed right aid us as they fought and died -- without appeal.

4th, That without further notice each district committee of the Eastern Shore furnish the Chairman, J. W. Broughton with the names of the lady aids at once.

G. T. SCARBURGH, Act'g Chairman

J. H. WISE, Secretary.

Mass-Meeting of Farmers at Parksley.

Farmers -- Farmers' organizationsTransportation -- Railroad - Rates and faresTransportation -- Railroad - Regulation

A called meeting of Accomac County Alliance, will be held at Parksley, June 11th, immediately upon arrival of north bound mail train, to take some action in reference to the refusal of the railroad to reduce the freight rates in accordance with the decision of the Inter-State Commerce Commission. It is proposed at this meeting to determine whether we will quietly submit to the freight rates charged by the railroad, pronounced extortionate by the Commission on two distinct occasions, or whether we will continue the fight if necessary in the highest courts. This meeting will be public and we invite all who feel an interest in having the freight rates reduced whether Alliance men or not.

GEORGE W. LECATO,

President.

Farmers' Institute at Cape Charles.

Farmers -- InnovationFields -- Crops - Sweet potatoes : Prices

The meeting was attended by a very intelligent class of representative men from all parts of the two counties and deep interest was felt in the discussions.

Col. Whitehead made a short address explaining the work of the State Board of Agriculture and its object.

Dr. Byron D. Halstead, of the New Jersey Experimental Station, lectured on the diseases of the sweet potato -- showing by illustration on six large sheets of paper extended across the stage of the opera house, all the diseases of the sweet potato -- all of which was a lower class of vegetables called fungi -- without this living vegetable there was no disease. This was the cause of the disease -- that the disease could not exist without the cause -- he dwelt on this point at some length, so as to fix it in the minds of his listeners. He then considered the conditions under which this disease would be more or less rapidly developed, these conditions might be favorable or unfavorable -- and he urged upon his listeners the necessity of keeping the cause of the disease and the condition separate in their minds -- and to make the conditions as far as possible unfavorable to the growth of the disease, and by promptly rejecting all diseased potatoes, the loss and injury could be removed.

Prof. Alwood's lecture on fruit and truck crops was full of information and highly appreciated.

Col. Pearson read a paper on the sweet potato crop, showing how it was grown, stored and sold. The crop grown in 1892 by himself and neighbors about Vineland had been sold at prices ranging from $3.50 to $5.50 per barrel -- here was a lesson for our people to accept and take advantage of, for many grown on the Eastern Shore brought nothing last year -- it is safe to say that at least half the crop was of no value.

Dr. Niles of the Experiment Station delivered a lecture on the horse and hog cholera.

The meeting was very interesting and instructive, and if taken advantage of by all the people will mean a vast savings in labor and money to them.

Capt. Browne had a stenographer in attendance, and will have the whole proceedings printed and distributed to those who could not be present, if they will only send in their names and postoffices.

Dr. McBryde, for good and sufficient reason, did not come, but his address on grasses will be printed in the proceedings, so that the farmers will have the benefit of it.

Respectfully,

CAPE CHARLES.

Regatta at Wachapreague Inlet.

Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Boat racingTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Lodges

The second annual regatta at Wachapreague Inlet, on Saturday, May 28th, was a pleasing event -- worthy to be remembered for the cordial hospitality of the members of the Accomac Club under whose auspices it was given, and for the clever deportment of the citizens of Accomac, in attendance as their guests -- and marking an epoch in the lives of many, full only of pleasant memories in the future. The day was a fine one -- a day of sunshine without a shadow and of gentle breezes that wafted ill to no one except those who "got left" in the races. Inspiring and patriotic airs discoursed by the Onancock brass band after brief intervals and bunting floating profusely from four schooners, several sloops and yachts and innumerable small crafts gave a holiday appearance to the scene and added to the zest with which all entered into the pleasures of the day.

The regatta party numbered 700 or more, and among them were about 50 ladies to enhance the charms of the occasion. Under such pleasant auspices, the time for the races was called promptly at 10 o'clock, and at 10:26 the entries in the first race were started. The races were in the following order:

Class -- Free-for-all -- 1st prize, gold watch and chain, won by skiff Lela entered by Jim Bell -- time 45 minutes; 2nd prize, silver dinner caster, won by batteau T. H. Melson, entered by Polk Lang -- time 46 and a half minutes.

Class -- Skiffs 16 feet and under -- 1st prize, gold watch and chain, "Minnie Thomas" winner -- time 34 minutes; 2nd prize, silver knife and forks, "Bet Wise" winner -- time 34 minutes and 50 seconds.

Class -- Batteaux 16 and under -- 1st prize, gold watch and chain, won by "A. S. Kellam," entered by Carlis Willis -- time 34 minutes; 2nd prize, silver watch and chain, won by "Yorktown Belle," entered by John B. Downing -- time 34 minutes 21 seconds. Seventeen boats competed for the prize in this race.

Class -- Batteaux 14 feet and under -- 1st prize, gold watch and chain, won by "George W. LeCato," entered by Chippie Johnson -- time 48 minutes; 2nd prize, silver watch and chain won by "Albert Thomas," entered by William S. Bundick -- time 48 minutes and 50 seconds.

Class -- Batteaux 13 feet and under -- prize, silver mounted album, was awarded to Charlie S. Burton, all the other contestants having withdrawn their boats.

During the races a lunch was served by the steward of the club, Capt. Charles A. Delano, who fully sustained his reputation on the occasion by manipulating and dispensing the clam chowder, prominent on the bill of fare. Beer, wine and other liquors were free to all who wished to partake of them.

After the races, the prizes were awarded by Hon. Abel Crook, a member of the club, in an eloquent and attractive speech, and gracefully and appropriately accepted by Benjamin T. Gunter, Jr., on the part of the citizens of Accomac.

The regattas under the auspices of the Accomac Club are intended to foster friendship and cultivate the better acquaintance of the members with the citizens of Accomac, and interchange of courtesies to benefit all. They will be given annually with new and attractive features each year. Rules for the government of future regattas will be adopted and the mode of measuring boats will be especially prescribed. Tub races will be attractive features of next regatta.

The following personal mention of the members of the club present on Saturday last, will be of interest to our readers:

B. W. West, president -- nicknamed Uncle Ben -- a resident of Brooklyn, "passed" down by order of his "better half" -- arrived an invalid without appetite, which he soon recovered to an alarming extent, so that Stewart Delano was obliged to send daily to town for extra supplies. With health he returns home blessing Accomac vespers.

S. L. Stover, vice-president -- too well known to require much comment. His kittenish ways, "By Jim menedy" emphasis when he tells of his gunning and fishing experiences, his musical nature and his epicurean instincts when strawberries and asparagus are around make him always welcome.

Abel Crook, secretary and treasurer -- still retains the cognomen of Christopher Columbus and especially distinguished himself during this "world's fair year" by make great scores on birds and no "Chicago" in it. He brought all the prizes with him and run the gauntlet of the curious without giving anything away except to the lucky winners.

A. Eddy, trustee -- the venerable "Commodore" of the club fleet as usual first took sick and spent four days upon the stool of repentance. His "donegan" cordial stimulant brought him safely around and enabled him to partially regain his class as a shooter through hard pushed by some of his associates. Billy Burton told him to "hold on" to his birds and he picked up considerably in the end.

L. T. Duryea, trustee -- the youngest and most enthusiastic member lost no opportunity for pleasure and during the north-west gale of Friday, went drumming in the surf where he almost drowned his attendant, George Phillips, who, however, kept out of the wet by keeping in the boat.

H. M. Rogers, chaplain -- has since the last regatta become a "benedict" and now enjoys the "soubriquet" of "cupid", and it is remarked that he has improved much in his shooting and whether it be his winning ways or his nerve, he slaughtered curlew, plover and calicoes with his "Parker, bow and arrow."

James E. Orr -- one of the most genial members, hails from Old Virginia, though now of Brooklyn. His experiences are always entertaining and add largely to the evening club circle. May he often visit us.

P. Kelly -- opened the clams for the chowder at the rate of twenty a minute, hence his pet name "Keggy." While his nose peeled twice in one week from his exposures on the beach -- the nose did not "blush over the sins of his mouth."

Suicide or Murder?

Mental illness

On Thursday night, May 26th, Robert Buchanan, a colored man, who was drowned from a vessel lying at anchor in Tangier harbor. According to the statement of George Thomas, also colored, who was the only other person on the boat, he and Buchanan were sitting talking quietly in the cabin, when suddenly and without any apparent cause Buchanan ran out of the cabin and sprang overboard. Thomas made no effort to rescue him, but told him to catch hold of the yawl. Parties a short distance off heard the cry of "murder" three times, Thomas asserted that the cry was "mother," not "murder." The body was recovered the following afternoon, but no marks of violence were found. Thomas was placed under arrest and an inquest held by Justice Cooper. There being no positive evidence tending to incriminate Thomas, he was discharged. Was it suicide or something worse? Buchanan was educated at Hampton Normal School.