Bitter Cold

A hundred and twenty four years ago . . .

The Horrors of the Cold.

The St. Louis and Chicago papers, of the first week in January, are filled with details of the intense cold weather in the West, and the suffering and death incident thereto.

At St. Louis on Friday, the first day of the new year, at 7 o'clock in the morning, the thermometer fell to 19.5 below zero, and a minimum thermometer indicated a temperature, some time before daylight, of 22 degrees below zero! Such a degree of cold had not-been known there before in thirty-one years. The various railroads entering St. Louis were all blocked up with snow, water tanks frozen, and the cars covered up. The Mississippi was frozen over, and was made a great thoroughfare for pedestrians and loaded teams. People were terribly frostbitten, and some of their limbs were obliged to be amputated. Others perished out-right.

At Chicago the effects of the storm were fearful in the extreme. On Friday the thermometer fell as low as 20 degrees, and on Saturday, at 1 o'clock, to 25 degrees below zero! Many people were frozen to death. The terrible snow storm, accompanied with high winds, which piled it in huge drifts, obstructed the regular passage of trains, and much intense suffering, and in some instances death, was the consequence. The Times says:

The fierce tornado sweeping over the prairies filled the air with moving clouds of snow, and piled up huge drifts between the fences along the railroads, until the tracks almost everywhere were impassable by the trains. 

The train on the Michigan Central railroad, which was due at Chicago at half-past 10 o'clock on Thursday evening, proceeded with great difficulty until within about four hundred yards of the Michigan Southern crossing, some seven miles out. There, at six o'clock on Friday morning, almost eight hours behind time, the train plunged into an immense drift, which lay directly across its way, and finally stopped. 

The scene when the passengers realized the perils of their situation, were so terribly real as to baffle all description. There were over a hundred passengers on board, many of them being women and children, with but a short supply of food. 

One by one, out into the blinding storm, went those who were able, and, digging down through the snowdrifts which were piled over them, they tore up the fences near the road and brought them as fuel to the cars. Soon a new peril broke out among the passengers. The roof of the car took fire from the heated pipe, and as the wind caught the flames, they roared and crackled and carried downward towards the passengers as if in mockery of their misery. The snow was banked almost to the bottom of the car, and to separate it from the others by hand was an utter impossibility. 

In this moment of peril the women vied with the men in their efforts for the common safety. At first it seemed as if all hope to extinguish the flames were vain, but energies were not slackened or hearts unnerved. The contest was brief but desperate, resulting in the flames being quelled. The wind and the snow came rushing in at the aperture in the roof, and the car was no longer tenable. All the passengers then withdrew to the next one.--Proper precautions were taken against a similar disaster there. But the ashes had, unfortunately, been entirely removed from the stove in this car, and, when anticipating no danger, the floor of the car took fire from the bottom of the stove. It was much easier extinguished than the other, but not without considerable labor, or until a large portion of the floor had been cut away, and that car thus rendered untenable also. 

The passengers of the entire train were now huddled together in the only remaining car. It was now nearly two o'clock in the afternoon, and there were no signs of the storm abating or of any deliverance reaching them. 

Suddenly, however, they were startled into new hope by the arrival of a train on the Michigan Southern railroad. It stopped at the crossing of two roads, only some four hundred yards distant, and its conductor signified his readiness to take passengers of the Michigan Central train into the city. The work of transferring them was immediately commenced, the engine in the meantime moving the train slowly backwards and forward to prevent the snow from drifting around and under it. The distance between the two trains, nearly four hundred yards, was filled with a drift nearly ten feet in depth, and to make the passage from one to the other was a work of great labor and difficulty. The storm was at its height, and the cold so intense that the faces of the women and children were frozen almost as soon as they came in contact with the wind — turning white as instantly as if they had been plunged in boiling water. Scarcely any one made the passage from one train to the other without being badly frost bitten, many quite seriously. 

The women and children had to be carried over to the other train, and not a few men who essayed it had to demand assistance. This was cheerfully rendered by volunteers from among the Michigan Southern passengers. 

The rescued passengers, immediately upon their arrival at the Michigan Southern train, were made as comfortable as possible. Those who were frozen were promptly attended to, ladies tearing up their handkerchiefs and scarfs to rub the frozen feet, face and hands of their unfortunate fellow-travelers. 

The Michigan Southern train was likewise blockaded by the snow. The conductor was obliged to leave the car in a snowdrift, and go on to Chicago to acquaint the people with the condition of affairs. It was soon known that "two hundred men, women and children were freezing to death within four miles of Chicago." Sleighs, blankets, buffalo robes, provisions, &c., were immediately procured, and a party started for the train. The details of their adventures, although very interesting, would occupy too much of our space. Suffice it to state, that they were all gotten to the city, though much frostbitten.

The following terrible incident is given in the Chicago Tribune, of January 4th:

About thirty miles from the boundary line between Michigan and Indiana, in the latter State, about midway between Centreville and Crown Point, lived a German, with his wife and five children, named Krutzer. The oldest was a boy of seven years of age, the next a boy of five, and three girls, all of less age than the boys, the youngest but an infant. 

The country where the family resided is very rolling, and the snow had drifted into the hollows, making the roads almost, if not wholly impassable for pedestrians. 

The driver of the stage-coach coming from Crown Point to Lake, via Centerville found that Krutzer's dwelling had been burned to the ground, it is supposed the night previously but none of the family were to be seen. About a mile further on, however, he was horrified to find the father and the boys frozen to death. The boys were in the father's arms, and it is supposed that he had fallen with them after having been so far affected with the frost as not to be able to proceed. The three corpses were placed in the stage; but before they had proceeded more than a quarter of a mile on its destination, the body of the oldest girl was found in a snow-drift, with a shawl clearly wrapped closely around it, where it had doubtless been deposited by its weary mother while yet alive, in the hope that some chance traveler might rescue it from an impending fate. This corpse, too, was placed in the coach, and again started on fits way, only to find, after travelling a short distance, the lifeless remains of the mother, with the two youngest children. The body of the mother was standing erect in a snow drift, with the children in her arms, the youngest one being at the breast. 

The seven lifeless bodies were conveyed to Centerville by the driver of the stage, at which place they were decently interred by the inhabitants.

The Times, in speaking of the weather and affairs at Camp Douglas, says:

The effect of the cold was terribly severe. Especially did the guards suffer from it. Those who were off duty could barely manage to keep partially warm when inside the barracks by keeping up good fires, and, although the guards were frequently relieved, not less than eighty of them had their feet, ankles, and hands so badly frozen that they are all incapable of duty for some time — many for all their live. Two of the guard on Thursday night were terribly frozen and when found were stark and stiff, incapable of moving a foot or raising a hand. It required the exertions of a number of their comrades to remove them to their quarters, where they remained at 5 o'clock yesterday evening in a very critical and suffering condition. Their recovery is considered extremely doubtful.--Many others were more or less frozen, the extent of whose injuries are unknown. 

During the violence of the storm on Thursday night four of the Confederate prisoners scaled the fence, and, dropping to the ground, escaped. The guards were blinded by the fury of the storm, and were unable to halt the fugitives. After reaching the ground on the outside of the fence, while the storm was beating in all its fury, the escaped prisoners started in a southerly direction, and made very slow progress, as may readily be imagined.--Two of them were retaken early in the morning, nearly frozen, and were retarded to camp. The remains of the other two were found about three miles from the camp, on the road to Calumet, having travelled as long as possible, and seemed to have fallen and died in their tracks.

In Pennsylvania, also, the weather was extremely cold. The Pittsburg Chronicle narrates the annexed incident:

Two brakemen on the Oil Creek Railroad were frozen to death the other night, one of whom rolled off the car, and the other was found at his post, his hands frozen to the brake wheel.

-(Richmond)The Daily Dispatch: January 28, 1864.

That Holiday Popping Sound . . .

(Originally posted Christmas 2013)




Holiday shooting? Christmas guns and "shooting in the New Year". . . it's older than you think.

We have quite a merry Christmas in the family; and a compact that no unpleasant word shall be uttered and no scramble for anything. The family were baking cakes and pies until late last night, and to day we shall have full rations. I have found enough celery in the little garden for dinner. 

Last night and this morning the boys have been firing Christmas guns incessantly- no doubt pilfering from their fathers cartridge boxes. There is much jollity and some drunkenness in the streets, notwithstanding the enemy's pickets are within an hour's march of the city

- From A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, John Beauchamp Jones, 1866

 1804.
 Robert Mitchell, Mayor, to the Governor
 Dec. 25, Richmond

Having a moment of time to spare, I take that opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your letter enclosing the advice of our Council of State, bearing date the 3rd of last November, and yours of the 19th of same month. It did not come to hand at that date or for many days after. I have done all in my power to prevent that evil of unlawful Gaming within this city pointed out by you; besides it encourages the unguarded youth in Idleness vice and Immorality. You may depend on my doing all in my power to prevent such violation of our laws, and punish them when detected. 

Your favor of the 24th Inst. came very late to hand on the evening of that day. Had I rece'd it early in the day I might have had it more in my power to have its contents put in execution more compleat in order to comply with your wish and my own desire. On the 23rd Inst. I wrote Maj'r Wolfe to furnish a Serg't Guard out of the militia, in order to aid our city Patrol to patrol the city and its Jurisdiction during the Christmas Holydays, which has been complyed with, but it does appear to me to be impossible to prevent firing what is called Christmas Guns, being an old established custom, although there is an ordinance of the city police fixing a fine of 5s. for every offence of firing Guns within this city. The addition of the militia to the city patrol may prevent in part the evil pointed out to me in your letter.

 I am &c                    

- From Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts: ... Preserved in the Capitol at Richmond, Virginia- Volume 9, Henry W. Flournoy, 1890

March 1655-6    6th of Commonwealth  

                                                           ACT XII 

WHEREAS it is much to be doubted, That the comon enemie the Indians, if opportunity serve, would suddenly invade this collony to a totall subversion of the same and whereas the only means for the discovery of their plotts is by allarms, of which no certainty can be had in respect of the frequent shooting of gunns in drinking, whereby they proclaim, and as it were, justifie that beastly vice spending much powder in vaine, that might be reserved against the comon enemie, Be it therefore enacted that what person or persons soever shall, after publication hereof, shoot any gunns at drinkeing (marriages and ffuneralls onely excepted) that such person or persons so offending shall forfeit 100 lb. of tobacco to be levied by distresse in case of refusall and to be disposed of by the militia in amunition towards a magazine for the county where the offence shall be comitted.

- From The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619, William Waller Hening,ed. 1823

A Golden Anniversary- 1898

AFTER FIFTY YEARS. 

DR. AND MRS. L. C. CRUMP CELEBRATE THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING. 

THE ONLY LIVING WITNESS PRESENT. 

He is a Feeble Old Negro, Who Tells of the Other Wedding- A Happy Circumstance- Dr. Crump's Grandchild Christened for Him. 

Dr. and Mrs. Leonard C. Crump, of this city, celebrated the golden anniversary of their marriage last evening, at their residence, No. 116 north Twenty seventh street. 

The fates have ordained that occasions of this kind shall come but rarely; a fair fortune had decreed that this should be one of great interest and joy, not to be forgotten by those who attended, in many, many years. 

Dr. Crump and Miss Emily A. Savage, a bright and winsome daughter of Captain Nat. Savage a wealthy planter of New Kent county, were married at the old homestead, June 28 1818. The whole county was interested in the nuptials of this popular couple, and the festivities were kept up after the wedding night for week. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. John P. McGuire. an Episcopal clergyman, now long since gone to his reward. 

A half a century has passed since then, many changes have come, old faces have gradually sunk out of sight, and as they have journeyed along new ones have taken their places. Eleven children, in the course of time, came to their home; six of that number are still living, and are all present They are Messrs. William A. and N.R. Crump, of Richmond, and N.S. Crump, of Omaha, Neb.; Mrs. H.R. Davis, of Atlanta, Ga., and Misses Sallie B. and Emily B. Crump, who reside with their parents. 

CHRISTENED BY THE DOCTOR. 

The reception Dr. and Mrs. Crump tendered their friends was held from 5 to 7 In the evening. Just preceding the reception a most beautiful and interesting ceremony occurred. This was the christening exercise of the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Crump, the son of Mr. N.S. Crump, of Nebraska, for the venerable Doctor himself. Only the family and intimate friends were present. Dr. R.A. Goodwin, rector of St. John's church, of which Dr. Crump is a vestryman, was the officiating minister. Dr. Crump is inordinately proud of the boy who bears his name, and well he might be, for he is as bright an pretty a youngster as one would care to see. 

ALL GONE BUT HIM. 

That was a gay and beauteous throng which gathered fifty years ago to witnesss the happy union. Gallant men and bright-eyed, fresh, young girls were there, and they laughed and loved, talked and sang as gallant men and fair girls do at marriages to-day. But the mirthful ones have passed away. Every one save three has "joined the great caravan which moves to the pale realm of shade" has "wrapped the drapery of his couch him and lain down to pleasant dreams."* 

Two of the three are Dr. and Mrs. Crump; the other is John Smith, who was a butler at the marriage; stood at the door, as the slave did on such occasions, witnessed the ceremony, and waited on the table at the marriage dinner. He is a white-healed, wrinkled, and kindly faced old man now. The days of youth have long since fled him, and his incoherent talk at times shows that gradually his mind is giving away. 

A GUEST THIS TIME. 

He, too, has left the plantation in New Kent, and is now living in Richmond. More than that; he was an honored guest at the golden wedding yesterday afternoon, a seat was given him at the door, and not a guest who passed in failed to greet the old man, who bowed his white head very low, hat in hand, and said, "Sarvant, Massar." He was asked by a guest about the other wedding, and replied, "I couldn't tell yer 'bout dat all, but it larsted a week."

Among those who called during the evening were Mr. Cyrus Bossieux, son, and daughters; Mrs. Hankins, wife of Dr. Hankins, of Williamsburg; Mr. and Mrs. John Alvey, Mr. Edward Alvey, Mrs. Sallie Hoffman, and Mr N.R. Savage. A number of presents were received, appropriate and handsome. 

Dr. Crump is well known in Richmond, where he has been a resident since the war. Until the outbreak of hostilities of 1861 he was a practitioner in New Kent. Then he came to Richmond, was a physician at the hospital on Chimbarazo Hill, and has ever since made his home here. For a quarter of a century or more he has been a communicant of St. John's Episcopal church, and also a member of the vestry. Both his health and that of Mr. Crump are good and fortune bids fair to grant the heartfelt and earnest wish of their many friends that they may yet "live long and prosper." 

- Richmond Dispatch, 29 June 1898


Dr. Leonard Crump would survive only another seven months passing away February 6, 1899.



*from Thanatopsis- William Cullen Bryant

It's Older Than You Think . . .

(Originally posted Christmas 2013)




That Holiday shooting? It's older than you think.

We have quite a merry Christmas in the family; and a compact that no unpleasant word shall be uttered and no scramble for anything. The family were baking cakes and pies until late last night, and to day we shall have full rations. I have found enough celery in the little garden for dinner.

 Last night and this morning the boys have been firing Christmas guns incessantly- no doubt pilfering from their fathers cartridge boxes. There is much jollity and some drunkenness in the streets, notwithstanding the enemy's pickets are within an hour's march of the city

- From A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, John Beauchamp Jones, 1866

 1804.
 Robert Mitchell, Mayor, to the Governor
 Dec. 25, Richmond

Having a moment of time to spare, I take that opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your letter enclosing the advice of our Council of State, bearing date the 3rd of last November, and yours of the 19th of same month. It did not come to hand at that date or for many days after. I have done all in my power to prevent that evil of unlawful Gaming within this city pointed out by you; besides it encourages the unguarded youth in Idleness vice and Immorality. You may depend on my doing all in my power to prevent such violation of our laws, and punish them when detected. 

Your favor of the 24th Inst. came very late to hand on the evening of that day. Had I rece'd it early in the day I might have had it more in my power to have its contents put in execution more compleat in order to comply with your wish and my own desire. On the 23rd Inst. I wrote Maj'r Wolfe to furnish a Serg't Guard out of the militia, in order to aid our city Patrol to patrol the city and its Jurisdiction during the Christmas Holydays, which has been complyed with, but it does appear to me to be impossible to prevent firing what is called Christmas Guns, being an old established custom, although there is an ordinance of the city police fixing a fine of 5s. for every offence of firing Guns within this city. The addition of the militia to the city patrol may prevent in part the evil pointed out to me in your letter.

 I am &c                    

- From Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts: ... Preserved in the Capitol at Richmond, Virginia- Volume 9, Henry W. Flournoy, 1890

March 1655-6    6th of Commonwealth  

                                                           ACT XII 

WHEREAS it is much to be doubted, That the comon enemie the Indians, if opportunity serve, would suddenly invade this collony to a totall subversion of the same and whereas the only means for the discovery of their plotts is by allarms, of which no certainty can be had in respect of the frequent shooting of gunns in drinking, whereby they proclaim, and as it were, justifie that beastly vice spending much powder in vaine, that might be reserved against the comon enemie, Be it therefore enacted that what person or persons soever shall, after publication hereof, shoot any gunns at drinkeing (marriages and ffuneralls onely excepted) that such person or persons so offending shall forfeit 100 lb. of tobacco to be levied by distresse in case of refusall and to be disposed of by the militia in amunition towards a magazine for the county where the offence shall be comitted.

- From The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619, William Waller Hening,ed. 1823

New Kent as Fisherman's Paradise- 1897

A long article, but with all the references to the most important men of the day and their interest in hunting and fishing in New Kent it is a worthwhile one . . .

FISHING DAYS HERE.

THE SEASON FOR ANGLERS IS NOW AT ITS HEIGHT.

SOME OF OUR LOCAL FISHERMEN.

Many of the Most Prominent Men of the City Devotees of the Sport-

Most Popular Haunts About Here and Down on the Chickahominy.

"Our plenteous streams a various race supply.

The bright-eyed perch, with fins of various dye;

The silver eel, in shining- volumes rolled,

The yellow carp, In scales bedropt with gold;

Swift trout, diversified with crimson stains,

And pike, the tyrants of the watery plains."

If one were to look all the way from "Abacus" to "Zodiac" in the great encyclopaedias at the end of the Query editor's desk, it is doubtful whether he would find when and by whom fishing was Invented. A diligent search of the government records of the most ancient peoples have failed to show the exact date when the patent was taken out. That this trick of getting the finny "set" into trouble and atmosphere and sunshine is a very old one is shown by the fact that the ancient history of the most ancient lands abound in fish stories. Not only so, but the further one goes on the back-track of history the more interesting tho fishes become, and time was when a prince went alibiing for a mermaid fair.

Fishing is a fashion. The boys on the streets have their times for kites, for tops, for rope-jumping, for track-die," and for being bad the year around; just so it is with the devotees of the fishing science, except that there are some who are very much in their relation towards fishing as are the boys to the last of their fashionable items. They just as leave go every Sunday in the year as every other Sunday, if their wives and their tender consciences would let them.

The great principle upon which fishing is done can be stated best font this way: "Everything comes to him that waits." No fisherman who has ever really been fishing- everybody knows that most of those who have the richest fishy history haven't the faintest idea how to bait a hook- understands this old adage to mean that every good thing comes to him that waits but "everything"- why! the same boat has been known to bring back hunger, wetness, disgust, madness, gladness, and fish; sometimes all the rest, with the last two still overboard.

        CAN'T EVERYBODY CATCH FISH.

It has been shown In many ways- mostly by actual trial- and by wide and long experiences, that everybody can't catch fish. The little scaly rascals positively refuse to bite at some people's hooks, and, in congress assembled some years ago, the fish world, with one dissenting vote- that of the eel- took a most solemn pledge, never, "under any circumstance whatsoever, to bite at a bait extended by feminine hands." They agreed to leave that for the men to do. Of course, some of tho weak-kneed little fellows, the dudes of the tribe, have broken their pledges, but afterwards were very righteously penitent for it; others have been fooled, and so have the men.

But to be a successful fisherman one must chew tobacco and smoke, must be able to say "cuss words" to yourself, and get mad, but keep your temper in the boat.

That city people say you must spit tobacco juice on your hook; the country people say not. The city sports say that's because the country sports chew such vile tobacco.

Since spring has gotten out of the lap of winter, and has begun to go abroad In the land, smiling like, the fishes have had plenty to eat, and so have the people. To the brave and warlike, the noble "Jeems" is now their great line of battle. Any sunny day (or Sunday) the banks of this limpid stream present a picture very much like that of an old unused ice-pond, full of barkless, black gum logs on an August day- terrapins everywhere. A gentleman whose grand-father fought in the War of Independence, and who has inherited something of this great sire's admiration for the First In War, was heard to say that a few days ago, when he went down the river about half a mile, he counted, with-out even including himself, 140 boats, containing anywhere from one to five people, 400 on the banks of the Manchester side of the river, 700 on the Richmond side-men, women, and children- three races, Caucasian, Malay, and Negro, all warring on the innocent, guileless little sporters under the water. This is no fairy tale, but an actual count, and then there was much of the shore he said he couldn't see.

        WHERE THE FISHING-GROUNDS ARE

They are anywhere the fish will bite- anywhere from Mayo's bridge to the flats opposite where the monitors were stationed. A boat is a good thing when one can be gotten, but it isn't at all necessary, and a great many inconveniences always accompany it. Somebody will be sure to go in it whom no amount of frowning and wishing down among the fishes will stop from talking; some-body is always along who didn't bring any dinner with him, and who is always asking "isn't it time for us to take a bite now"; somebody is always along who will insist on throwing his hook just at the place from where you caught your last fish, and then that somebody is along who won't catch a minnow, but will have the profoundest admiration for your finest specimens, and who has a sick child at home, and who, if you divide with him, give him your largest in the goodness of your heart-a very reluctant heart-will tell every friend of yours that he caught them and you did not "get a smell." Next day when you go out and hunt up those friends and tell them of your great luck, you notice they only smile, and when your back is turned they put it down against you' as a "fish story."

But the best plan is to jump up from the table, get your hat already in your hand, and say: "Wife, I am going fishing to-day; look for me when you see me." She hasn't made any preparations to go herself, and so you are safe. Get a long, small twine, tie a piece of wood to one end, a piece of lead or iron spike to the other, suspend three hooks from this end, one above the other, and you are ready. Any other preparations will defeat you, except enough change to buy a good [mr at] fish from the little negro who fished just below you, for the subject matter of the story. On the way to the river turn over all the old lodge in the way and get a few worms- not many- in your pocket or a tomato-can, and go by yourself to a high bank, alt flat down in the mud, plant your heels in the mire below you to prevent sliding, and with three squiggling worms on the three hooks, swing out the iron spike as far as you can, holding the stick of the other end between your knees. In this way you make the announcement of your presence to the sculls of innocents abroad- and wait. Hundreds go just this way from Richmond every day, and they catch any where from minus infinity to seventy-five apiece.

        COL J. BELL BIGGER ON FISHING.

Colonel J. Bell Bigger¹ says that when the dogwood is in full bloom then the finny tribe are feeding, cannibal-llke, on those of their kind, and the poor little minnow, twisting and wriggling about on Aberdeen and Cincinnati bass hooks, attracts the southern chub, the swift pike, and the gentle silver perch. And with his eye sparkling the Colonel continued: "Judges and Jurors, ministers of the Gospel, postmasters, statesmen, parliamentarians, and other common folks rig up bamboo rods with nickel-plated reels and plaited silk lines, and providing themselves with sandwiches and an antidote for snake-bite, off they go to the calm mill-pond or the fast tidewaters of the Chickahominy, for the while not caring for the arbitration treaty with old John Bull or any other two-legged quadruped. and forgetting for a time Gomez and the Cuban patriots², and feeling perfectly indifferent as to the fate Sanguilly if he shall violate his pledge by going back to the beleaguered island. What enthusiastic fisherman is there who cures what Hanna thinks of the protective policy of Dingley & Co. as long as they can't lay an embargo on the soul-inspiring bite of an eight pounder, and this sport can be indulged in [in habiliments] of Democratic simplicity, and not tortured by tight-fitting swallow-tails as worn when mixing at the White House, where McKinley is surrounded by an army of fishermen, fishing for official favors. This city is a good starting point to fishing grounds. In ante-bellum days there were not so many professional rod fishermen as now. There were then J.A. Cowardin⁵, father of Colonel C. O'B., Colonels Thomas B. Bigger, Sam Myers, and Joe Atkins, and Messrs. Daniel Trueheart, Joe Allen, Dick Lorton, and other well-to-do folks, who would take their outings- fixed for sport and ramp pleasures. There were many ponds to go to. Young's, Vandeventer's, Gherhearts, Staples, Woolridge's, Ryall's, Bassett's, and others, but these ponds have not afforded much sport in latter days. I was fishing at Ryall's one day, a lone fisherman, when, lo and behold, I found the dead body of a man floating on its placid surface. Who he was, where he came from, how he got there, and where he went to I have never been told. The county authorities burled the mortal remains close by the water's edge.

        SOME WELL-KNOWN FISHERMEN.

There are many Covers of fishing in our city, among them State-Librarian Scott³ Weather-Forecaster Evans, Colonel John S. Harwood⁴, Dr. Judd Wood, John Baseler. Captain Wingfield, Judge Witt, Moore brothers, William Wood and son. Harry Smith, Tom Hulcher, Tom Christian, Dan Talley, Thad Foster, McThorton, Hay Thornton, Mike Macon, Rev. Messr. Nash and Dennis, and others. The favorite fishing places are Providence Forge Lake, Garlick's, Lee's, Walden's, Goddin's, and other ponds, and in the Chickahominy at Roxbury. Windsor, and Walker's. Avoirdupois don't count for much in the art of fishing. Billy Cuillngworth, of vast bodily dimensions, puffs and blows to land a seven-pound chub, while Ashby Jones, small in stature, don't make much myration at getting in a 137-pound tarpon. Fondness for fishing is not confined to any special class or avocation- Judges Keith and Cardwell, who are expounders of law and render decisions of their court with solemn mien, can laugh as loud and throw Judicial dignity as far off when they are wrestling with a six-pound chub as can Joe Jefferson, the noted actor, whose facial variations and farcical utterances can set the house in a roar. Joe Jefferson has fished with the late Excellency, Grover Cleveland, both of whom have acted their parts- the first as the author and dramatizer had arranged for him, but the latter himself being- the author and dramatist of many of our dramatic misfortunes. Would it not have been better for the Democracy if Grover had been asleep on the Catskill mountains for the past twenty years, the period that Jefferson in the play of "Rip Van Winkle" sleeps on that promontory?

"The speckled trout are beauties, and our mountain streams abound with them. Salt water Inning is lively. The York, Rappahannock, and Potomac rivers and around Old Point and Ocean View, and in Mobjack Bay, and its several arms, you can find all the fun you want; but alas, for me! I cannot stand a rocking in a canoe or other skiff on the waves. My poor, weak, bilious, organic functions revolt, and I commence to cash up accounts at once. Have you ever been sea-sick? Don't look for any experience on that point. It is awful; take my word for it and let it alone. For sixteen successive days and nights did I toss and retch when I went across the briny deep to take a look at Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, and noted places on the Mediterranean Sea. I will never do it again. Old Virginia's quiet waters are good enough for me, and this, my native city, is queen of all."

            IN ONE HOURS RIDE.

There are as many places as one can count on the fingers of both hands in an hour's ride from Richmond which are the Olympias nearly every day in the year of stirring piscatorial feats.

Providence Forge, where the Jefferson Fishing Club has its grounds, and which is frequented by many transients, is, perhaps, best known. The fish caught here which afford the greatest sport and are most earnestly entreated to bite, are the "chub" and "rock," and with which the pools and deep places of the Chickahominy at this point and the old canal abound. The mill-pond is also in a short walk from the depot, and is much the retreat for bodies who like to be pretty sure of getting a string when they go out of chub, pike, and silver perch, with which it is stocked.

A few miles further down the river is Windsor Shades, with excellent accommodations always at hand, and where any quantity of fish can always be bought.

Still further on the way is Walker's, to which nearly every train carries men and minnows. A club-house has recently been built near the water, and is managed by Mr. Clarke. Here the fishermen come, and are soon dabbling among the wharves at and below Cypress Bank, in the coves and around the stumps below Rock-a-hock. The "old wharf" is a famous place, and the "island" with  its cypress knees and stumps.

Just a little further down are waters about Pottersfield, Hickory-Neck creek, and the "Old Wears"; Cloud's, on the other side of the river, and the water-fences and wharves attached to Orapax- all these places are household words in the mouths of Richmond fishermen. Beside these, "Uncle Billy" Cullingworth⁶ has leased Vaiden's pond and made it an excellent place.

            ORGANIZED WARFARE.

While the fish are sporting in the waters and expending physical energy on others of their kind whom nature has made smaller than themselves, such still larger fellows as Barney Frishkorn, Judge S.B. Witt, and P. M. Cullingworth have been dissipating mental energy in constituting clubs and other instruments of organized warfare upon them.

There are three prominent and very active fishing clubs in the city- Jefferson, Old Dominion, and Church Hill, The officers and members of the Jefferson, Barney Frischkorn, president; James H. Christian, Providence Forge, master of tackle, and members- Judges S.B. Witt, E.C. Minor, and Isaac Christian⁷. D.C. Richardson, Messrs. Lewis Frischkorn, Valentine Hechler, Jr., A.Y. Stokes, James Botts, William H. Cowardin, Henry Ricks, W.A. Dickenson, Andrew Krause, Conway R. Sands, Simon Solomon. Samuel P. Waddill, and H.M. Smith. Mr. Smith has the honor of entraining and landing the largest "rock" of any member of the club-weighing 32 pounds.

The Old Dominion Fishing Club has for its officers Messrs. John F. Mayer, commodore; E.B. Hotchkiss, executive officer; W.M. Williams, secretary and treasurer; D.C. Richardson, boatswain; P.T. Conrad, steward. and James F. Vaughan, assistant Steward. Its remaining members are E.B. Taylor. J.C. Addison, Waller Scott. Tazewell Ellett, and John Whittet. This is the oldest organization of its kind in the city, and embarks on its nineteenth annual cruise July 16th.

The officers of the Church-Hill Club are: John Pitt, president; J. Rudolph Day, secretary and treasurer; William H. Deane, steward.

- Richmond Dispatch 9 May 1897 

 ¹ John Bell Bigger, was Clerk of the House of Delegate from 1865 until 1879, and then again from 1883 until his death in1899.

 ² this article was written in the midst of the Cuban War of Independence.

 ³ William Wallace Scott, State Law Librarian and former Clerk of the House of           Representatives.

 ⁴John Stubblefield Harwood was an advisor to then Gov. O'Ferrall.

 ⁵James A. Cowardin, founder of the Daily Dispatch, later the Richmond Dispatch. His son was Charles O'Brien Cowardin who succeeded him at the Dispatch.

 ⁶William H. Cullingworth Postmaster of Richmond.

 ⁷Isaac H. Christian, long time County Judge of New Kent and Charles City


 

Christmas Sounds of New Kent

(Originally posted Christmas 2013)




That Christmas shooting? It's older than you think.

We have quite a merry Christmas in the family; and a compact that no unpleasant word shall be uttered and no scramble for anything. The family were baking cakes and pies until late last night, and to day we shall have full rations. I have found enough celery in the little garden for dinner.
 Last night and this morning the boys have been firing Christmas guns incessantly- no doubt pilfering from their fathers cartridge boxes. There is much jollity and some drunkenness in the streets, notwithstanding the enemy's pickets are within an hour's march of the city

- From A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, John Beauchamp Jones, 1866

 1804.
 Robert Mitchell, Mayor, to the Governor
 Dec. 25, Richmond

Having a moment of time to spare, I take that opportunity of acknowleging the receipt of your letter enclosing the advice of our Council of State, bearing date the 3rd of last November, and yours of the 19th of same month. It did not come to hand at that date or for many days after. I have done all in my power to prevent that evil of unlawful Gaming within this city pointed out by you; besides it encourages the unguarded youth in Idleness vice and Immorality. You may depend on my doing all in my power to prevent such violation of our laws, and punish them when detected.
 Your favor of the 24th Inst. came very late to hand on the evening of that day. Had I rece'd it early in the day I might have had it more in my power to have its contents put in execution more compleat in order to comply with your wish and my own desire. On the 23rd Inst. I wrote Maj'r Wolfe to furnish a Serg't Guard out of the militia, in order to aid our city Patrol to patrol the city and its Jurisdiction during the Christmas Holydays, which has been complyed with, but it does appear to me to be impossible to prevent firing what is called Christmas Guns, being an old established custom, although there is an ordinance of the city police fixing a fine of 5s. for every offence of firing Guns within this city. The addition of the militia to the city patrol may prevent in part the evil pointed out to me in your letter.
 I am &c                    

- From Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts: ... Preserved in the Capitol at Richmond, Virginia- Volume 9, Henry W. Flournoy, 1890

March 1655-6    6th of Commonwealth  

                                                           ACT XII 
WHEREAS it is much to be doubted, That the comon enemie the Indians, if opportunity serve, would suddenly invade this collony to a totall subversion of the same and whereas the only means for the discovery of their plotts is by allarms, of which no certainty can be had in respect of the frequent shooting of gunns in drinking, whereby they proclaim, and as it were, justifie that beastly vice spending much powder in vaine, that might be reserved against the comon enemie, Be it therefore enacted that what person or persons soever shall, after publication hereof, shoot any gunns at drinkeing (marriages and ffuneralls onely excepted) that such person or persons so offending shall forfeit 100 lb. of tobacco to be levied by distresse in case of refusall and to be disposed of by the militia in amunition towards a magazine for the county where the offence shall be comitted.

- From The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619, William Waller Hening,ed. 1823

Burning Boats 1864

Meeting of the Council.

A communication received by the Mayor from certain citizens of the county of New Kent, as also resolutions adopted by the County Court of Charles City, asking that some steps be forth with taken to induce the Confederate Government to desist from the contemplated plan of destroying all the bridges and boats on the Pamunkey and other rivers running through those counties, and also for the protection of their fisheries, was read and referred to a committee of three, consisting of Messrs. Walker, Haskins, and Glazebrook. [As the city of Richmond is largely interested in the successful operation of these fisheries, the object in bringing the matter before the consideration of the Council was that body might take some notice of it previous to its reference to the President of the Confederacy.] It being a subject of some urgency, the committee waited upon His Excellency President Davis soon after the adjournment of the Council.

-The Daily Dispatch: March 24, 1864.


These gentlemen would be, 1) Richard O. Haskins, a director of the Farmers Bank, from Jefferson Ward, 2) Richard F. Walker, printer at the Examiner, from Madison Ward, 3) Larkin W. Glazebrook, a lumber dealer, from Monroe Ward.