THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607190591
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: GEORGE TUCKER
LENGTH: 62 lines
Until recently it was believed that the pony pennings sponsored annually by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department only dated back to 1925. Now evidence has surfaced that proves the event - to be held this coming Wednesday - was popular as early as 1819, and perhaps earlier.
The facts appear in Henry Howe's ``Historical Collections of Virginia'' (1849), in which earlier pony pennings on Assateague and Chincoteague islands are described. Unfortunately, Howe's entire account is too long to include here, but the following excerpts will show that the present event has a long pedigree.
``Some thirty years since (1819),'' Howe wrote, ``an immense number of wild horses were raised upon these islands. . . . It was customary to have annual gatherings in June, to drive these wild horses into pens, where they were seized by islanders accustomed to such adventures, who pushed fearlessly in among them. . .
``The multitudes of both sexes that formerly attended these occasions of festal mirth were astonishing. The adjoining islands were literally emptied of their inhabitants, and the peninsula itself contributed to swell the crowd. For fifty miles above and below the point of meeting, all the beauty and fashion of a certain order of the female population, who had funds or favorites to command a passage, were sure to be there. . .
``The imagination can scarcely conceive the extravagant enthusiasm with which this exciting sport was anticipated and enjoyed. It was a frantic carnival, without its debauchery. The young of both sexes had their imaginations inflamed by the poetical narrative of their mothers and maiden aunts, who in their more juvenile days were wont to grace these sylvan fetes of the mad flight of wild horses careening away along a narrow, naked, level sand-beach, at the top of their speed with manes and tails waving in the wind, before a company of mounted men upon the fleetest steeds shouting and hallooing in the wildest notes of triumph, and forcing the animals into the angular pen of pine logs prepared to enclose them.
``And then the deafening peals of loud huzzas from the thousand half-frenzied spectators, crowding into a solid mass around the enclosure, to behold the beautiful wild horse in all of his native vigor, subdued by man, panting in the toils, and furious with heat, rage, and fright; or hear the clamorous triumphs of the adventurous riders, each of whom had performed more than one miracle of equestrian skill on that day of glorious daring; and the less discordant neighing of colts that had lost their mother, and mothers that had lost their colts, in the melee of the sweeping drive, with the maddened snorts and whinnying of the whole gang - all, all together formed a scene of unrivaled noise, uproar, and excitement, which few can imagine who had not witnessed it, and none can adequately describe.
``But the play of spirits ended not there. The booths were soon filled, and loads of substantial provision were opened, and fish and water-fowl, secured for the occasion, were fried and barbecued by hundreds, for appetites whetted to marvelous keenness by early rising, a scanty breakfast, exercise, and sea air. The runlets of water, and the jugs of more exhilarating liquor, were lightened of their burdens. Then softer joys succeeded; and music and dance, and love and courtship, held their undisputed empire until deep in the night, when all sought shelter aboard their boats, moored by the shore, or among island friends, who gladly entertained them with characteristic hospitality.''
In closing his account Howe wrote: ``Many a winter's evening tale did the incidents of those merry-making occasions supply. . . and from one anniversary of this half-savage festivity to another, all was talk of the joy and transports of the past, and anticipations of the future.'' by CNB