The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-12-16
spscie1 CoFrespOn1enBa OF the Courier,
Notes Of the Summers' Vaca.
tion Continued.
Newark, N. j., Dec. 1869.
DEAR COURIER :

DEAR COURIER:
For . distance Of not less than SIX
ty miles the main land of New Jer-
sey 10 separated from the ocean by
an almost continuous beach. Within
this enclosure is embraced excellent
fishing ground and rich clam and
oyster beds. This: beach is called
Barnegat, and the interior water is
known as Barnegat Bay. The ocean
and tho bay usually held apart BY this
strip of sand, ct certain seasons Of the
year, when the North Casters blow,
unite at various points in one COM
mon seq, and subsiding leave behind
in the sandy deposit deeply wrought
marks Of the fierce wrangling of the
waters. Wide fdrrows are scooped
out across the beach, and huge sand
heaps are thrown up, and often to
such IN extent as to entirely obliter.
ate the old land marks.
We reached this barren shore un-
der the pilotage OF Capt. John Gu
lick one Of the hundred, or more old
salts, that after years of exposure
have made snug harbor in the town
Of Toms River, where they can still
breaths familiar AIR and in summer
time indulge in pleasant voyages
ACROSS safe waters.
Three hours sail took as across the
bay and along side the domain Of the
principal man on the beach and we'll
known in those parts AZ Bill Chad
wick, Prince Of Wreckers and withal
an exceedingly good fellow. aBill"
keeps . place whore sportsmen gath
or in spring and fall and in summer
time venturosome: travellers, who
like nature unoon6ned, or in other
words, who prefer rough comfort, to
uncomfortable elegance, fad it pleas
ant to stay . day or two. The house
10 common enough, but the surroun-
dings are suggestive. Not . vegeta-
'bls is raised here. Everything but
pork and Chickens, isimported, . low
fence made Of old spsrs and boards,
Of various colors and shapes driven
ashore by the wind or gathered from
wrecksrs vessels, divides the habita-
bic land from the marsh beyond. In
. corner Of this yard lie = dozen ship
boards, on them painted the names Of
~ many ships that have gone to
pieces within sight ofthis very place;
on the porch lies . hugo web footed
newfoundland dog, that when q pup,
was washed ashors-sole survivor Of
the I've hundred loving beings who
BY the breaking up Of one Merchant
man, found their graves on this un-
hospitable coast. Scattered here and
there halt hidden in the sand lie ribs
Of some old hull-broken capstons,
pieces ofrope, water casks, and other
rubbish thrown up by the sea. The
white sand enfolds them all like .
winding sheet.
tits said that more disasters hap.
pom along this Beach than anywhere
else on tho entire coast. The reason
given for it is that homeward bound
vessels making the port ofNew York,
hug the coast closely TO cave distance,
and as the Coast line trends sharply
to the south west, bat slight error
in calculation, aided by treacherous
wind or fog, is sufficient to drive them
hea 7ily on the sands. Standing one
pleasant summer day at the edge OF
this great ocean, now gently tapping
the yielding shore with soft and reg
ular movement, ! found it quite i'm
possible to realize that there could b.
wave with momentum enough 10
stavo in sides of oak and iron. or u
food swift enough TO carry down to
certain deu:h the strongest man and
most expert swimmer. Yet all kuow
there are timcs when the seas are 50
tremendous in size and violence tha,
nothing can resist their action. The
only hope ofrescue is in q bridge Of
ropes extending from vessel to shore