Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-05-03
For the -IOnnr,nn1
For the Journal
The Pleasures by the Seattle pro-
posed Railroad to the Sound

these parts would not be out of place
here.
Perhaps 10 region upon the entire At
lantlc coast of n orth America offers so
many attractions to the refugee from the
heats of Summer, and the seeker after
health and quiet pleasure, as the eastern
shores Of the State of North Carolina.
The whole coast from Virginia to near
the mouth Of Cape Fear river, is bordered
by succession Of sounds, or inland seas,
separated from the ocean by islands and
long and narrow ridges of sea sand. In
Guided in these are the great bodies of
water known as IanlicO, AlbemaTle and
Cove sounds. These waters are navigable
for large class of vessels, the lands ada
cent exceedingly fertile, and an immense
trade is carried on here in the production
ana export OF corn, peas, turpentinc and
other \ Orth Carolina products to the North,
and more particularly TO the growing city of
" Inning Oh, whose harbOr frequently pre-
SCENTS til. Spectacle Of quite fleet Of the
trim ANA st.,littcil little 6 corn crackers as
they ur: termed. being schOOnerS averaging
LstTcen ~ ,i::I 40 tons burthen, Of very
light Gr;tu;,iIt OF water, and capable of en-
tcIiH- in y r"ss uf weather, any of the many
iHlcls y hi>-h occur along the low and sandy
coast. B,tl il is lot OF this portion Of the
State that We ~ isl to write. Cur aim is,
il possible, to revive some few of the pleas
ant memories connected with that portion
Of New Hanover county embraced in the
pleasant little villages of Wrightsville and
MasonborO, locations rendered sa:rcd by
time hOnOred associations and hallOWed
rccOllGCtiOnS of the 8 long ago." and now
being brought prominently forward by the
proposition Of building a railroad connect
ing the two villages with Wilmington, thus
atfording rapid and cheap access to the sea-
side.
In oldcn times these Sound places were
valued chiefly as pleasant resorts during
the heats Of Summer; the houses, generally
built OF wood, with spacious piaZzas facing
the sea, beneath the cooling shade of which
hung the luxurious Manila cord or canvass
hammock, enticing all to the enjoyment Of
the quiet afternoon sieSta.
The village of W1ightsville, to which
these sketches more particularly pertain, IS
distant from Wilmington, by the old road,
about eight miles. From time immemO-
rial it has been the custom of families OF
means owning places here, to resort to
them in early Summer and spend the entire
heated term away from the dust and dull
/ ness Of the city. The approach Of moving
time was hailed with delight by all, and
more particularly by the younger portion
/ Of the families, for at this season this little
/ spot was the home Of hospitality and socia
! intercourse and enjoyment. Here all the
restraints of city life We're thrown aside
and the pleasures incident to the sea-short
| INDUCED III to the utmost.
Prominent among these were the picnic
parties to money Island," Il noted LITTLE
spot Of few acres i'll extent, situated ;
short distance out i'll the Sound, fronting
the old ''Shandy HALF site, and now owned
by G. G. Morse, Esq. Tradition has at
tached a romantic interest to this lSlet, AM
points to it as having been the Saving
Bank, as it We're, Of the famous treeboote
Of olden times, Jack Ketch, or Blackboard
who deposited here a portion OF his i'll
gotten wealth. Many efforts have bee
made by the credulous to obtain TIL
treasure, and evidences still exist Of sue
endeavors in the shape Of indentatiOns c
hollows in the soil.
The monthly return Of the full moo
was also the season fOt the pleasures
the
BANKS PARTY.
Upon these occasions . general trlrnoI
was expected from each family, and I'll
result was the assembia9e upon the beac
Of a large cOncOuSe OF people OF all age
all coming with..the full intent Of spenC
ing the day as socially as possible. b
meath the ample folds Of the canvass tel
day feast. Each box or basket emptled
its contents, which were spread inviting
upon the table. Here the juicy waite
: melon yielded uuCOmplainingly its Grin
e son pulp. The fragrant scuppernong crap
I growing profJlsely along this coast, we
p always lavishly contributed, while Il
7 vegetable garden, the pastry cook al
$ poultry yard all paid tribute to the gener
. enjoyment.
e While all these important preparation
i were going on within the scene on Il
! b acl outside was at once novel and e
i citing. For miles on either side the snOl
: crested pillows roll increasingly upon Il
: strand, sending the mimic waves OF VIII
II foam rapidly up the gradual incline Of Il
p shore, often OVertaking in their course Il
e inattentive walker and starting upon Il
II wing the noisy Sea-bird. Seated III Gr0u
t upon the grass. covered knobs and recIl
= ing lazily upon the shelly strata, whichrl
!; parallel to the sea line, may be seen tho
n Of the party who, not caring to indulge
e the exercise Of the occasion, ENJOY thel
; selves by watching the enjoyment OF othc
:, in the chief attraction of the day-the Sc
g bath-a novel sight indeed, and in its mar
e groteSque scenes and incidents worthy Il
: pencil of the skilltul painter.
/ In later days a convenient wooden bull
inc was erected, with dressing room
attached, and OftentimcS the music of Il
G violin and the merry laugh Of the YOUTH
, dancers mingled i'll accord with the sullC
t roar of the ocean without. But evil beft
. this the first building erected here, for upi
I a mild and stormy September night Il
e winds and waves = beat upon that house
i and anxious eyes, turned SeaWard upon q
o following morn, saw nothing but the ang
c SURGE breaking over the spot where on
a. ~ not N
h and larger house was built here, and
il dilapidated remains are now standing, ha
t ing withstOOd successfully the storms
wears, the torch Of the careless picket, al
o an occasional shell from passing FEEDER
: steamer during the war.
e Another source Of amusement, often pr
e scented at these parties, is the . strike "
h the fishermen for mullot and skip-iac
c which come drifting along the coast
shoals or F'schools" as they are termed
They generally beginto make their appea
ance early III September, and from thu
until the severe wintry winds set i'll, lar!
. quantities of these fish are caught, cure
5 and sent to market.
: 70 the novice, ''sIITf fishing presents
sccnce interesting i'll the extreme. lie
e we see a large boat standing upright up(
: it's keel lust beyond the reach OF the Sll
E sustained on each side by props, the GA
: laid carefully in their IlaceS ready for us
The massive seine is piled upon the pla
form IN the stern, and everything betOke1
readiness for action. A man has been Sc
: up the beach or Cline to look out for Il
i, coming fish. Another is stationed ale
e upon the pole erected upon a knoll for Il
i purpose. lie, too, scans the horizon wi
n eager eye, lis practical vision recognizil
, III the peculiar appearance Of the sea /
, approaching prey, though the fish may