The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-19

fCorrespondencs Of the Richmond Dispatct.I
4 My Own Trip.
IS CAPE cHARLfs--THE EAsrKBN SHORE.
$AUGUsT4 IT, 1874.
Starting at halEnnst nine In The morning
from Gloucester Point. We run before tine
breeze, aud are preparing for dinner on the
main land at the .pont 'zat 3 o'clock. We
find " rakish.looking schooner" anchored
IN the channeI, with b row.boat lrIug at her
stern. In which there is very large seine.
We soon ascertain that she is
APoAcHER,
who, in spite Of the laws to the contrary,
has been hauling the seine out of season. ana
infringing the rights of the people inhaoltipS
the point. There is quite force Of men on
board who are working hard at packing
away fish in ice. We bought from her
n lot of fine fish for our own larder.
Among them were some superb bay macke-
rel, the finest fish in the waters, that are IN
the midst of their spawning season. AN
Immense number Of these fine bsh were
caught in the seine. Those Of our party VINO
visited The fisherman said her bold was APP
narentIy full of excellent fish, caught IN
day and half in these teeminS waters. Inc
ppachers, aware of their lawless expedition,
did not needlessly postpone their departure,
but hoisted sail 10 a few minutes after our
arrival. and proceeded at 81 P. NJ. with dis
patch to Washington, which was their mar
ket By the time of their departure the IN
hahitanis were aroused, and but Tor the
escape of the vessel by her haste would nave
brought her "to the condisn," as the lament
ed GLEN WHITE would say.
The angler is permitted to ply bis sport,
but to us The privilege was unavalllng,
the fishermen having swept the channel,
wound I'D the chances for the angler Tor OF
least a week. Thus disappointed, aud our
navigator protesting ignorance OF the waters
and declining to venture near tue ocean, we
dismissed him and spent a day or two onthe
main land.
THE CAPE.
Before we left the point, however, we took
a survey of some OF the adjacent islands. IL
is TO the appreciatiye traveller grand en-
ioyment to tread the land OF Cape Charles.
Standing at the north side of this golden gate
that opens the road to the lore!!cSt bay II
the world, and to the grand State OF virginia
no man can fail 10 feel enthilsec Is he looks
ont from it to the seas by which IL -
washed, as he sees the ocean unroii!nS MS
scrolls. tipped with white, upon the SnoaiS
and shores with numbering force. Ihe 'e-
sire of my heart for long, long pears . 90
last rratified The boyhood fingers that had
so often traced the water lines chat curve, autt
dash. and surge about this noble cape, had
inspired the mind with the strongest "ln
TO feel the soil and sniff the salt breeze OF
the cane, Judge the delight With which
trayersed the shore and threaded tac lnlets
that lie in and around the islands. From
thefnain land came down to Us CAPTAIN ".
RI PARKER and Ir. LN7TlmEf:, a1d they con-
Quoted us to the chosen spots where sea-
birds Law their eggs and breed, and where
the clans and other shell-fsh were abundant,
and showed us, indeed, all "the qualities OF
the isles"
TIE ISLANDS.
T believe there are three islands in direct
southern line from tie cape, while Smiths
island stands eastward OF them, with its
northern end nearly tapping the shore OF the
main land. That is a ine island. saw It
but did not visit it. 1t has one Of the finest
fights upon it Called Cape Charles light that
ia seen on the Atlantic coass. II has mag
niticent growth of pine, and many think 1t
will become at an early day Scca seaside
bathing place. The ditiicuty il access to 1t.
Indeed, this is the trouble with the whole OF
This grand field for sport and recreation.
But, il is said, the railroad, now brought
some distance into Acconac, viii be con.
tipued to the cape, in which case these grand
sea scenes will be alive with summer Vlsi'
tors. =,
CAPTAIN PARKER accompanied us to the
islands. one OF which is his, aud another
of which is jointly owned by HIM.
sell and General WISE. A large body Of
fishermen were gathering clans upon Cap
tain PARKER's island free of charge. Fl'ty
dollars worth of CLAIMS per day are borne OIL
bv these treSpassers. That is old Virginia
over. The CAPTAIN is genuine. He sWore
he wouldn't stand 1t, and yet he has stood ii
for wears. When he comes down upon these
fellows we shall believe that he is 'done
standing it,"
Well, this gentleman is Our ROBINSON CEr.
soE, We walked around his island. and
when the walk was finished we bowed to
him As the great land holder las, indeed, q
priuce. ANY man who walks around it in
The hot sun will agree with me. What
flocks of birds, what myriads Of crabs, what
shores of clans, what shoals Of fish does that
man own! Unquestionably he is Prince,
and a far better one than any other We
know. Long life to him.
The legend is that these islands are the re.
suit of the wrecking OF ship frelShfed
chiefly with linen. She attempted the north
he IN II
Baltimore--missed the track, strutk, and
went to pieces. Her hull accumulated q
tongue Of sand which was named " linen
bar" and these islands are sheltered by it.
Standing upon them you see Cape Henry,
and you behold with admiration the noble
steamers and great ships that go in and
out the golden gate, conveying an lm-
mense commerce. ....
NORTHAMPTON.
But we were taken from these wonderful
scenes to the dwellings Of the people and
suspended our life as nayigators. We soon
reached the house of Mr.. JAMES HALLETT,
whose atch.string we found hung without,
and where the old Virginia hospitality shone
with golden light. Happy in his rich acres
and serene security, he knows, am glad to
say, but part of the troubles of the times
and dispenses his generosity ike man Of
other days.
GRAND GROVE.
On Mr.. HALLETT's farm, which is the most
southern in the peninsula, there is a grove
of noble pipes on the shore of the Chesa
peake which for its peculiar and enchanting
graces I greatly admired. The vista from
one end to the other is as charming as 1t Il
unique, aud opening upon the Chesapeake
bay. it is destined to become the resort 0
many people. In this grove, in one OF 1t
tallest pines, saw the
osPREY's NEST.
It was made of sticks from half an inch t
an inch and half in diameter. In shape
resembled the ancient classic bee.hive-sucl