The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-26
REHOBOTH BEACH.
Pleasures Of q Delaware
Watering Place.
THE CAPE HENLOPEN LIGHT.
Indian Traditions and Rem
iniscences.
FRESH AND SALT WATER BATHING.
Terors of Delaware Laws and Delaware
Punishment.
REHoBorH BEACH. Del, July "a. 1879.

ion Steamship Company which finds Its moorings
in New York city at the foot of Beach street. brought
correspondent to this locality, less known than
its merits as seaside resort would warrant. The
steamer left New York ut three o'clock Monday
afternoon and arrived at Lewes. four miles from this
place. at four the next morning. The primitive char
acter of the hotels the first thing that strikes the
beholder. With advantages far beyond Cape May
Long Branch. there is not here single
| hotel to be compared with those for which the
| great New Jersey beaches famed. Notwithstand-
ing this primitiveness Rehoboh boasts of guests
famous as any OF the beaches further North. Gen
tlemen Of national reputation as lawyers and
statesmen and daughters OF noble sires honor the
place with their presence Mrs. John sherman and
her brother-in-law. the General here few days
since and enjoyed sail the bay just back Of
the hotel with that fearless navigator Chief Justice
! Comegys. whose yacht yesterday won a race.
The advantages claimed for Rehoboth
many. First, there is undertow the
beach. and bathers may 60 out beyond the breakers
without being over their depth Then few hundred
feet off Is magnificent bay, ten miles wide. on
which to sail and fish. and, strangest of ALL mag
nifcent lake of pure fresh water within a stone's
throw of the hotel balcony. With such recommen!a-
tons these the place has needed extensive ad-
vertising to insure it patronage equal to its
capacity to entertain AS its fame extends however
present methods and accommodations will be made
quate. fortnight could be easily spent at Reno
! both in seeing all the sights.
| THE CAPE HENLoPEN LIGHT.
Not the least of these sights is the Cape Henlopen
light. This is OF the few "first class lights
the Atlantic coast. and is well worth visit. The
| road to the lighthouse is along the smooth hard
beach, and the distinctive miles-is accomplished
in about half hour. While to many whose ideas of
what lighthouse should be have been formed on
Car,a Han LIGHT
be disappointment, it still has associations which
compensate for its lack of romantic environment.
True, 1t has of the wild charms that mark the
Gay Head and Anot Ledge lights, and being easy of
it is not inspected with the same eagerness
the towers the rock-bound New England coast.
Its antiquity, however. should insure it more atten
ton. 1t built during the reign of Queen Anne.
and during the long interim has withstood, unim-
paired. the Bullets of thousand storms The gleam-
ing light that now surmounts 1t is Of course,
the same that lit the way to generation of mariners
long since in harbor but tho house itself is the
identical structure that planted the cape
almost two centuries ago.
TRADITIONS "REMINISCENCES.
It is preserved in tradition hereabout that IN the
olden time this cruel coast the theatre OF
many a dark deed, rivalling in cold blood the re
voting escapades of the wreckers of fiction Buried
in the cold sands that shift about, responsive to
dred ships that ploughed the main in distant quar-
tiers of the globe. Rich and varied cargoes the
Indies and galliots manned by hardy Scandinavians
have been cast away on the cape. bat no memorial
marks the final resting place OF the adventurous
men or their ill-starred craft Ugly legends OF
false beacon fires and the treatment of the
survivors Of ships that were lured to
destruction are preserved in the folklore Of the
coast. Wild nights there have been here, when
brawny, bearded wreckers piled the bludgeon and
the knife on demonstrating waits cast up from
wrecks q lee shore. Only IN fiction and far East
ern these things now to be WITH and
this reflection lends charm to the locality 1t is
charming under the agis of rigidly administered
law to tramp ground consecrated by such
thrilling these; more charming by tar than
! to thread the turf wheroon fought q battle
whose participants in hundreds remain to tell the
tale.
in the intervening Delaware Bay the breakwater and
ice breaker plainly marked as rising ridges out
OF the smooth. level sea.
| TUBULAR PIER.
new tubular pier. government work by the
way. is also to be seen. few words concerning
this pier will not be amss The great Coney Island
pier and the uncompleted structure of Long Branch
are toys compared with this work. 1t is al
ready three-quarters OF mile long. and from pres
ent indications will not be finished for years. The
planking the shore end is already i'll decay. and
no seems to know which purpose it will serve
when completed. In ordinarily heavy weather it Will
! DO untenabe for docking ships, and being
far away from the railroad terminus IL is difficult to
divine for what purpose its construction was under
taken. No doubt an additional appropriation will be
asked to complete it, but its ompe,.on will serve
no purpose 1t is probable tho petitioners prayer
will be denied. The harbor made by the broakw alter
| ice breaker il dotted with the nasts OF
wrecked schooners. In terrible gallo about three
years ago number OF coal laden schooncrs were
sunk here and in the trees of their masts the
fish hawks have buiided nests. Around these wrecks
great of sh congregate. and the citizens and
summer visitors of Lewes here cast their lines.
INDIAN REMAINS
More adjacent to the hotel centre and of greater
interest many than the lighthouse the site of
an Indian rendezvous. Mr.. Francis Jordan Jr Sec
rotary of the Antiquarian Society, of Philadelphia
has made superficial examination of the place and
prepared paper or the society. The site of this
~ foot
back from the beach. and is distinguished by its
perfectly level surface. Though many moons have
waned since the noble red man trod the ground. it
is still as hard rs road bed. Evidences found
on all sides tending to show that tor years the
| aborigines. Great mounds of oyster and clam
shells. hidden under sand. remain to tell OF the high
held ~ the noble Delawares and Linnilennappes.
Here. it is said, in obedience TO Iumemorial custom.
the chiefs of the nation gathered during the
| mer months, and spent the time much after the
fashion of the visitors OF to-day. 1t may it may
not necessary to state just here that this smie
is only valid as tar as eating is concerned Blue fish.
weak fish, clans, oysters ana shedder crabs are to
be found In Rehoboth Bay in plenty. and this OF
itself should be sufficient to attract visitors from
town. Many of tho gentlemen summering the
have found Indian relics in profuson. The Chief
Justice, however, is happy in the possession OF "a
perfect calumet found BY the workmen who exca
waited for foundation for his cottage Mr. Jourdan
has several trinkes. flint and spear heads and
bits of broken pottery among the rest.
INDIAN POTTERY.
Tho remains of the pottery the Deawares are of
curious interest. Bits i'll sufficient number have
beon found to give good idea of the charac
tcristcs of the baking and perfect knowledge of
the decorations. Several very perfect remnants
have leen shown me. In general the
pots bear the marks OF cord
inaented in the pasy clay before baking The corn
cob, IL would appear. the stylus used by these
Indian potters. the bellies of been
stamped and serrated lines running in sll directions.
I have had in my hands cake OF baked clay, evil
IDENTIFY part of some vessel, on which could be plainly
deciphered the representation OF turtle. The
sci in all probability belonged to some chief for the
turtle the sign atmora shield of the Delaware
nation. think arrow heads can he found in hand
fuls, but the summer boarders lacking in an
tiquarian enthusiasm, they are not gathered.
FRESH WATER LAKEs.
The interesting spot where these remains
found, though but few hundred feet from the
OCEAN sI ~ fresh WINTER Lake tnret