Middletown transcript., 1881-04-29
Correspondence ofthe Transcript
Letter From Old Point Comfort.

Do YOU recollect IN. E. Warker, who
at one time was on your staff, and filled
the lucrative position of special Newark
dog-fght reporter ? He still lives, or
tries to live. by hook and crook, or
shorthand writing. At present he has
nothing particular to do. Do you say,
therefore is a tramp?
He wants to give you short sketch
Of life at the Government reservation,
Old Point Comfort, Va, on which
Fort Monroe is located. The word
4" comfort, - to many people suggests a
big rocking-chair, a. nice girl, and a
young fellow-all alone. Some people
say they are comfortable under less
favorable circumstances for after
CAPTAIN Smith invented Pocahontas, he
brought her down here on a Sunday
school picnic and sat with her in his
arms before everybody, on a huge rock.
There were no rocking-chairs handy,
but he said he would have a rock. So,
when he rose up, he called the place
g Old Point Comfort" :" The rock can
be seen unto this day, being protected
by the Government, to witness if l
lie.' and also as an anchor to keep the
sandy soil from blowing out to sea.
As you will see by the map, Old
Point is on the western shore of the
Chesapeake, directly west of its mouth,
with no land intervening to Obstruct
the view of Spain. 1t is almast COM
pletely surrounded by the Bay, Hamp-
ton Roads and James river, and
strong man could make an island Of it
in few hours.
Its soil, like that of Spanish
America, . is all sand, and was rapidly
blowing away, when the Government
came to the rescue and placed on it
fort weighing many tons, filled with
heavy guns and shot, and manned with
big officers and fat priyates.
One part seemed likely to blow away
in spite Of all these efforts, 50 the Gov
ernment gave permission to Mr.. Har-
rison Phpbus to build big hotel on it.
The fort is Fort Monroe the hotel is
the Hygeia the rock is Smiths Rock,
and the officers and the privates have
various names.
During the war, Ben Butler was
around a good deal; Mcclellan fitted
out several expeditions here, and Jetfer-
son Davis was brought here as priS-
oner. Here, also, was fired the only
genuine ''shot heard round the world. y
The first shot between the Monitor and
Virginia was heard by every nation
that owned foot of Sea coast. Calling
to them in tones of thunder, it said,
tUntil you mail your ships with iron,
the youngest nation is the master Of
you all. - The fort, which is surrounded
with a moat, and bristles with cannon,
guards Richmond and the James river
country. One or more ships of war are
usually lying in Hampton roads. The
Hygeia Hotel will hold comfortably
six hundred guests.
Your correspondent has seen more
great men since he has been at the
Hygeia than in all his previous eX-
istence. They drop down here from
Washington as man drops out OF a
theatre between the acts to get little
fresh air. He has seen Gen. Mcclellan,
and would now recognize him anywhere.
He got on intimate terms with George
Jones. of the n. Y. Times, and borrow
ed light from him, and has kept it
burning ever sipce-When one cigar
dWindles to a stump he lights another
from it. When he is tired of smoking
he gets some one else to keep it up.
Through the long vigils of the weary
night the faithful night clerk keeps the
sacred fire from going out. No one
around here will smoke unless he has
the Jones light. When man comes
down in the morning, he asks; " Who
has the Jones ?" 1t has been kept
burning now for four weeks, and from
the one original spark is spreading over
the county and State.
But the greatest man | have seen is
the Hon. Ben Butler. His face is so
familiar to everyone who ever saw the
man in the moon, that wherever he
goes he is known. When he bounced
into the office of the hotel, his game
eye was a sufficient card of introduce
tion. He was burned "brOwn as a
berry, III spite of big Panama straw
hat which adorned his comely head.
He had been yachting in Southern
waters, and put in here on his way
North. With cloud of smoke around
him like a halo, he was the most pic
turesque object imaginable, and excited
the admiration of all,
The small boy sang -
.'Old Benny Butler.
He Is q sly, old coon
He loafs around the Kitchen,
And goOd-by silver spoon,
Ben set up the Havana cigars and all
was lovely HOPKINS.