National Republican., 1883-09-07
FISHING Ar RIP RAps.
"The Miserable slS' Disport Themselves
Near Fortrcas Monroe.

Near Fortress Monroe.
RIP RAPs Aug. 2s.--Aocopting an invita-
tion from tho "Miscrable Six Fishing club"
Of Washington, your correspondent embarked
on the steamer Lady of the Lake, st WASH
ington, last Saturday afternoon, and reached
Fortress Monroe at 1880 next morning
Fortress Monroe, in addition TO being q
large military post, is the site of the Hygeia
hotel, which is II famous resort for persons
seeking comfortable summer quarters. The
Unitod States own here an area of 252 acres,
which was ceded by the state of Virginia
in 1921. The fort was named in honor of
President Monroe The sailing vessel of the
Msorablos was found at the wharf at Fortress
Monroe with several of its members, who
came to welcome their guests, and we were
speedily conveyed across the water. about
one mile southward, and were landed at tho
Rip Rap wharf A bountiful break fast of
fish, flesh, foul, and all the delicacies of the
season and tho locality, was soon spread be-
fore u.s. and, as appetites were moi wanting
with any of the party, hearty and enjoy
able meal was dispatched in short order.
The Miserable Fishing club was organized
in 1871 and was originally restricted to six
members, hut in the last year or so the num-
ber of active members has been increased
Tho club consists of Capt. b. w. SUNNY, who
is treasurer and secretary, Fred S. Newman
n. ~, y.
3. Warder, II. II. Smith, George w. Waite
and T.. A. Barnard. Permission has been OBJ
tanned regularly each year by the club for
the past four years, to camp on the Rip Raps
from which to do their fishing
The place is happily chosen. 1t lies about
one mile nearly south of Fort Monroe, and is
an artificial island. Its location
was selected for the reason that it was consid-
cred the key to the entrance Of Hampton
roads. Its construction was commenced in
1920. The government, by contract had
loads of stone brought to the location and
deposited in the water until an island of solid
stone was formed. This being accomplished,
called Fort or Castle Calhoun, in
honor of the secretary of war of that
name. When Gen. Totten became chief en-
gineer of the army, he drew and submitted to
congress plans of a fortress of an oval form to
encircle the entire island, and to mount 300
guns. Work was commenced, and the
stone work surrounding about three
fourths of the island was constructed of
std4 brought from near Richmond, Quincy,
Mass, and Fox Island, Me- Altogether,
something over two and half millions of
dallars have been expended on the work.
Tho great improvements made in can
non and projectiles in tho past few
years led to the belief that the
plan of the fort was not such as to resist an
attack from modern guns, and work on it has
for some years been abandoned. An old
sergeant of the United States army is the
only representative the government has on
the island, and except when ro-enforced by
the presence of the genial miserable club"
he lives the life of hermit, with no compan-
ions, except few chickens and q one eyed
yaller dog He has not even
flag to float out in the breeze, and
give notice to the foreign ships which seek
shelter in the roads that Rip Raps is a mill
tary post of the government. The old SER
geant is genial, talkaive old soldier, who
shows with great pleasure rapidly tumbling
down old house. in which President Lincoln
and Secretary Chase stood and watched the
embarkatiou of Wool's army on its way to
Norfolk. But Rip Raps aside, the Miserabes
are badly named. They are certainly the
least miserable set one ever meets with,
and understand the art of making others
happy to degree which approaches perfec-
tion. On Sunday they were visited by the
"Innocents Abroad" and Ella Treadwell
yachting club, and Il number of friends from
Washington, among whom were Mr.. Frank
G. Saxton, Thomas c. Sprague, Thomas r.
Senior, G. Leonard, Mr.. Harding and wife,
Mr. Potter, Mrs. II. H. Smith, st. Capron,
aud others The weather here is delightful,
the sailing very pleasant, the fishing good,
and the "Miserables," and all their guests
happy. VIA. OIL