The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-04-26
MONTE CHRISTIE.
An Island OF pIemories.

Ah hhhnuu Oh
Special Cor. OF THE EvES1sG CRITIC.
LOWER POTOMAC, April %.
II cost Edmond Dantes the loss Of sweet
heart, n situation and tho misery OF n death
in.lifo imprisonment to discover his Monte
Christie. one plays In better luck In this Sec
tion for we have now Monte Christie at hand
which can BIO reached In little less than i've
hours from Washington, ana though IL has
not the marvellous caverns OF diamonds,
evolved from the Imaginative Intellect OF the
elder Dumas, IL possesses still more suDstan-
tial qualifications for enjoyment; bracing salt
air, game birds and flsh of tho sea, that sue
culent octopus the crab, and those delicious
birds OF tho deep, tho oyster and tho terra
pin.
Our isle OF Monte Christie was not always
known as such. Many years ago-two CEN
turtles and more-L Lord Baltimore and his En-
glish pilgrims entered the mouth OF tho Poto-
mac on the Ark and the Dove, and seeing an
island gem opening out 70 greet them, mar
bored upon II and rested there. They christ.
ened IL st. Clements Island, and upon that
memorial spot, for the first time in America,
was the standard OF civil and religious liberty
raised and the fret mass 10 the northern
country celebrated, the English divine, Father
White, being the celebrant.
From this point the early settlement of
Maryland originated.
Years passed on ana the namo OF ST. Clement
was changed TO that OF tho family patronymic
OF the subsequent purchasers, and up to the
present date it was known aud popular as
Blackstone Island. Having been graduated
through birth and baptism it is now con.
nrmed, assuming the moro characteristic title
OF Monte Christie.
Many and Interesting are the traditions as.
ISOLATED with this section and this island. II
stands alone where tho Potomac widens out and
loses It's identity In tho ocean, and IL IL itself
the centre point OF an inland sea. When
Blackbeard and tho less famous pirates and
buccaneers OF tho Chesapeake and on Hat.
terae piled their marine trade on merchant
men, Monte Christie was one OF their favorite
places OF harborage, and many arc the stories
told OF wealth secreted there and many have
been the searches made for the treasures OF
these Southern Captain Kids supposed to DO
sburied there. There is tradition that It was
from this point that the pirates put out VINO
captured and scuttled tho ship on which
Theodosia Burr Allston and hor young hus-
band sailed on their bridal tour from George
town, South Carolina, to visit the father of the
bride, Aaron Burr. 1t has always been
mystery. of history how this gifted aud beau
full girl perished-whether the ship was
wrecked Off the troacherous coast OF Hatteras
or fell prey to tho brigands of the sea.
Time changes things, aud st. Clements,
Blackiston and Monte Cristo 10 now peace
full premise and beautiful in Its peace. Prior
TO tho war and since that period 1t has boon a
favorite resort, and this season is to BIO made
Infinitely more attractive. The ride down Is
very pleasant, and our party on the Arrow
smith, leaving their business with the ONCE
coats at home, enjoyed the change with zest
akin TO Holmes city clerk with tho burrs on
his heels. Captain Garnett Interested his COM
panions of voyage by some excellent rifle
shooting, performing feats that would have
thing to shoot pigeons on dry land from the
ekili and accuracy requisite TO pick or duck
hundred yards distant from the side OF a
steamboat moving at the ratio OF sixteen miles
an hour, and yet Captain Garnett does II, and
| his rife is one of the simple Army pattern.
The principal business along tho river In
this section-that is in Charles ana ST. Mary q
counties-is in the oyster, and fnd that since
| tho passage OF the strict laws anent tho oyster
| trade by the Maryland and Virginia Legisla-
lures tho natives are seriously Handicapped.
Sill NIL aprnn TINT thOugh lamDOrarilv NJ
| venienced the ultimate results will be gen
| orally beneficial.
1t may seem exaggerated, but 1t Is positive
| fact that no less than one.half OF oil the
oysters consumed and utilized for transplant.
| Ing In the United States during tho past five
| years have come from the Potomac River aud
| Its tributaries. II the wholesale drain upon
| Its resources were continued, In n few years II
| would have been depleted OF biyalvos.
Although business about hore may be dull nj
| present. q magnificent enterprise 10 upon the
| eve OF opening. Count Eugene Mitkiewlcz,
| the pioneer OF all OF tho enterprises upon the
Potomac, has secured Monte Christie and opens
| II next month as the most completely appoint
| ed resort in this section. With his character.
| istic energy he has already perfected every ar
rangemenr, purchased all materials aud SO
| cured one of the swtftest and most commo
| dious steamboats, In tho country. The archi
| tect for the Improvements is Nr. Boylat
Bradford, of Washington, and his designs ar,
| superior In their grace ana execution. Tha
| prince of hosts, Ed Abner, of vour city, enters
upon the certainly successful enterprise as
n'dttre de cuisine and sole caterer.
| 1t 10 as yet rather too early for flshing bu
we had pretty fair luck yesterday. l WON
say how many we caught for fear you might
think l was lying, and as the Father of tn
Hdfchd and his Country was born on the on
posite hore-Westmoreland COUNTY, am del
icate In these premises over any such insinu
alton. Our darby skipper did, however, put
load OF buck8hot into school OF porpoisos, VIII
were dlsporting Off the lighthouse point @
the Island. Whether he hit auy OF them o
rot / can't say; none appeared to complain
so presume the shotgun policy didn't wor
with the freebooters of the deep.
The beach here Is superb and the bathin
splendid-somo other evening, however, as a
present March hangs around the apron string
OF April. Amonth hence we will disport do
phin-like among the breakers as they boon
and blanch above the sands.
When Sam Klnsley comes down hero-whlc
he Will week after next TO lay the foundatio
OF his cottage on his lot here-I VIII write 20
again. ID.