The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-12
CURRITUCK JOE.


with it sailors have Stunned Cape Hatteras,
and many foreboiing shake of the head ac-
companies the words with which they speak
OF that stormy point. The loom of its sinister
clouds is the signal TO put close reefs in tho
topslils, and the skipper whose vessel has
driftel too near its desolate shore PAGES his
deck, with keen eyes scanning the western
horizon, all through the long and storm filled
hours of the night.
And the winds have different tone when
they large along the waves that roll foam
crowned and furious against its shifting sand
dunes. There is an exaltation, a victorious
shouting, in their rush, that seems to tell Of q
supreme sovereignty.
North of Hatteras, and running southwark
from the border of Virginia, is Currituck
sound, a respectable sheet of water, separated
from the ocean by n narrow belt of sand, such
rs defends the ei tire seaboard of North Caro-
lima This immense sea bar-for it can be
called nothing else-is not inviting place
of residence, and when the heavy northeast
gales come roaring down the coast, there is a
wiklncss and gloom pervading it that is
anything but cheerful. Wrecks are fire.
qucHt durilS the winter and early spring,
when the great gales most prevalent,
and then the men at the government
life saviEg stations have wet and stormy
work to do The sullen boom of gun will
bring them forth to meet the rush and sting
of chilling sleet, when nights darkness lies so
heavy on the earth that sight is impossible
Cnrrituck bar has long been favorite re-
sort of mine, more from sentimental
memory, perhaps, than from its actual
pleasures. Still, 1 find in its wildness, and
in the peculiar, seemingly wreck-haunted,
atmosphere that is its heritage, an antidote
for the toll of a life that has seen but Jew
other changes besides the annual visits to its
haT dttri tta -bav,
was to be found along its shores. My jour
neys began quite a number of years ago, be-
fore the life saving service had planted its
stations along the tcmpest-swept beach, and
Were usurstted by one of those apparently
unimportant occurrences that pass and are
forgotten, until an epoch in ones existence
brings them out with startling vividness.
+ i WIS roaming through the market at Nor
folk, having been called there by business,
which, whilc giving me many spare hours,
still nece-sit;tted a stay of several days, when
j saw some fine ducks exposed for sale, VERT
able canvns backs, and plump cartridges
fresh from a buckwhcat stubble. As l was
To st;lrt for home the next morning, desire
to become the owner of some of these took
possession of me, which their owner was quick
to perceive.
"Better take n pair or two of 'erl; they're
right good, young and fat and tender" he
kindlincss, and yet so woful with sorrow that
i was startled and did not answer imrnedi-
ately.
: They're fresh n norcast gale on Curri-
tuck, i" he went on; Il know it, fur shot 'em
myself"
"Wherc." questioned, eager to know some
thing of the owner of such strange eyes.
"Down ON Currituck-"
Z "Whcre Is thats"
The man appeared to be little surprised to
find that n person existed so ignorant as not
to know that famous locality, and then he
gave me the desired information
ats in North Car'lina, just out of Virginny,
and is one of the coast sand barsn
ais the game PLENTIFUL
"lf you mean ducks, yes"
do you live theres"
; Eyes. / only come to Norfolk once or twice
n year, to stock up. I'm not a truckster; I
couldn't be-"
a few more questions elected the knowledge
of how To get to the favored land, and then
purchased the entire lot of his ducks giving
him, much to his surprise and qualification,
his full price
As turned away with my prize he said:
IF you ever come down that way and want
some good duck shooting, just ask for Curri-
tuck Joe. All the fellows Us paddle down
that way know me-"
thanked him, and having hired a colored
boy TO carry my purchase, went back to my
hotel
1t was two years after my visit to Norfolk,
when one morning the telegraph brought |
word that ship belonging to our house had |
gone To pieces just south of Currituck light. |
"Some one will have to go down there and |
gather all the news there is to be found out"
said the senior partner, and I Immediately |
voluiteercd; for at the sound Of the name, |
there came before me the CLEAN of the pite- |
Gus eyes, and the echo of words that grad
ually grew distinct as "Currituck joe"
arrived at Norfolk two days after this |
and took passage ON a small steamer plying |
in the waters l wished to visit
We came to the place where the first drift |
from the wreck lay, AID found a mass of |
pianking, torn and broken, and strangely ex- |
employing the supreme power held by the |
wrath of wind and wave, when brought into |
contention with the work of man. Further |
on along the beach were piled boxes and |
bales, carefully covered by fragments of the |
deck and buluarks.
As we neared one of these, figure, |
roughly clad in a brown tarpaulin suit, rose |
from sitting posture beneath n rudely |
formed tent of rent canvas, and / saw before |
me the man had met in the market at Nor. |
folk two years previous
There's Currituck joe said my guide |
Hes been a lookin' out for the goods"
The man approached, walking with Curl |
Gus, shuiiling gait, as though deprecating |
any adverse criticism that his appearance |
might arouse.
Good mornin'," he said, bowling awk- |
warliy.
Good morning, Joe" 1 answered, extend |
ing my hand.
lie took it hcsitatingly, but my strong |
grasp seemed to reaSsure him, and L thought |
that he Strengthened up as he felt it.
De you one of the insurance menu, he
asked
mo, the ship belonged to our house, and the |
cargo WIS consigned u us. +"
There's not much of it left for anybody |
said Joe
Il sec that there is but little; where are the |
men that Were S-Ive,i.s' |
~1'onc north. There was only three; the |
rest got washed away 10y n sea just rs the ship |