Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-16
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9ai1y Eagle
CURRITUCK JOE,

with it sailors have Stunned Cape Hattcras,
and many foreboding shake Of the head &C
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 the
topsails, and the skipper whose vessel has
drifted too near its desol2te shore PAGES his
deck, with keen eyes scanning the western
horizon, ell through the long and stoTGn-fIied
hours Of the night.
And the winds have different tone when
they surge along the waves that roll foam
crowned and furious against its shifting sand
dunca There is an exaltation, & Victorious
shouting, in their rush, that seems 20 tell of a
Supreme sovereignty.
North Of Hatteras, and running southwark
from the border of Virginia, is Currituck
sound, . respectable sheet Of water, separated
from the ocean by a narrow belt Of sand, such
as defends the entire seaboard Of North Caro-
lima. This immense sea bar-for it can be
called nothing clse--i5 not an inviting place
o. residence, and when the heavy northeast
gales come roaring down the coast. there is a
witness and gloom pervading it that is
anything but cheerful. Wrecks arc fire.
quaDt during the winter and early spring,
whcii tie great gals are most prevalent,
and then the men at the government
life saving stations have wet and stormy
work to DO. The sullen boom of q gun VIII
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.
CurrituclZ bar has long been q favorite re
sort OF mine, more from q sentimental
memory, perhaps, than from its actual
pleasures Still, | find in its wildness, and
in the peculiar, seemingly wreck-haunted,
atmosphere that is its heritage, an antidots
for the toll of life that has seen but few
other changes besides the annual visits to its
barren wastes during the season when game
was to be found along its shores My jour
nays began quite q number OF years ago, be-
fore the life saving service had planted its
stations along tie teInpest-swept beach, and
were inaGgurated by one OF those apparently
unimpor5ant occurrences that pass and are
forgotten, until an epoch in ones existence
brings them out with startling viyidness
was roaming through the market at Nor
folk, having been called there By business,
which, while giving me many spare hours,
still necessitated Il stay Of several days, VIXEN
l saw some fine ducks exposed for sale, VERT
able canvas backs, and plump as cartridges
fresh from a bucl1whoat stubbla As / was
10 start 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 pair or two of EN-; they're |
right good, young and fat and tender" lie !
said, looking up at me with eyes so full of |
kindlincs5, and yet so woful with sorrow, that |
l WAS startled and did not answer immedi- !
ately
"They re fresh as q nor'east gale on Curri- /
tuck" be went on; Il know it, fur l shot 'erI |
myself"
"Whero.' l questioned, eager TO know some
thing Of the owner of such strange eyes.
"Down on Cu1Titucll-7
"Wherc is that:'
Tho man appeared 70 lie little surprised TO
find that q person existed so ignorant as not |
TO know that famous locality, and then he
gave me TIE desired information.
Cts in North Carlina, just out of Virgiany,
and IS enc of the coast sand bars
dis the game PLENTIFUL
Of you mean ducks, yes.
ado you live there's"
eyes L only come to Norfolk once or twice
q year, 10 stock up. I'm not truckster;
couldn't be
4 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, l-.uch to his surprise and qualification,
his full price
As turned away with my prize be said:
eff you ever come down that way and want
some good duck shooting, just ask for Curri-
tuck soc. Al tie fellows as paddle down
that WY know me-"
thanked him, and having hired a colored
boy 10 carry my purchase, went back TO ny
hotel
1t was two years after my visit to Norfolk,
when one morning the telegraph brought
word that 4 ship belonging to our house had
gone 70 pieces Just south of Currituck light
some one WllI have to 80 down there and
Father ali tie news there is to bo found out"
sald the senior partner, and l Immediately
volunteered; for at the sound OF the name.
there came before mo the CLEAN Of the pite-
ous eyes, and the echo of words that grad
ually grew distinct as ~Currituck Joe"
arrived ct Norfolk two days after this
and took passage on g small steamer pIyir-
in the waters | wished to visit.
We came to tho place where the first drift
from the wreck Icy, and found a mass of
planking, torn and broken. and strangely ex-
employing the supreme power held by tho
wrath Of wind and wave, when brought into
contention with the work of man. Further
on along the beach wero piled boxes and
bales. carefully covered by fragments of the
GSCh ;siit DuiNalhS.
As We neared one of these. : figure.
roughly clad il brown tarpaulin suit. rose
from sitting posture beneath q rudelv
formed tent of rent canvas, and saw before
ne the nan had met in the market at Nor
folk t'To years previous.
There's Currituck Joe" said my guide.
"lle's been lookin' out fer the goods"
The man approached, walking with 4 curl
Gus, shutting salt, as though dcprecatinr
any adverse criticism that his appearance
might arouse.
Good mornin'," 10 sajd. boving ovi.-
war,ily.
Good morning, ice" l answered, extend
Ing my hand
He took it hesitatinsiy, but my strong
grasp seemed to rcaS.u-e him, and / ;ho,,-ht
that he s,raightonoI Up rs he felt it.
BE yon one OF the insurance -noa." he
asked
No, the ship belonged to our house, and the
cargo was consigned 10 Is"
There's not much Of it left for anybody"
said Joe
~Iaee that there is but little; where are the
men that were savcd."
Conc north. There was orhy three: tie
rest got washed away by u sea just Is the ship j
struck"
How were the three savcd:~
oh, boat put out 10 EN-, as socn Is there
vas light enough to show they were left
with g natural mooesty, Joe rerruiaed
from, saying that he Was he man who spurlcd
the ooats crew into action, and led them in
TO their successful struggle for thoSe three
lives
Having no s,peciaI call To hurry b,cn 10 {