Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-08
CrRRITUCK JOE.

yitiug one From their earliest acquaintance
with It sailors have Stunned Cape Hatteras,
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 hear 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 a different tone when
they surge along the waves that roll foam
crowned and furious against Its shifting sand
dunes. There Is an eXaltat.on, 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, n respectable sheet Of water, separated
from the ocean 10y a narrow belt of sand. such
rs defends the entire SeabOard of North Caro-
lima. This Immense sea bar-for it can be
called nothing -lst-is not an inviting place
of residence and when the heavy northeast
gales come roaring down the coast. there is
wildness and gloom pervaimg it that is
anything but cheerful Wrecks are fire.
quent during the winter and early spring,
when the great gales are most prevalent,
and then the men at the government
life saving stations have wet and stormy
work to do. The sullen boom of gun will
bring them forth to Ineet the rush and sting
of chilling sleet. when nights darkness lies
heavy on the earth that sight is impossible.
CurrituCk bar has long been q favorite re-
sort of mine. more from sentimental
memory, perhaps, than from its actual
pleasures. Still | ind in its wildness, aud
in the peculiar, seemingly wreck haunted,
atmosphere thst is its heritage, all antidote
for the toll Of a life that has seen but few
other changes besides the annual visits to its
barren wastes during the season when game
was to I've found along its shores. My jour
neyS began quite a number of years ago he
fore the life saving service had planted its
stations along the tempsst-swept beach, and
were inauguratei 10y one Of thuse apparently
unimportant occurrences that pass and are
forgotten, until an epoch in ones existence
brings them out with startling vividness.
was roaming through the market at Nor
folk having been called there 10y business,
which, while giving me many spare hours,
still nec,Ssitated stay of several days. when
j saw some fine ducks exposed for sale, verit-
able canvas backs, and plump cartridges
fresh from a buckwheat stubbIe As was
W SAsii lOl iue llSAl lllti HiIlS. u
10 become the owner of some of these took
Possession of me, which their owner was quick
10 perceive.
Better take pair or two of sm; they're
right good, young and fat and tender, he
said, looking up at me with eyes ~ full of
klndliness, and yet 40 woful with sorrow, that
l was startled and did not answer immedi-
ately.
haN. y, 10
tuck, he went on; Il know 1t, fur shot EN-
myself"
Where" questioned, eager to know some
thing Of the owner of such strange eyes.
Down on Currituck"
Where is that"
The man appeared To be a little surprised to
find that person existed 50 ignorant a. not
to know that famous locality. and then he
gave me the desired information.
Its in North Car'lina, Just out Of Virginny,
and Is one of the coast sand bars."
ais the game plentiful"
If YOU mean ducks. yes"
ado You live theref
YES. | only come to Norfolk once or twice
a year, 10 stock up. I'm not a truckster;
couldn't he"
\ 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 INV prize be said:
If You ever come down that way and want
some good duck shooting, just AK for Curri-
tuck Joe. All the fellows paddle down
that way know me-"
thanked him, and having hired . colored
boy to carry my purchase, went back to my
hotel.
II was two years after my visit to Norfolk,
when one morning the telegraph brought
word that snip belonging 10 our house had
gone To pieces just south Of Currituck light
Some one will have 10 go down there and
gather all the news there Is To lie found out"
said the senior partner, and | Immediately
volunteered; for at the sound Of the name,
there came before NE the gleam Of the pite-
Gus eyes, and tine echo Of words that grad
uHlly grew distinct as "Currtuck Joe
arrived at Norfolk two days after this
and took passage on a small steamer plying
In tho waters wished to visit
We came to the place where the frs. drift /
from the wreck lay, and found a mass Of
planking, 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 bulwarks
As We neared one of these figure
roughly clad in brown tarpaulin suit, rose /
from sitting posture beneath rudely /
formed tent Of rent canvas, and ! saw before /
me the man had met ia the market at Nor. I
folk two yeaTs previous
There's Currituck joe" said my guide |
Hes been a lookin' out for the goods"
The man approached, walking with Curl
Gus. shuffiing gait, as though deprecating
any adverse criticism that his appearance .
might arouse
Good mornin'." he said, bowing swk-
warlly.
Good morning. JOEL answered, extend |
ing nv hand
He took it hesitatinsiy, but my strong /
grasp seemed to resssure him. and thought |
that he Strengthened up aS he felt it
Be you one Of the insurance mcuf" he ,
asked
NO, the ship belonged to our house, and the .
cargo WAS consigned To US
There's hot much Of it left for anybody
said Joe
Il see that there is but little where are the
men that were SuvedF
Gone north. There was only three: the
rest got washed away by a sea just rs tue ship
struck"
How were the three savnli"
"Oh, a hont put out to EN- as soon as there
vas light enough to show they were left"
With a natural rnodesty, Joe refrained
from saving that he wss the man who spurred
IL" loats crew into action, and led them in
TO their successful struggle for those three
live~
Having no special call to hurry back to
New York, wrote letter TO the firm, Civ
ing them the information needed TO guide
them regarding the insurance. and dispatch
ing th, to the nearest poStoffice by the boat
that lad brought me to the bar, accepted
Joe's invitation and spent the next week with
him We had short gale the next night
after our arrival but Joe called it a baby
affair: and a. the sun shone out the next day