The Penn's Grove record., 1888-03-31

of "Old POintH aS il is most common
ly called and Of its history. aud how /
obtained its name. Old Point Comfor
was the name given by Capital JOIN
Smith, the tempest tossed mariner o
the seventeenth century. to that pOint
of land which iuts into the brOaC
and pleasant waters of Hampton
Roads and formed by the contiuenc,
of the Chesapeake Bay and jane
River.
In July 1908 Captain Smith with
party started in an open boat to ex
plore the shores of the Chesapeake
They proceeded safely as far AS tn,
entrance to Piankatank river when
furious storm arose with thunder
wind and rain. Exposed as they wert
to the fury of the blast. and being un'
able to ride at anchor. they scuded
their frail craft toward the southwark
After passing York and Back rivers
neither of which they could make.
they finally came to the strip OF
land jnt.ing out into the en-
trance of James River. rounding which
they found shelter from the storm, and
named the place, in gratitude of heart
Point Comfort. The adjective ''old,'
has since been given it to distinguish
it from its sister shelter. New Point
Comfort. farther ny the bay.
The name though quaint. could no
have been more appropriate, for truly,
a point of comfort it has been to many
a vessel since that day. Here behind
Old Point Comfort do hundreds oi
white winged coasting srloorers file.
for shelter from the fierce east winds.
1t was here the ship r~endesvoused.
which brought from England relief
to the starving colony at Jamestown.
Here. duriugthe struggle for American
Independence, the fleet of France rode
proudly at their anchors. and prepar-
ed for their share III that campaign
which terminated in surrender OF
CORVALLIS ut Yorktown. Here, later
on in WI " time, occurred the first
encounter between irom-clad vessels OF
war which WAS witnessed from the
beach a, Old Point Comfort, the result
of which is familiar to your readers.
For wears before the war Old Point
had been celebrated as watering place
and the singular salubrity of its loca'
ton, rendered ii very attraction, and
"n' ''''9 W. mo gay 80
OF the wai' which brought SO ii'a,,S
changes interrupted the career "l VI"
ROM 'oihlorI as Il resort lor p'easuis'
ana i'iaii' hiiii'arS necessary ueiiaiin
ca Inc htm"l''oi' OF the ilotpi WILL
ing which inlerfered materially with
range of the guns of Fortress Monroe
which is here situated. IL was not
uh'h several wears aiier tue 'rt,'h W
peace that IN" HNge! II i,o't, vas
nn''t ana old i"ili' aSail, l'"N US inn
itioh rs one Oh me it'o''s M"'Ti''s
places on ihr Atlantic COAST y
owned enlife', ny tue I"Nti',''l. w.
a i"ot o' TINS iaid cn'iln IN p"dSe' IL
any price MOI eooli IL a"tli,hs "' any
KIM 't titc'''' ',rle"" Ni.."" III
"'''tiiiS! Nlec'a' "i'it o,E'e's, WI
W"",n nave 10 pass llt,"''s" "
i'a'I''S the 'a''"'t> '"''.i'''''' w -,
ported, on if'" various Hints w" "p
proved ny lie e'.iri h~Nfce'o': u.,i.,
lile natural h'ness OF 'iilS ,oeaIits
LOT iof'iIled STATION was e"lly seer
ana taken aaV"'''"ge u. 10 on ", IL,
NialvH' NOV Wv ii"lNes ~
ht va ioint o%ot'iort, anu " SUPP,
1t WIN "iiiinuiin' ''Il," tteoi fas go
Po"uer anu pau ""s "e'i'n,,''eu =,
every snip Una passed. ne e,o"'l,
upon Wiie,i roitiTss moi.oo W..
was ce"en ny she LeSis'''riu "t
gina, 10 Tue Hovel'i'le"I VI uno nv
Ell states III lol' 10 I'VE "seo ito 'ho
site OF Il military post
The iort covers apout eiSnt' aoieo y,
ground its ioi,i IS t''a, ~ an nneS"
'esi Sne ~, LII, ""t
tile water tfoii', WINE ,oui '"1N "''
upon the iahu; lht VANS "i1 vi s."n
tie, 81 ieet hieh, a'lu aoo"' VIZ ~ e
structure Il ii'"at eN.eiH', .,oni
l3o feet wine, anu i"ceo WIN Ei"i.,
tnr water W. WHICH i'He" '" :. -"
ct : feet at hisn water. vi tnu '"i
side the ranhparls; are SnlII VIII ny ca
cePtioii OF Soii't VI 'ne ""l'No "m o.
c~aseiha'ed, ou' on .ht n'" Wv
water, armament CONSISTS ~ w" ,iei'
OF guns, one caseii'"teu an" Wv u 20
bette: Ont'it lie VI VI,
Rebellion II iiad cMSt tue guNe'i'hirn'
two a han m'i''"l nolla,S' in'
interior is wen AN "ut WIN p"'''s
shaded walks. ..a
Numerous i've oahs ",e t.h ",
about the parade grounds ana Tue su
perstiti"n prevails mere tiiat tlle ,ioiL,i
ern rampant OF Fort moil'ne mann Wv
limit north OF wnicl the me wan Ia
never grown. from lhe fahllni'a
line view can he nhtalheu ~ me "nipP
ton Roads on the WAFER s'1e' anu u
the level country on the land size