The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-11-16
THE DISMAL. SWAMP.
A wilderness Containing Ov'r 10000 J
Acres to Ise Erc'nl'nrd.

Acres to i,e Rrc'nimcd.
Down In Eastern North Carolina.
situated bctwcon tn counties OF Wnsh-
ington Tyrrol and Beaufort, lies
IL vast tract of land containing over
10000 acres known "a the DISMAL. "
1t runs along somewhat PARALLEL to
the Albem " esounl, at u distance OF
from three to five miles from the sandy
shores OF thnt lie ful inland sea
The strip of high land in between
.orms some of the finest grain and
trucllery lands in the South. while the
almost impenetrable jungles Of the
bordering Dismal afford shelter and
protection to various wild amin ais
notably the common black bear and
deer.
Numberlcss wild cattle browse upon
its extensive reed pastures; the fox
finds in its solitary thicSets congenial
camping ground, while the raccoon
and opossum from its dense shades
make nightly for;tys upon the border
ing corn-fields, In carly days the cry
of the panther broke the stiffness OF
its depths, and even now the huge
wildcat is often encountered by hunt
ers During the rainy season 1t
is mostly covered with water
from few inches to several feet in
depth, though it contains many high
spots, acres in extent, that are never
submerged. The timber is mostly
juniper, with considerable cypress,
some long-leaf pine and scattering
poplar and gum. For large areas the
growth of juniper is so thick and tall
that the sun never strikes the ground
In such places we are reminded of
twilight at high noon. 1t is only
drained by sluggish creeks that cir
cuitously find their way TO the sound.
Strange as it may seem the waters OF
these juniper swamps are considered
panacea for the ills of tho locality,
and their medicinal qualities are so
well established that it is sent away by
the barrel for such use Natives, who
had been shaken up by the ague until
they were as white as piece Of cot
ton-cloth, would plunge into the shingle
swamps. remaining for weeks drink
ing only this water and return TO the
hill hearty and robust with the roses
of health blooming on their cheeks.
1t is about the color Of scuppernong
wine and smacks little of the juniper
in taste. 1t is very palatable, and
when taken from the quiet depths OF
it's natural reservoir on hot day
makes most delightful drink.
Enterprise and capital are about to
change this vast Wilderness into q
hundred farms. A railroad has been
run from the sound across its entire
width, connecting with towns on the
opposite side, and with the Norfolk
Southern railroad at Edenton. An i'm
mense mill has been built that saws up
five hundred of the largest pine logs
daily. The lumber. after being thor
oughly kiln-dried, is loaded upon cars
and shipped to Baltimore. Philadelphia
and other markets. The juniper is
turned into shingles and coopers' tim
ber. Quite town is springing up
around the mill, and hundreds OF native
men are finding ready employment at
good wages. The snort and whistle OF
the steam engine now startles the bear
prowling through the underground,
and deer are frequently seen lying
down the long stretches of railroad
track. Soon their haunts will know
them no more. All will be changed.
The timber once taken off canals will
be dug, completely draining the land,
and thousands of acres will be turned |
into fertile farms and smiling gardens.
Pittsburgh Dispatch.