Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-09
CAPTIVATING COBB'S.
rhe ROUGH GEM OF THE ATLANTIC
PAST AND PRESENT.
nav yts Fame rs q Resort Has Spread
Hunting and rishing--Contempiate
Great Improvements.
CoBp's ISLAND, December 6, 1890.
4

were UcTifcu iTOu sctIhS o"''" N
had been caught there by an old and
well-known citizen OF Richmond and
brought 10 the city. To my youthful
imagination that marine monster APP
peared 10 be thirty feet long, but alas,
sharks, like elephants, old-fashioned
rounds of beef, and Christmas plum
puddings, dwindle in their proportions
as we grow older. AT the period refer
10. when the Cobbs occupied an
equal place among my heroes
with tho characters Of Captain
Mayne Reid. Robinson Crusoe, &c,
Cobb's Island was several days journey
from Richmond, but it was none tho less
n fayorite resort. IL was considered the
place for thorough mental and bodily
rest and recuperatlon. \ trip TO Cobb,s
Island was sovereign cure for "fag
its rolling pillows were one vast fountain
OF youth, and its atmosphere inspired
como Of the most artistic fish stories ever
listened to.
GEM OF THE OCEAN.
In healthfulness and IN natural at
tractiyeness Cobbs is still what 1t was
when broken-down professional and
business men first began to make yearly
pilgrimaees to it. II is still rough
gem of the beautiful Atlantic, whose
restless, sparkling pillows lave and
whose tonic breezes kiss on every side
its shores. But the hand of what the
last generation would probably have
termed the iconoclasm OF improvement
in the way of accommodations has
reached it and is to continue its work.
ACCESSIBILITY.
Cobb's is situated in the Atlantic Ocean
about eight miles out from the coast OF
northampton county, Va, and the time
annihilating influence OF railways and
fast steamboats, has brought 1t within
three hours travel OF Old Point, ten
hours of New York, eight of Baltimore
and Washington, and seven OF Philadei,
phia. Around the history OF the island
clings a good deal OF romance, the full
flavor of which, however, can only be
fully appreciated by being upon the
spot. bringing before the minds eye the
conditions that existed there years ago,
and hearing the history in the simple
and graphic language Of the natives.
Their stories of life-saving from dIsas-
ters to ships that have struck on the line
Of reefs extending from Hog Island to
Smiths Island and to Cape Charles form
a vivid and thrilling chapter.
THE CLIMATE.
The climate of Cobbs renders it pc
culiarly adapted for a health and plea
sure-resort during both winter and sum-
mer. In the hottest summer months
the sea breezes lower the temperature
10 delightful and iDvigorating GOODNESS,
while In winter these same breezes
moderate the rigorous GOODNESS that pre-
walls on the mainland and during both
seasons it lisa huntsman's and fisherman's
paradise. No place on the Atlantic
coast excels in attractions for these two
classes. In warm weather the island is
the homo of all birds of the snipe va
riety and in winter lie waters swarm with
wild duck, geese. and trant. Its natu-
raj oyster and clam-beds furnish the
most luscious of biyalves and Its bays
and inets abound in every variety OF
fish peculiar to its latitude. The natives
of the island and the members of the |
fe-saving crew located there are great
fshermen and expert boatmen and |
swimmers, and provide every facility for
the enjoyment of sportsmen, the safety
of boating parties, and the pleasure OF
the invalid.
BATHING.
Among the attractions of Cobbs, and |
not by any means the least OF them, is
the bathing beach, where there Is room |
for thousands of bathers and where that |
great des,derat,im safety is almost abso- |
lutte, Ii is a remarkable fact that during
the sixty or seventy years that have
elapsed since the island was settled by
the Cobbs, the first settlers, there has not
been an accident on the beach. There is
no undertow, the surf Is magnificent,
and the water of higher temperature
than at northern resorts. Owing TO tins
latter fact those OF weak constitution
can battle at Cobbs without fear OF expe-
riencing too great shock. sand
beach encircles the island, which affords
q driving course equal to the shell roads
of Mobile and New Orleans and the
beach drive ut Atlantic City. And speak
ing OF Atlantic City l would here re-
mark that marine painters who rave over
bits Of Jersey coast should restrain their
enthusiasm until they have visited
Cobb's and imbibed its inspirations.
PRESENT ACCOMMODATIONS.
Thepresent accommodations of Cobb's
consist OF plain but comfortable hotel
and cottages erected by the Cobb
brothers, and which up TO recent years
have been ample for the entertainment
kI-.xc.a1o Of t-tp,tnrc fhnf
LARRY spent their summer vacation or
took hunting outing on the island.
But the reputation of the place has
been rapidly spreading and lately
hundreds OF visitors have been
turned away because they could not be
accommodated What with fast steam
boots and railways making it more ac-
cessible and it's having become the OBJ
jective point Of yachting clubs from
Washington, Baltimore. Philadelphia,
New York, Boston, and other northern
cities and points on the Virginia and
North Carolina coasts, the demand for
accommodations is far in excess of the
present hotel and cottage capacity. In
view OF this the Cobbs have sold their
interest in the present buildings to the
Cobb's Island Company, which has been
formed for the purpose OF improving the
existing buildings and providing such
additional accommodations as may be
needed in the future This company
was chartered 10y the Corporation Court
OF Lynchburg, and Its officers are as fol-
lows President, J. +. Slaughter, presi-
dent Of the First National Bank, Lynch
burg; Vice President. c. OBJ. Cowardin,
president OF the Richmond Dispatch
Company Secretary and Treasurer, b.
ii. Lastrapes. Directors President
and Vicc-President and Governor Z. w.
Mckinney Ex-Governor Fitzhugh Lee,
J.. C. Garland, LII. d., Vanderbilt
University Judge X. 4. w. Duke,
Charlottesville. va. r. l.. Miller. to-
bacconist, Lynchburg va. It. l.. Cobb.
Cobb's Island; Robert Slaughter, real
estate agent Lynchburg. Va T. ID.
A.