Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-10

things" The blockade runner at once left, her
departure being entirely unopposed, and got
away back to Nassau, the then base Of supplies
from whence she had come.
SCENE OF SOME OF oUsHINa's EXPLOITS.
At Smithville there was a fort-a mere sand
battery-on a very attractive plateau. lofty and
green turfed and commanding a grand sweep
| OF river. This is now only level sward. and the
sole building remaining is what was formerly
the commanding officers quarters and the U.
S. signal station. During the war this place,
known rs Fort Johnson, was the scene Of one
| OF Lieut.. Cushing's most daring exploits. The
commander WAS Georgian named Brown,
who. it was said. had violated his parole, and
; whom Gushing was extremely anxious to
capture One dark night Cushing came in from
| the blockading feet. his boat being rowed by
! six trusty sailors, well armed. Piloted by two
| negroes, the party made its way to the COM
mandant's quarters. The latter happened to
| be away at the time, but the second in COM
mand was not 30 fortunate. Gushing dragged"
the latter and took him away with ease, celebrity
and silence. After all had gone the negroes
impressed into service as guides gave the alarm
| and then there was great hubbub. The gar
rison was turned out alarm guns fired from
Fort johnson. to which Fort Caswell and bat
teries on the shore responded. The next day q
boat landed under flag of truce, bearing q
request from the captured confederate major
| for his clothing and other effects. which were
sent to HIM on the vessel Of the blockade fleet
to which Lieut.. Gushing had spirited him away.
Nothing more was ever heard Of the major at
| Smithville.
Cushing used to make his way as the wind
blows-'wherever it listeth." He was searched
for time and again. and vet lay in the rank
marsh grass near Smithville, in q few boat 8
lengths Of the searchers. Twice he went to
Wilmington, both times disguised as o woman,
and once attended performance at the theater.
very pretty woman he made, they say. He
bad relatives in Wilmington. who were hor-
rlf1od to see him at the performance alluded to.
1t was just like Cushing to do thing like this
at the sea gate OF secession as Wilmington
was POLITICALLY termed. Gushing became famous
in war annals by his blowing up OF the ram
Abemarle at Plymouth.
TROPICAL ISLAND.
The strangest bit of land north Of Florida
lies quite near ruined Fort Caswell. This is
Smiths Island, or Bald Head Island, which. by
reference to a map, will be found to project
nearer the gulf stream than any other land on
this continent. The result is that it is sub
tropical. the palmetto reaching height Of 80
feet or more and growing in profusion, while
the olive and the myrtle are abundant A
greater popularity is that frost does not affect
vegetation on the island. The latter is about
four miles long and three wide. On it is a
light house, built in 1917, and a hfe-ssving
station. Extending across 1t is heavy earth
work, bull: by the confederates in 1861. now a
vast line of sand bank. The place is a hunters
paradise six months in the year. The island
was recently purchased for S25 600 by a Chi
cago man, who will build hotel. and utilize
the great forest Of live oak md palmetto for q
game preserve. This island is a bit of Florida
anchored off the North Carolina coast.
HIDDEN TREASURES.
For two centuries wrecks have occurred along
this stretch of coast. and looking seward there
are more signs Of partially submerged blockade
runners which came to grief. Money is fire.
quently exposed by the washing away of tho
beach. One night in 1864 party landed there
and digging hole hid in it $4,000 in gold.
Ever since this has been searched for. The
pilots say that there are grounds for belief that
just after the war the money was dug up by q
man who lived in that section, but others do
not believe this, and it is only a short while
since several persons from New York, Washing
ton. Philadelphia and Norfolk made search for
the treasure. They used divining rods and ex-
plored hundreds of places on the island, work
ing day and night. There is no doubt as to
the burial of the money. These last searchers
made no secret of their purpose 10 find it.
THE CAPE FEAR
ia tho most historic stream in the state, On
its banks the first city Of Charleston, or
Charles Town. which, owing to depredations bv
Indians. was removed and became Charleston
>. L. linen there was the town of Brunswick
of which there remain the ruins OF the gov
ernors house, of the church (the latter a fine
ruin, OF brick brought from England. neatly
concealed from sight by trees. and the fort
The coniederates built a battery there and util-
lied part of the old ramparts. The entire place
was surrounded by a deep moat much of which
vet remains though nearly two centuries old
Up this stream sailed the followers Of Prince
Charlie. who fed from Scotland after the defeat
at Culloden. and who settled at Cross Creek
(now Fayettevile). among them being the
famous Flora Mcdonald the door stone of whose
house is vet preserved.
Near by are the rico plantations cultivated
for $50 wears. and wonderfully productive. At
some OF these only golden rice. for use as seed.
is grown. and this leads the world IN quality
and price. "Orton" is the most no;ed OF these
farms. Its stately buildings. of brick and
siucco. date from 1860, and the place is kept In
superb style by its wealthy New York owner.
Along the river there are ALWAYS passing in
review the long shad seines. floating up or down
with the tide: big tramp steamers. cotton
laden; Lumber vessel. pleasure boats and scores
OF Norwegian barks and brigs. which command
n great deal OF the carrying trade of Whining
ton. The naval store business. once the glory
OF this section, has nearly passed away. and
Georgia and not North Carolina is now the
state Of Tar. pitch and turpentine." The
lumber trade takes the place Of that in naval
stores