The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-08-23
Around Old Point.

Around Old Point
Cape Charles and Cape Henry, named
after the sons of James 1st. by the early
navigators, can be seen with q glass
from the pier at Old Point Comfort.
Between these Capes came Captain
Newport, John Smith and their COM
rades into the land of Powhatan. 1t is
wonderful harbor. Up the Chesa-
peake goes the commerce OF the world
to Baltimore and other cities. The Po.
tomac river carries it to Washington.
The Rappahannock into interior Vir
ginia. The James river to Richmond.
On Hampton Roads lies Newport
News with its deep sounlings, from
which great ocean liners start on their
errands of trade. Norfolk lies at the
mouth of Elizabeth river, and the Uni
ted States Naval Yards are at Ports
mouth.
Fortress Monroe, our longest fortifica
tion, lies upon Chesapeake Bay and
Hampton Rhoades. At the end OF the
peninsula, with James river on the south
and York river ON the north, lies Old
Point Comfort. History, romance and
legend center about the region, and
fashion and modern life hold their rev
els in sight of the most storied spots.
There is constant scene Of busy life
in the harbor. The pleasure yachts,
sailing vessels, fishing craft, coasting
ships, steamers from various points, and
ocean. going craft make the scene AMI
mated at all hours of the day.
The conveyance of railroad lines at
Norfolk and the g. & o. R. R. to Old
Point brings tourists here in great mum
bers. The facilities for bathing in the
surf without danger attract many, and
there are many reasons why Old Point
will never cease to be attractive.
The first permanent settlement was
made in 1907, as is known, up the James
river, and the early history of our coun-
try is confined to the waters between
the Virginia Capes. Again in the War
of independence the final battles were
here fought and at Yorktown when
CORVALLIS surrendered his sword and
his army, independence was achieved.
In the late civil war Hampton Roads
again saw victory settle on the Union
arms when the little Monitor drove the
Merrimac, beaten, back into Norfolk
harbor, and from that hour, the Con-
federacy of the South was doomed.
At Hampton our government has
training school for Indians. Also, for
Negroes, and Soldiers Home tor vete.
rams of the late war. This last is a
charming place, and we spent part OF a
day there talking to the old soldiers and
going over the fine grounds. 1t is not
so beautiful as the Dayton, Ohio, Home,
but preferable for its outlook on the sea, {,
and fine ocean breeze. There are nice
walks-good buildings, pure water-an
elegant conservatory Of flowers, hospital,
band of music, and all things devised
for the comfort of the lwarworn soldier.
The Indians were off ON a vacation.
A negro told me he considered it agreat
waste of money, trying to educate Indi-
ans. He said they we're irreclaimably
savage and only pretended to be tame.
The negro was there with them, and
was undoubtedly right. While, there
fore, it gave me great pleasure to see the
provision made by our government for
our deserving soldiers. and also to fit for
usefulness the black population of the
South, yet it was with feeling of dis
gust saw the money spent on the In
dians. 1t is perversion of all hu man.
ity and species Of insanity, and could
only be tolerated to satisfy "cranks.' y
No money spent on Indians has ever
given any return, and hence this part oi
the Hampton business is failure.
The Pennsylvania Railroad runs its
trains down what is called the Virginis
Neck, to Charles City, near Cape
Charles The trains arr, than carried
across the Bay on floats to Norfolk, and
make connection with the Southern
system. The Norfolk & Western road,
with its lateral branches, is developing
into great trunk line.
Evidently the future has in store great
things for this country and the section
OF Virginia bounded by the Blue R i.ige
on the west and the Chesapeake Bay
and ocean on the east, viii ere the cen,