Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-29

southerners,
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal
Carter's Wharf, Richmond County,
Va, Aug. %. "A correspondent of
"The Gazette" having passed five
weeks vacation here, finds this por-
ton of Virginia to be most interest
ing place. One hundred and fifty miles
from fredericksburg, Carter's wharf
situated in what Is known as the
the Rappahanneck and Potomac rivers
not very far from the Potomac.
The scenery hereabout is beautiful
and sublime In the extreme, the high
cliffs near the wharf on the Rappahan-
mock being unusually attractive to visi-
tors. The ground Is very billy and in
some places resembles mountains. In
the main the ground is cultivated, but
there are tracts Of fine forests and also
other wild vegetation.
The people are mostly farmers and
obtain a livelihood by tilling the soil,
but the fine forests yield considerable
d.
quantities. Some produce, too, is sent
to the city markets, but most of the
farmers find little profit after the trans
! portation tolls and the middleman's
profit is deducted. Consequently the
i income from this source is limited.
M. A. Carter is the most important
parsonage In the community. He is
the postmaster, not however, for the
Ii 30. ma L l.
but because the wharf is near to his
place. Mr.. Carter is the possessor OF
BOe9 acres of land, Notwithstanding he
has given to several old negroes small
plots on which they may reside. Like
ter is whole souled philanthropist and
he is held in high esteem by all per
sons with whom he is brought in con
tract. In fact, all the people hereabout
appear like one family with Mr.. Carter
at the head, No social lines are drawn
here. All of the residents in the county
are alike, as far as social station goes.
There is NO "clanism" and no differ
ences of any kind exist
Mr. Carter is lineal descendant of
aid King Carter, who, in the early
years Of America, was apportioned a
crown heads. Becoming disguised with
affairs in the Old World, King Carter
Fame to America and settled on his new
acquisition. One of his first acts was
TO put up church, which Is still
tanding and in use. 1t is one of the
Oldest church buildings in America now
ia use. When it was erected great care
must have been used, for, although
hac 30 -, - n
repairing, it is in an excellent state of
years of service yet before it.
As was noted above, the present
ewher of much land here, M. A.
Carter, is of the dime family,
and takes great pride in his ancestry.
He Is an intimate friend OF Col. Sin
gcrly of the Philadelphia Record and
reads every issue Of the paper, which
he receives by mail. He also fur
nishes great deal OF wood for Mr.
Singerly's paper mill.
TheWeems Line boats from Baltimore
stop here twice week, and from Fred
ericksburg twice, so that four mails
arrive every week, Providence permit
ting.
One of the greatest peculiarities is
the fact that there is not "a railroad
touching any part of the county. and
many Of the residents have never seen a
railroad. The people being old fash.
Toned are contented with the steamboat
line and they prefer to let well enough
alone. They look upon railroads a,
agents of death and consider then
not necessary to the welfare of the pee
pie. The inhabitants are great readers
of the Baltimore papers and they know
all about all kinds of railroads. theoreti
cally, but prefer to have nothing to d.
with them.
The people are we'll read and intelli
gent in the extreme. They are also un
usually fortunate in the possession o
retentive memories and it is a pleasur,
to converse with them on most an,
subject
The colored portion Of the population
are typical Southern darkies, man,
OF them yet bearing the characteristic
of the bygone slavery days They ar
happy lot, however, and in the mail
are devout Christians.
One of the oldest sights witnessed b
Every Evening's'' correspondent in
long time was brought to the attention
of the writer the other day. 1t was al
old negro woman weighing over 20
pounds driving to church in her OK cart
or Cow buggy as the boys here cal
the bovine rigs. Seated in an cas-
chair IN the cart, the sun basking dow
from the unclouded heavens, the oil
lady was perfectly contented. Sue
scenes are common here.
There is an old storehouse on tn
wharf at this place which is at ono
suggestive Of the late war. II is pune
tured in every part by bullets and car
non balls, and has been of little us
since the war, it having been treate
SO badly at that time. 1t is indeed a
inspiring spectacle to any lover of tn
nations history. 1t would be a gran
relic to place in one of the Wimingto
parks. In its present condition tn
building is unsighty, but neverthele.
it is monument to the fierce conflic
which occurred on Virgiuia's soil.
1t has been reported here recent
that Northern capitalists have bee
looking about among the local peel
liarities with view to purchasing Ian
and advertising the historical attrat
tions, the purpose being to make
an historical resort for travellers an
pleasure seekers. The residents al
opposed to having anything disturbe
and the majority of land owners wi
not listen to having railroad anywhei
near here. 1t is rather odd that every
thing is allowed to stand in its natur,
condition for years. A building ono
erected, being put up with great car,
is allowed to remain in its origin;
state for many years, and sometime
generations.
A few miles from here, at StratforG
on the Potomac river is the old HON
of Gen. Robert f. Lee. 1t is kept i
an excellent state of preservation by
family named Stewart, the members {
which are rnlatad To the L "a fnt,i IL,