The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-30
AMONG THE SEA ISLANDS.
A TRIP TO PORT ROYAL AND BEAU
FORT BY WATER.

an Important Improvement Tor
savannah.
The opening up Of the inland passage
from Savannah to Beaufort, S. c., will be
of great benefit to Savannah. The route
is a very attractive one. Already there
are two steamboat lines between Savan-
nah and Beaufort, but on account of the
shallow water in Wright's river and
Ram Horn creek the present route IS
across Catalogue sound.
There has been recently established day
line from Savannah leaving at a cOnven-
lent hour in the morning, returning in the
early evening. Mr.. G. L. Beach, owner OF
the steamer Gov. Stafford" a thorough
steamboat man. having had long exper-
fence in Florida waters both with passen-
gers and freight. after making thorough
investigation of the route has come TO
the conclusion that it is paying one.
Heretofore people travelling from the
north during the winter season, to see
the coast and the long stretch of sea is
lands, through which the inland passage
winds, have been unable to do so on ac-
count of the trip taking up too long a time.
The freight and passenger traffic is in
itself a good business, as seen by the re-
port Of the committee from the cotton ex.
change appointed to investigate the i'm
portance of the inland route to Beaufort
as published in the Morning News some
time ago.
A trip to Beaufort is we'll worth the time
Passengers have ample opportunity to
view the harbor improvements, passing
six or. eight dredges with their attending
tugs at work on the channel. A fine view
of Tybee beach and lighthouse is had as
the steamer swings into her course across
the sound: then Daufuskie island is ap-
preached. The water changes color. as
the mouth of Savannah river is left behind
and turns to the clear sea green and
schools of porpoises begin to chase the
steamer as she nears the lighthouse on
Hagues point. A stop is made for pas
sengers at the point, not long enough,
however, to see any of the beauty of this
famous island, which was the summer
home of the old Mongin family, the Stod-
dards and others. A beautiful
avenue of oaks. heavily covered
with Spanish moss, leads from the light
house to point where once stood the
old family mansion, the remains Of which
are still seen. Mr.. Stoddards home,
'Melrose," is also one of the points of in
terest on Daufuskie. This is further
around on the ocean side, and can be
Hague's Point the course runs along
the inland shores of Hilton Head Island
the largest on the coast having 5000 in
white. The island itself stretches eighteen
miles along the coast, and has one of the
pretuest beaches on the South Atlantic
On the ocean side once iourished a town
OF 1900 Inhabitants, with street railways,
large stores and places of public amuse-
ment 1t was the headquarters of the De
partment of the South" Blrom 1t the fed
erals conducted their operations along the
coast. This settlement passed out of ex-
istence at the close of the war. and only
end of the island Is owned by Mr. Will
liam p. Clyde, and Is we'll stocked with
game, hunted by his guests in the sea-
son. Mr.. Clyde recently sent down 100
There is an abundance of quail, snipe,
and small game, as we'll as deer. Mr..
er. A landing can be made at Spanish
Wells, one of the old SETTLEMENTS, where
guide can be engaged and a pleasant
has permission. Spanish Wells, though
now consisting of only a dozen houses,
was once a thriving plantation.
of negroes, who speak the peculiar sea
island dialect which is almost unintelli-
gible to northerners and the present gen.
Grafton of southerners can only partially
understand them. One can ''shum an
herum but can't unstanum." 1t is said
that the SDaniards 300 years ago, used an
plying their ships with fresh h water Hg
as they came into the upper end of the
sound for harbor. Just opposite this set
tlement is the mouth of May river. a
splendid stream, its clear green water
Hanting Island ios With i the inofe Famous IS
9taria. and Buils Tslsnd PASS ass
1ing Bulls Island, the next point of
interest is May River Neck, peninsular
formed by May river and New river There
a dnZpn large Ta
neck" nearly ell of which are owned by
Col Estill of Savannah, whose hanNome
residence ana grounds are one of the most
conspicuous views on the route. The
steamer stops at his wharf, which is the
first landing place after leaving Savannah
From near this point and Beef Island OPP
posite the confederate artillery defended
the entrance to Button. Their old batter
les and rifle pits are still seen. Button is
a. town Of about 800 people two-thirds
ever, are always kind and polite to their
white neighbors, and as there is no rail-
road leading into Blufton, the pOpuls-
ton is q permanent one, and the citizens
are never bothered with the genus ho-
DO" and wandering negroes, who do much
to stir up strife.
fishing TO be had on the coast, the shore
being lined with a kind of sandstone
overhung with water oaks, live oaks and
chincapins, which makes it the natural
home of the sheephead and school bass
IN the woods around Button the finest
NunlnlB can De enjoyed u game OF all
kinds acknowledgement snipe, woodcock
wild turkey and plover while rabbits
squirrels and even deer are hunted sue
cessfuily every season.
Passing out of May river the route
winds through Skull creek LeavIne
Pinckney Island on the port side, with
Hilton Head astarboard, numerous bands
of small pickaninnies stand on the shore
and watch the steamer go by. AS Skull
creek is left behind, the extreme beauty
Of Broad river The Cheechcssee river and
Port ROYAL Sound come into view The two
rivers run together into the sound, ana
being so wide, one wonders in which Ii
rection 10 look for the ocean. A fine run
is made down the sound, passing al this
season hundreds OF small boats engaged
in diminishing, for the Savannah and
Beaufort markets Every spring parties
Of sportsmen from Savannah and other
ports go over to this famous FISHING
ground. and many wonderful FISH stories
have grown from such trips. The quar-
antine station and naval station soon
come into view. Here can be- seen Tho
new and c9mmOdious dry docks built bv
the government. The station is occupied
by a battalion Of marines and Is an Inter
eaiing place % Visit. Leaving tho naval
station, Port Royal IA soon reached
Beaufort rs the last stopping point or
fho friD. Passing zap the Beaufort river
pue view Of che Oh town can 30 had ana
many THINGS alnmw The shore lend lrf.r..f