Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-04
FALSE CAPE HUxTING-GRoUND.
Hunting on the Virginia Coast-The
Marshes between Sea and Lake.
dor the Dispatch.)

Qor the Dispatch.)
A veteran sportsman does not gene
rally mind the weather. which, on the
Virginia coast, is most favorable to duck
shooting when it Is bad. But still, when
the green. dropping branches OF the willow
give the first token of spring along the
marshes frequented by the gray snipe II
is pleasant to know that there is a rare
pleasure to be enjoyed with perfect COM
fort. and while demanding a high degree
Of skill, whets the appetite for the sport
and makes the tramp over tho marsh what
some F'renchman, perhaps the poet and
sportsman Chateaubraud, termed pro-
menade dc plaisir a Ia chasse. Across
from the famous Ragged Island Club, and
on the same lake, the neck OF land be-
tween the ocean and the lake is known
as False Cape hunting grounds, but as
lhe line of the sea beach is perfectly
straight. not even the keeper Of the
United States life-saying station. there
can explain the reason for the name.
No seaside view could be finer in 4 clear
summer day, barring the lack Of the mer-
maids and sirens OF the summer resort.
But as the sportsman cares more for
other game, he is apt to turn his gaze
from the beauty Of the sea Immediately
backward where the coves and marshes
for several miles abound in the beach
BIRDS of spring, summer, and autumn,
Of which there are n half dozen varieties.
from the snipe TO the Wilt, curlew, and
yellow shank. After visiting this teeming
hunting ground i'm winter and shooting
ducks brant. geese, and swan, seeing a
canvas-back roasted before the open fire.
and then pertaining his exquisite flavor
with glass OF Burgundy. one finds tho
inc IL .oI.
cinating. Though the place has never
been used by a club. tho sporting equip
ment IS complete from the various kinds
OF decoys TO the dogs that retrieve the
game with perfectly professional skin and
add much additional satisfaction TO the
sport.
The owner Of the property, old man Ew-
ell, is quaint and agreeable character OF
the old Virginia type, and being a magis-
trate as well as a sportsman, has protect
ed the grounds perfectly, so that the hor-
rible pot-hunter does not come across the
horizon line, and the place remains almost
like virgin solitude, except for the one
house and the life-saving station.
Coming down the shore from Virginia
Beach, fifteen miles above, with q good
team, one cannot but hope that the pro-
jected railroad Will not pass too near the
happy hunting grounds and startle away
the game with the terrible alarm Of the
locomotive whistle.
The delay Is preferable down the sea
beach, across from Ragged Island, or
even landing from a tug or yacht on the
ocean side by the aid Of the life-sayers
who are the most hospitable and genial Of
all heroes.
Every life-saving station has its pathetic
and heroic stories OF shipwTecks and res
cues and dire distress but the most inter-
esting one of Station No. is that of the
gigantic Newfoundland dog. the pet of the
crew, and, in fact one Of it's members by
right of the interest he takes in the work.
They can tell hts breed by his personal
appearance, but all that Is known of his
former career Is that he is a waif of the
sea. One morning. when the sea was calm
and smooth. the lookout discovered a black
speck in the distance that came straight
towards the land, though there was not a
breath of wind TO impel it. Presently they
made it out to be dogs head, and in
half an hour this eccentric founding Of