The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

up in the middle northern section of
the State, and running southeasterly
through North Carolina, empties in the
Atlantic ocean at Southport. 1t is navi-
gable up its course as far as Fayetteville,
distance from Wilmington of about
100 miles. and steamers regularly ply
between the two cities. At Wilmington,
which is situated, like Rome, upon seven
hills, upon high land along its shores,
the Northeast river flows into the Cape
Fear. The river at Wilmington is about
a quarter of d mile wide. 1t broadens
as it continues from thence oceanward,
and has width of from one to three
miles. while at Southport, situated at
its mouth, the river broadens into a
beautiful bay, with a width of from four
TO five miles. 1t has ain average at mean
low water of Is feet between Whining
ton and at Southport, and at mean low
water depth on its bar, or mouth, Of 20
feet. 1t is interesting for its historic
scenes and natural beauties.
JAMES SPRUNT,. ESQ.
Reviewing Mr.. Spruht's description Of
the Lower Cape Fear, The Wilmington
Messenger says
I'VE invite The Messengers readers
for trip down the river today, in the
company and under the direction of
that versatile and delightful writer,
Mr.. JAS. Sprunt, of this city. who, both
as merchant and leteratus, has achieved
success and distinction. We extract,
through his courteous permission, from
his charming book, THE Lower Cape
Fear; Its Tales and Traditions" the
account which follows. instead of con-
densing, permitting the author to speak
in his own language. Having taken
his reader aboard the steamer Whining
ton, under the command of Captain Har-
per, he points out and instructs US as to
the scenes along the Cape Fear, com
mencing with the "Dram Tree"
THE DRAM TREE.
Looking ahead to the farthest point
in view, we distinguish an object, the
passing Of which was signalized in I'VE
olden time" by the popping Of corks
ar hr other demonstration of a conyivial
old cypress tree, moss
tered by the storms of
e a grim sentinel, it
the outgoing mariner
has begun, and to well
ming stor1n-tossed sailor
Dor beyond. Its name is
called the Dram Tree,
ne this name for more
than nullul,.. years. For further par
ticulars see Captain Harper.
HOSPITAL POINT.
We now pass Hospital Point, whereon
was placed pest house during the
smallpox plague which followed Sher-
mans army. Many thousands Of negro
refugees fell victims to this dread dis
ease. At low water may be seen the
charred remains of several Confederate
war vessels which composed Commo-
dore Lynch's small and crippled fleet,
and which were burned by the Confed-
crates when Wilmington was evacuated
after the fall of Fort Fisher.
This place is also known as Mount
Seamen's Friend Society, of Whining
ton.
BRUNSWICK RIVER MALLORY
CREEK CLARENDON PLANTA-
TION.
On the west side is the mouth of
Brunswick river, still partly INSTRUCTED
by Confederate IOfpeu0eS
Mallory creek is some distance lower
down. Near it is Clarendon" a fine
rice plantation, originally owned by
Marsden Campbell and afterwards the
property of William Waters, Esq, a
Cape Fear gentleman of the old school,
and a planter of large experience. 1t
is now owned by Messrs. Fred Kidder
and III. Walters.
OLD TOWN SETTLEMENTS.
Passing Barnard's creek on the east
side. near which in the olden time Were
several valuable plantations, we come tc
Town Creek, where 800 colonists from
Barbados, led by Sir John Yeamans
built a town in the year 1863, and called
it Charlestown in honor of the relgnlne
sovereign of England, King Charles III.
Sir John had been a loyal adherent
Of the deposed King, and was reward
ed upon the Restoration with the
order of Knighthood and a royal grant
Of lands in Carolina. He is said to
have been the first British Governor
of Clarendon, which extended original
IL from Albemarle to st. Augustine,
Florida. The settlement did not pros
per. In a few years the colonists aban-
doned IT and removed, some to Charles
ton. $. c., others to Albemarle, in the
North. Not white man remained,
and the river land continued in posses
sion of the Indians for many years after
BIG ISLAND-RICEB BIRDS.
About mile below Old Town is Big
Island. a tract of nearly 800 acres CT
rich alIuviaI soil, which the first voy.
ayers to the Cape Fear in 1868 named
Crane Island, and which is chartered by
the United States Coast Survey as
Campbells Island. 1t was formerly {
light house station, but the light was
discontinued during the late war and ;
battery erected in its place. There Is ;
fortune in this island waiting for some
enterprising truck farmer, as the STATE
Geologist says it contains some Of tht
richest lands in the South, that vii
never need fertilizing. Millions of "a
rice birds roost here 1T night after prey
ing upon the milky rice Of the neighbor