The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
THE NEWS AND CENTURY STATE EDITION

Wrghtsville turnpike was thought o.
and long years prior to the building OF
the Seacoast Railroad, Captain Harper
undertook to bring in the steam yacht
Passport thousands of excursionists
from Wilmington and the interior TO
the health-giving breakers at such trl-
fling expense that the poorest might en-
10Y the pleasures of surf bathing, which
had hitherto been the exclusive privilege
of the rich until the number has increas-
ed to 10000 and $4,000 passengers an
nually.
The steamer Wilmington makes four
or five trips daily. and the run occupies
one hour from Wilmington to the beach.
In other columns we describe more fully
this delightful seaside resort.
GANDER HALL.
Near this landing may be seen a fine
grove Of old oaks which many years
ago sheltered an attractive estate, still
known as Gander Hall. 1t was owned
in the year 1880 by Captain James Me-
Ilheny, of an honOred and respected
family on the Cape Fear. Captain Me-
Ilheny was the victim Of a well-known
joke which gave the place its peculiar
name An extraordinary trade demand
for goose feathers at il high price LED
him to purchase in the up-country a
flock Of geese which he intended to use
for breeding purposes. He counted the
increase before it was Matched and anti
cipated with satisfaction large profits
from the sale of feathers. The captain
selected the geese in person, and, as he
wanted white feathers, was careful
- 4l1n Aftpr
waiting an intolerable time for the lay
ing season to begin, he consulted a goose
expert, and was informed, to his amaze
ment, that his geese We're all ganders.
SEDGELEY ABBEY.
Near Gander Hall are the ruins of
Sedgeley Abbey, which was the grand
est colonial residence of the Cape Fear.
1t was about the dimensions and APP
pearance Of the Governor Dudley man
sion, in Wilmington, and was erected
about 40 years ago by an English gen
tleman of wealth and refinement. named
Maxwell. who owned all the land as far
as Smiths Island. The house was built
of couuina rock made up of frag-
ments of marine shells. A beautiful
avenue of oaks extended from the man
sion on the east for / 800 feet toward the
ocean in full view. and "a corduroy
road which may still be seen. was built
through bay and lined with trees to the
river landing. Some weird traditions
about the house and its lonely master
have come down through the neighbor-
hood negroes, who still regard the place
with superstitious awe. Ii is said that
several attempts were made many years
ago to find some gold alleged to be buried
there, and although the times chosen
were on bright, clear days, the sky be-
came suddenly overcast the wind moan
ed through the rooaess walls, and cries
and groans were distinctly heard by the
treasure hunters, who did not tarry for
further investigation.
FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENTS.
A few miles below this interesting
ruin may vet he seen indications of the
first white settlement on the Cape Fear
in 1861 by the enterprising New Eng
landers from Massachusetts, who might
have prospered but their greed led them
to destruction. For a time they car
ried on a profitable and apparently
peaceable intercourse with the native
Indians, but when they sent Indian chill
dren north to be sold into slavery under
the pretense Of instructing them in
learning and in the principles of the
Christian religion, the red men were
not slow to discern their treachery, and
from that time, as Lawson says, "they
never gave over until they had entirely
rid themselves Of the English by their
bows and arrows.
The New Englanders left much cattle
behind them, which the Barbadians four
years later found in the possession of
the Indians along the Cape Fear.
CAPE FEAR INDIANS.
Large mounds of oyster shells, many
pieces of broken wicker pottery, arrow
heads, and other relics of the red men
are still found on the peninsula below
Carolina Beach. During the late war
the remains Of an Indian settlement
were frequently unearthed by the Con-
federates engaged upon the intrench-
ments around Fort Fisher: and here are
buried the last of the Corees, Cheraws
and other small tribes occupying the land
once inhabited by the powerful Hatteras
Indians They were allies of the Tus-
eororas in I'LL, and in an attack upon
the English suffered defeat, and have
now disappeared from the earth and
their dialect is now forgotten.
LILLIPUT.
Nearly opposite Carolina Beach land
ing, on the river side, surrounded by no.
BILE oaks. are the ancient estates of Lii
liput and Kendall.
The first record extant Of Lilliput
plantation is in patent from the lords
proprietors, 9th November, 1925, re-
corded in the secretary's office Of North
Carolina to Eleazar Allen.
An English gentleman who visited the
Cape Fear in 1874 with thirteen other
travellers, made special mention of Mr..
Aliens residence, adjoining Kendall, and
also of his well known hospitality. He
SAYS Mr.. Allen was then Speaker of the
Commons, House of Assembly, in the
Province of South Carolina. Mr.. Allen
must have lived sumptuously and enter
tanned lavishly, as among the items OF
personal property in his estate, made
known at his death, was twelve dozen
cut glass table basins now known as
finger bowls.
On the death Of Mr.. Allen, 18th Jan
uary, 1749, aged 81 years, at Liliput,
where he was buried, this plantation
became the property and residence for
time Of Sir Thomas FARMLAND. 1t