The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-16
GALLANT RESCUE
OF RICHMONDERS
Help in Nick of Time from a Life
Saving Station
OFF NORTH CAROLINA COAST,
The Dangers and Pleasures OF an Ont
ing at Nag's Head 49, Wonderful
Fresh Water Lake Mountains
of Sand Covered by Pines.

MACS HEAD. y. c., July H-Speclal.-
A party OF Richmonders were guaranty
rescued the other day by Captain NJ.
~ Etheridge. Of oregon Inlet Life saw
ing Station. This station is situated on
the Banks" near Mays Head at a point
where Roanoke Sound cuts across the
sand bar and emptes its waters into
me ocean. Oregon Inlet IS the desig-
nation, but whence the name l know
not
n tsa dangerous point on the Atlantic
coast and many lives nave been saved
by Captain Etheridge and his gallant
crew.
But TO my story The sun was bright
ami inc waters Of the sound were
..fwinkling'' in the breeze AZ a little girl
al Nays Head put IT. when the Rich
nond. party consisting of two men, two
women and a child set sail on the
sweet william" manned by two very
worthy colored men. William Simmons,
the master OF the vessel, and Mack, MS
brother and mate.
The first stop was made AZ the historic
epot "Ballast Point" where Sir Walter
Raleigh dumped his ballast previously
10 his landing al Roanoke Island. Mack
IS quite sure about this FOR the ballast
IS sim lying there 20 prove the fact,
however. contradictory that statement
may seem. Ballast Point is a good nsh-
ing point. Fishes OF an inquiring turn
OF mind gather there 10 discuss current
topics when the tide Is running and 10
PICK up anything that may come their
way from the outside. / dropped them
lire from Richmond and had some sport
with the calamity shouters, otherwise
known as "crOakers.'
ON To THE OCEAN.
Fror1 ballast Point we continued our
way towards Oregon Inlet but the wind
was dead ahead and our progress was
slow. At midday we were still six or
eight miles from our destination and we
were not making more than fwo miles
an hour We ate our lunch, melted the
last piece Of ice and We're on the hign
seas becalmed. without food or drink
and with only two cigars I'm the party.
one OF the men grew so desperate as 70
beg a chew OF tobacco from the cOlored
mate.
when we rounded mp AZ the inlet. our
situation was desperate. Still the sport
blood In our veins flowed warm and
strong and when we began 20 catch fsn'
"as fast as we could bait hook we
forgot for tho time an orr troubles ana
for IN hour we We're OD.iviOus 20 an
things else But time and tide DO not
wait even for fishermen and soon We
stop suspendine fishes and face the
situation We We're sixteen miles from
the MOTEL and without either food or
shelter. But there was the life saving
station I'm fun view md what was II
there for. ar not 90 rescue the perishing!
We went ashore and the whole party
were so bedragged. sunDurned and fam
isned as 10 have moved a harder heart
than that OF the amicable. compassion
fgf L.
oridge. who for more than three score
years has been IN the life saving ser
vice We told our tale Of woe AT the re-
cital OF which he broke out In a Jolly
laugh and told rs that IL was his bus
mess % save the ehip-wrecked. we
went into the airy and well-kept build
ing and rested our weary limbs while
the cook prepared supper william and
Mack cleaned" the fish which we had
so recently taken from the water and
soon they were served on the kitchen
table hot and brown. with fluffy biscuits
lust from the oven and good cOffee-a
meal fit for kings and 20 cast-aWays a
rich feast. our lives were saved.
4 NIGHT IN THE STATION.
We slept in the station and next
morning. July 4th. tried the fishing again
but without success. William attributed
II 10 the day. Il don't know what the
day IS celebrated for" he explained.
"but 70 always was a onlucky day for
me-"
But we had a glorious sail. The wind
was fair and while A. required about
seven hours 10 make the trip 20 Oregon
Inlet. We came back in a little more
than two hours. Roanoke Sound IS sepa-
rated from the ocean by narrow sand
bar and 70 IS on this bar that the Nag's
-. eli A al
ways q salt water breeze. either from
the sound or from the ocean. which
blow away flies. mosquitoes and disease
and bears on its healing wings refresh
ment and health. There is still bathing
in the sound and there IS surf bathing in
the ocean. according 70 the taste. The
fishing is fine. In addition 70 the sound,
which at times IS alive with spots.
crOakers. hog-fsh and trout. there IS a
fresh water lake about three miles dis
tant from the hotel, IN which there are
thousands Of clubs. speckled perch and
other varities Of fresh water fish. usually
found I'm the mill ponds around Rich
mond. 1 had some good sport on this
pond the other day. after which the
party went ashore and had an old-fash-
Toned tsh fry under the trees.
"A FISH STORY.
And now Pm going 20 tell a fish story,
which no man who ever had dealings
with a mill pond club will believe. on
the day Of the fish fry aforesaid, Mr..
NJ. X. Griffin. Of Elizabeth City. was
driving with some friends along the edge
Of this pond when he noticed n large
nsh lying in the shOal water. He got
out or the vehicle 10 Investigate and
took out with his hands a i've healthy
uninjured club. weighing at least six
pounds. The big fellow was enjoying
a sun bath and was too comfortable TO
move. even when approached by a hu-
man being Judge Witt says that the
mill pond club IS sluggish. because ne
leads a sedentary life and never has
occasion to exercise his muscles, as Is
the case with his cousin. the black bass
or the mountain torrents, which is for
ever climbing the rapids.
A WONDERFUL LAKE
This fresh water lake between the
s0urd and the ocean IL another one OF
tire many curiosities OF this interest
ing section Of North Carolina. II Is very
deep and its waters are clear and spark
ling. The cource OF supply IS invisible,
but must be some underground spring.
Tnere is no outlet for the waters and
evaporation IS the only method OF ex-
haustion.
The drive 70 the lake IS one OF the
most beautiful and picturesque in the
East. Long wears ago immense sand
hills. some OF them hundreds OF feet
high. were tossed mp by the winds and
in the course of time we're covered by
a thick growth OF pine bushes. These
have now become stately trees and tho
drive is as through pine forest IN the
mountains. The scenery Is wild. There
are steep precipices. deep gorges and
every other suggestion OF mountains In
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