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

from GHSldUu, ana was uIJeEWdIuS Sh-
larged and improved by the late DIR.
Fred j. HILL a rice planter, an intelll-
gent gentleman and a princely citizen,
who was noted far and near for his ele-
CANT and refined hospitality.
Colonel Murchison has brought the
plantation up to it's best production
about 100 laborers are employed and
many extensive permanent improvements
have been adopted. He resides here with
his family during the winter months,
his home and principal business being
in New York city.
COLONIAL GOVERNOR TRYON'S
PALACES SCENE OF THE FIRST
OUTBREAK OF THE REVOI4U-
TIONARY WAR.
About half mile to the south of Or
ton House, and within the boundary Of
the plantation are the ruins of Governor
Tryon's residence, memorable in the his
tory of the United States as the spot
upon which the first overt act of vio-
lence occurred in the war of American
independence, and nearly eight years be-
fore the Boston tea incident, of which
so much has been made in northern his
tory; while this colonial ruin, the verita-
BILE cradle Of American liberty, is proba-
bly, unknown to nine-tenths Of the peo-
pie ON the Cape Fear at the present day.
RUINS OF BRUNSWICK.
About a quarter of mile distant to-
wards the south, and yet within the
limits of this time-honored estate of Or
ton, are the ruins of the old colonial
town of Brunswick, once the chief sea
q 49, hr
ince of North Carolina. It's public
buildings and substantial houses have
long ago crumbled to their foundations,
which still remain.
The daily hum of traffic has long
since ceased, and the busy feet that
trod its now silent streets have mould
cred into dust.
''No more for them the blazing hearth
shall burn,
Nor busy housewife ply her evening
care,
Nor children run to greet their sire's re-
turn,
Or climb his knee, the enyied kiss to
share"
RUINS OF ST. PHILIPS CHURCH.
Within the boundaries of this forgot
ten town are the picturesque ruins of
sSt. Philips church, which was built by
4 the citizens of Brunswick and principally
| by the landed gentry about the year
s1740 In the year 1851 Mr.. Lewis
Henry DeRosset, member of Governor
Gabriel Johnston's council and subse-
squenty an expatriated royalist, intro
sduced bill appropriating to the church
/ Of st. Philip at Brunswick, and to st.
James, at Wilmington, equally, fund
| that was realized by the capture and
obstruction of pirate vessel, which
with a squadron of Spanish priyatcers,
had entered the river and plunderpt the
plantations. A picture ("Ecce Homo')
captured from this pirate is till preserv-
I'd in the vestry room Of ST. James
church, in Wilmington.
St Philips church was built Of large
brick brought from England. Its walls
are nearly three feet thick AMI are solid
and almost intact still, the roof and the
floor only having disappeared. Its di-
mansions are nearly as large as those
of our modern churches. 1t must have
possessed much architectural beauty and
massive grandeur with its high pitched
roof. its lofty doors and beautiful chat
eel windows.
Upon the fall of Fort Fisher, which
is a few miles to the southeast of Or
ton. in 1865. the Federal troops visited
the ruins of st. Philips, and with pick
axes dug out the corner stone, when
had remained undisturbed for l32 years,
and which doubtless contained papers
Of great interest and value to orr peo-
ple. 1t is a. singular fact that during
the terrific bombardment of Fort An
derson. which was erected at Ortnn
and which enclosed with earthworks
the ruins Of st. Philips, while many
If fine tombs in the church yard were
shattered and broken to pieces by the
storm of shot and shell. the walls es-
capped destruction, as If the POWER
Above had shielded from humiliation
by the distant murmur of the sea, the
building which had been dedicated to Ills
service.
This sanctuary has long been a neg
Iected ruin. trees of larger growth than
the surrounding forest have grown UP
within its roofless walls, and where
long years ago the earnest prayer and
song Of praise assembled up on high, a
solemn stiffness reigns. unbroken save
by the signing wind which ever sings
requiem to the buried past.
CONFEDERATE FORTIFICATI0NS
We now approach the ruins of Fort
Anderson, Battery Hoke, Camp Wyatt
$50 named for the first victim of the
war. Private Henry A. Wyatt, of the
First North Carolina regiment, killed
mt the battle OF Big Bethel, Battery
Buchanan, Fort Fisher and Mound
Battery, famous as the gateway of the
southern confederacy, and for months
the only. key to the outside world from
which was replenished its scant supplies
of army stores.
1t has been said by a prominent eX-
officer Of the late Confederate states
navy that "the fall of Wilmington was
the seyerest blow to the Confederate
cause which it could receive from the
loss of any port. 1t was far more i'm
furious than the capture of Charleston,
and but for the moral effect, even more
hurtful than the evacuation of Rich
mond With Wilmington and the Cape
Fear open, the supplies that reached the
Confederate armies would have enabled
them to maintain an unequal contest
for years; but with the fall of Fort
Fisher. the constant stream Of supplies
was effectually cut off and the blockade