The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-08
AUSIoUE coLoSY
. Sketch of the Little settlement on
Bogue Banks-Primitfve People, Hon.
est, Moral aud simple In Tastes. Who
Live by Fishing and Hunting
Correspondence Of The Messenger.)

Correspondence OF The Messenger)
Salter Path, N. c., October 81.
Editor Messenger: Perhaps none Of
The Messenger readers know Of the
above named place. "Salter Path is a
settlement on Bogue banks, Carteret
county, about half way between Bogue
and Beaufort inlets, some ten miles or
so westward of Fort Macon. where
dwells a colony OF ~ninety-ive people at
this time There are twenty-four dwell
ings. all within a radius of a half mile.
These peoples principle occupation is
fishing, claiming, grabbing and hunt
ing. The banks there are from a quar-
ter to a half mile wide, on which grow
liveoak, cedar, dogwood, shortleaf pine
and other small growth in abundance.
Game such as Iced, coons, opossoms
and wild turkey and quail, with other
birds. are found plentifully. The sound
(Bogue) between these banks and the
main land is some three miles wide and
abounds in fish. CLAIMS, oysters and
crabs all the year round, and in the
winter time, geese, ducks and brant fill
h top of the waters from November
until April.
These people make a good living the
year round hunting and fishing. Red
head ft-duc are numerous and sell
at a high price, often bringing as much
as $3.50 per pair. On the outside,
(~ocean) they have a porpoise and mullet
fishery. Last week they caught over
500 porpoises. They get s1.25 each for
their hides. CLANS now are selling for
So cents per bushel, trout 8 cents per
pound n mullets 2 cents per pound.
fresh.
The people are born and raised on
+Ia-1 ho-I-- TI,4v- L.,-o &Io:. r,~1hA-
schools, ETC.; tend gardens and small
patches of corn, potatoes, peas, etc.
There are two churches, both Metho-
dist; two school houses and a me-
chanic, but no p~ostofice. Nearly all the
grown folks belong to the church. and
are strictly temperate, as regards
intoxicating liquors. One never hears
an oath or any bad words. They are
very polite and hospital to strangers.
but most of them are entirely ignorant
as to education and the outside world.
They are peculiar in their views. They
are very loving to their families, eS-
pecially to their children and if a school
teacher goes there, woe be unto him by
some of them, if he whips or in any
way Furnishes the child; hence. no edu-
cation, at present. The teacher there
is Mr.. G. w. Ward, from Swansboro,
Onslow county. So far, he is whole
skinned" but has only been there one
month to date.
The place is very healthy-only one
death al Salter Patti OF h adult
five years. This death took place last
Tuesday night and was of one of the
oldest and best citizens, Martin Lewis,
aged so years. He went to bed as well
as usual that night and was found dead
in his bed next morning. Mr.. Lewis
was a good man., and a very healthy
man.. He had not been sick in years
Only the day before his death he told
me ne had not taken II dose or medi-
cine in twenty years. 1t was supposed
to be a case of heart failure, but he
was never addicted to that or any other
disease. so far as known
Such is a short sketch of the Saltel
Path settlement.
These people use tobacco n snuff
from the least to the oldest, women
and children all alike, and nearly al
go b~arefooted. except in very colo
weather. 1t looks right funny to see
the and children smoking and
chewing tobacco. There are two small
stores, and hogs, cattle and poultry are
raised hut no horses. w. w. c..