The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-04-16
COAST ISLANDS OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
A Most Attractive and Agreeable SEC
ton, Repiete With Novelty and In
tereSt.

From the March number OF The
Pilot, the official publication OF the
Old Dominion Steamship Company,
we take the following brief but inter-
esting reference to the sea coast
islands OF North Carolina:
One of the most attractive and
agreeable sectio..s for a delightful
spring trip, replete with novelty and
interest. is the sea coast islands OF
North Carolina. The coast OF this
State is for the greater part formed
by a narrow strip of land separating
the Atlantic Ocean from Albemarle
and PamlicO Sounds, but which is in
reality formed into a number OF
islands by inlets. The principal OF
these islands are Roanoke, OcracOke,
and Hatteras, and the average per-
son is not aware that they offer good,
homelike living among genial and
hospitable people, points OF historic
interest to visit, plenty OF boating,
shooting, fishing, and other outdoor
amusements, with pleasant surround
ings and perfect conditions OF blue
skies, balmy air, and delightful eli
mate. This, and the thought OF nov
| city at departing from the beaten
track of travel, should be sufficient
argument in favor of these Out-Of-the-
way places to make their selection for
the spring outing a matter OF quick
| decision.
How to reach the islands is the next
question, and it is easily answered.
Roanoke Island has long been aces
sible by modern steamboats,, Oper-
ating between points on the Sounds
| of North Carolina, and also. for that
matter, has Ocracoke; but it is only
recently that Hatteras could be
reached direct from the mainland by
other than sailboats Now, however,
the Old Dominion Line, in connection
with the Norfolk 4 Southern Rail
road, are running a steamer between
Belhaven, Roanoke Island and Eliz-
abeth City, which stops at Cape Cham
mel (Hatteras) and OcracOke. and
affords an easy method of reaching
either place At Roanoke Island
other steamers make travelling north
to Elizabeth City or south to New
bern an easy matter, and at both
points are rail lines diverging.
OF historic associations and attrac-
tions these three islands have their
share. Roanoke Island is about
eleven miles long. and has Il popula-
ton Of probably fifteel hundred. 1t
entirely forms Dare county, and has
three villages, Manteo, Wauchese and
SkycO. The steamer lands at SkycO.
from whence it is about three miles
to Manteo, which is the principal vii
lAge and the county seat
Much has been written by histOr-
ians in reference to the place, for it
has figured more or less prominently
in the history Of the natiOn-frOm he
sixteenth century to the present time
1t was on this island that the early
cOlOnists sent over by Sir Walter
Raleigh made u settlement, which
they called Fort Raleigh. In recent
years a monument has been erected
on the site of the old fort, and the in
scription on it tells how it was the
birthplace of Virginia Dare, the first
white child born in America. The
pathetic tale of these cOlOnists, who
were left on the island while some of
their comrades returned to England
for supplies, and were afterWard com
plete Y lost sight Of is known to all
readers of history. The monument,
the old grist mill, the famous Soup
pernong grape-vines, and other OBJ
jects, are proudly shown to visitors
by the residents
Ocracocke Island is a part of Hyde
county, and lies about fifteen miles
south OF Hatteras Inlet, on the east
side of PamlicO Sound. 1t was one
OF the points where Raleigh's expedi-
ton landed i'll 1897, and has. in re-
cent years, been favOrite summer
resort for the people living in the
nearby cities and towns of the main
land. There is good hotel and sew
eral stores on the island, and every
where are evidences of thrift and
cleanliness.
Hatteras is probably less visited
than either of the other islands. and
for that reason. perhaps, will be more
attractive. The ocean banks, which
traverse the greaterpart of the North
| Carolina coast, are for the most part
narrow, but from Cape Hatteras to
Hatteras Inlet it is quite broad. and
most agreeably clothed in densely
| growing vegetation. The sheltered
tree area is about seven miles long
and two miles wide. and as it is most
~ composed of evergreen species, it
assumes decidedly tropical appear
ance. The native tea plant, called
| yeOpOn. grows here in abundance,
and is extensively used by the inhab-
itants. There are no hotel accom-
modations, but private families fur
nlsh board. At Hatteras village is
the United States Signal Service sta
ton which offers constant commune
cation with the outside world. The
village is ten miles from Cape Hat