The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-15
A WISH TO BALD head.
Mayor NJ. c. Guthrie Writes interest
ingly of Points of Interest ut Mouth
of the Cane Fear.

A few days since Mr.. n. F. Parker,
proprietor of The Brunswick hotel at
Southport, gave a complimentary trip
to Bald Head Island to the guests Of
his hotel and amongothers invited was
Mayor If. C. Guthrie of Southport. Al
ter visiting this tropical isle, Mr-
Guthrie wrote the following which will
be read with much interest:
The toruist who visits the beautiful
and quiet little city by the sea, South
port, n. c.. should not fail TO take
in the many points of interest in he
vicinity Of that attractive and healthy
town. The one of special note to which
I desire to call 70 the attention OF the
visitor to this section of u state Is
Smiths Island, commonly called "Bal1
Head" This is q tropical island just
across the bay from Southport. A short
sail in a steam launch or d sail BOAT
passing by the modern Fort Caswcll
with it's great guns frowning from it's
parapets, with J1st enough swell from
the ocean to gently rock your boat, IS
"IJlIl lIOtll uCIiSlAIuL. 1hLo AuA
is not only a wonder to the stranger
from other chimes but to many North
Carolinidns, who know not of their M
tive stale, with It's varied climate and
wonderful natural resources. The fo"~
est of this island IS similar to the jun
giles of Africa, varied growth of palmet-
to, magnolia, cedar, yupon, myrtle, etc:
gives to it a tropical appearance, an IL
is a marvel in this latitude. 1t being
right down by the ocean, within tne
influence of the Gulf stream, protects
its interior froI1 the ravages OF frost.
This, with it's sol. which is well adart-
ed to the growing of fruits, truck, etc +,
would make it in ideal location for a
nursery, peach orchard or like indus
tries.
At the extreme southern point of the
island is the famous or dreaded Cape
Fear, which extends out into the ocean
for nearly twenty miles, in the form OF
a great shoal, known as h Frying
Pan Shoals. taking it's name from the
formation of the cape and the island,
the shoal extending OF forming the
handle. the island the pan.
At the base of the cape, well up on
the high land, stands the new modern
lighthouse, 165 feet above the levei Of
the sea from it's top, a revolving light
flashes out it's warning to passing ships
telling them of the dangers of the
t~reacherous shoals. 1t is said that tlis
light can be seen for a distance OF
twenty miles. To view the ocean frOLl
the top of this tower, stretching out
as it does in the great beyond to the
south, east, Or west, and then to look
down upon the island below, clothed
in it's beautiful palms and other trop-
ical growth with the vigorous creeks
m%eandering through from the river TO
the beach, with it's long stretch Of sea
beach to the coast and to the west
washed by the pillows of the Atlantic.
is a sight that is sublime in it's gran
deur, and we'll worth a trip of many
miles to see, and n not offered to the
tourist at any other point in North
Carolina.
Near the light tower is one of he
United States life saving stations
known as the Cape Fear station, man
ned by a brave and fearless crew
whose record for the saving of life and
property is one that they are proud OF
To visit this station and see the me-
r. drill with their life boats, breecnes
buoy, and other apparatus used for he
purpose of saving the lives of the snip
wrecked mariners is of great interest
ito any one, especially those who sci
dom go down to the sea in ships.