Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09

way. The fact that tie line Las been
discontinued further south from 1atteras
III account of its continual destruction by
storms illustrates the fearful havoc
wrought by the winds in this region. |
found myself surrounded by novel con
diti"ns at Hattcras. In fact, | believe
Very few people realize the nature of the
cape ard its adjacent territory These
islands are veritable terra incognlta
save to the inha bitants. and these latter
arc quite as singular in their habits and
modes Of life as is tie country they
inaahit
TIE peopl" living upon tucse islands
form. ! should suppose, tie most prim-
itlN. and isolated community i'll the coun-
Try They lave been variously repre-
serted. some affirming that they are
.aud pirates who prey upon the wreck
age o. the coast and even invite disaster
~ false lights and signaling. Again, II
IA been represented that they are Il
Thoroughly honest and blameless people.
wEo live without thought Of inficting
any further dangers upon the mariners
Who navigate the waters off the coast,
and whose life IS ono of pastoral sim
plicity. As q matter Of fact | found few
indications OF any outlaWry among these
people. although there Were a few in
stances of such. For example, while
WAS stationed at IIatteras. the wreck OF
the Huron occurred along the coast. 4
government Inspector of the life-Say wing
service was sent from Washington to in
vestigate the reported plUndering of the
wreck By a gang of local desperadoes
Some amount of suspicion was ATTACHED
TO the captain of the station and his
crew. The inspector CHANGED to meet the
very man who was at the head of the
thieves, particularly desperate char.
acter. who il had often been predict ed
by the more peaceable and lava biding
OF the inha bitaats, would meet with a
violent end. This was careful &c
iEstii INTO the inspectors mind a lot OF
fictitious circumstances tending 10 poin,
out the captain Of the station and his
crew aS the guilty parties.
As 4 matter Of fact, the latter We're
endeavoring to Illustrate the actions of
the outlaws by securing and hiding all
the valuable portions that could he res
cIed from the unfortunate vessel. The
Inspector. accompanied by the wolf In
Sleeps clothing, met the life-saving cap
tain. and. after some conversation regard
lig tie repor'ed plunderinS II The
Huron. the captain who saw how mat
tiers StoCd AMI who knew ali the true cir
cumstanctS. exclaimed abruptly: There
stands the guilty man. indicating the
Off !alS companion. The latter immc-
iiateiy started II draw Ills pistol. but be-
fore liz could do the captain had
reached for his double arreled shotgun.
and fred both barrels AT the out Ia ", killing
him instantly. Tie fellow was. ] think.
the most violent character | ever encoun-
tered. and OH one occasion ! came very
near being murdered by him.
Il learned of the tradition which has
given the name 'NagShead To a prumon
tory of' one. Of the chain near Cape Hat
teras. This legend was 10 the effect that.
in the old piratical DAYS of the renowned
Capt. Kidd and his ilk. an ag d and
wicked inhabitant Of the vicinity was
wont 10 ride with lantern along the
shore of Nagshead for the purpose OF
deIudinc the crews Ct vessels by the elu-
Sive light.
.'Besides being telegrapher. ! was an
assistant weather observer at the station
and my combined occupations gave me
nlenty to occupy my mind and get
away from the solitude and dreariness
of my surroundings. The boys at the
station. too. were accustomed To indulge
in amusements peculiar to their sur