Evening star., 1932-02-21

one man to accomplish. Not only this, but
they would draw rations and supplies for one
several persons, other than themselves But
they we're paid, the rations furnished, and
no questions were asked. Some Of the run
aways who thus earned subsistence were said
to have raised families in the swamp Long
fellow wrote q poem about one Of these outlaws.
and Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe novel.
Many are the tales of "sperits," "Jack-mer-
lanterns" and such like told by the old-time
Negroes about the Great Dismal. At place
called Paradise -Old-FieIds' on the "cunner'
(canaD leading into the swamp from Suffolk,
no Negro who was unfortunate enough to have
to pass that way at night ever got by without
being frightened BY some supernatural mani
festation.
Then there are tales of the amazing fertility
of the swamp. The giant "cymling" vine, which
grew in the trees over Capt Jacks house at
the feeder locks from which ESQ carloads Of
"cymlings" we're gathered! The "vatermillion"
found In the "kunnel" which weighed over 80
pounds!
And the snake stories! One dusky uncle
told of a snake that tried to swallow raccoon
But the best Of all was told by gentleman
who resided in Suffolk.
He was out hunting in the swamp, and
CHANGING to look ahead saw snakes coming from
every direction and quite near him lump OF
them that looked to be large as barrel
He supposed there must have been as many
as 500, SO interviewer they looked ike Dali.
He was too close to shoot, so he backed on,
and then fired both barrels. An untangdng at
once commenced, and he later remarked thaS
he was "consarned if he ever saw so many
snakes before" He counted $50 dead snakes
and as many more wounded. and when ne
carried some Of the dead out of the sw amp and
measured them, he found one that was %
feet long.
ORESENT-DAY tourists mostly go into Lake
T prumnond from Norfolk, by launch through
the Dismal Swamp Canal or by motor on the
excellent road that has paralleled it for many
years, to the junction of the feeder canal
from the lake. From here it is but a short
paddle to the Lake Of the Great DISMAL
The complete trip can be made in few hours
as against the two or three days and the dan
gers and dscomforts which attended such ex-
culs;ons in former years.
This lonely lake, which elected no remark
on its beauty or its desolation from the great
Washington. but Is symbol OF the latter In
the mind of ell who have heard Moores ballad.
has felt the touch of the machine age. Per-
heps the strangest Of all its strange scenes was
when a seaplane coming to 1t from Chesapeake
Bay by dead reckoning" settled upon its
sullen bosom. The venturesome pilot faced
dangers as real as any OF his pioneer predeces-
sors did in their visits to the lake two CEN
turies ago for had q hidden snag caught him
as he lit or took Oh. the plane might have
been seriously disabled. Another danger he
did not know At the time was even more
menacing Several days later he was told by
authorities that he was lucky to have escaped
being fired upon by the bootleggers who now
dwell In the fastnesses Of the Great Dismal"
and look with malevolent eye upon any
stranger not clearly labeled tourist
The Great Dismal Is still great, and 1t Is
stiil dismal even though the sun may shine
brightly and its "swampers" sing in their log
ging camps and its birds furnish concerts OF
song at sunrise and sunset. And it will be
many years to come before it is all drained
and reclaimed, which some people say Is a
blessing. for If this was done, the rainfall
would be diminished and the country there
abouts become barren. (Which last prediction
the United States Weather Bureau states is
not correct)