Evening star., 1947-09-07

station lies at the northern end. and
In between live the only two civil
ians on the island-banjo o-playing
Sud Bell, leather-faced, wrinkled
ruler of this abandoned Atlantic
Ocean island, and his son. Milford.
The 66-year -old governor of the
island isn't braving the wind
whipped waves. the icy cold Of win
ter and the summers soaring sun
because he doesn't know better.
Always Comes Back.
Sud Bell was born at Wacha-
preaeue. one of the small. neat towns
that dot virginia's Eastern Shore.
Sometimes he has wandered CT,
but always he came back, Juggling
his banjo.
Fifty years ago. George Doughty
and his wife. Annie, made their
home In the lighthouse which tow
cred above the sandy stretches Of
the beach and served as the hub Of
Broadwater village where some 40
families lived. In the midst Of the
community was fine hunting and
fishing club whose members in
cluded President Grover Cleveland,
The men fshed and tonged
oysters. The women cooked and
sewed and looked after the children.
The general store sold staples, the
church was the meeting house and
the school was filed with Young
sters.
Then in Octobe:, 1888, . hur-
ricane roared In from the Atlantic
and when it had spent itself, Hog
Island was stripped and its way of
life was gone.
In its wake the storm left twisted
timber, houses torn from founda-
tions, roofs ripped free and blown
away. Tides washing across the
sandy strip. carried away the gar
dens and uprooted trees that had
stood for generations.
Houses Floated to Mainland.
Gradually families began to take
refuge on the mainland. A barge
was built and the church was
foated across the bay. Other
families followed suit, floating their
antique filled houses to the main
land. The school went over and
then the store and soon the entire
village of Broadwater was across
Hog Island bay.
The rebuilt village is called
Willis Wharf now and most Of the
Hog Island refugees still live there,
among them Mrs. Annie Doughty,
still spry at "a.
In 1899 only q dozen families
were left on the island and in 1941
the John Bowens and Mrs. Vettie
Doughty and her family gave up
the losing battle, leaving behind
the two Coast Guard stations and
the wreckage of village.
That's where Sud Bell came in.
He took up residence in two
room shack and became undisputed
Governor of the Barren Island.
But Sud Bells reputation isn't
based on his "governorship" of the
island. AS one mainlainder put 1t,
"Sud's the durndest banjo-playing
fool in Virginia. Sud can make 1t
talk"
Played for Chrysler.
Sud's artistry hasn't gone un-
recognized. He has rubbed elbows
and tipped glasses with some of
Americas wealthiest. Walter Chry-
sler many years ago took MIR. Bell
away from the Eastern Shore to
New York, where he played for the
industrialist and his friends In
private clubs.
But Sud's wife died In 1887,
leaving him 10 children, and Sud
left Broadway nat. He was crazy
to get back to Virginia"
I, sud's: philosophy .dnesnts cali for
much hard work, but he has what
he needs. He fishes or tongs oys-
ters-when he wants to. He visits
friends and drinks with them
when : he likes. He 2 dresses only
when he thinks 1t necessary. He
carries his banjo always.
Some weeks ago Gov. Tuck OF
Virginia flew over to visit the two
Coast Guard installations and to
call on Sud. Sud was out clam
ming. but the governor waited be-
cause he wanted to hear him play
After a while Sud turned up In q