The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-05-16
NEW CANDIDATE
FOR TITLE OF
WORST PERSON
VandaIs Destroy Citrus Trees
on Home of Couple Liv-
ing at Cape Hatteras
By BEN DIXON MacNEIL

Buxton on Cape Hatteras, May
Is. = Drenching the roots with
kerosine oil, vandals have destroy
ed more than half the twelve cit
rus fruit trees that were the pride
of Mr.. and Mrs. L. D. (Fate) Mid
gett, killing them beyond any hope
of reclamation just when they
were coming into full flower and
their first year of fruiting.
Included among the dead trees
is the handsome kumquat from the
lot of citrus fruits distributed two
years ago by the State Department
of Conservation and Development,
which bore about 40 fruit last year
and which was carrying an esti-
mated 1000 blossoms when it was
killed off last week. Other trees
killed included both orange and
grapefruit which the Midgetts had
bought themselves or their son had
sent them.
Escaping so far are an orange
and a grapefruit tree issued this
year at the insistence of Fred P.
Latham, member of the Board of
Conservation, who has been the
most active advocate of the citrus
project on Cape Hatteras. These
trees were set apart from the 9TH
ers and in full view of the highway
which passes in front of the house.
The others were planted in more
protected area at the rear of the
house.
Although Mr.. Midget had noted
the sudden whiting of the trees a
day or two earlier the actual cause
of their dying was not noted until
Mrs. Midget returned from visit
to her son in Atlanta and other
relatives in Florida. Mr.. Midget,
an ardent surf-caster and ener-
getic net fisherman had been away
from the house during most of day.
light but watered the trees daily
especially after the largest of them
began to wilt.
Finding her treasured trees in
ruins when she came home, Mrs.
Midget excavated around the roots
in search of the cause and her
hands came away oily. Apparently
as much as gallon of oil had been
poured around the roots of some of
them, and others had been drench-
ed completely. Heroic measures
were invoked, including the remov-
al of all earth from the roots,
washing with a strong detergent
and with new earth placed in the
excavation.
Householders throughout t h e
community are shocked and indig-
nant and since the killing of the
Midget trees, have been vigilant
to the point of oiling shotguns. eff
I'd seen him I'd have shot him."
Mr.. Midget declares. "I'd maybe
have tried to hit him in the leg
but I'd have been sure, first, that
hit him somewhere"
Blooming has this week passed
the peak for about 500 of the 750
citrus fruit trees in the village. A
majority of the trees distributed
here on February % of this year,
the second issue by the Depart
ment of Conservation, are now in
the blooming state, though not
many of them will be allowed to
retain their fruit this year, since
cultural instructions are against
it. Those set two years ago are
generally productive, with about
85 per cent of them surviving. The
rest of the trees in the village are
either seedlings or budded nursery
stock bought by enthusiastic house
holders.
No report of the outrage has
been made to law enforcement
agencies, both the Midgetts and
others feeling that "If l find out
who it was, I'll take care of it N.Y.
self" Insofar as is known suspicion
has pointed at no individual.