davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14
FIT. RALEIGH VISITING FEES
SUSPENDED IN WINTERTIME

The National Park Service an
nounces that the admission fee at
Fort Raleigh National Historic
Site will be suspended during the,
winter months. This arrangement
will become effective Monday,
October 16, and collection of the
fee will be resumed on April Is,
1856.
In commenting on the change,
the Superintendent emphasized the
fact that the decision marks a tenn
porary suspension Of the entrance
fee and not discontinuance. Dur
ing the winter months, the COM
paratively small number of visitors
does not justify employment of
personnel for fee collecting pur-
poses. Fees during other seasons
have been more than enough to
offset the cost of collections and
is in keeping with the current prac-
tice of letting those who use the
National Parks contribute toward
their support. From January 1
through September 80, 1866, adj
mission fees were collected from
25,940 persons. Children, educa-
tional groups and uniformed mem
bers of the armed forces are not
subject to the fee.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14
Storms Today Not SO Bad As Some
Recorded More Than 100 Years Aoo
In 1915 Disastrous Storm Worse Than Any in 100 Years Be-
fore, Swept the Currtuck Beach and Battered
Knots Island

island tending to put to sleep the
Graded infants. The wind grew
stronger and even stronger until
the fury of the storm was full
upon US.
The creaking joints of the house
tops and the roaring of the blast
in the tall old trees, all mingling
with the ocean roar, were terrible
and appalling. All stood aghast!
Such was the situation near
nightfall of the first day of real
storm The storm ragged Though
out the night and then throughout
all the next day and the next night
with the fury of a demon. During
the last night the wind veered far
Their north but without abating. 1t
became colder and began to snow.
The next morning found complete
devastation, trees uprooted lying
in confusion, the earth strewn
with tree trunks, limbs and
boughs, with three or four inches
of snow covering all. The wind,
now north northeast. had some
what abated but it was still blow
ing terrific gale.
Along the greater part Of the
North Carolina coast runs mar
row strip of land, beach, sand hills
and marsh, that separates the
ocean from the sounds and serves
as a kind of breakwater between
the ocean on one side and the
beautiful sounds, the low lying is
lands in them, and the mainland
on the other.
This narrow strip is commonly
called The Banks, probably be-
cause of its enormous banks or
lofty dunes of pure sand. Though
sparsely inhabited, in places it
contains a goodly number of peo-
please Turn to Page 81
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14
OLD OMAR BABUN
BEING TOWED TO
MOREHEAD CITY
Wooden Ship Stranded in 1854 at
Rodanthe. Has Been Tied Up
In Norfolk a Year

After having been tied up in
Norfolk for about a year, the old
wooden minelayer, Omar Babun,
which while under Honduran
registry stranded May IA, 1854
near Rodanthe, is to be towed to
Morehead City. It's owner, Ed
Canipe, 39-year-old Havelock auto
mobile dealer says he will make a
salvage vessel out of her and put
her on other wrecking jobs. The
motors have been lifted out in
Norfolk and are to be conditioned,
it is reported.
She was bound to Cuba with
machinery for a sugar mill. Her
entire crew of IA We're taken off
by nearby Coast Guardsmen.
Canipe bought the ship and cargo,
and after some months of clumsy
work, finally unloaded the boat.
Once she was light, she was easily
pulled off the beach at high water,
and lowed to Norfolk. Apparently
she has been some sort of white
elephant ever since, and one time
she was reported burnd up, but if
any fire caught, it was put out.
While on the beach near Rodan-
the the ship proved a great attrac-
ton for sightseers, and was often
photographed and the photographs
have been often published, bring
ing to the Dare coastline much
additional publicity. She was valu-
able as an advertisement and the
Canipe salvage operation became
the subject of the widest cock and
bull stories ever written about a
shipwreck on this coast. She was
the first of everything; the first
ever unloaded on the beach; the
first ship ever pulled off, and so
forth, until oldtimers who know
the coast were nauseated. Like a
lot of other stories about the coast,
the yarns about the Babun have
been repeated so much they will
probably remain as legend. Peo-
pie who live far away probably
believe them.
There was nothing new or
strange about the plight of the
Omar Babun. There have been
many ships landed and finally
pulled off, towed away and return
ed to commission. The Omar
Babun was more easily unloaded
than any of the others, in fact, a
modern road made possible quick
transportation TO wrecking equip
ment, and removal of the cargo,
which was hauled out across the
ferry.
Yessir, there was a lot of bunk
published about the Babun. 1t was
just about all bunk.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14
10 DAYS SHOOTING
OF WILDFOWL THIS
SEASON ALLOWED
Begins Nov. 7; Ends January I4th:
Same Bag Limits Retained

There will be 10 days of wild
fowl hunting permitted this sea-
son, which begins in North Caro-
lima November 7th, and ends jan
uary 14th. The daily bag limit on
ducks is four, possession limits
eight, and on geese, daily limit
two and possession limits four.
Hunting of snow geese is not per-
mitted. Daily bag limit of brant
lis six, possession limit six; on
coots, daily limit ten and posses
sion limit ten. The season on Will
sons Jacksnipe is from November
oath to December 9Th.
All persons older than 16 must
have migratory duck stamp and
proper state and Federal licenses
to hunt. Migratory game birds
may be taken from one-half hour
before sunrise until sunset during
the open season.
Prospects for hunting in the
Dare, Tyrrell and Hyde Coastal
areas are considered good this
year. No great damage has been
done to grasses on the bottom of
the sounds. There appears to be
considerable feed. In the farming
area of Hyde County a consider
able part of the crops were not
deemed worth harvesting, follow
ing the recent hurricanes. These
grains remaining in the fields are
expected to make the fields more
attractive than ever for geese.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14

doned might be expected to sell
for as much as it cost.
2. We have advocated a simple
project Of this kind, and of course
it would have to be paid for by the
people.
3. We can see no justification in
the kind of Jail contemplated. 1t
would be more than rattletrap. 1t
would be a dungeon where prison
ers would be shut off by other
buildings, no room for a jailyard
or recreation. No consideration
whatever for future needs, and a
courthouse that for generations
would be tied to the same location,
without consideration for present
or future needs.
4. Covered by answer to No. 8
Any plan should contemplate flu
ture needs, and not waste money
for temporary stop gap.
5. We do not care to reveal
names which might entail reveal
ing sources of information, but the
commissioner referred to was not
Mr.. Swain. He is too restrained
and courteous to feel that way.
6. would estimate the deficit
referred to would be in current
status of operating costs, based
on decline or unavailability of anti
cipated revenue. Estimates of anti
cipated revenue too often are made
too big, in order to look good in
reports. Constant amending of the
budget out of turn, tends to run
the current operation into deficit.
Z. The only way to eliminate a
deficit is to live within the in
come received. With all the wealth
Continued on Page Eight
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14
By HENRY B. ANSELL
Born 1881 and Died i'm 1920.
(From Elizabeth City
IndependentIStar)

Let me tell about the two great
storms of March and September,
1916, more as information to the
young of the island than as re-
minder to the old. For THE latter
to recall these dire, terrible and
still lasting disasters of that year
could bring them nothing but de-
preston for the island suffered
more misfortune from these storms
than did all the rest of our country.
The oldest islanders had never
seen such desolating storms before
and am certain that there has
been nothing to compare with
hem since. l am certain there has
been no storm within the past $50
years to equal these storms in
destruction and desolation.
In the early days of March in
that year of 1916, the wind blew
for several days from a northeast
erly direction, a stiff breeze with
gradually increasing velocity. The
knowing ones said: "We are going
to have a gale after ALI" ooh, no,
said others, "who ever saw a
torn after the wind had blown a
week from the storming points,
storms generally come after a
calm and on the first of shift"
The old Atlantic was plunging
on its shore with a mighty tremu-
lous roar, like that of a thousand
modern warships firing their heavy
artillery. The pillows were strong,
high and angry. They rolled on to
the shore with a tremendous jar
that sent its airwaves across the
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14

Reply by Editor: We are glad
for Mr.. Swain to have all the space
he wishes to present his views.
We know of course that he is sim
cerely interested in the Jail and
courthouse project. We regret to
have to differ with him, but we
think it is a bad project for the
people, and if you think a project
is bad, the only way to fight it,
if you fight at all, is to fight it
hard. We will try to answer some
of the questions asked, but don't
expect the answers to be complete.
1. We have talked about a fire
hazard at the courthouse for
some time. We have also suggest
ed a remedy. At small cost the
records could be microfilmed, and
kept in a safe place, so in case of
fire the books could be reproduced.
If sensible and economical vault
project is desired, then a wing
could be built to the southeast of
the courthouse, which when aban-
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14

panleS, asserted 1T is our conSl-
dered opinion that insurance
against the peril of flood cannot
be successfully written and that
any specific indemnity for loss by
flood must be regarded as in the
nature of subsidy or relief pay
ment, which are outside the scope
of private business and of insur-
ance."
1t is a matter of considerable
doubt that the insurance COM
panies would offer serious oppo-
sition to federal disaster insur-
ance. 1t is a matter of no doubt
that the public needs the protec-
ton.
AS for being "socialistic
measure" that's nonsense. Nor
would it be burden on taxpayers.
Federal disaster insurance would
be self sustaining, and if it fol-
lowed the same course as the war
damage insurance and CT life in
surance National Service Life In
surance) instituted by the federal
government during the war years,
it would prove extremely mex
pensive and in due course prob
ably would pay dividends. Since
each property owner desiring wa
ter-damage protection would pay
his own premiums, the same as
with any other insurance policy,
there certainly would be no cost
to the federal government or bur-
den on the taxpayer.
The truth is that in the long
run it would accrue to the finan-
cial advantage of the federal gov
eminent and benefit the taxpayer.
In the event of a major catastro-
phe, like the floods induced by
Hurricane Diane in Connecticut,
the government must appropriate
millions of dollars for relief, while
at the same time losing income
tax revenue from those deprived
of work by the disaster. The work
er whose home is total or partial
loss in the flood and the business
man whose place is demolished de-
duct their loss over a five-year
period. Industries must be given
direct grants to survive. If there
were water-damage insurance, the
worker and the businessman would
be reimbursed, protecting them
from financial ruin, and at the
same time the government would
not lose tax revenues, nor be obi
gated to make such tremendous
expenditures for relief, which act
ually come from the pocket of the
taxpayer.
Since next summer may be too
late and no one wants to play
Russian roulette" with hurri-
canes, l urge you to put your
paper in the campaign for federal
disaster insurance now. 1t is my
belief that outstanding lawmakers
like Governor Hodges, Senator Ir-
win, Congressman Bonner, and
others would support prompt ac-
ton for water-damage protection.
Anyone who opposed it could
not confront coastal residents if
disaster of major proportions
should come in the form of hurri-
cane next summer. Who could, for
reasons of doing nothing or oppos-
ing federal insurance on theory,
look into the fact of man who
lost his home and life's saving and
tell him, "I'm sorry"
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14
Mr.. SWAIN DISCUSSES COURTHOUSE
ISSUE AND ASKS SOME QUESTIONS
In Which Answers and Appeal Made to Plan for The Future
and the Needs OF The People; Protective Features
Suggested For Important Records

To The Editor:
l have read with interest your
edition of the Coastland Times of
Friday, October z, 1855. l note
with interest that some of the in
formation that you quote from
came directly from me and l would
like to say at this point that any
knowledge that l may have will
be at the disposal of your news
paper whenever you or any of
your staff may inquire.
However, l would like to debate
the question of the building of an
addition to the courthouse with
you. / do not question your mo-
tives but l do not believe that you
present the facts in their entirety
or in a fashion that will enable
your reader to know how to judge
the Brightness or the wrongness of
the question. 1 cannot bring to
bear any situation whereby you
would be forced to debate any
question with me other than your
own sense of justice and your OBJ
legation as newspaperman.
AS l read yourpaper the follow
ing questions came to my mind
and l earnestly request that you
answer them and in return l will
answer any question that you care
to ask:
l. In view of the fire hazard to
the public records of Dare County
would you assume any portion of
the responsibility for not provid-
ing fire proof vaults should the
project now contemplated be laid
aside?
2. In this connection would you
discuss who first advocated an
addition to the Courthouse and
why and how financed?
8. Is it your plan to call this
project "A Rattletrap Jail' so as
to call attention away from the
fact that it does entail other i'm
provements to the courthouse
A. Will you outline a complete
and workable plan whereby the
$50,000.00 on hand can be used
to provide improvements to the
courthouse or any other use that
might be more in the public in
tereSt?
5. Would you care to say which
commissioner is reported to have
said "He would show the people
who is boss.
6.Does the General Fund deficit
of $52,282.66 as of June 80, 1854,
in your opinion, reflect a general
deficit for all the county funds as
of that date?>
z. What, in your opinion, is the
proper steps to take to eliminate
this deficit?
8. Serving on the Jury is, in my
opinion, one of the most sacred
rights and responsibilities of an
American Citizen and is as
basic as Freedom of Speech
or Worship. Do you contend
that any occupation is so i'm
portant as to excuse a person
from SO serving other than the
actual saving of lives.
Personally, can assure you,
that I have kept an open mind on
this subject and that if you would
care to take the time to factually
set out different responsibility
for my part then / will take the
course that has been so indicated.
Should you decide to obtain in any
way a petition that can be said to
EXPRESS the views of a substantial
portion of the voters of Dare
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14
ATTENDING POSTMASTERS
CONVENTION IN DETROIT

Mrs. Elton C. Twiford, Post
master at Kill Devil Hills, and Mr..
Twiford are on an extended motor
trip this week, prime object of
the trip to attend the annual con-
vention of the National Associa-
ton Of Postmasters being held in
Detroit, Michigan.
Postmasters Ray Jones, of Man
teo, and Mrs. Maude M. White of
Buxton had to cancel their plans
for the trip due to unexpected ill
ness or other circumstances arising
after plans were made.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-10-14

County l will certainly abide by
it, particularly after we both have
had an opportunity to express our
views.
LAWRENCE L. SWAIN
County Commissioner
Evening star., 1955-06-05

IS cents; lady's haircut, shampoo
and set, So cents.
We go to the Palma market
twice a week for food.
Our Washington bank takes
a specified number Of dollars
from our account each month,
buys pesetas through a New
York bank at 42.50 per dollar
(the rate here is 38.95) and
transfers them to us through a
Spanish bank in Palma.
During winter temperatures
did not go much below so de-
grees. Friends here from Los An
geles say Majorca winter wealth
er is like California. For about
four months warm clothes were
necessary.
We have not lacked compan-
ionship in Paguera, both Amer
ican and English. At Palma are
excellent doctors and dentists.
The local bus-you can go by
taxi-is a "correo," a big, lum-
Evening star., 1955-06-05

cred with olive trees. Their
giant trunks, twisted and dis
torted by rugged living over
more than a thousand years,
have their roots firmly imbedded
in the rock walls-mute testi-
mony to the centuries since the
Arabs built those terraces.
We think of this as an ideal
spot for older people. The life
savors of civilization before the
ulcer era. But an open mind
and a certain amount OF
adaptability are necessary. Some
things are missing, but you must
think of the things you have
not of the things you lack.
1t Is the custom to name each
villa. Ours is called "Bellviure"
beautiful living. We look at
each other and see rested, sun
tanned faces; we hear our maid
singing happily; we sit in the
sunshine on the terrace watch
ling the constantly changing,
ever lovely Mediterranean spill
over the sands at our feet; we
watch the full moon turn the sea
to molten silver Bellviure 1t
is indeed!
In mid-June we plan to give
up our lease and leave for three
months in Austria. Then we
plan to spend the fall and early
winter in Italy, sailing for the
United States to arrive in time
for Christmas.
Evening star., 1955-06-05

bering motorized reincarnation
of the old Wells-Fargo express.
Everything is carried from small
barrels to goats.
The people here are kind and
friendly. If they cannot assist
you as requested, they usually
offer substitute. When we
asked the keeper of one Of the
small stores to cash a 1,000-pe-
seta note she proffered us 100
Ipeseta bill "to spend until you
Iget the larger one changed"
Spectacular and Beautiful
The island is rugged and beau
|tiuful in spectacular way. In
late January and February you
note the pink and white almond
orchards. In April the scent of
orange blossoms fills the air and
fruit trees burst into flower.
Wild poppies splash their scar
let lavishly and drifts Of daisies
form an undulating sea of yel-
low and white.
Interesting stone-faced ter
races-part of the irrigation
system-march up hillsides COW
Evening star., 1955-06-05
AUSTRIAN CASTLES
ACCEPT TOURISTS
AS PAYING GUESTS
VIENNA.

Austria, like many other
European countries. is dotted
from end to end with castles
and palaces, many Of them
hoary with history, beguil-
ingly beautiful and as dra-
matte as a picture in a fairy
tale.
AS a castle country, Aus
tria is a rarity. Foreign
visitors can study, eat or
actually become paying
guests in dozens Of Austrian
castles.
The little booklet Castles
in Austria" which makes no
claim to do more than
scratch the surface of pos
sibility. lists 26 of the most
historic castle landmarks
in Austria. Tourists may
become paying guests in 10
of them and many more
have restaurants or wine
cellars.
Tourists can stay in one
of the great historic strong
holds, enjoy the service OF
liveried servants, every mod
ern comfort, and regale
themselves with fine fare for
an average rate of 81 q day.
Evening star., 1955-06-05
.Miumi Area Sets
Fishing Tourney
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.

Vacationers who want good
summer fishing usually find it
at Miami Beach, and at the same
time can compete in this city's
annual fishing tournam m e n t,
scheduled from July 4 through
Labor Day.
Prizes and citations will be
given for outstanding catches
with separate divisions for the
four classes of tackle permitted: !:
Casting rod, spinning, fly cast
ling and general.
The general classification in
cludes the heavy trolling gear
used in the gulf stream, as well
as live bait when used on lighter
rods,
Evening star., 1955-06-05
Florida Finally
|ToGet Turnpike
MIAMI. Fla.

A State-long Florida turnpike,
starting just south Of the
Georgia line in the Jacksonville
vicinity and terminating just
north of Miami. was approved
recently by the Florida Legisla-
ture.
Construction on the southern
end of the pike is scheduled to
get under way this summer and
the entire project is expected to
be completed by 1859.
The 380-mile limited-acceSs
highway will curve slightly in
land from the coast. avoiding all
major cities. A leg from the Or
lando area to Tampa and st,
Petersburg is expected to be
added later.
Evening star., 1955-06-05
Motel to Rise
AT Entrance to
Sunshine Skywuy
TAMPA. Fla,

1AMEAs Flhs
Plans for construction Of Q
motel located at the entrance Of
the Sunshine skyway Bridge on
Tamiami Trail In the Tampa-St.
Petersburg area have been an
Inounced.
One special feature Of the mo-
tel will permit registration di-
rectly from a guests automobile:
another innovation viii provide
parking space" for visitors
boats.
The motel viii be named The
ISkyway.
Completion date has been set
for August Is.