The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-08-26


And finally brethren now that have about finished
hopping after the stray showers from two hurricanes
and have exhausted about all keenex and cotton hand
kerchefs while wpng away tears and sobber over
the loss nearly good business in the best part
of the let stop and take stock let inventory
our losses.
First of ALL the loss of business was pretty painful
wound the pocketbook that sensitive organ which
to SO many of us comes ahead of everything else Next the
drifting sands doorways and walkways the
that came from occasional leaks called for lot extra work
and for any extra work is painful in
deed
But beyond all these of the seashore of Walter
Raleigh Coastne suffered little property damage it was
negligible. few people got hurt bad but most of
still testify that God was mighty good to U.S.
There to be something about this particular
stretch of coastne that protects against the fury of
storms that other areas We have had number of
serious blows in past years. but they seemed confined to
limited areas. There has been great damage.
hundred years history of the coastland of Dare
and Ocracoke recalls hearing of anyone killed
by the fury of storm On the other hand we read of
storms whose fringe winds reach Witness the
devastation caused by the last hurricane wended it's
way through Pennsylvania and New England.
People who fear for their safety in coastland just
don't know what they talking about The damage done
greatest in the hill country where there deep valleys
our low fiat country the tide comes over the land
whose house is far back from the water or not percbed pre
cariously steep bank where it may be undermined
seldom suffers than annoyance and the nuisance of
cleaning up afterward.
Practical coasanders long ago have learned the fulfill
ty of building heavy houses flat low ground and old time
commonsense leans to that from ee
waited house where tides may under and out
This feature perhaps accounts for the absence of
loss of life and for the light damage to property the low
islands of our Outer Banks.
But no matter how long this condition exists our
Coastland will always suffer because many of hurri
reports bear Hatteras atene To the layman Hat
teas signifies hurricane shpweck and disaster
It known as the Graveyard of the Seas because
20 miles away from Hatteras out in the ocean, treacher
GUS bed of quicksand known Diamond Shoals"
This shifting bed of shoals stands in the line of coast
wise shipping and is these shoals that endanger ships
whose masters have done bad navigating who have been
driven off their course by storms.
The beach itself at Hatteras has no more to do with
shpwrecks than Fort Wool in Hampton Roads has to do
with shpwreck than do the beaches either side Is
1t is recorded fact that fewer ships have been
Ocracoke Ships just don't close to Cape Hatteras
They try to keep eastward of Diamond Shoals. Yet
strongly does legend persist that everyone associates Cape
Hatteras with shpwreck and disaster.
So much intense advertising of hurricanes for days
end naturally continues to mbed firmly the Hatteras
legend in the public mind It is bound to produce spirit of
caution not fear in the minds of potential investors is
bound to discourage to some extent seashore
and the delay is damaging to considerable extent while
people slowly around to the conclusion that after all
shore have through the century been safe any
other place We have twsters and tornadoes and
floods come to the most sheltered and favored spots We
them associated twice with the date-lne
But have learned there place completely safe from
the fury of nature at work.
We have yet been disturbed by high winds in
coasand We have marveed at the majesty and music
of the storm We have been stupidity exasperated at times
by the inconvenience brought by winds and rain combined
But have long ago concluded that safer place exists
than the Walter Raleigh Coasand of Carolina. We have
learned that you cannot away from providence and
that wherever goes there drawbacks to arise
be the crankness and conrarness of human nature
may be the fury of the elements but by and large still
have the better place. And deep hearts feeling of
humility of gratitude that have wonder
full place for home and consistent desire to make of
better place Deep hearts is the grateful conscious
ness that by and large other place so glorousy
inspire with finer excellence of Gods goodness to all
WEATHER MEN CAN BE STUPID TOO.
We have thought good idea to call Hurricanes
by the of It is thoughess piece of stupidity