The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-06-24

ancient coffins used in the burying
ground. They were not aware that
they were moving through a Gene
terry, and to avoid any possible
complications, the workmen quickly
had the graves covered, and the
course of the canal diverted around
them.
During this year, the subject
of archaeological exploration of the
area has been revived and the Uni
versity of North Carolina, as well
as the National Park Service have
shown some interest in taking on
this project, whenever funds might
be provided and the work can be
done under proper supervision. The
West Virginia Company has given
permission to undertake this work.
Mr.. Twiford remembers that a
number of the people who came
out of Beechland were noted for
their age and vigor, and that there
were several who claimed to be over
100 years old. He tells of an old
woman named "Aunt Polly" an &C.
centric character, who never went
to bed, but always sat up, back to
the wall, and was 100 when she
died. She spent much time in her
dougout canoe and it was said of
her that she padded this log boat
over to Point Harbor once, and dis
appeared for two years. She re-
turned Unexpectedly from the west,
coming across Alligator River one
night, and told story of great
adventures, claiming she had walk
ed to the Blue Ridge mountains.
Many marvelled for years over the
great stories she told. From that
time she never again left the area.
He recalls man name Saw
yer who came out of the area, and
built home in the East Lake COM
munity and just about the time it
was completed, Mr.. Sawyer died
shortly after falling off the roof.
His widow, Cynthia, lived there the
rest of her days, and would never
leave home.
One of the old settlers, who lived
in East Lake, a man by the name
of Edwards used to claim that
nearly all the old native families
were kin to Indians. In fact, some
of the natives today have marked
physical and facial resemblance to
Indians.
Mr.. Sawyer recalls of the Owens
family, that one Tom Owens was
noted as the most prodigious work
err ever known in the area. He was
a regular Paul Bunyan, and in
fact, one of his descendants was
named Bunyan Owens.
He recalls another locally famous
man, a Methodist local exhorter
the late Charles Mann, who rs
years ago, predicted from the pull
pit that men would soon talk
through the air without wires
through use of only small attach
ment they'd carry in their hands
He also said men would fly through
the air with great ease, and great
commerce would grow thereby. Al
the end of this sermon, during
which he predicted some other
amazing things, he was met al
the church door by an irate mem
Der named Bob Cain, who threaten
ed to organize a mob and take the
preacher out to be horsewhipped
flor desecrating the pulpit through
such fantasy and sacrilege.
In going up to the Beechland
settlement, about two miles from
the Milltail Creek, Mr.. Twiford re-
calls it was through straight
canal, built by the first English
Settlers, for their own use, ira
dition said.
The whole area was famed for
its hospitality and good neighborli-
ness, and people were happy and
friendly in those days, Mr.. Twiford
said, altho he remembers great
!hardships. Everyone had plenty
lby standards of the times. There
was smoked and salt meat and
fish in their snokehouse, their
barns were well filled with grain
Their hogs and cattle roamed the
woods to be used when needed To
supplement their venison, bear
meat, wild geese and ducks, etc. The
hollow trees abounded with honey
The citizens tanned their owr