CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER I. DESCRIPTION AND SITUATION OF THE SWAMP--WASHINGTON THE OWNER.

CHAPTER II. TO GROW UP AGAIN IN A JUNGLE.

CHAPTER III. HEALTHFULNESS AT THE SWAMP.

CHAPTER IV. ORIGIN OF THE LAKE DISCUSSED.

CHAPTER V. THE VISIT OF TOM. MOORE, AS RELATED BY TONY.

CHAPTER VI. PORTE CRAYON'S VISIT, INCIDENTS, ETC.

CHAPTER VII. MANY CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

CHAPTER VIII. THE FUTURE FOR THE DISMAL SWAMP.

CHAPTER IX. SUFFOLK AND EARLY DAYS.

CHAPTER X. ENTERPRISE AND PROSPERITY.

CHAPTER XI. THE OLD BRICK CHURCH AT BENN'S--SUFFOLK'S FIRST RAILROAD, ETC.

CHAPTER XII. BEAR HUNTING IN THE DISMAL SWAMP--COLONEL GODFREY'S VISIT TO 
SOUTHAMPTON.

CHAPTER XIII. THE ADVENTURES OF SMITH, JONES AND BROWN--JONES, HEARING 
THAT A SNAKE IS IN THE BOAT, JUMPS INTO THE CANAL.



INTRODUCTION.
This little volume is launched upon the sea of public favor. If it should 
stem the tide of criticism and reach a haven, my object in the writing of 
it will be accomplished. Being partially blind and physically unable to 
labor, I have adopted this as a means by which I might gain an honest 
assistance, a double object presented itself:

1st. That I might give to its readers some idea of the Dismal Swamp and 
Lake Drummond as they were and as they now are. 
2d. That I may from the sale of my book receive an amount that will place 
me beyond penury. The work will contain some interesting incidents, and in 
many instances will give the real names of persons now living who will be 
acquainted with the subject of which I write. Having said this much 
introductory of my book, I will now proceed with my task.

When I determined to indite the lines which compose this volume, I had, as 
has been stated, a double purpose in view. I thought I could not employ a 
portion of my leisure hours more profitably, certainly not more 
pleasantly, than by recounting some of the scenes, incidents and 
associations which carries my mind back to the days of "Auld Lang Syne." 
What more natural, then, than that my thoughts should revert to the friend 
of my early manhood--one who, by the uprightness of his character, 
geniality of his disposition, the chivalric impulses of his nature, 
deserves, as it is my greatest pleasure to accord, the dedication of this 
little volume; and I have said all when I mention the name of my esteemed 
friend Robert Riddick, Esq., of Suffolk, Va.

Suffolk, Va., January 1, 1888.

The Author.




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CHAPTER I.
DESCRIPTION AND SITUATION OF THE SWAMP--WASHINGTON THE OWNER.

The Dismal Swamp, of which but little is known, is a large body of dense 
woods, being situated and laying in Nansemond county, Virginia, and the 
county of Gates, in North Carolina. It contains, by survey, about 100,000 
acres. I have been told by H. E. Smith, Esq., our county treasurer, that 
45,000 acres were listed in the county of Nansemond. It is thickly set 
with juniper, cypress and other timber, which makes it very valuable. It 
came into the possession of General George Washington, and after the 
Revolutionary War a company known as the Dismal Swamp Land Company was 
formed, and arrangements made to manufacture the timber; hands were put in 
the Swamp and it was regularly opened. A large quantity of timber was 
manufactured, and Washington found it necessary to find some outlet for 
it, which could only be done by a canal or ditch. A suitable place was 
soon found, and Washington commenced in person to survey the route known 
as the Washington Ditch. He commenced at the northwest of the Lake, on 
lands known as "Soldiers' Hope," belonging to the estate of Col. Josiah 
Riddick, deceased, and running west to what is called the

Page 6 

"Reese Farm," on the Edenton road, about seven miles from Suffolk. A large 
quantity of juniper timber was brought through this ditch, which was 
hauled to the Nansemond river for shipment. We were told by one of the 
agents of the company, W. S. Riddick, Esq., that at one time all the 
business of the company was transacted at the "Reese Farm," that being the 
point at which the Ditch ended. This mode of getting the lumber to market 
was found too slow and tedious, and a more direct way sought. How long the 
Washington Ditch was used for bringing out the timber, we have never 
heard. That will make no difference, for after the Jericho Canal was cut 
the Ditch was abandoned, and a direct communication opened to Nansemond 
river by the way of Shingle creek. Millions of feet of timber was shipped 
annually. The shareholders at that time were few in number, and their 
profits were very large. The company consisted of a president, agent and 
inspector, he living at or near Suffolk, and had charge of the work in the 
Swamp. He employed the hands, furnished all the supplies, sold the lumber, 
received all monies, and paid all bills. He was, in fact, the principal 
officer of the company. At a stated period, annually, a meeting would be 
held for a general settlement of the year's accounts. The president would 
preside, and as there were no banks at that time in which to deposit 
money, the agent would have a very large amount to turn over to the 
stockholders. That place is no longer of much value to its owners, as it 
is a source of but little revenue. The shares have

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been divided and sub-divided, until some of its holders get barely enough 
to pay the postage on a letter. Ex-Senator Wm. Mahone is probably the 
largest shareholder. The Swamp has been leased to Jno. L. Roper, Esq., of 
Norfolk, for several years, during which he has had employed a large 
number of hands, consequently most of the valuable timber has been cut 
off. When this Swamp was first opened, it became a harbor and safe refuge 
for runaway slaves, and when one reached that dense place, unless he was 
betrayed, it would be a matter of impossibility to catch him. Long before 
the war you could not take up a newspaper published in this part of the 
State but what you would see several cuts of a negro absconding with a 
stick on his shoulder and a pack on one end of it, with the following 
advertisement:

"Notice! $500 Reward! Ran away from the subscriber, on the night of June 
18th, my negro man, Simon. He had on, when last seen, a pair of light 
pants, with a black patch on the seat of the same. He is slue-footed, 
knock-kneed, and bends over a little when walking. He may be making his 
way to the Dismal Swamp. I will pay the above reward for his apprehension, 
or his lodgment in some jail, so that I can get him again.

"Joe Jones."

I knew of an instance just before the late war where a gentleman by the 
name of Augustus Holly, Bertie county, N. C., had a slave to run away, who 
was known to be a desperate character. He knew that he had gone to the 
Dismal Swamp, and to get him, his master offered a reward of $1,000 for his

Page 8 

apprehension, dead or alive. The person who caught him is still living. I 
saw the negro when he was brought to Suffolk and lodged in jail. He had 
been shot at several times, but was little hurt. He had on a coat that was 
impervious to shot, it being thickly wadded with turkey feathers. Small 
shot were the only kind used to shoot runaway slaves, and it was very 
seldom the case that any ever penetrated far enough to injure. I know 
three persons now living who were runaway slave catchers, but the late war 
stripped them of their occupation. They were courageous and men of nerve.



CHAPTER II.
TO GROW UP AGAIN IN A JUNGLE.

But little work is now done in the Dismal Swamp, and it will again soon 
become a howling wilderness, a hiding place for the bears, wild-cats, 
snakes and everything hideous. The bamboo and rattan will rule supreme, 
and, like the banyan tree, will form an impenetrable jungle. But a few 
years will be required for its accomplishment, and without an axe you 
could not move a foot.

G. P. R. James, the British Consul, who was stationed at Norfolk when he 
wrote his novel entitled "The Old Dominion," and which was a history of 
"Nat Turner's War," (as it is called) in Southampton county, states that a 
young mother,

Page 9 

with her infant, fled to the Dismal Swamp for safety. Mr. James must have 
drawn heavily on his imagination for a figure, to make the situation more 
horrible. I do not think any mother with an infant would flee to such a 
wild and desolate place as the Dismal Swamp, but; on the contrary, would 
keep far away.

I could relate many interesting stories that I have heard about the Swamp, 
but as I am writing from my own observation, will discard all such from my 
task. It is true that some very mysterious things have been seen at 
various times. I will, digressing a little from my story, relate one 
circumstance that was told me by a gentlemen who lived in Suffolk and was 
stopping at Lake Drummond Hotel, situated near the lake shore, and which 
was visited at that time by many persons from New York and other places. 
This gentleman remarked to me that he was standing near the Lake one 
morning, and happening to look across the Lake, to his great astonishment, 
saw come out of the woods, at a point so thick with reeds, bamboo and 
rattan, that you could not get three feet from the shore, a beautiful, 
finely-dressed lady; she walked out on a log about twenty feet into the 
Lake, with a fishing pole in her hand. I saw her bait her hook and throw 
it out into the Lake. He said he could also tell the the color of the 
ribbon on her bonnet. He watched the same place every day for several 
days, and at the same hour each day the lady appeared as before. I told my 
friend that he must have been laboring under an optical delusion at the 
time, as

Page 10 

the Lake was five miles wide at that place, and that it was impossible for 
one to distinguish objects at so great a distance with the naked eye. He 
replied that every part of the story was true.

On another occasion, a gentleman, now living in Suffolk, told me that he 
was out hunting in the Swamp, and chancing to look to the front saw snakes 
coming from every direction, and quite near him he saw a lump of them that 
looked to be as large as a barrel. He supposed that there must have been 
as many as five hundred, all so interwoven that they looked like a ball of 
snakes. He said he was too close on them to shoot, so stepping back, he 
fired both barrels of his gun at the bunch, An untangling at once 
commenced, and he said, "consarned if he ever saw so many snakes before." 
Upon going to the place where he had shot, he found 150 snakes dead, and 
as many more wounded. He carried some of the largest of the dead out, 
procured a ten-foot rod, and on measuring found one that measured twenty-
three feet. I have related this snake story several times, but was always 
very particular to know that the gentleman who told me was at some other 
place.



CHAPTER III.
HEALTHFULNESS AT THE SWAMP.

Although the Dismal Swamp is so uninviting, it is one of the healthiest 
places in the United States.

Page 11 

Death from disease has never been known in that place, and it is 
impossible to tell what age one would attain if they would take up their 
abode in it. I have been told that instances were known where persons were 
found who were so old that they had moss growing on their backs, and who 
could give no idea of their age. I once knew a family by the name of 
Draper, who lived in the Swamp near the edge Of the Lake. What became of 
them I do not know; the spot where the house stood now forms a part of the 
Lake. The constant washing of the western shore causes rapid 
encroachments, and it is only a question of time when it will reach the 
high lands. It is in the Dismal Swamp that Lake Drummond was discovered, 
by whom I do not know, but is said to have been found by a man named 
Drummond, whose name it bears; that will make no difference with me, the 
question is, how came it there? Was it a freak of nature, or was it caused 
by warring of the elements, is a question for the consideration of those 
who visit it? That it was the effect of fire caused by lightning setting 
fire to the turf, or some dead tree, there can be no doubt. At what time 
in the Christian era this eventful period was, it is not, nor never will 
be, known. Suffice it to say, that it was found and is the wonder and 
admiration of all that have ever visited it. It is a broad sheet of water, 
covering an area of five by seven miles, and is surrounded by a dense 
growth of woods, so thick that you cannot see the Lake until you are 
within a few feet of it. Many visitors have visited it, all of whom were 
struck with astonishment at the

Page 12 

sight. It is ten miles southeast of Suffolk. I will now relate some of the 
adventures of my first trip. It was on a bright morning, early in the 
month of May, 1832, that my father and I started for "Lake Drummond," or 
the Lake of the "Dismal Swamp," as some call it; and as all preparations 
had been made the night before, there was nothing to prevent us from 
making an early start. The idea of my going to the Lake had driven sleep 
from my eyes, and I was ready to start at any time; but it was not until 
the grey dawn of day that my father began to stir. He was soon ready, and 
providing himself with fishing poles, bait, lunch, and such other articles 
as were necessary for a two or three days' fishing excursion, then taking 
our leave of my mother and the other members of the family, we were off. 
The Portsmouth and Roanoke railroad (now the Seaboard and Roanoke 
railroad) was at that time graded as far as Suffolk. We followed the line 
of it as far as a place known as Peter Jones, where we left it and passed 
through "Bull Field," to the company's mill, which is but a short distance 
from the basin of the Canal, at which place we were to take a skiff for 
the Lake. On arriving at the basin we found Mr. James Woodward, 
grandfather of Hersey Woodward, Esq., of Suffolk, Va He was inspector of 
lumber for the "Dismal Swamp Land Company," and was on his way to the 
Lake. The drivers of the skiff, Tony Nelson and Jim Brown, were ready, and 
it being now about sunrise, Mr. Woodward and my father, soon got their 
traps aboard, then lifting me in, all was ready. The drivers

Page 13 

adjusted their poles and away we went, all being a novelty to me, who had 
never before been in a boat on water. Everything appeared very strange, 
being but a very small boy as I was. Nothing happened to impede our 
progress, and in about five hours from the time of starting we arrived at 
the Lake. Then it was that our young soul began to thrill with joy, for we 
were at the Lake and would soon launch on its broad bosom. The gates of 
the Lock were opened and the skiff shoved in, then the first gate being 
closed behind us another gate opened. The water rushed in and soon our 
boat was on a level with the Lake. The drivers then took up the oars and 
were ready to cross to Jack's Landing, which was on the opposite side of 
the Lake. It being very rough at the time, some fears were expressed, but 
Mr. Woodward, who was well acquainted with the situation, said that he did 
not apprehend any danger, and the skiff was put in motion. As I said 
before, it was very rough, and when we had gotten about half-way across, 
it became more so; the waves began to break over the skiff and all thought 
that it would fill. Fortunately, too large wooden shovels or scoops were 
found in the skiff, and with them Mr. Woodward and my father kept her 
free, "Tony" and "Jim," in the meantime, plying their oars manfully. We 
soon arrived at "Jack's Landing," and disembarking proceeded to Jack's 
camp, which was but a short distance away, and known to every person who 
had ever visited the Lake. On our arrival the pious Mr. Woodward offered 
up to the Great Ruler

Page 14 

of wind and water a prayer for our safe deliverance from a watery grave. 
As we had not partaken of any nourishment since early morning, it was 
proposed that we should eat something, which was readily agreed to, and in 
a short time we had gotten through that part of our work, whereupon my 
father said he would try his luck fishing. So taking a small boat, which 
he found at "Jack's Landing," placing me in it and then getting in 
himself, he started for some good place to commence. He fished awhile at 
the "Forked Gum" without any success; moved to the "Stooping Pine" with a 
like result, He began to think that it was the wrong moon, and leaving 
that place he paddled for the "Three Cypresses," where he caught some very 
fine fish. It was now getting late in the afternoon, and as he expected to 
make an early start the next morning, he thought it best to return to the 
camp, heading his boat in that direction he soon reached the landing; 
having but a short distance to walk, we were not long in reaching it. Mr. 
Woodward had gone out to inspect some lumber and it was getting time for 
his return. We did not have long to wait. He soon came in, and looking at 
my father's "Fish Gourd," remarked: "Neddie, you have had fine sport; 
where did you catch so many such large Frenchmen?" "Friend Jimmy," my 
father replied, "when I started my first experiment was at the 'Forked
Gum,' and I did not get a nibble. I left it and stopped at the 'Stooping 
Pine' with the same success. I began to think that I was fishing on the 
wrong moon." "Oh! Neddie," rejoined

Page 15 

Mr. Woodward, "there is nothing in the phases of the moon. You are not a 
good fisherman. I can take you to the 'Forked Gum' and 'Stooping Pine' and 
astonish you." "After leaving the 'Stooping Pine,'" continued my father, 
"I made for the 'Three Cypresses,' and it was there that I caught these 
fine perch." "Neddie," said Mr. Woodward, "you are not such a bad 
fisherman after all. Your success would do credit to the best." My father 
proposed to Mr. W. that we should have some of the fish cleaned and cooked 
for supper. The necessary order being given, in a short time a sufficient 
number were ready for the pan. A hot fire was made of juniper logs, and 
frying of fish commenced. In a short time we were told to get our shingles 
ready, that being the only kind of plate used in the "Dismal Swamp." And 
it is a well known fact that fish eat sweeter off a shingle than any plate 
on which it can be placed. The fish were very fine and greatly enjoyed by 
all.

Supper being disposed of, a general conversation was indulged in about the 
Lake and Swamp; but no one present could tell anything satisfactory about 
the origin of the Lake. One idea was announced and then another, throwing 
but little light upon the subject. "Tony" and "Jim," the drivers of the 
skiff, were sitting near the embers nodding, when Mr. Woodward, to have a 
little fun, said: "Tony, what is your opinion of the origin of the Lake?"



CHAPTER IV.
ORIGIN OF THE LAKE DISCUSSED.

Page 16 

Old Uncle "Tony" made a rake in the embers with his pipe and said: "Yas, 
sar; my 'pinion 'bout dat place, boss, am dat it was dug out." Here Uncle 
Jim broke in. "What de matter wid you, Tony? How many niggers do you 
'spose 'twould take tu dig a hole big huff tu hole all dat water?" "Dats a 
fac, Jim," cried Uncle Tony, "I forgot 'bout de water."

"Well, Jim," queried Mr. Woodward, "how do you account for it?" "Marse 
James," Uncle Jim sagely replied, "it 'pears to me dat somebody got under 
de groun' and dig de dirt out and de water mashed it down."

"Jim," exclaimed Tony, "you am de biggist fool dat I ebber seed. How's 
anybody gwine tu git under de groun' to dig. Whar's dey gwine tu put de 
dirt, and whar is de water to cum rum to mash it down?" Yah, yah, yah. "Go 
'way nigger, I 'spec you bin mole huntin'." "Dat am fac', Tony, I didn't 
tink 'bout dat," said Uncle Jim, with an apologetic and crestfallen air. 
Here Tony gave his pipe another rake in the embers, took a few puffs, and 
fell off his log fast asleep.

It was now getting late, and preparations were being made to put me to 
bed, which was done by placing some hay on the floor of the camp and 
spreading some bed clothing which we had brought

Page 17 

along. The bed was soon ready, and I was snugly placed upon it, although I 
could not go to sleep, knowing that we were to go out early in the morning 
to see the sun rise on the Lake. I was called at the first dawn of day and 
told to get up; we soon had eaten our breakfast and everything made ready 
to leave for the Lake. We soon reached the landing, finding our boat 
ready. My father placed me in, and getting in himself took up his paddle 
and shoved off for a position in the Lake where we might see the great Orb 
of Day bathe his face in the cloudy water of "Lake Drummond." We did not 
have to wait long. By the glow of light that began to show just under the 
eastern horizon, we were satisfied that our anticipations would soon be 
realized.

The morning was misty, just enough so as to hide the dense woods which 
stood on the eastern shore of the Lake, and at the same time served as a 
back ground to the grand display of nature, and make it appear as if the 
sun actually came up out of the water as it were. The mist in front was 
dispelled, and the rays of sun playing on the rippling water would cause 
you to think that it was one vast cluster of diamonds. The sight was grand 
beyond my power to describe it, and I never expect to behold such a scene 
again. Everything was lovely on that May morning--the balmy breeze, the 
air filled with perfume of the wild flowers, which grew around the Lake; 
birds carrolled forth sweet music as they flitted from limb to limb; 
squirrels could be seen and heard chattering among the trees. The shore

Page 18 

of the Lake was spread with a velvety green, and you would think that 
nature had done her best to make that morning lovely. Meditating on the 
beauty and grandeur that surrounded us on the broad bosom of the Lake, 
suddenly we were awakened from our reverie by the hoarse growl and lapping 
of the bears, and horrid cries of the wild cats, which would cause the 
blood to curdle in the veins. Thus with the sweet some sour always will be 
found. Occasionally, at the Lake, a noble stag will emerge from the trees, 
showing a stately head of horns, approach to the water and survey the 
prospect, then plunge in the Lake to swim to the other shore. He settles 
very low, and if you did not know you would take it for a floating bush. 
They are frequently caught when attempting to cross the Lake. Having 
reached a good place for fishing, my father stopped at the place known as 
the "Apple Trees," where he caught some very pretty fish. His bait getting 
scarce, he moved around the Lake to "Draper's Landing." Running the bow of 
the canoe upon the wharf log, which was nearly on a level with the water, 
left her, without tying, to look for some angle worms. It being rough on 
the Lake at the time, the rolling of the waves caused the boat to work 
off, and before he could return she had drifted well out on the broad 
waters of the Lake. We were too small to realize our situation. Not 
knowing how to paddle, we were left to the mercy of the waves. On the 
return of my father, seeing the great peril I was in, required but a 
single thought for him to know what to do. Being a

Page 19 

good swimmer he boldly plunged into the water, reached the boat and 
swimming towed it to the shore. Had he not returned in time, our fate 
could not have been told. We would have been capsized in the Lake and 
drowned, or have drifted ashore to be devoured by bears and other wild 
animals, or stung to death by the venomous reptiles that hung in clusters 
on trees around the shores of the Lake. This accident put an end to 
fishing for that day. My father was wet, and not having a change of 
clothing with him, proceeded to the camp, so that he could dry. We soon 
arrived at Jack's Landing, and on reaching the camp found Mr. Woodward, 
who remarked: "What is the matter, Neddie? Did a big fish pull you 
overboard?" He saw that my father was wet, and ordered a fire to be made, 
so that he could dry his clothes. A hot fire was soon made of juniper 
logs, and he was not long in drying.

Feeling no inconvenience from his ablution, and drinking a cup of hot 
coffee, he related the circumstances as detailed above. "Well, Neddie;" 
said Mr. W., "you should at once return thanks to the Giver of all Good 
for this miraculous escape." The pious Mr. Woodward joined with him. It 
was now nearly dark, and preparations were made to have supper. When at 
the Lake it is expected that you will catch fish enough upon which to 
subsist, and my father being a good hand at angling, always had a good 
supply, and no one on the trip wanted for fish. The supper, which 
consisted of fish, bread and hot coffee, was soon ready. About this time 
Tony

Page 20 

and Jim, who had been loading their skiff at the landing, returned to the 
camp, and taking their seats at the ends of some juniper logs, were soon 
fast asleep. We ate our supper and were then ready for any kind of story 
that was told.



CHAPTER V.
THE VISIT OF TOM. MOORE, AS RELATED BY TONY.

As Uncle Tony was, perhaps, the oldest person, and knew more about the 
Lake than any person then engaged at it, he was awakened, and Mr. Woodward 
said: "Uncle Tony, I want you to tell us about the man whom you said you 
brought to the Lake in 1821." "Who tole you 'bout dat boss?" inquired 
Uncle Tony, with an air of conscious pride. "It will make no difference, 
go on and tell us," returned Mr. Woodward. Tony scratched his head, then 
putting some tobacco in his pipe, took out his flint and steel (matches 
not being known in the swamp at that day,) and soon had fire enough to 
light his pipe. Drawing on it enough to get his "nigger head" tobacco to 
burn, and fixing himself on the end of his log, he commenced: "Boss, I 
shall nebber forgit dat time. One mornin' as I war gittin' my skiff ready 
to go to de Lake, a mity nice lookin' man cum up to me an said: 'Buck, ar' 
you de man dat will carry me to de Lake ob de Dismal Swamp, for which I 
will pay you one pound?' De gemman talked so putty, dat I tole him to git 
in my skiff, an'

Page 21 

I wud carry him to de Lake. I notice' dat he kep writin' all de way. When 
I got to de horse camps I stopped to get somfin to eat. He cum outen de 
skiff an' ax me what I stop for. I tole him I stop to eat some meat an' 
bread. He ax me if I wud hav' a drink. I tuk off my hat an' tole him dat I 
wud be much obleged to him for it. He foched a silber jug, wid a silber 
cup for a stopper, and said: 'My man, dis is Irish whiskey. I brung it all 
de way from home.' He tole me dat his name was Thomas Moore, an' dat he 
cum fom 'way ober yonder--I dun forgot de name of de place--an' was gwine 
to de Lake to write 'bout a spirit dat is seed dar paddlin' a kunnue. De 
har 'gin tu rise on my hed an' I ax him ef dat was a fac'. He sed dat he 
was told so in Norfolk. It was gin out dar data miry putty gal had loss 
her sweethart, an' had dun gone crazy, an' had gone to de Lake ob de 
Dismal Swamp an' drown herself, an' dat she ken be seen ebery night by de 
lite ob some sort ob fli." "I tell you, boss," continued the old man, 
"when he tole me 'bout dat gal paddlin' dat bote on de Lake at nite, I 
diden' want to go any furder wid him, but he tole me dar wud be no danger. 
I cud not see hur, so I carrid him on to de Lake. He rit like de gal had 
run away an' had been drowned rite here. I shal nebber forget dat gentman. 
I fotch him back an' he gin me de poun', which war five dollars, an' he 
lef' for Norfolk, bein' mitey glad dat I had carrid him to de Lake."

"Tony, did he tell you anything about his trip?" inquired Mr. Woodward.

Page 22 

"Yas, sar," replied the old man. "He tole me dat he had trabbled an' seen 
sites, but dar he nebber was so 'stonish befo'; he did not spec' to see at 
de end ob de kunel such a putty place; an' dat I wud hear sore time what 
he was gwine tu say 'bout it." "That was Tom Moore, the Irish poet," said 
Mr. W. "De who?" interrupted Tony. "He came to this country," continued 
Mr. W. "to visit the Lake, as being one of the wonders of nature, and you 
were fortunate in having to wait on such a distinguished person.

Tom Moore, after he had arrived in this country, no doubt heard of the 
Lake of the Dismal Swamp, and when he reached Norfolk, Va., and the story 
of the fair maiden and her lover being fresh, might have induced him to 
visit it, and it was on that occasion that he penned the following lines:

"They made her a grave that was too cold and damp,
For a soul so warm and true."

His poem on the "Lake of the Dismal Swamp," no doubt, is familiar with 
every person of ordinary information, and can be found in every library, 
and should be read by every person who has never done so.



CHAPTER VI.
PORTE CRAYON'S VISIT, INCIDENTS, ETC.

At a much later date the Lake was visited by Porte Crayon, who was at that 
time writing for Harper's

Page 23 

Monthly. The account given of his trip, with his illustrations, are very 
life-like and interesting, and in the February or March number of that 
valuable book, for the year 1857, you will be greatly amused at the 
description there given. Two darkies, Eli Chalk and Jim Pearce, were the 
drivers of the pleasure boat furnished by W. S. Riddick, Esq., the then 
agent of the Dismal Swamp Land Company, in which he was carried to the 
Lake. He was there some two or three days, and his writings should he read 
to be appreciated. It was at the Lake that we saw Uncle "Alek," of whom a 
fac-simile likeness is given in the book above referred to. Uncle "Alek" 
was a superanuated old colored man, belonging to the Reverend Jacob 
Keeling, Rector of the Episcopal Churches in Nansemond county, Virginia. 
He was quite old, and retained his memory to a remarkable degree. He was 
called the "Bee Hunter" of the Dismal Swamp, and, if I am not mistaken, 
had a bag of bees in his hand when Porte first met him. He would follow 
bees for a long distance, cutting his way through the reeds for miles in a 
straight line, until he came to the tree in which was the hollow. Then he 
would take out the bees, put them into a bag and bring them out. In going 
to the Lake you could see numberless paths cut by Uncle Alek for that 
purpose. The opening through the reeds would look to be about two feet 
wide and ten feet high, which was almost the length of the reeds. Uncle 
Alek worked in the swamp nearly all his life, was a faithful hand, and in 
his old age the company

Page 24 

gave him a house and a piece of land, as a home during his natural life. A 
mule was also given to him by the company, which mule I had the honor of 
riding at a tournament at Suffolk, Va., in 1860. How old he was no one 
could tell at that time. No account is given of any mules being in the Ark 
at the time that she settled on dry land, and where that mule came frown 
will never be known. It is very certain that he appeared on this mundane 
sphere at some period after the flood. If he is dead I have heard nothing 
of it. He may be wandering about the Dismal Swamp. Old Uncle Alek and his 
mule were great curiosities, and whenever he came to town on his mule they 
attracted a great deal of attention. He was an exhorter in the Methodist 
Churches for colored people, and always had in his pocket a Testament or 
hymn book. He was perfectly conversant with the Bible, and could refer 
readily to any passage of Scripture that you might mention. He was born in 
1783, and died a few years ago, having attained the age of one hundred 
years, his mind being as vivid and active as at any time We shall never 
forget Uncle Alek and his mule. They were things of our earliest 
recollection, and, like many of the landmarks at the "Lake of the Dismal 
Swamp," have been washed away. I have been to it frequently since my first 
visit, and would notice the changes made by the rude hand of time.

I have examined several writers that have written about "Uncle Alek's
Mule," and am satisfied that it was the same one that "Nat Turner" rode 
when

Page 25 

on his raid of murder in Southampton county, Va., in 1831. Looking over 
the diary of Colonel Godfrey for thirty years, we notice that he said "Nat 
Turner," when he appeared in the avenue of Dr. Blount, on that fatal 
night, he rode at the head of the column, mounted on a sorrel mule, with 
flax mane and tail. But the question arises, how that mule got into the 
Dismal Swamp, and how he came in possession of the Dismal Swamp Land 
Company. Col. Godfrey states that there were several guns in the house of 
Dr. Blount, and several visitors there at the time; that the young Blount 
loaded the guns, and that a strong fire was kept up on the advancing 
column. Nat Turner was thrown from his mule, then they became panic-
stricken, and were dispersed. For the bravery displayed by yount Blount on 
that occasion, he received a midshipman's warrant in the United States 
Navy. I will now quote from G. P. R. James' book, called the "Old
Dominion," in which he states that a "young mother" with her infant fled 
to the Dismal Swamp for safety." It was several miles away, and it may be 
that she drove that same mule, and the probability is that she left the 
mule in the Swamp, and that he wandered about until he found Jack's Camp, 
where he was secured and became the property of the Dismal Swamp Land 
Company. How long the company worked him before he became the property of 
Uncle Alek, I do not know, but am satisfied that it was several years, and 
that his wind was injured by overloading I have the testimony of a 
gentleman well-known in

Page 26 

Suffolk, now living, who stated that he saw a cymling vine at Jack's Camp 
which was of spontaneous growth, and which covered more juniper trees than 
he could count, and from that vine there was gathered two hundred and 
fifty cart loads of cymlings. It may be that the hauling away of these 
cymlings so injured the mule that he was no longer of service to the 
company. There is no doubt he was turned over to Uncle Alek, which must 
have been during the year 1832. I was in the Swamp during that year and 
saw the cymling vine above alluded to, and no one could tell how it came 
to grow there. It will be impossible for me to tell how old Uncle Alek's 
mule was or what became of him. I have never heard that he died or was 
killed. He was no doubt the most remarkable mule that ever lived. The last 
that I heard from him was related by Uncle Alek himself, and which was no 
doubt true. I will relate as near as I can what the old man told me. He 
came to Suffolk one day and I noticed that he was very much excited. I 
said to him: "Uncle Alek, what has happened to you?" He answered: "Marse 
Robert I neber was in sich a fix befo' in all my life. I hay' fit bars, 
rattlesnakes, wild cats and bees, but I tell you sumfin' has happened to 
me to-day dat neber bin known to befall any one." "What was that Uncle 
Alek?" I inquired. "I'm terribly upsot, and I dunno what to do. I shall 
hab to mov' 'way frum my place; a whirlwind struc' my well dis mornin' an' 
has twisted it so dat I can't git de bucket down in de well, an' I can't 
git no water, an' what is wuss den all, my

Page 27 

mule has bin translated. He wus a good mule, and his loss ruins me." I saw 
Uncle Alek some time after that, when he told me that he was out in the 
Swamp hunting bees, when lo and behold! he heard his mule bray. He cast 
his eyes up and saw him lodged in the forks of a large tree. There was no 
way by which he could get him down, and left him as he thought to die. But 
his surprise can be imagined when he heard nuzzling at the door one 
morning, when, upon opening, what should he see but his mule. How he came 
down he could not tell, but said he should always believe that his mule 
could climb a tree. I said it must have been a Providential interference, 
and that the same Power which landed him in the tree was able to lift him 
out. "Dat is so," said the old man, "an' I will nebber agin' complain at 
de ways ob an Over-Rulin' Providence." I often think of Col. Godfrey and 
his remark, when he said that what best conduces to the happiness of 
mankind is right. Uncle Alek, knowing that his mule was at home with his 
head well in the crib, and he in the Swamp fighting bears and bees, was 
perfectly happy. Uncle Alek and his mule are both now dead, and I shall 
always have a lively recollection of them. I often think of them, and that 
I rode Uncle Alek's mule as Knight of the Dismal Swamp at a tournament, 
won the first honor, and was ruled out on account of my mule not making 
time, much to the mortification of Uncle Alek. As Uncle Alek and his mule 
will appear again, I will leave them for the present and relate an 
interesting conversation with Mr. Richard Hosier, who now

Page 28 

lives in Suffolk, and who is as well acquainted with the Dismal Swamp as 
any one now living. He is perfectly familiar with every part of it, and 
is, no doubt, correct in many of his statements. He informed me that long 
before the Lake was discovered by Drummond, two gentlemen from Elizabeth 
City, N. C., left for the Dismal Swamp on a hunting expedition, and having 
lost their way, wandered about until they came to what they discovered to 
be a large body of water. From it they traveled a due west course and came 
out at a farm on the Desert road, known as Mossy Swamp, and one of the men 
was taken sick and died; the other one returned to Elizabeth City. Mr. 
Hosier did not state when this was, but said it was long before Drummond 
made known that he had discovered a lake in the Dismal Swamp. It will be 
remembered that Mr. Hosier was arrested in Norfolk in 1863 by order of the 
Federal general then commanding that department, and was being carried 
toward the Indian Pole Bridge to be put to work on the defences of 
Norfolk. He was not disposed to do work in that way, and when well out 
from Norfolk he eluded the guard that had him, and directed his steps 
toward the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth river. On his arrival, seeing 
boats passing up and down, he secreted himself until the darkness of night 
had fallen, then making a bundle of his clothes and placing it on his 
head, he entered the river and swam to the other shore. He then pursued 
his way to the Deep Creek Canal, which he forded. Arriving at the
"Feeder," he was not far from the Lake, and was

Page 29 

at a place with which he was well acquainted, and out of the reach of all 
danger of being recaptured. Resting himself a while, he then started for 
the Lake, and it was at that place he performed his great feat. He could 
not procure a boat, and the prospect before him was gloomy indeed. If he 
remained there he would, in all probability, have been devoured by bears 
and other wild animals in the Swamp, or perhaps, starve. Not being in the 
least daunted, he prepared himself to reach the western shore, which could 
only be done by swimming. It was seven miles across, but he nerved himself 
to the accomplishment of his object. He prepared himself as before by 
making a bundle of his clothes, which he placed on the top of his head, 
and was then ready to swim across or perish in the attempt. When he was 
about half-way across he was attacked by a large serpent, and had it not 
been for a school of gars that was following him, he would no doubt have 
been devoured. He reached the shore only to meet a more formidable enemy. 
It was a large black bear In his scuffle with the serpent he had lost his 
bundle Of clothes and had nothing but a large knife, which was buckled 
around his waist. Drawing his knife, he rushed forward and was met by the 
bear, when a regular hand-to-hand fight was commenced. He did not wrestle 
long before he found an opportunity to use his knife, and plunging it up 
to the hilt, he soon had the bear lying prostrate at his feet. Having lost 
all his clothes, it became necessary that he should do something in his 
nude state. The bear's skin was the only thing that

Page 30 

he could get, so with his knife he skinned him, and getting inside the 
skin, he started to find some settlement. But his condition was as bad as 
before. The idea of his being able to get near enough to any person to 
tell of his condition was absurd. The very sight of him would scare every 
man, woman and child off the plantation. He could not get a living soul to 
come to him, and it was not until he had reached his own home, some few 
miles from Suffolk, that he could present himself as Mr. Hosier. I could 
write many very interesting incidents connected with the life of Mr. 
Hosier, which, in many instances, are thrilling. But as we are writing our 
own recollections, I shall only notice in a few cases what I have been 
told by others.



CHAPTER VII.
MANY CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

It is pleasant to me that I can take a retrospective view of the past and 
note the many changes that have taken place within my recollection. Many 
sad changes have taken place within the past fifty years. Dynasties have 
arisen, lived and have had their day; they have fallen, and are known as 
things that were. But four of the companions of my school-boy days are 
living, and it is only now and then that we meet with one. The Rev. R. H. 
Jones, of Norfolk, is the only one that we have seen

Page 31 

or known away from Suffolk. The honored landmarks of the town are few, and 
soon must be less. Benjamin Riddick, the present mayor of the town, is 
perhaps the oldest citizen in it. Judge P. B. Prentice, the polished 
gentleman--his manly form can be seen on our streets, as he, with intrepid 
steps, passes along; he is the oldest native citizen and possesses a mind 
as active and vigorous as when young. John Hoffman, Esq., is another of 
the landmarks of the town. He has lived nearly his four-score years. 
Whitmill Jones, Esq., is another of our old friends. His steps are feeble 
and trembling. The last of the old pioneers of Suffolk whom we shall 
notice is James B. Norfleet, Esq. He is perhaps more generally known than 
any man who has ever lived in the place. He conducted for many years a 
very extensive mercantile and lumber business, but fell a victim to his 
generous impulses. The cypress that was known as the "apple tree," which 
stood in the Lake a short distance to the left of the "Lock," has been 
blown down or washed up with its roots, and in a short time nothing will 
be seen of it. The house which stood not very far from the western shore 
of the Lake and occupied by a family known as Draper, has been washed away 
and nothing left to show that a human habitation ever had any existence 
there. Before the late war a pleasure boat was kept by the company for the 
accommodation of parties that wished to visit the Lake, and it was 
customary for several parties to go in early Spring, commencing about the 
first of May, that being the most pleasant time

Page 32 

and nature about to put on her coat of green. But few parties now venture 
in owing to the inconvenince that attend, and when they do go they have to 
get in the best way they can. The pleasure boat and other boats in the 
canal were cut up by order of General Peck, commanding the United States 
forces at Suffolk, Va., and carried to the Black-water river to be used as 
pontoons across that stream. But I doubt if they were ever used for that 
purpose. After the surrender so great was the demand for boats by 
strangers that wished to visit the Lake of the Dismal Swamp that Capt. 
Busby, an energetic citizen of Nansemond county, Virginia, had erected 
near the Lake a hotel known as the Lake Drummond Hotel, and to invite 
visitors he had built a beautiful gondola, which was run daily to the Lake 
during the season. That old trojan, Capt. Jack Robinson, being in charge 
of the hotel, caused it to be well filled. It was very frequently the case 
that parties would come from Norfolk to go on from Suffolk, they having 
heard that the gondola left her wharf every day for the Lake. I recollect 
a party of three young gentlemen that came from Norfolk who wished to 
visit Lake Drummond. They stopped at the Exchange Hotel and made known the 
fact. The polite manager, Eddie S. Riddick, Esq., soon saw Capt. Busby, 
and his gondola was chartered to carry the party to the Lake. Mr. Riddick 
made every preparation necessary for them, but one of the parties heard 
that an alligator was on exhibition near the hotel, and thinking that it 
was brought from the Lake, at once provided himself

Page 33 

with a rifle and a large quantity of fixed ammunition. All were then ready 
and they left for the canal, where they would take the gondola. She was 
then at her wharf, and everything being placed in, Capt. Busby took his 
stand at the wheel and gave orders to the first mate to have the gondola 
cast loose, which was at once obeyed, and, like a swan, she was gliding on 
in the canal at the fearful rate of about two miles an hour. To prevent 
any confusion if attacked, one of the most daring young men of the party, 
being one of the three from Norfolk, Va., placed himself in the bow of the 
gondola with rifle in hand and a box of ammunition conveniently nigh, 
awaiting an attack from any quarter. When passing what is known as 
"Paradise Old Field," one of the party cried alligator! The young man at 
the bow at once opened fire, and it was not until he had shot away a whole 
box of ammunition that he discovered the supposed alligator to be nothing 
more dangerous than a floating log. Quiet having been restored the captain 
struck two bells, and the gondola was on her way again, but unfortunately 
had not proceeded many miles when a snake fell in off an overhanging limb 
of a tree, and so near one of the young men that it caused him to jump 
over into the canal. The mate ordered one of the deck hands to throw the 
snake out, whilst others were fishing out the young man who had jumped 
overboard. Captain Busby, fearing that some other accident might happen 
before reaching the hotel, thought it best that passengers should Occupy 
their state-rooms until a landing was made

Page 34 

at the hotel. He said with so much confusion it would be impossible for 
him to land his gondola safely. Captain Jack, of the hotel, was watching 
the movements of Captain Busby and complimented him for his dexterity. He 
walked down from the hotel and escorted the guests up who had just 
arrived. The hotel is of the Irish style of architecture, with parlor, 
kitchen, dining and bedroom all in the same room, the whole being heated 
by a hot air furnace. I have not been to the Lake for some time, but hear 
that great improvements have been made, and it is the object of the 
proprietor of the hotel to turn the attention of Northern visitors to 
Florida every Winter in that direction, believing that it is the 
healthiest place in the United States. It is very accessible--the Norfolk 
and Western railroad passing through its northern boundary, and the 
Suffolk and Carolina Short Line or Grand Trunk railroad on its western, 
which by running a railroad from Skinnerville, on the Grand Trunk, would 
bring the Lake Hotel within a few minutes ride from Suffolk, and with 
little or no inconvenience to invalids coming from the rigid climate of 
the North. I am told that all snakes remain in a torpid state during the 
winter, and no danger might be expected from them, and as the floors of 
the hotel would be kept tight no vermin could crawl through. There can be 
no doubt that the Lake of the Dismal Swamp must become the great centre of 
health-seekers, and that at an early day. Its location and advantages, the 
known healthliness of the place, to say nothing of its beauty and former

Page 35 

renown, is sufficient to attract the attention of persons that seek the 
Sunny South from the cold and rigorous climate of the extreme Northern 
States of the Union. It is true that some writers pronounce the warm and 
genial climate of the Sunny South to be a fraud, practiced to allure the 
unsuspecting. That cannot be so. It is universally known that the Dismal 
Swamp is the healthiest place in the known world. Where can you find a 
location in which a death has not occurred in a hundred years? It cannot 
be named.



CHAPTER VIII.
THE FUTURE FOR THE DISMAL SWAMP.

The Dismal Swamp in Virginia is the only place where a death from disease 
has never occurred. Railroads, like hog paths, are being run in every 
direction, and the time is not far distant when a railroad will be run 
direct to the beautiful Lake of the Dismal Swamp, and Northern invalids 
will flock to its beautiful shores, there to bathe in its juniper water 
and be healed from all diseases. True, at this time it is in a rude and 
wild condition, but with the Suffolk and Carolina Grand Trunk Railroad 
stretching across its western front, civilization must tend toward it, and 
when a communication direct is opened a city, Cincinnatus like, will 
spring along its shores, and its inhabitants can, by the light of the

Page 36 

glow worm of fire fly, watch the paddling of the white canoe, so 
beautifully described by Moore in his poem. Another very interesting place 
near the Swamp is a farm which at one time belonged to General Washington. 
It is at the extreme south, and is now owned by Mrs. John Trotman, and she 
has in her possession the original title deeds of every person who has 
owned the place at various times, from Washington down to the last 
purchaser, who was Burrell Brothers, Esq., of Gates county, N. C., and an 
uncle of the above-named lady. At his death it fell to his widow, who gave 
it to Mrs. John Trotman, its present owner. I have visited the place 
several times, and the cellars can now be seen where stood the first 
house. It is very certain that it was settled many years ago, from the 
fact that I saw a tombstone of a doctor from Waterbury, Connecticut, who 
died there in 1800. This stone has been seen by many persons. There is 
another place of some note that adjoins the Washington farm, it is known 
as Hamburgs. At this place a ditch or canal was dug, running east to the 
north-west Lock of the Dismal Swamp Canal, through which a vast quantity 
of grain and other produce raised by the farmers of Gates county, was 
shipped to Norfolk. An extensive mercantile business was carried on at 
Hamburg by Col. T. W. Smith, so well known, who afterwards removed to and 
now resides in Suffolk, Va. It was at Hamburg that so many refugees ran 
the blockade during the late war from Norfolk and other places, and a 
number of incidents could be related of persons that sought that

Page 37 

place to get in and out of the Confederate lines. Hamburg is a beautiful 
place and is owned by Mrs. S. C. Voight, who resides upon the premises It 
was at this place that Beast Butler, of the Federal Army, carried on a 
very extensive barter trade with the Rebs. It adjoins the Washington farm, 
as I said before, and may have been at one time a part of it. I knew 
nothing of the first settlement of the place. It has the appearance of 
being very ancient--no doubt dates back many years before the Revolution, 
or it may have been the headquarters of a roving tribe of Indians, as many 
arrow points and tomahawks have been ploughed up on the place. To my 
friend, T. H. Lassiter, Esq, of Gates county, North Carolina, I am 
indebted for much of the information gained of that locality, and I could 
relate a good deal told me by that gentleman which might be very 
interesting. Mr. Lassiter lives at a beautiful farm, on the main Edenton 
road, near the Silver Spring, a place of great resort for persons living 
in that part of the county.

I will relate a very interesting conversation which I had with a very old 
colored man that I met in the road near the Orapeake Mill, in Gates 
county, North Carolina, when on my way to Suffolk, Va., and not far from 
the beautiful village of Jonesville, lying on both sides of the Suffolk 
and Carolina Short Line or Grand Trunk Railroad. I said to the old man, 
"Uncle, where do you live?" "Boss, you ax me a hard question," replied the 
old man. "Git off your hoss an sot down, I'm gwine tell you sumfin. Do you 
smoke de pipe, boss." I replied

Page 38 

that I did, and handed him my bag of tobacco. He took from his pocket what 
I supposed he called a pipe. It was the butt end of a corn cob hollowed 
out, with something protruding at a right angle, which he called a stem. 
What it really was, I could not tell. He filled it with tobacco. I then 
handed him a match, when thanking me very kindly, he lighted his pipe, 
drawing it a few times to see that it was well lighted, said: "Boss, I 
will now tol you sumfin dat happen many years ago. Do you see dat mill 
pon' yonder?" alluding to the Orapeake. I replied that I did. "Well, boss, 
dat pon' was de cause of my trouble. One dark nite I was in dar strikin' 
at fish. I had just hit a large chub, when a white man, who was in dar 
strikin', cum up and sed: 'Boy, dat is my fish.' I tole him dat I kilt de 
fish, an dat it was mine. 'Bout dat time he was gwine to take de fish, an 
den I took up my hatchet dat I had in de bote, whar I split liteard wid 
and hit him on de head. He drapped down in de bote, and I seed dat I had 
done sumfin bad. De man was dead, and I wood be hung if dey cotched me. So 
I drug de man ober de side of de bote into the water, and mashed him down 
in the mud, an dat man never cum up any more. I didn't go home any more. 
An arter a while de white man was missin', an de peple gin to talk, an I 
gin to git skated. Do you see dat house up dar?" I said I did. "Well, 
Marse Luke Sumner libbed dar. De big house dat he libbed in is done torn 
down, and de small one made outen it. He is done ded now, and when he 
libbed dar is mor'n a hundred years ago.

Page 39 

His gran-son, Marse Joe Riddick, now own de place and libs at it. He mus 
be ni eighty year old. Well, dey fine de white man was done missin, an it 
bin dat I was strikin' fish in de mill pon' de same nite, dey 'gin to look 
for me, an my daddy tole me dat I had better go into the desart, which was 
de Dismal Swamp. I took his 'vice and lef. De run-away ketchers cure in 
dar to look for me, but didn't get me. I staid dar 'til de war was ober. I 
cum out and hab been lookin' 'bout dis place to see if I node anybody, but 
dey all gone ded, an nobody nose me. I tell you, boss, when you git in de 
desart ef nobody ses nuffin, de runaway ketchers can't kotch you. I am 
berry ole now, and my home folks are all ded an gone an I no nobody. De 
ghost ob de white man dat I kilt hants me all de time, wharebber I go, an 
I is a misable man. I am now on my way to de desart to hide myself an 
die." I asked him who he belonged to at the time he committed the murder. 
Replying, he said: "I longed to Capt. Richard Brothers, in de desert." 
"Well," I said, "did he ever know what became of you?" "I nebber heard any 
more from him arter I got in the desart. I heard dat he dide in 1817 ob de 
cole plague, or black tongue." "You are correct in what you have said, 
uncle," I replied. "I do not wish to interview you any longer on that 
subject. He was my grandfather and lived at the place mentioned by you. I 
hear the old people speak of the circumstances. You were his carriage 
driver at the time, and your name is "Long Davy." "Yas, sar, dat is my 
name, but don't tell anybody 'bout it. I

Page 40 

had a brudder libbing in de low parrish of Nansemond county, but he is 
ded. His name was George." I said, "Uncle Davy, you are correct. On one 
occasion, being at Driver's Store, in lower parrish of Nansemond, I saw a 
tall and very polite colored man drive up. I was struck with his 
appearance, and asking him his name, he said George W. Coston, sir. Then 
you are from Sunsbury, Gates county, North Carolina." "I was from that 
place," he replied, "but have been living in the lower parish since the 
breaking out of the war." "Were you a slave or free-born," I inquired. "I 
was a slave," he responded. "Who was your first owner that you recollect." 
"Capt. Richard Brothers, on the desart road, Nansemond county, Va., who 
died with the cold plague in 1817," he readily answered. "He appeared to 
be very much pleased when I told him that his first master was my 
grandfather. He looked at me very straight and asked me my mother's name, 
and upon my answering Margaret, he said he thought he could see a family 
likeness, and said my mother was the first mistress he ever had, she 
"drawing" him in the division of my grandfather's property. I left him at 
Driver's Store and never saw him again. I have since heard that he was 
dead. I often thought of the circumstances of the meeting. Such frequently 
occurs and brings up recollections that are buried in oblivion. The 
corroborative testimony of George satisfied me that "Davy" was true in 
what he related to me about what happened at Orapeake Mill Pond, in Gates 
county, North Carolina, near the beautiful

Page 41 

village of Jonesville, on the Grand Trunk Railroad.

That the Lake of the Dismal Swamp is to become the great centre of 
attraction there can be no reasonable doubt. Recent demonstrations in that 
direction go to prove beyond cavil the fact. The visit of John Boyle 
O'Reilly, editor of the Boston Herald, Mr. Mosely, of Washington, and 
several other distinguished persons, go to prove the fact. Contiguous as 
it is to the celebrated Magnolia Springs, with its vast hunting grounds, 
will be a sufficient inducement to invite sportsmen from all sections. It 
is certain that a railroad will be surveyed and constructed, commencing at 
or near Magnolia Springs, which will tap the Lake near the famous apple 
tree, and as a grand hotel will be constructed at the Lake visitors will 
have the privilege of stopping there or at the Springs. A sufficient 
amount of capital can be had for all purposes necessary, and as the hotel 
will be built about one mile from the shore of the Lake, it will be free 
from yellow flies, fleas, mosquitos, snakes, alligators, bears, pole cats 
and other annoyances which more or less infest the hotel. The hotel being 
built on piles out in the Lake, could be reached by a bridge starting from 
the shore, with a sufficient number of draws, which, if left open at 
night, would prevent snakes, bears, alligators, pole cats, etc., from 
entering the hotel. A strict watch will be kept, and if by accident the 
draws should be left closed and an alligator, bear or snake should enter 
the hotel, or should a snake be found coiled up in bed with some sleeper, 
no alarm should be given, it might cause some nervous

Page 42 

person to jump overboard and be devoured by alligators, snakes, etc. By 
giving notice at the office of the hotel these annoyances would be removed 
with but little or no excitement. The object of the company is to direct 
the attention of Northern invalids to Lake Drummond and Magnolia Springs, 
the medicinal qualities of whose waters have been tested and are 
pronounced to be superior to any known in this country. After drinking of 
these waters all that you have to do is to go to Lake Drummond, bathe in 
its waters and be healed. You will then be prepared to hunt bears, quail, 
deer, etc., at the Springs, and your sport will then commence. Before 
entering into the hunt you will supply yourself with a pole cat 
arrangement, which is furnished free by the company and will probably be 
of service to you. It is not expected that you will engage in any bear 
hunt on your first arrival, but will wait until you know something about 
the mode of hunting them. It frequently happens on the hunt that you come 
in contact with a rattlesnake. He will give you timely notice by springing 
his rattles, which you will do well to heed. It is a well-known fact that 
Northern invalids are not afraid of alligators, bears, snakes, pole cats 
or any of the poisonous insects that infest the Swamp and Lake. There are 
a few timid persons living near the Lake, on the edge of the Swamp, who 
are sometimes driven out of their houses by the appearance of bears and 
snakes, but they are few in number, and seldom or ever visit the Lake. The 
great bug bear that deter most of the visitors is the

Page 43 

fear of snakes falling in the gondola, as she passes along, from 
overhanging limbs of trees. If passengers would keep in their state-rooms 
on the gondola, snakes might fall into it and they would know nothing 
about it, as they would be thrown out as soon as found. Lizzards sometimes 
run up the pantaloons leg of some who are not on the lookout for such 
things; but that causes a fellow to run out of his trousers so quick that 
very few ever get bitten.

I have visited the Lake at various times and under different 
circumstances, but do not recollect that anything unaccountable happened 
to me but once, which I will relate: On one occasion as I was going down 
the canal, toward the Lake, the driver of the skiff exclaimed, "Boss, did 
you see dat?" "No," I exclaimed; "What was it?" "It was a ball of fire." 
"A what?" I said. "A jack-mer-lantern," said he. "And what is that?" I 
asked. "It's a sperit. I ceed dem ebery nite, an' when I go to kotch one 
dey ain't nobody." "Then you believe inspirits?" "Yes, sar; dat I dus. 
When I pass Paradise Old Field I kin always see dem." "Have you ever been 
told anything about the ball of fire and Jack-mer-lantern, as you call 
them?" "Yes, sir;" dat I hab." "Then let me hear what you have been told." 
"Yes, sir; Boss, I'se gwine tu tell you de God's trufe." "Well, proceed." 
"Boss, I'm gwine to tole you dey tole me dat long time 'go dat a man by de 
name of Pluter was come up dar in dat field wid a 'omun, an' dat dey loss 
demselves, an' hab neber bin seed since; and dat ebery nite wen you go by 
dar you kin see somfin.

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One nite as I was gwine 'long I thort data ball of fire wus gwine tu hit 
me in de face. I axed who wus dat; nobody said nuffin. I hit at it an' it 
turned to a Jack-mer-lantern." "And what was that,' I asked. "I 'spec dat 
it wus dat man Pluter, an' de ball ob fire wus de 'omun dat wus wid him." 
"And they are what you call 'sperits?' Then you are a natural born fool; 
if you do not shove this boat along I will break your head with this 
pole." "Boss, I shall always blebe in dem sperits."

It is very true that some very mysterious and unaccountable things were 
seen when passing Paradise Old Field, by the side of the canal, by persons 
on their way to the Lake of the Dismal Swamp, but in very few instances, 
and then only by nervous persons of diseased minds. You might travel up 
and down the canal as often as you choose and outside of snakes and pole 
cats nothing would ever appear. Do not let snake stories deter you from 
visiting this wonderful and beautiful place, the Lake of the Dismal Swamp. 
As the boat was being driven along, the driver said: "Boss, did I nebber 
told you about de big watermillion that Mars. Caleb Busby foun' near dis 
place?" "No; let me hear something about it." "Well, sir, I will tole you. 
One day as Mars. Busby was gwine tu de Lake, an' wen he got rite here he 
ceed on de side ob de cunnel a big snake trien tu swallow a raccoon. He 
tuk up sumfin' to flro at de snake, an' jes' den he ceed in de bushes a 
nale keg, an' wus glad dat he had foun' a keg ob nales. But wen he got dar 
it wus a watermillion." "How do you suppose that melon came

Page 45 

to grow there?" I asked. "My 'pinion 'bout dat, Boss, dat some nigger 
stole a watermillion frum sum farmer's patch, an' wen he got here he 
busted it gin a tree. Sum ob de seed fell on de ground an' de watermillion 
gru dar." "That is very probable. What did Mr. Busby do with it?" "He 
karid it home, planted sum ob de seed and his million weighed ober fifty 
pounds. He sole sum ob de seed, an' frum dem seed farmers rose de biggest 
watermillions ob eny in dis kintry." "Dat will do pretty well for you; 
drive the boat along." "Dus yu think dat I tole yu a story, Boss?" "Oh, 
no; I only thought that one of your 'Jack-mer-lanterns' had been after 
you, or that somebody had been throwing a 'ball of fire' at your head."



CHAPTER IX.
SUFFOLK AND EARLY DAYS.

I will take the above railroad and return to Suffolk, when I will say 
something of my early recollections of that place. It was in the year 1830 
that my father, with his family, moved to it. I was quite small at that 
time, but I recollect the time well. Suffolk was then a small village, 
situated on the Nansemond river, with a population of about five hundred, 
and increased very slowly in population until after the surrender, which 
was in April, 1865. Since that it has increased very rapidly in population

Page 46 

and growth. It was in Suffolk that Henry Herman commenced his business 
career; moved to Norfolk in 1832; and became one of her successful 
merchants. At his death his remains were brought to Suffolk, and now 
quietly rest in Cedar Hill Cemetery. I could mention many instances of 
successful business men of that town were it necessary. I will now write 
of things of more recent date--something within the recollection of many 
persons yet living. It will be recollected that a fire broke out in June, 
1837, that destroyed the lower part of the town. There were no engines in 
the place and the flames raged with great fury. The Allen residence, at 
Rose Hill, about one half mile distant, was set on fire several times by 
the flying debris, and it was with difficulty that the house was saved. It 
was at Rose Hill that a large mercantile business was carried on, and no 
doubt a large quantity of juniper lumber was shipped from that point 
belonging to private individuals. A wharf was built at the mouth of 
Shingle creek (I imagine long before the Jericho canal was dug), and large 
quantities of lumber was hauled to it by persons living on the edge of the 
Dismal Swamp. I knew of several persons who owned large juniper glades on 
the edge of Dismal Swamp one in particular. His name was Thomas Swepston 
and lived not far from Suffolk, on the line of the Seaboard railroad, 
which divides his farm. He was agent of the Dismal Swamp Land Company for 
several years, and may have been the first after the Jericho canal was 
opened. The last agent, of whom I have any knowledge, was

Page 47 

W. S. Riddick, Esq., who died several years ago. The last inspector of 
lumber was J. E. Bonnewell. of whom it is my pleasure to notice 
particularly, Perhaps no man was more generally known and respected in 
Suffolk than he. He was a true friend, benevolent and kind, never refusing 
to bestow charity when called upon. He succeeded Mr. Joseph Hill as 
inspector for the company, which office he held until his death. It was 
during his term of office that it was made so pleasant to visit the Lake. 
By giving timely notice he would always give the parties the best boats 
and the most trusty hands as drivers, and would always be present when the 
boat left its landing and when it returned, and was anxious to know if any 
mishaps had occurred to any of the party. And if it should be reported 
that some lady had fallen into the canal, he would always very politely 
ask that she be carried into his house to be made more comfortable. Capt. 
Babel Ions, of Philadelphia, was his bosom friend. When the Captain was in 
Suffolk, they could always be found together. They both have passed away, 
and a generous people will do justice to their memory. Captain Connewell 
died leaving a rich heritage behind--a name that will live as long as it 
is called. But few have lived and died who was so much beloved and 
respected as he. He was proud but not haughty, and flexible to kind 
impulses. He was the soul of honor, and no one can say that he even failed 
to accord to every one their just dues. I knew him from my boyhood up and 
never knew a better man. He left an interesting family--Mrs. H.

Page 48 

R. Culley being his eldest daughter. I could write many noble traits in 
the character of that good man, but it is not necessary. There are but few 
of his compeers now living, and soon they will all have passed away. Such 
is the march of time.

Nothing very important transpired in Suffolk from 1837 until after the 
close of the late war, when she awoke from her slumbering condition; her 
watchword being progress. She brushed the dust from her eyes, and her 
advancement in every branch of industry can be seen in her rapid growth. 
She stands second to no town in a commercial point of view. Her 
manufacturing interests are considerable, and being a railroad centre she 
must prosper and grow. The disastrous fire which occurred June 7th, 1885, 
impeded business for a few months, but our men of capital at once 
commenced to repair the breach, and she is again on the road to fame and 
wealth. And it is to the Suffolk and Carolina or Short Line railroad that 
Suffolk is mostly indebted for her present prosperous condition. 
Penetrating as it does a country that is rich and fertile, she has already 
felt its influence and it should be fostered as one of the main arteries 
to her prosperity.

The Gay Manufacturing Company, before noticed, is perhaps the most 
gigantic enterprise ever projected at Suffolk. It has extended its 
operations as far South as Chowan county, N. C., and the amount of capital 
invested is no doubt the largest investment of its kind in Virginia, if 
not in the entire South. It has made large purchases of land in and around

Page 49 

Suffolk and has bought all the timbered lands on the Suffolk and Carolina 
Short Line or Grand Trunk railroad, giving employment to hundreds of 
hands, at fair wages, that would otherwise eke out a miserable existence. 
It also enables the land-owners, from the sale of their timber, to free 
themselves from debt and otherwise improve their condition. Under the 
direction of President W. N. Camp, it has had erected near Suffolk, on the 
line of the S. & C. R. R., one of the most extensive saw mills in Eastern 
Virginia, and with the aid of the Atlantic and Danville railroad 
penetrating the primeval forests of Southampton, Greensville and other 
counties of Virginia. Millions of logs will be brought on that road and 
manufactured for shipment to Northern markets. The company consists 
principally of Baltimoreans, who will reap a harvest commensurate with the 
capital invested. And in many instances it is owing to the mature judgment 
of President Camp that the efforts to establish this great enterprise has 
been crowned with such signal success. The advantages this company 
possesses, by its intimate connections with the S. & C. R. R., and A. & D. 
R. R., cannot be estimated, but it can be truly said that their intimate 
and close relations with each other, while each is a separate and distinct 
corporation, forms one of the grandest and far-reaching enterprises of its 
kind in the South.

The Gay Manufacturing Company consists of William N. Camp. president; 
Charles F. Pitt, Jr., Chauncy Brooks, S. P. Ryland, John M. Denison and 
William N. Camp, directors; George L. Barton,

Page 50 

treasurer; Charles F. Pitt, Jr., secretary.

The A. & D. R. R. has made great internal improvement under the management 
of Major Charles B. Peck, of New York, and has progressed more rapidly 
than any road of which we have any knowledge. Its starting point is at 
West Norfolk, on the Elizabeth river, at the mouth of its western branch, 
the great trucking region of the State of Virginia which will supply it 
with thousands of dollars worth of freight annually. It runs diagonally 
across the Norfolk and Western and Seaboard and Roanok, railroads, both of 
which have already felt its effects, and when it shall have reached 
Danville the Richmond and Danville will then feel its withering influence, 
for this being the shortest and most speedy route to deep water, in one of 
the finest harbors in the world, it is natural that all produce will seek 
such a route and such a favorable shipping point.



CHAPTER X.
ENTERPRISE AND PROSPERITY.

This railroad was projected by the energetic and far seeing W. H. Gay, 
Esq., of Suffolk, as a lumber road, who pushed it rapidly as far south as 
Sunsbury, in Gates county, N. C. He soon saw that it was a grand 
enterprise, and associated with him several gentlemen of the city of 
Baltimore in its construction, who afterwards bought out Mr. Gay's 
interest,

Page 51 

and have constructed a road that will soon become one of the leading 
lines, connecting as it does, by a line of steamboats, the waters of 
Albermarle Sound and the Atlantic ocean, and bringing eastern North 
Carolina in direct communication with the city of Baltimore. Under the 
able management of Mr. H. B. Hubbell, the efficient vice-president of the 
company, and R. H. Thompson, Esq., as general manager, with the assistance 
of Colonel Harry McCleary, the road has been brought to its present 
flourishing condition, and the Gay Manufacturing Company, under President 
Camp. is one of its chief adjuncts This road now connects with the Norfolk 
and Western and the Atlantic and Danville railways, and soon large 
quantities of freight will be transferred from it to the above-named roads.

Suffolk is more particularly noted for her schools, colleges and other 
institutions of learning, all of which are in a very prosperous condition. 
The Suffolk Military Academy, under the direction of Joseph King, 
principal, with its professorship, is no doubt the best school for young 
men in Tidewater Virginia. The character and standing of it, with its 
location for health, is a recommendation that must tend greatly to its 
success.

Another school of high grade is the Suffolk Collegiate Institute, under 
the professorship of P. J. Kernodle. It is an institution that has been 
established for several years, and has reeived a liberal support from its 
friends. The course at this institution is thorough. Young ladies are 
taught the higher branches and are instructed in music, drawing, &c.

Page 52 

The West End Female Seminary, under the direct supervision of Col. W. H. 
Darden, formerly of Isle of Wight county, Va, with Miss Novella Darden as 
principal, with the assistance of Miss Lizzie J. King, gives to the school 
a reputation that must add greatly to its success. Young ladies at this 
school are instructed in all the higher branches, music, painting and 
drawing. It is eligibly located on College Avenue.

The Suffolk Female Institute, under the direction of the Misses Finney, is 
too well known to require a notice. It is the oldest established school in 
Suffolk, and enjoys a reputation that is enviable. It has probably 
received more favor than any other school which I have noticed.

The Nansemond Seminary, of which Mrs. Quimby is principal, is a school 
that recommends itself. It s limited in the number of its pupils. This 
should not be so. Throw open your doors wide and let your motto be "the 
greatest good to the greatest number." It has gained quite a reputation.



CHAPTER XI.
THE OLD BRICK CHURCH AT BENN'S--SUFFOLK'S FIRST RAILROAD, ETC.

It is interesting to read of relics of the olden times and bring up 
associations connected therewith. I will now notice an antiquated old 
building in Isle of Wight county, Va., on the main road leading from

Page 53 

Suffolk to Smithfield, and about five miles from the latter place. It is 
called Old Benn's Church. At what time it was built I have never heard, 
but it must have been soon after the settlement of this country. The rude 
hand of time has reduced it to bare walls, and nothing is left of its 
interior to show that it was ever a place of worship. That it was built 
when this country was a colony there can be no question. There is a 
burying ground at the place, on which can be seen tomb stones of very 
ancient date, and if I mistake not, the first rector of the church or some 
of his family was buried in it. A tablet, noting the fact, could be seen 
set in the building. Bishop Meade, in his history of the Episcopal 
Churches in Virginia, mentions Benn's Church as being one of, if not the 
oldest, church in the State. It has been snatched from further decay by 
some benevolent ladies and will soon again become a place of worship. Let 
the names of these ladies form the future history of that sacred old 
church, and let future generations know that it was at one time from decay 
reduced to bare walls, and that by the humane efforts of some ladies it 
has been re claimed and once more presents the appearance of a house of 
worship, standing as a monument to its former renown and greatness. There 
are several Episcopal churches in this county that should not be allowed 
to go to decay. They stand as landmark s in Virginia; built long before 
the recollection of any one now living. I know of several places in this 
county that I have been told were Glebe property, and at one time were, 
and had erected on

Page 54 

them, Episcopal churches. In many places these churches have gone down, 
the land escheated and are now occupied by churches of other 
denominations. And it may have been so, as they are just such places as 
old Episcopal churches now stand, On elevated sites near running streams. 
I could state some very interesting facts connected with many places in 
this county which might appear very meritorious, nevertheless they are 
true, and form a part of the history of the county.

I will now mention Mount Pleasant, the home of the Meades, of Virginia. 
This was at one time a very beautiful estate, on the west bank of what is 
now known as Smith's Creek, and is the southern branch of the Nansemond 
river. Long before the revolution this place was settled, and at the time 
very large vessels could navigate the creek as far as Mount Pleasant, it 
then being a wide and deep river, and I have been told that a direct 
foreign trade was carried on with that place. A grave yard can be seen at 
Mount Pleasant which is very singular, and has some curiously inscribed 
tomb stones in it of persons who died there many years ago. By the 
ruthless hand of time many of the tombs were mutilated, and it may be that 
little is left of them. I had the inscriptions of some of them, but gave 
them to a gentleman from Westmoreland county, Virginia. He wanted them on 
account of their singularity, and he being an antiquarian he said they 
would be quite an acquisition to his cabinet of curiosities. It is highly 
probable that Mount Pleasant was settled long before the Dismal Swamp

Page 55 

was known or heard of, and I doubt if any one thought that there could be 
found such a place as really was existing, and having hid in its dark 
foliage such a beautiful place as Lake Drummond.

The first great enterprise that was commenced in Suffolk after the 
surrender, was the building of the railroad of the Suffolk Lumber Company, 
which runs from Suffolk to Asher, in Gates county, North Carolina, where 
is the home of the Hon. C. A. Whaley. As soon as the road was completed as 
far as Whaleyville, in Nansemond county, Va., a town soon sprung up, and a 
mercantile business was commenced, which for time paralyzed business in 
Suffolk. It stopped the channel through which flowed the life-blood of the 
town from where it started. This road is owned by Governor Eliew Jackson, 
Co. & Brothers, of Maryland, and has from its commencement done a heavy 
business. It has been ably managed by W. M. Whaley, Esq, and Mr. D. B. 
Cannon. Whether it has been of any great good to Suffolk is a question 
that we are not prepared to answer, though the land holders through which 
it has passed have been benefitted. It brought their pine timber into 
market, which otherwise would have remained a primeval forest and a dead 
expense to its owners. The sale of it to Jackson & Co. has cleared many of 
debt, and to that extent the road has been a benefit. The company has 
bought large landed possessions in Alabama and Georgia, and will soon move 
their field of operations to those points. The quantity of wood and timber 
that has been transported over the road is

Page 56 

incredible. To say the least of Jackson & Brothers they started a spirit 
of enterprise, which, to some extent, has been a benefit. New ideas have 
been infused into the minds of our people, and instead of keeping their 
capital locked up they have invested it in various directions for the 
improvement and benefit of trade, thereby causing to spring up factories 
and machine shops, to say nothing of the many other advantages that are 
derived through patriotic motives.



CHAPTER XII.
BEAR HUNTING IN THE DISMAL SWAMP--COLONEL GODFREY'S VISIT TO SOUTHAMPTON.

It is customary in the tall season to have what is called bear hunts in 
the Dismal Swamp, and parties are frequently made up to go on such hunts. 
Before going it is necessary that some preparation should be made. Bear 
hunting is very dangerous, and is sometimes attended with difficulty. 
Before starting you should provide yourself with a cowboy suit, a good 
rifle, a pair of revolvers, a bowie knife (16 inch blade) and sub-marine 
armor. When thus equipped you can enter the Swamp. You proceed cautiously 
along listening to hear the bears lapping, when you go in the direction of 
the sound. Bears move very cautiously, and you should be sure to keep a 
good lookout in your rear, as it sometimes

Page 57 

happens that when you are going forward a drove of them are following you, 
and when least expected they make the attack, and if the parties should be 
the least separated, it often happens that all perish. I was told of a 
party that were out on a bear hunt in the Dismal Swamp, who supposed that 
they could face anything. The party consisted of eight good men. They had 
not proceeded very far in the Swamp when they heard in the distance the 
lapping of bears. Of course it is very exciting, and if one has any 
courage he is apt to show it at the time. A halt was made and the question 
asked, what should be done? They were not thinking of the danger that 
surrounded them. They did not think that bears were on their path. But it 
was too late. Whilst discussing what to do they were sprung upon from the 
rear, and six were badly lacerated, one rode off on the back of a bear and 
the last one retreated to the Lake for safety. Should you at any time go 
to the Dismal Swamp to hunt bears be exceedingly careful to have your rear 
well guarded.

Researches among old papers often bring to light subjects that long have 
been forgotten, and which, if cultivated, tends in many ways to the 
benefit of the rising generation. We often hear of events that have long 
since transpired, which at the time we pass unnoticed, but somehow or 
other an impression is made, and sooner or later something transpires that 
brings to our recollection a circumstance which refreshes our memory of 
some important event of which we have a slight remembrance.

Page 58 

Looking over the fourteenth volume of Col. Godfrey's work entitled 
"Important Discoveries,"to see if we could find anything therein written 
by which we could identify "Uncle Alek's Mule," and if possible to define 
him, that there could be no reasonable doubt but that it was the same mule 
rode by Nat Turner, and that he was driven by the young mother in her 
flight with her infant to the Dismal Swamp, and if what G. P. R. James 
said in his Old Dominion be true, we must believe that Uncle Alek and Nat 
Turner rode the same mule. No other account was ever given that ever came 
to our knowledge, but it will make no difference as everybody knew that 
Uncle Alek had a mule. But as we have stated before, looking over the 
fourteenth volume of Col. Godfrey's work on Important Discoveries, many 
years ago we read in it an account of his first visit to the county of 
Southampton, Virginia, and the many important discoveries therein made. 
His visit to that county was on very important business, and being a man 
of great observation, he was careful and cautious. He was tracing some 
titles, and it was necessary that he should make many inquiries. The 
country was wild and sparsely settled at that time it was extremely 
difficult for one to get accommodation for man and horse. He was fearful 
at times that he would not be able to reach a shelter for the night. He 
had crossed at the South Quay Ferry at an early hour, and had been in the 
saddle all day and was very much fatigued and exhausted, besides he had 
ate nothing. Night was fast approaching and he in a strange country. He

Page 59 

reined up his horse, which caused him to increase his gait. He had not 
ridden many miles fnrther when he thought he heard a cock crow. He 
listened and soon he heard the sound repeated. He was then satisfied that 
he was near some human habitation. What must have been his feelings, when 
he knew that he would soon reach a place where he probably would be able 
to stay for the night to rest and refresh himself. He rode on and in a 
short time came in sight of a very neat and comfortable looking house not 
many rods from the road. He arrived in front of it and found that 
everything about the house had the appearance of neatness and comfort, and 
that he would probably be accommodated for the night So he dismounted from 
his horse and opened the gate and proceeded to the house. The proprietor 
must have been very fond of fox hunting from the number of hounds that 
made an attack on him as he rode up the avenue, and which was so sudden 
that it brought out the entire household. It was getting dark, but 
sufficiently light to see one approaching on horse back. The dogs were 
called off, and he heard a voice exclaim ride up. A very handsome picket 
fence surrounded the house, and upon arriving at the gate. he was met by a 
fine looking old English gentleman, who invited him to dismount and have 
his horse stabled. Thanking him for his kindness, he at once dismounted, 
and taking the extended hand of the old gentleman, said: "Sir, I am a 
benighted traveller, and a stranger in this section, and have sought your 
kindness for shelter for the night."

Page 60 

"You are heartily welcome," said the old gentleman. "Strangers, if 
gentlemen, are always welcome visitors to my house. So without any further 
ceremony walk in and rest yourself, for I imagine that you have been in 
your saddle for several hours and must feel quite fatigued." "I have been 
riding since early morning and was surprised to find the country so thinly 
settled. This is the first place that I have seen at which I could venture 
to stop." "Very true," he replied, "but you will, as you advance, find the 
country more thickly settled." We walked into the house and were met in 
the hall by a very fine looking and matronly old lady. Giving his name as 
Godfrey, the old gentleman grasped his had and said: "Col. Godfrey, this 
is indeed a pleasure. Let me introduce you to my wife, Mrs. Ridley." 
"Ridley did you say?" "The same." "This is indeed most fortunate." "Say no 
more, Col. Godfrey; walk into the sitting room. You will find a cheerful 
fire, and as the air is a little chilly, a seat by the fire will cause you 
to feel more comfortable. Make yourself perfectly at home. You will excuse 
me for a short time while I give some directions to my head man, when I 
will rejoin you." "You are very excusable, Col. Ridley," replied Col. 
Godfrey, "I do not wish you to let my appearance interfere in the least 
with your business arrangements." The Colonel was not long away, and on re-
entering the room remarked to Col. Godfrey: "This unexpected meeting is 
very mysterious to me, and the more so because my wife remarked but a very 
short time ago that some stranger was coming;

Page 61 

that she knew it from the incessant crowing of the chickens and the fierce 
howl of the hounds. I shall always hereafter believe in such signs. But 
Colonel, our supper is quite ready. You will be shown to a room where you 
may arrange your toilet." Having performed this duty he was met in the 
hall by Col. Ridley, who said: "Colonel, it has been the custom at my 
house since my earliest manhood, just before eating to take a toddy, made 
of the juice of the Cider Berry, prepared in this county, and is the only 
medicine used in my family. The farmers of this county have a peculiar way 
of preparing it, and everybody that has used it speak of the good 
qualities which it possesses. Some say that its use, when you feel badly, 
will cause you to feel good, and to use it when you feel good will make 
you feel bad. It always makes me feel good, and I am remarkably fond of 
it. The oftener you take this medicine the better you will like it. There 
is sugar and honey; a little of either added will make it much more 
palatable, as honey is soothing and acts well for the lungs. I will try 
the honey." This being disposed of they proceed to supper, Colonel Ridley 
leading the way to the supper-room, and on entering found the family all 
standing, waiting. They were soon seated, and on the table before them was 
placed a good old-fashioned Virginia supper. Addressing himself to Mrs. 
Ridley, Col. Godfrey said: "Madame, I fear that you have, on this 
occasion, put yourself to some unnecessary trouble on my account." "Not in 
the least," graciously responded that lady. Then turning to Col.

Page 62 

Ridley, Colonel Godfrey said, "You were quite right, Colonel, when you 
said that the 'juice' would make one feel good; it has had that effect on 
me already, and I feel that I can do ample justice to this fine supper." 
"I am glad you think so," returned Colonel Ridley; "nothing pleases me 
more than to see my visitors eat heartily; help yourself, it does appear 
to me that one who has been riding all day would not require any 
artificial means of inducing an appetite." "Colonel," said Mrs. Ridley, "I 
suppose this is your first visit to the county?" "No, madame," replied 
Col. Godfrey, "I passed through a portion of it several years ago to 
locate some lands on the Nottoway river, and as there appears to be some 
dispute about the titles, I am on my way to look after it" "Yes," she 
said, "I heard you were coming and am truly glad you made it convenient to 
come this way, and besides you are on the direct road; do you apprehend 
any trouble?" "Not the least; my papers are authenticated, and I have only 
to present them." "I hope," she said, "that you will find it as you have 
stated." Supper being over they-all repaired to the sitting-room. Colonel 
Ridley had a daughter whose husband, a colonel of infantry, had been 
killed in the war of the Revolution and large tracts of land had been made 
by the Government to his heirs. "What was the name of the soldier?" 
inquired Colonel Godfrey. "Col. G. Bradley," answered Colonel Ridley. 
"Yes, sir; that was his name." "That is a part of the business which 
caused my visit in this direction, and Mrs. Bradley need have no fears as 
to the

Page 63 

validity of her title. I have the papers with me that will place her in 
full possession of the estate. Besides, she is entitled to a large amount 
from the Government as half-pay for her husband's services during the 
Revolution, which she will receive on application through the proper 
channel." It was now getting late, and Col. Godfrey was told that his room 
was ready if he wished to retire. Feeling a little sleepy, after eating a 
hearty supper, and as he had to make an early start in the morning, he 
thought it best to go to his room, so bidding the family good night he 
followed a boy, who carried a lighted candle to the room to which he had 
been assigned for the night, in which a cheerful fire was burning. The boy 
entered the room, closing the door behind him, and said: "Mass boss, mammy 
told me to ax you ef you war eny kin to de man dat made the baby medicin?" 
"Who is your mammy?" inquired the now thoroughly interested Colonel. 
"She's de 'oman dat nusses all de babies on de plantashun." "Tell your 
mammy that I will see her in the morning." "Yas, sir," he said, and left 
the room. The Colonel soon retired, as he felt somewhat jaded. He awoke at 
an early hour, and having some moments leisure got up and dressed himself. 
About this time he heard a tapping at his door, and at the same time the 
voice of the boy exclaiming: "Ise got a pitcher of fresh water for you." 
"Bring it in," said the Colonel. The boy entered, showing two rows of 
white ivory. "Boss, will you hab a fire made?" "No," said the Colonel, "I 
will soon be ready to go down; is the Colonel up?"

Page 64 

"Yas, sir, an' is waiting for you." "Then I will go down," said the 
Colonel, which he did and was met at the foot of the stairs by Col. 
Ridley, who bade him a cheerful good morning, and expressed the hope that 
he felt much better after his night's rest. "Thank you, sir; I am glad to 
say that I feel very much refreshed." "If you feel disposed," said Col. 
Ridley, "we will take a walk out, the air is bracing and a little walk 
will give you an appetite for your breakfast, which will soon be ready." 
They started, and as the old nurse of the plantation wished to see Colonel 
Godfrey, he proposed to his host that they should go to her quarters. They 
had but a short distance to go, as her house was very conveniently 
situated. When they arrived they found the old lady with a baby in her 
lap, evidently for some purpose. "Good morning, aunty," said Col. Godfrey. 
The old woman looked very much excited; she wore a pair of spectacles, the 
lenses of which looked like two saucers. "Mornin', sir," she replied. 
"What are you going to do with your baby?" inquired the Colonel. "I'm 
gwine to feed it, sir; its mammy is ded, an' I hab to feed it myself." 
"What do you give it to eat?" "I char 'tater, spit it out on my finger an' 
wipe 'cross de chile's mouf, arter dat I make a sugar rag, put some sweet 
flag in it, put de rag in de chile's mouf and lay it down; it goes to 
sleep, an' wen it wakes up ef it cries I gin it some more 'tater." "But," 
queried the Colonel, "suppose it is sick?" "I kin always tell dat; ef it 
draws up its legs and kicks, I kno dat sumthin' is de matter, an' I den 
gib sum ciderberry juice wid

Page 65 

nutmeg grated ober it, an' in no time de baby cries fer more ob de juice. 
Sum folks gib dar babies 'Godfrey's Cordial,' but I dus not blebe in 
doctors' fisic; nine times out ob ten dey will kill de baby. I thort dat 
you war sum kin to Mr. Godfrey dat made de medicin', and wood ax you 'bout 
it." "No, aunty, I am no kin to him."

Being informed that breakfast was ready, Colonel Ridley proposed that they 
should return to the house, and that a little of the ciderberry juice 
would add much to the enjoyment of the meal, and as everything was 
convenient proposed that they should indulge. Col. Godfrey took some of 
the juice with honey, as before, and was then ready for breakfast. Col. 
Ridley led the way, and on entering found a hot smoking breakfast. Mrs. 
Ridley remarked, "Colonel, you are an early riser I see; I fear you did 
not rest well last night" "I assure you, madame," the Colonel gallantly 
replied, "I could not have been more comfortable. My business being 
urgent, it was necessary that I should rise early." "You do not think of 
leaving this early?" "Yes, madame; you know that delays are dangerous. I 
have spent a very pleasant time, and hope, not long hence, to make a more 
extended visit. I was very much amused this morning at seeing the nurse of 
the plantation feeding a baby. It was quite a novel sight to me. The old 
woman does not appear to have much confidence in doctors." No, sir," 
replied the lady, "we have been living here a long time and no doctor has 
ever been called, professionally, to see any one

Page 66 

at the place. The old woman, with her tater, sweet flag, sugar rags, 
ciderberry juice and Black Jack, keeps every one in a healthy condition." 
"She must be very valuable to you," said the Colonel. "Yes, sir," said 
Mrs. Ridley; "we could not do without her, and her loss could not be 
replaced." "It is getting late and I am admonished I must leave," said the 
Colonel, "for I have some distance yet to ride." He said it would be a 
great pleasure for him to remain longer under the hospitable roof of his 
kind host and hostess, but that it would not be possible for him to do so. 
He said further that he had some papers which he would hand over to Col. 
Ridley which would be of great service to his daughter, Mrs. Bradley, as 
they would secure her right to certain disputed property, and that he must 
bid them adieu. Then addressing himself to Col. Ridley, said: "These 
papers are valuable; take them and entrust them only into the hands of 
Mrs. Bradley, and that if he would now order his horse he would proceed on 
his way. Col. Ridley assured him that he would like to have him stay 
longer, but that of course he best knew his business; that it had been his 
custom to welcome all visiting and speed all departing guests. That should 
he happen to come that way again he would be delighted to have him stop, 
as he would always find a hearty welcome. Col. Godfrey thanked his new 
friend and said that should it be his fortune again to visit that 
neighborhood he promised not to pass him by. His horse was waiting, so 
giving the Colonel a hearty shake of the hand and bidding good-bye to all, 
he mounted and rode away.

Page 67 

After Col. Godfrey had left, a general conversation was commenced about 
his visit. It was evident that his business was with Mrs. Bradley, but he 
did not know at the time that she was the daughter of Col. Ridley, or he 
would have made known to her the object of his visit. She was absent at 
the time. As his papers were all properly avouched for he could leave them 
in the hands of her father, Col. Ridley. The old medicine woman of the 
plantation was much interested in the visit of the Colonel to her 
quarters, and was anxious to know if he was related to Mr. Godfrey that 
made the cordial. She was told that he was not. The old woman broke in and 
said: "Missus, I thort dat de gemman who axed me what I was doin' wid de 
baby in my lap, was a doctor, an' some kin to de man what made de 
Godfrey's cordial, but he tole me dat he was not. He like de way dat I 
doctered de chile, an' sed dat he would rite about it. He sed dat he had 
tried sum of de juice hisself an' dat it was good for babies. I tole him 
dat I did not blebe in doctors' physic; dey did not no what to do for 
babies. I tole him dat nex to de cider berry juice an' sugar rag, dat de 
Black Jack was de bes medcin dat I could use He sed dat de Black Jack 
seldom failed. Missus, when dat gemman 'peared at my do, I thort dat he 
was a specalader, an' dat you was gwine to sell me." "No, Aunt Barbara," 
said Mrs. Ridley, "if all the money of all the negro buyers were added 
together, it would not make an amount sufficient to buy you. Nothing but 
death can separate us. You area part

Page 68 

of my very existence. I have left in my bosom a spark of gratitude yet, 
which kindles into a flame when I remember what you have done for the 
family. I have not forgotten that it was you that gave the timely warning 
of the approach of Nat Turner and his column By so doing you probably 
saved the lives of the household. On another occasion you saved the life 
of my darling babe by a miracle wrought in your own way. Aunt Barbara, I 
would not give you and your nostrums, such as 'Cider Berry Juice,' 'Sweet 
Flag,' 'Taters' Sugar Rags' and 'Black Jack' for all the doctors in 
Christendom." "Missus, I'm glad dat you tink so much ob me. I has always 
done de bes dat I could. You know dat de chillun on de plantashun was bad, 
but wid my Black Jack I always made dem have deyself." "That is very true, 
Aunt Barbara, and they all love you for it. You know, Aunt Barbara, that 
the Good Book tells us, 'spare the rod and you spoil your child.'" 
"Missus, dats what I 'luded to all de time. I nebber struc' one ob dem 
little niggers a lic' amiss in my life, unless I struc' at him and didn't 
toch him." The old woman here saw a little nigger coming at full tilt, and 
knew that something was wrong. When he came up, she asked: "What on earth 
is de matter." The boy was quite out of breath and couldn't speak at the 
time. The old woman gave him a rake with her Black Jack and said: "What is 
de matter wid you?" "I cum to tell you dat Judy's baby is mos ded, an' 
want you to cum 'mediately." "When I cum to de house," said the old woman, 
"I seed dat de chile

Page 69 

was bad off. I took it up an' seed dat it had de dry gripes. I give it 
some Cider Berry Juice an' tole its mudder to forth me a tater. I give de 
chile sum tater an' handed it to its mudder, an' tole her to put a sugar 
rag in its mouf with sum Sweet Flag an' lay it down, an' den I lef to jine 
de old folks at de house." "Well, Aunt Barbara, I suppose there was 
nothing very serious the matter with the child," said Mrs. Ridley. "Yas 
dar was, missus, an' I got dar jus in time. De chile was taken wid de dry 
gripes. I gin it sum Cider Berry Juice an' tole its mudder to fotch me a 
tater. I gin it sum of de tater an' put a sugar rag in its mouf. Dat chile 
has done gone sleep." "Barbara," said Col. R., "I suppose that if you were 
told that a child was dead and you were sent for in time you could, with 
your Cider Berry Juice, Tater, Sugar Rags, Sweet Flag and your Black Jack, 
bring the little sleeper to life. You talk of dry gripes; who ever heard 
of such a thing? What are they, and how is a person taken?" "Massa," said 
the old woman, "I tole you 'bout dem when dey got hold ob you. You ses 
nuffin to nobody, but you goes to de side-bode an' git sum Cider Berry 
Juice. Dat make you feel good, an' arter a while you take sum mo' ob de 
juice. De baby dus not know dat, so it draws up its legs an' kicks like 
wrath. Den I know dat it has de dry gripes," "Aunt Barbara," said Col. R., 
"I did not take it in that light before. Your philosophy is good, and I 
shall say nothing about the practice of your profession again. I admit 
that I take the Juice quite often, but it is not for the dry gripes."

Page 70 

"Yas, sir, dat medcin is good for all diseases, an' I take sum mysef when 
dar is nuffin de matter wid me." Mrs. Ridley, who was sitting listening to 
the conversation, happened to look toward the road gate, and saw some one 
coming in. All eyes were now turned toward the approaching stranger, and 
all were anxious to know who it could be. One said that it must be a 
preacher, another that it was a book agent. Aunt Barbara put on her specs, 
took a survey and said: "I spec dat it is a doctor cummin' here to sell 
sum of Godfrey's Cordial for de baby." "You are all wrong," said Col. 
Ridley, "it is our good friend, Col. Godfrey." He was right. The Colonel 
had advanced near enough for all to see. Col. R. advanced to the yard gate 
as Col. Godfrey rode up. A boy was in waiting to take his horse. "Colonel, 
we are all glad to see you back again. Dismount and let your animal be 
stabled." Having dismounted, Col. R. took him by the hand and walked in 
the house. Mrs. R. was standing on the portico, and as Col. G. walked up 
she said: "Sir, I assure you that we are all very glad to see you. We had 
been talking about you at the time that you appeared at the road gate Walk 
in. We will talk about that later. Take off your overcoat and wrappings." 
"Thank you, madam," he replied.

"Colonel," said Col. Ridley, "to use a common-place expression, which is, 
'talk about the devil and his imp will appear,' we had just been wondering 
who the rider could be. One said that he was a preacher; another that he 
was a book agent. Old

Page 71 

Aunt Barbara, the plantation nurse, said that he was a doctor coming to 
sell some of Godfrey's Cordial for the children, And I see I first 
discovered that it was you. I am rather disposed to think that you feel 
bad. I have some of the same Cider Berry Juice, and as everything is ready 
you will, without any further ceremony, walk up and take a little for the 
stomach's sake." "Thank you," said Col. G. "Since travelling over the 
county of Southampton I have had frequent occasions to try the juice. It 
is prepared and kept by most of the farmers, and the use of it acts like a 
charm." "If you would like to arrange your toilet, the boy will show you 
to your room. In the meantime I will see to having your horse properly 
cared for." The boy was the same that waited on Col. G. before, and was 
the son of the nurse of the plantation. "Well, Buck, how is your mammy 
now? How much Black Jack and Taters has she given you since I left?" He, 
he, he, giggled the boy. "I tell you what it is, boss, mammy wars me out 
mos every day, but she gibs me plenty taters an' I doan mine it." "Is Mrs. 
Bradly here?" "No sir. She did not stay here long arter marster gib her de 
papers dat you lef, an' I spec when she cure back she will hab lots o' 
money." "She will, no doubt, as she will only have to present the papers. 
I should like very much to see her. Is she handsome?" "I doan no what dat 
is, sar." "I mean is she pretty?" "Yas, sar, dat she is. It is gin out dat 
she is de puttiest 'oman in dis settlement, and I git so tired taking 
horses ob gemmen dat cum to see her." "Then I

Page 72 

expect she is bethrothed." "I doan no 'bout dat, but she ses dat de rite 
gemman hab not cum yit." "I must go down now, the Colonel may be waiting 
for me. Here is a dollar for you. Be sure to come to my room to-night." 
"Yas, sar, I will be dar sure." He had finished his toilet and proceeded 
down stairs. He was met by Col. R., who said: "Colonel, you will find a 
happy household. Your return has put a new phase on everything The old 
nurse is perfectly happy since she found out that you are no negro buyer, 
and that you did not come to sell Godfrey's Cordial." "The old woman must 
be averse to doctors. She no doubt is right, as nine times out of ten, but 
very few of them know what they are doing." "Thinking that you had not 
dined, Mrs. R. has prepared something for you. Try a little more of the 
Cider Berry Juice and honey. You will feel better prepared to enjoy what 
the madam has set before you." "I assure you, Col. R., that since 
travelling in this county I have become particularly fond of the juice. I 
have called at several places where I was told they did not use the 
medicine, but always like to see it sitting convenient." "The juice that 
you are now mixing was prepared when our first child was born. It is very 
exhilarating in its effects, and you are fortunate in having the pleasure 
of testing it at this time. It is an honor that is extended to but few." 
"Col. R., allow me to drink to the very good health of your first born. 
Was it a male or female?" "It was a female, and I am glad to inform you 
that it was Mrs. Bradley. She is away at present, but I

Page 73 

hope that you may make it convenient to stay until her return, which may 
be in a few days. A very neat and polite negro man made his appearance 
from the dining-room, and bowing very politely, said: "Marster, you can 
invite the Colonel in; everything is ready." "Colonel, walk this way. It 
is rather late for breakfast, but you will no doubt be able to make a 
repast of what is before you." "Make no excuses, Col. R., about what is 
before me, for it would satisfy the appetite of a king. That is the 
besetting sin of the Old Virginia matrons. They will load the table with 
everything that is good and palatable and say that they are sorry that 
they have nothing you can eat." "Col. Godfrey," said Mrs. Ridley, I see 
that you are disposed to indulge in a little flattery. It is true that we 
extend our hospitality to visiting strangers and friends, but not to that 
extent which you ascribe to us." "It has been my experience, madam, at 
every place at which I have had business in this neighborhood, and I infer 
that it was a general thing." "Then, Colonel," said Mrs. R., "you have had 
a very pleasant time since you left our house?" "I cannot say that it has 
been altogeher pleasant, madam. When on the road I cannot say that it was 
pleasant, but anything else I assure you. My trip has been an exceedingly 
dangerous one. I found treachery lurking about, and I at once put myself 
on my guard." Having finished eating, the Colonel was invited into the 
sitting-room, where Col. R. was found reading a paper just received

Page 74 

from Washington, in which was announced the arrival of his daughter, Mrs. 
Bradley, of Virginia, and her son. Mrs. B., it will be recollected, was 
the widow of a distinguished revolutionary officer, and was in Washington 
on business with the Office of the Interior. "Take the paper, Colonel," 
said Col. Ridley, "you may find something which might be of interest to 
you." When scanning over its pages his eyes rested on the following:

"Arrived in this city to-day, by way of stage from Richmond, Virginia, the 
beautiful and accomplished Mrs. Col. Bradley, of Va. She is the widow of 
the brave and gallant Col. Bradley, who so distinguished himself during 
the revolution, being twice brevetted on the field for bravery. She is the 
daughter of Col. Ridley, of Southampton county, Va., so well known for his 
hospitality. Every attention will be paid to this distinguished lady. She 
will remain in the city for several days, as she has important business 
with the Secretary of the Interior. That functionary has already called on 
her, and she will have no trouble in that direction."

Col. R, having finished his out-door operations, returned to the house, 
and on entering the sitting-room found Col. Godfrey still looking over the 
paper. "Colonel," he remarked, "I imagine that you have been much 
interested in reading the papers." "Yes, sir. I notice that your daughter, 
Mrs. Col. Bradley, had arrived in the city of Washington, and had received 
much attention." "Yes, sir, and it was very gratifying to me to know that 
such was the case. I only hope that she will meet

Page 75 

with no very serious difficulty in the prosecution of her business." "I 
assure you, sir, that she can have not the least difficulty; besides, she 
will have no trouble. The Secretary of the Interior has been informed of 
her visit, and she will be aided by him in every way." "I hope that it may 
be as you have stated." "Rest assured, Colonel, what I tell you is so." 
Mrs. Ridley, having finished her domestic arrangements, entered the room, 
when the conversation at once ceased. Addressing herself to Col. R., she 
said: "It is rather cold in the room, had you not better order some wood 
placed on the fire." "Excuse me, my dear, I was so much interested in the 
conversation of our distinguished guest that I paid but little attention 
to the fire. I will order the wood immediately." The wood was brought in, 
and soon the room was made very comfortable. Mrs. R. said: "Col. Godfrey, 
at the table just now you said that your journey after you left us, was in 
many instances, not very pleasant. You have rather raised my curiosity. I 
would like to have you give an account of your mishaps as you journeyed 
along. It will be very interesting, no doubt." "It is a great pleasure to 
me to impart to others anything that I may know that would prove of 
interest to them, and I do most willingly grant the request made by you."



Page 76 

CHAPTER XIII.
THE ADVENTURES OF SMITH, JONES AND BROWN--JONES, HEARING THAT A SNAKE IS 
IN THE BOAT, JUMPS INTO THE CANAL.

In getting up a party to visit Lake Drummond, you will always find more or 
less of the party who are afraid of snakes. On this occasion the party 
consisted of only three--Smith, Jones and Brown--all citizens of Suffolk. 
They prepared themselves with the necessary outfit and started for the 
canal. Their boat being ready they embarked and soon were on the way. 
Smith being the most expert took the wheel, Brown placed himself at the 
bow, so that he could ward off approaching danger, and Jones, who was the 
timid one of the party, was put amidship the boat, with his back to Brown. 
I knew the parties well; they are all living, and I will narrate the snake 
story as I was told by Brown, who will vouch for its authenticity. They 
had not passed the great terror to all who go to the Lake (Paradise Old 
Fields), where can be seen everything that is hideous; a place that is 
dreaded, and if it could, would be shunned by every one who visits the 
Lake. Things of most unquestionable shapes have been seen by persons when 
passing it. No one has ever given any account of the history of the Field, 
which you are compelled to pass going to Lake Drummond, and which has 
deterred many

Page 77 

from venturing to it. Owing to the many snake stories that has been told 
by persons who said they were born to see spirits, there can be no doubt 
that there is a legend connected with that Field. Some have argued that 
the Field was at one time filled with grottos, and that the fairies of 
Lake Drummond would leave their realm and by a subterranean passage into 
it to bask in the beauties which surrounded it. Profane history informs us 
that it was at this place that Pluto and Proserpine left for the infernal 
regions. That will make no difference about the snake story that I will 
relate. A snake is a wonderful reptile, and it is not necessary for one to 
be seen that one should be frightened. The very mention, in some 
instances, is sufficient to scare those who are the least timid. So it was 
in this instance. Jones, as I have said before, was one of a party that 
were going to the Lake. He was afraid of snakes. Smith and Brown knew it 
and they determined to have a little sport at his expense. Jones was 
highly delighted with the grandeur of the scenery by the side of the 
canal, as they rode along, and was expatiating upon the wonders of nature. 
Smith was charmed with the romantic effusions of Jones, and paid no 
attention to Brown, who was sitting at the bow of the boat, here looked 
toward him, and seeing that he was intently searching for something, asked 
what was the matter. Brown answered that a snake was in the boat and that 
he was trying to find it. Here Jones commenced to twist and squirm. 
"Hallo!" said Brown: "here's another!" No sooner had he said another when
LC

Page 78 

Jones sprang into the canal. He made several lunges and, Peter like, 
looked as if he was walking on the water. Smith added more steam to the 
boat and Jones was overhauled and taken into the boat, very much 
frightened. They had not gone very far when Brown said: "I believe that 
snake is in the boat yet," and at the same time threw at Jones a piece of 
rattan, which is good to scare one with--it's a veritable snake. He was 
again taken into the boat, quite exhausted and cold from his ablutions. 
Brown prepared some ciderberry juice for him, with some pepper and other 
things that they had along which, after taking, Jones became more quiet. 
Brown says that when he thinks about that snake story it fills him so with 
laughter that he has to buckle a strap around him to support his physical 
organization. Jones has not ventured to the Lake since that time, and 
Brown is afraid to tell him that the snake in the boat was only a piece of 
rattan. If you want to see snakes come to Suffolk and get Brown to go with 
you to the Lake of the Dismal Swamp, and he will amuse you to your heart's 
content.

To be continued, introducing several thrilling stories connected with the 
Dismal Swamp and Lake Drummond, together with bear hunting and the fearful 
consequences attending, and later accounts of the whereabouts of Uncle 
Alek's mule.





                                 SUFFOLK
                            MILITARY ACADEMY.

                            ESTABLISHED 1875.

The following constitute an able and experienced Faculty: JOSEPH KING, A. 
M., Principal (with 27 years' experience as a teacher). Rev. ROWLAND 
DOGGETT, A. M., (Randolph-Macon) Associate. P. ST. JULIEN WILSON (Virginia 
Military Institute). Dr. W. W. MURRAY (Dublin University). Dr. A. W. ELEY, 
Dr. E. D. PHILLIPS, Attending Physicians.

The testimonals (see catalogue) from distinguished educators at the 
University of Virginia, the Virginia Military Institute and other 
institutions--from leading members of the Virginia Conference--from its 
patrons in different States, and from the leading citizens of Suffolk, are 
a sufficient guarantee of the high character and standing of the school 
and the practical ability and fidelity of the teachers.

Boys and Young Men are here prepared for business or for college, and are 
surrounded by the best social and religious influences.

The military exercises (which take no time from regular study hours)are 
only intended to make boys healthy and strong, and to give them an erect 
and graceful bearing.

The Academy is supplied with Chemical and Philosophical Apparatus for 
Scientific Illustration; with Charts, Globes and Magic Lantern, to 
illustrate Geography, Physiology, Natural History and Astronomy; with new 
instruments for field work in Land Surveying and Civil Engineering; with 
two telegraph instruments and batteries for practice in Telegraphy, and 
other educational appliances for different branches of study. Handsome 
nickel-plated rifles and accoutrements furnished by the State.

All our arrangements are home-like, and conducive to health, comfort and 
mental and moral development.

Total expenses for one year, including neat navy blue uniform, from $175 
to $190.

For twenty page catalogue, with view of buildings and grounds, address
JOSEPH KING, A. M., Principal,
Or Rev. ROWLAND DOGGETT, A. M., Associate,
SUFFOLK, VA.




                             CHARTERED 1872.

                                 SUFFOLK
                                COLLEGIATE
                                INSTITUTE!

                               SUFFOLK,-VA.

                   PREPARATORY, PRACTICAL OR FINISHING
                                    IN
           Classics, Mathematics, Sciences and the Fine Arts!

                            ADEQUATE FACULTY.

Discipline--Self-acting under Parental and Christian direction. Character 
is primary. Conduct is resultant.

Domestic Arrangements.--Economical, substantial, home-like.

Terms.--Reasonable. Both sexes admitted. Sessions begin middle of 
September and end the following June. For Catalogues and other information 
address
PROF. P. J. KERNODLE, A. M.,
Principal.




                              CHARTERED 1881.

                                 SUFFOLK

                              Female Institute
                                    FOR
                       Young Ladies and Little Girls.

                   BOARD AND LITERARY TUITION $160 A YEAR

The Charter authorizes the Faculty to confer the regular Collegiate 
Degrees.

The eighteenth annual session opened in September, 1887, and closes the 
second Wednesday in June, 1888.

Students received at any time, but are advised to enter at the beginning 
of a term.

Suffolk is one of the healthiest and most accessible towns in Virginia.

The corps of teachers is efficient and experienced. The home training, 
moral and attractive. Fine advantages in Music, Art and Languages, at 
modern rates.

For catalogue apply to MISSES FINNEY,
BOX 146.   SUFFOLK, VA.




                                 WEST END
                                 SEMINARY
                                   FOR
                          Young Ladies and Girls.
                                SUFFOLK, VA.

The first session of this institution commenced its exercises September 
20th, 1887, with flattering prospects, being attended by young ladies from 
Surry, Southampton, Isle of Wight and Nansemond counties.

The large and commodious brick building, recently erected on Kilby street, 
by Dr. Skiles, has been secured for the purpose.

The course of instruction is such as to prepare young ladies for the 
various duties of life.

Special attention paid to moral and religious training, as well as social 
cultivation, thereby rendering this a home-like school.

Terms very moderate.

For any desired information address

Col. WM. H. DARDEN, 
Miss NOVELLA S. DARDEN,
Principals. 
Or Miss LIZZIE J. KING, Associate.




                                    THE
                          SUFFOLK & CAROLINA R'Y CO.

                          CHAUNCEY BROOKS, President.
                        WM. H. BOSLEY, Sec'y and Treas.

                                 DIRECTORS:
                              CHAUNCEY BROOKS, 
                                WM. N. CAMP, 
                              JOHN S. GITTINGS, 
                               WM. H. BOSLEY, 
                             CHAS. F. PITT, JR.
                              S.P. RYLAND, JR.

                  H. B. HUBBELL, V. P. and Gen'l Manager.
                    R. H. THOMPSON, Supt. and Auditor.

The road extends from Suffolk, Va., to Montrose Landing on the Chowan 
river, N. C.

Direct communication by water to all the rivers and sounds of North 
Carolina, and from Suffolk to Baltimore by the Suffolk Steamboat Company's 
regular line of steamers.

The shortest and most direct route from Eastern North Carolina to Norfolk 
and Northern cities. Makes close connections at Suffolk with the Atlantic 
and Danville road, the Norfolk and Western and the Seaboard and Roanoke 
roads.

By taking this route business men on the Chowan and Roanoke can visit 
Norfolk, spend several hours there, and be at home again the same day.