Virginia Letter

CHERITON, Va. October 26, 1897.

Terrible storm and tide sweeps the Atlantic coast. Cobb's Island the once famous summer resort now a total wreck. Hotels, cottages and dwellings all swept away, and breakers rolling over the island with terrific force that would never suggest that it had been a place of habitation. The U. S. life saving station is the only building left standing and it is surrounded by water, breakers striking against second-story windows. Captain Jack Andrews, the bravest and most daring of captains, with his noble crew of heroic surfmen, were without water and provisions and were compelled to abandon the island on the afternoon of the 25th. One year ago the October storms did serious damage to this island and it was then considered dangerous for the inhabitants to remain longer, and they have been leaving ever since; the last family coming off in September. Of the three great elements, fire, wind and water, it has been a question as to which is capable of doing the greatest amount of damage to man's upbuilding. A striking illustration of the powerful inroads of the last named, is presented in the destruction of Cobb's Island. Homes have been swept away and where now is the beautiful beach, where love has oft' been spoken, and added charm to the bewitching moonlight scenes so peculiar to this place. Year by year old Neptune has been claiming additional territory, until alas, it's all gone; and what was once picturesque homes is now a vast rolling deep. Nathan F. Cobb, for whom this island was named, was born December 15, 1797, in Eastham, Mass., and came to Northampton county, Va., in October 1837, where he opened a "yankee store" on the seaside road about a mile from Cobb's station. In the following May he purchased Cobb's Island from "Hard Time" Fitchett for $1.00 cash down and a two-horse wagon load of salt. There was no building on the island, but the elder Cobb at once proceded to build what is known as "Tammany Hall." This building was framed on Cape Cod and brought all the way to Northampton. The elder Cobb was married three times and lived to see sixty-two children, grandchildren and great grand-children. There is now three generations of Cobb's living. Nathan Cobb, Jr., the eldest now living, is now 72 years of age. He stands over six feet in height and is a fine specimen of well preserved manhood and nobility. Cobb's Island was probably called first, Sand Shoals, and on the government chart of today, the inlet is known by that name. The elder Cobb promptly opened the island as a public resort, primarily for sportsmen. The first steamboat which landed at Cobb's was the Osceola, Captain Mitchell, from Washington, bringing an excursion of forty or fifty person. The place has ever since been a favorite resort for sportsmen, but game of all kinds has been sadly on the decrease as the years go by. Geese, duck, snipe, etc., fed about these waters in marvelous numbers, until the introduction of the breach-loading gun. From that date they have been growing less in number. So, too, with the fish. The ruinous pounds which infest the Chesapeake and other waters are rapidly depleting the sea of fish. In addition to running the hotel and gunning and fishing, the Cobbs up to the war did a [illegible] just such work as this which led to the establishing of the United States Life-Saving Service. It is a most wonderful record that in all these years no one was ever drowned off Cobb's Island. There was a peculiar, indefinable charm about this spot which everyone who lingered there twenty-four hours was sure to experience. And we mourn the sad fate of our beloved, Cobb's Island, which now lies buried beneath the restless sea.

ELLA B. HUFF.