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Designed  by 

THE  Literature  Department  of 

THE  North  Carolina  Sorosis 

TO  Review  the  Heroic  Traditions 

OF  THE  Lower  Cape  Fear 

as  an  Incentwe 

TO  THE  Achievement 

OF  A  More  Glorious  Future 


SPENCER  COMPTON       . 

Earl  of  Wilmington  and  Viscount  Pevensev,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons 
From  the  portrait  by  Bosdet,  Royal  Academy 
Courtesy  of  lite  owner,  Dr.  James  Sprunl 


A  Pageant 
of  % 


Written  in  Collaboration  cy 

CITIZENS  OF  WILMINGTON 

IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 


W'lTH  THE  SLiiPERVISION  OF 

Frederick  Henry  Koch 

Professor  of  Dramatic  Literature  in  the  University 
of  North  Carolina 


printed  by 

Wilmington  Printing  Company 

Wilmington,  N.  C. 


po 


-  r, 


WA.l.' 


To 

JAMES  SPRUNT 

A  Loyal  Son  Of  The  Cape  Fear 

Whose  Efforts  Have  Preserved 

Our  Glorious  Traditions 

To  Posterity 


National     recollection  is  the    foundation  of    national 
character. 

Edward  Everett. 


ffiontenta 


Communal  Pageant-Making 7 

Foreword 11 

The  Prologue 21 

The  First  Part 23 

Episode  1 27 

Episode  II 39 

Episode  III 47 

The  Interlltde 53 

The  Second  Part 55 

Episode  1 59 

Episode  II 65 

Episode  III 75 

The  Interlude 81 

The  Third  Part       83 

Episode  1 87 

Episode  II 97 

Episode  III 107 

The  Interlude 113 

The  Fourth  Part 115 

Episode  1 119 

Episode  II 123 

The  Committees  of  the  Pageant 125 

The  Players  of  the  Pageant 


Stat  nf  IlluatrattonH 

The  Earl  of  Wilmington Frontispiece 

FACING   PAGE 

The  Live  Oaks  of  the  Cape  Fear 19 

Orton  Plantation        37 

CoRNWALLis'  Headquarters 53 

The  Second  Attack  on  Fort  Fisher    ,     .     .     .     81 
The  Gateway  Port  of  North  Carolina    .     .     .113 


OInmmunal  fagpant-lHaktttg 

By  Frederick  H.  Koch 

OUR  CAROLINA  country  from  Cherokee  to 
Currituck— from  the  Great  Smoky  Mountains 
to  the  shifting  dunes  of  Hatteras— afifords  a 
remarkable  ground-soil  for  pageantry.  Here  is  an 
untouched  store  of  brave  tradition— legends  of  the 
"Lost  Colony"  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  of  the  intrepid 
pirate  Blackbeard,  of  the  Croatan  outlaw,  Henry 
Berry  Lowrie;  here  are  brave  tales  of  the  Revolution, 
of  hair-breadth  escapes  of  blockade  runners  in  the 
War  Between  the  States;  here  the  deeds  of  the  in- 
domitable pioneers,  of  Daniel  Boone,  of  bonny  Flora 
Macdonald,  of  the  patient  Town  Builders  of  Old  Salem; 
here,  too,  the  lore  and  balladry  of  our  sturdy  mountain- 
folk— a  wonder-field  for  the  making  of  pageants  and 
plays  of  the  people. 

Because  of  her  unique  position  in  the  making  of 
American  history,  it  is  especially  fitting  that  the  City 
of  Wilmington  in  North  Carolina  should  embody  her 
heroic  heritage  in  an  historical  Pageant  of  the  Lower 
Cape  Fear.  Here  was  the  first  armed  resistance  to  the 
tyrannous  Stamp  Act;  here,  at  Moore's  Creek,  was 
the  first  victory  of  our  American  arms  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution. 

Also  in  her  contribution  to  the  beginnings  of  Ameri- 
can dramatic  literature  Wilmington  has  played  a 
notable  part.  Here,  in  Wilmington,  Thomas  Godfrey 
wrote  The  Prince  of  Parthia,  the  first  tragedy  written 
in  America  by  an  American.  Here  flourished  for  many 
years  a  noteworthy  group  of  amateur  players.  The 
Thalian  Association,  including  in  its  active  member- 
ship such  distinguished  citizens  as  Edward  B.  Dudley, 

(7) 


8  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

the  first  Governor  of  North  Carolina  elected  by  the 
people,  and  boasting  a  theatre  of  its  own  as  early  as 
the  year  1800,  when  the  town  could  claim  scarcely 
more     than  fifteen  hundred  souls. 

A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  was  written  in 
collaboration  by  a  group  of  citizens  of  Wilmington, 
members  of  the  North  Carolina  Sorosis.  Fifteen 
people  contributed  to  the  gathering  of  historical  in- 
cidents; the  text  is  the  joint  product  of  five  different 
writers.  So  the  Pageant  is  a  fresh  instance  of  co- 
operative authorship  in  the  making  of  genuinely  com- 
munal drama. 

Such  collaboration  is  significant.  It  should  have 
a  widespread  effect  in  enlarging  the  horizons  of  dra- 
matic literature  by  stimulating  the  people  en  masse — 
not  simply  as  participating  actors  in  the  pageant,  but 
also  as  joint  authors.  So  a  socialized  literary  as  well 
as  histrionic  art  may  be  cultivated,  and  the  folk-con- 
sciousness awakened  to  fresh  forms  of  expression. 
And  it  is  well  for  us  to  remem.ber  in  this  connection 
that  the  collective  intelligence  of  the  community  is 
determined  largely,  not  simply  by  the  extent  to  which 
society  is  able  to  understand  itself,  but  also  (and  per- 
haps more  powerfully)  by  the  extent  to  which  society 
is  able  to  express  itself. 

It  will  be  readily  admitted,  I  think,  that  communal 
expression  in  drama  will  most  completely  approximate 
a  representation  of  the  life  of  the  comm.unity  when 
the  authorship  is  collective  rather  than  individual. 
Then  the  composition  is  enriched  by  as  many  view 
points  as  there  are  writers,  as  cannot  be  the  case  when 
there  is  but  a  single  author — often  a  professional,  not  a 
resident  of  the  community,  engaged  to  write  the 
pageant  for  the  city  or  the  tov/n. 


Communal  Pageant-Making  9 

A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  will  be  staged  in 
a  natural  amphitheatre  on  the  banks  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River.  This  is  altogether  fitting  since  the  historic 
River  really  forms  the  life-current  of  the  play.  By 
the  River  came  the  first  explorers  and  the  settlers; 
over  its  waters  moved  the  human  tides  through  all 
the  changing  years.  Some  of  the  Pageant  scenes 
actually  take  place  on  the  River.  The  pirate  sloop 
of  Blackbeard,  moored  just  ofi  shore,  will  form  an 
important  part  of  the  stage-picture  in  the  Money 
Island  incident.  In  the  exciting  action  of  the  daring 
little  blockade  runner,  Lilian,  a  replica  of  the  original 
will  be  used.  This  will  add  much  to  the  reality  of  the 
scene,  as  will  the  appearance  of  a  group  of  Cherokees 
in  the  espisode  of  the  Cape  Fear  Indians.  These, 
coming  from  their  reservation  in  the  western  part 
of  the  State,  will  have  an  active  part  in  the  play, 
speaking  their  own  language. 

Five  hundred  citizen  players  will  take  part  in  the 
performance.  All  the  costumes  will  be  home-made, 
except  certain  historic  costumes  to  be  worn  by  actual 
descendants  of  the  characters  represented  in  the 
Pageant.  Hundreds  of  others  will  have  a  part  in 
preparing  for  the  production;  so  the  Pageant  will 
represent  the  entire  community. 

But  the  most  significant  feature  of  A  Pageant  of  the 
Lower  Cape  Fear,  it  seems  to  me,  is  its  literary  form. 
It  is  not  merely  a  spectacle,  but  a  worthy  pioneer 
in  communal  authorship  in  our  State.  It  carries  on 
the  ideal  cherished  by  the  author  in  Raleigh:  The 
Shepherd  of  the  Ocean,  of  the  pageant-form  as  not 
merely  dramatic,  but  as  dramatic  literature. 

In  this  Raleigh  Tercentenary  Pageant- Drama,  pro- 
duced at  Raleigh,   North  Carolina,  last  October,  was 


10  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

demonstrated  beyond  question  that  the  mass  of  the 
people  today  really  crave  the  spoken  word.  Each 
night  the  vast  audiences  that  filled  the  amphitheatre 
to  overflowing,  listened  to  every  word  with  the  utmost 
quiet.  The  spell  of  the  poetry  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh, 
written  on  the  night  before  his  execution,  brought  a 
hush  like  that  of  a  waiting  congregation  in  a  great 
cathedral. 

Pageantry  should  be  more  than  spectacle.  It  should 
cherish  the  spoken  word.  It  should  arouse  the  people 
to  an  active  participation  in  literature  by  giving  them 
a  living  voice.  For  the  sound  is  the  soul  of  the  word. 
By  giving  to  the  people  such  opportunity  of  communal 
expression  as  pageantry  affords  may  we  contribute 
somewhat  toward  the  making  of  a  new  literature  in 
America,  which  will  be  genuinely  national. 

Chapel  Hill,  North  Carolina, 
March  18,  1921. 


The  first  recorded  mention  of  the  Cape  Fear  is  in 
the  narrative  of  Sir  Richard  Grenville's  expedition  in 
June  1585.  Our  later  introduction  to  the  noble  stream 
which  takes  its  name  from  the  Cape  of  Fear,  involves 
a  tragedy  clouded  by  a  mystery  which  350  years  has 
not  revealed.  The  scene  is  laid  in  "The  Kingdom 
of  Silence  and  Awe  disturbed  by  no  sound  save  the 
sea  gull's  shriek  and  the  breaker's  roar." 

In  Robert  Sanford's  account  of  conditions  on  the 
Charles  River  (subsequently  called  Cape  Fear)  we 
read  a  pathetic  story  in  the  quaint  vernacular  of  the 
17th  century,  of  the  expedition  from  Barbadoes  under 
command  of  Sir  John  Yeamans  in  October  1665,  in 
a  "Fly  boate"  of  about  150  tons  called  "Sir  John", 
accompanied  by  a  small  "Friggatt"  belonging  to  Sir 
John  Yeamans  and  a  "Sloope"  purchased  by  a  "com- 
mon purse",  for  Colonial  service.  After  the  three 
vessels  had  been  separated  at  sea  by  a  great  storm 
in  which  the  "Friggatt"  lost  all  her  masts  and  was 
very  near  foundering,  the  three  vessels  were  provi- 
dentially brought  together  again  in  the  beginning  of 
November  1665,  and  came  to  an  anchor  at  the  mouth 
of  Charles  (Cape  Fear)  River,  from  which  they  were 
shortly  afterwards  driven  to  sea  by  a  hurricane.  Again 
were  they  guided  by  Divine  Providence  into  the  haven 
where  they  would  be;  and  for  a  third  time  they  en- 
countered heavy  weather,  and  the  "Fly  boate"  was 
driven  ashore  on  the  middle  ground  (off  the  present 
Fort  Caswell)  and,  sharing  the  fate  of  hundreds  of 
others  on  this  treacherous  shoal  for  256  years,  was 
"beate"  to  pieces.  The  crew  reached  the  shore,  but 
their  victuals  and  clothing,  arms,  powder,  and  military 

(11) 


12  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

supplies  furnished  by  the  Lords  Proprietors  were  lost; 
"but  when,"  as  the  narrative  proceeds,  "the  great  and 
growing  necessitys  of  the  English  Colony  in  Charles 
River  heightened  by  these  disasters  began  'clamorous- 
ly' to  crave  the  use  of  the  sloope  in  a  voyage  to 
Virginia  for  their  speedy  relief,  Sir  John  acquiesced, 
and  he  himself  returned  in  the  'Friggatt'  to  Barbadoes. 
The  sloope  returning  from  Virginia  loaded  with  victuals, 
being  ready  by  reason  of  her  extreme  rottenness  to 
sink,  was  driven  ashore  by  a  storm  in  the  night  on 
Cape  Lookout.  With  two  exceptions  the  crew  es- 
caped drowning  and  the  survivors  proceeded  to  join 
the  colony  of  English  at  Roanoke." 

Meantime  Captain  Edward  Stanion  having  been 
dispatched  with  his  small  vessel  from  Virginia  was 
returning  from  Barbadoes  with  supplies  for  the  Cape 
Fear  people.  It  appears  from  the  depressing  narrative 
that  he  left  Barbadoes  under-manned.  He  was  with- 
out a  "pilote"  or  a  mate  to  share  the  responsibilities 
of  the  voyage,  and  his  ship  having  been  "driven  b\' 
the  contrary  winds  and  tossed  for  many  weeks  and 
he  himself  conquered  with  care,  vexation  and  watch- 
ing," brave  heart  and  hero  as  he  was,  felt  the  sadness 
of  despair.  He  had  kept  watch  day  and  night  with- 
out intermission  for  many  days,  doubtless  snatching 
an  hour's  sleep  at  intervals;  torn  with  anxiety,  exhausted 
with  never  ending  work,  his  eyes  blood-shot  and  weary, 
his  beard  tangled  and  neglected,  now  "lost  his  reason 
and  after  many  wild  extravagances  leapt  overboard 
in  a  frenzye  leaving  his  small  company  and  vessellto 
the  much  more  quiet  and  constant  though  but  little 
knowing  and  prudent  conduct  of  a  child,  who  yett 
assisted  by  a  miraculous  providence  after  many  wander- 
ings, brought  her  safe  to  Charles   (Cape  Fear)   River 


Foreword  13 

in  Clarendon,  her  desired  port  and  haven."  And  so 
the  mysterious  chronicle  ends.  Who  the  child  was, 
his  subsequent  fate,  will  never  be  revealed.  Years 
ago  I  searched  with  the  late  Professor  Holmes  among 
the  ruins  of  the  Charlestown  settlement  at  Old  Town 
Creek  for  some  relics  of  this  turbulent  colony,  for  they 
were  a  "mutinous  and  undeserving  rabble",  but  we 
found  nothing  but  a  small  cannon  which  had  been 
previously  unearthed  by  a  pony  plough,  a  gift  of  the 
Lords  Proprietors,  and  which  was  sold  to  junk  dealers 
in  Wilmington  after  it  had  lain  for  centuries  almost 
unnoticed.  How  interesting  it  would  be  to  find  some 
later  record  of  the  little  lad,  the  Cape  Fear  Pilot,  who 
steered  the  relief  ship  through  stormy  seas  into  the 
quiet  haven  of  Old  Town  Creek!  Not  far  from  this 
abandoned  settlement  may  still  be  seen  a  moss  covered 
grave-stone  with  its  mysterious  and  only  inscription, 
"Known  in  Heaven."  So  mote  it  be  with  the  miracu- 
lous child  navigator  of  our  earliest  history. 

The  Colony  at  Old  Town  Creek  numbering  about 
600  souls  was  short-lived  and  Charlestown,  as  it  was 
called,  began  to  break  up  after  its  first  year.  The 
leading  spirit,  John  Vassall,  a  worthy  man,  wrote  to 
Sir  John  Colleton,  of  Essex,  one  of  the  Lords  Pro- 
prietors, October  6,  1667,  a  wailing  Jeremiad  blam- 
ing "the  rude  rable  of  our  Inhabitance  for  al!  the 
reverses  and  for  their  mutanous  conduct  which  dis- 
courage those  who  would  have  otherwise  remained." 
He  says  that  the  Indians  were  troublesome,  running 
off  the  cattle,  but  this  might  have  been  overcome 
had  even  twenty  men  stood  by  him,  there  being  less 
than  six  men  who  would  remain,  so  that  Samuel  Maverick 
writes  from  Boston,  October  16,   1667,  "the  plantations 


J  4  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

at  Cape  Feare  are  deserted,  the  inhabitants  have  since 
come  hither  (to  Boston),  some  to  Virginia." 

The  solitude  remained  unbroken  after  this  failure 
for  fifty-two  years,  when  Steed  Bonnet,  an  infamous 
pirate,  established  himself  within  the  harbor  of  Cape 
Fear — where  Bonnett's  Creek  retains  his  name — and  made 
such  depredations  on  the  commerce  of  Charleston  that 
Colonel  Rhett  organized  an  expedition  against  him.  A 
notable  battle  took  place  near  where  Southport  now 
stands,  ending  in  the  destruction  of  Bonnet's  vessel  and 
the  capture  of  many  pirates.  Two  days  later  other  pirate 
vessels  were  taken  at  sea,  and  more  thanahundred  pirates 
were  hanged  at  onetime  on  the  wharves  of  Charleston, 
and  many  others  on  Cape  Fear.  It  is  supposed  that  some 
of  Bonnet's  men  escaped  and  made  their  way  up  the 
river,  eventually  amalgamating  with  a  small  tribe 
of  Indians  on  the  Lumber  River,  where,  soon  after 
the  permanent  settlement  of  the  Cape  Fear  in  1725, 
a  considerable  number  of  English  speaking  people 
were  found. 

Although  it  appears  that  there  were  occasional 
difficulties  with  the  Indians  during  the  early  settle- 
ments, the  first  real  trouble  occurred  during  the  gen- 
eral uprising  of  1711,  when  the  Tuscaroras  fell  upon 
the  colonists  in  Albemarle  with  great  slaughter  and 
butchered  one  hundred  and  thirty  persons  in  two 
hours.  The  white  people  of  North  Carolina  would 
probably  have  been  exterminated  but  for  the  timely 
assistance  of  South  Carolina,  from  which  it  was  separ- 
ated a  year  later  in  1712.  Four  thousand  pounds 
sterling  was  voted  to  equip  troops;  Colonel  James 
Moore,  son  of  Governor  James  Moore  of  South  Caro- 
lina, came  at  the  head  of  a  second  force  of  troops; 
and   a   third   army    was    sent    under  Major    Maurice 


Foreword  15 

Moore,  who,  after  peace  was  restored,  remained  in 
Albemarle.  The  next  year  Maurice  Moore  had  oc- 
casion to  cross  Cape  Fear  near  Sugar  Loaf  on  his  way 
to  his  native  province  to  assist  in  overcoming  the 
danger  that  threatened  of  an  Indian  rebellion,  and  he 
was  so  pleased  with  the  river  lands,  that  he  came 
subsequently  with  kindred  and  friends  from  South 
Carolina  and  from  Albemarle,  and  made  his  home 
in  the  Cape  Fear  country.  His  brother,  Roger  Moore, 
came  with  his  hundreds  of  slaves,  and  built  Orton, 
while  Maurice  Moore  selected  a  most  admirable  site 
on  a  bluff  near  Orton,  fifteen  miles  below  the  present 
city  of  Wilmington,  and  laid  out  a  town  which  he 
called  Brunswick,  in  honor  of  the  reigning  family. 
It  became  the  capital  of  the  Province  of  North  Caro- 
lina; but  this  roadstead  proved  to  be  unsafe  in  stormy 
weather,  and  because  of  this  fact  and  of  the  growth 
of  a  village  fifteen  miles  farther  up  the  river  called 
New  Liverpool,  afterwards  Newton  and  subsequently 
Wilmington,  which  absorbed  the  trade  of  the  two 
branches  of  the  river  near  that  point  and  prospered, 
a  gradual  exodus  from  Brunswick  began  and  con- 
tinued; so  that  while  Wilmington  flourished  and  be- 
came the  capital  of  the  Province,  Brunswick  dwindled 
and  during  the  Revolutionary  War  was  wholly 
abandoned. 

And  so  the  River  moulded  the  fortunes  of  the  people 
who  came  to  live  upon  its  banks;  for  situation  and 
current,  and  cove  and  tide  decided  the  location  of  the 
settlements,  and  it  was,  after  all,  as  the  River  willed. 
Strange  sights  it  saw  as  the  years  passed.  The  famous 
Scottish  heroine  and  beauty,  Flora  Macdonald,  passed 
by  on  her  way  to  her  future  home  at  Cross  Creek; 
royal  salutes  from  the  British  sloops-of-war  thundered 


16  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

across  it  in  honor  of  the  coronation  of  King  George; 
excited  men  who  had  once  sworn  allegiance  to  tho 
crown,  marched  up  its  banks  when  the  days  of  their 
independence  were  at  hand,  and  denounced  the  Parlia- 
ment and  all  its  works.  It  saw  the  shadows  of  an 
approaching  revolution,  and  the  changes  and  chances 
of  a  war  of  independence  which  followed  More  than 
three  quarters  of  a  century  later  it  witnessed  a  mightier 
conflict  and  a  bloodier  war;  and  it  might  tell  of  the 
consecrated  ground  near  by,  over  which  hung  the 
cloud  and  along  which  raged  the  iron  storm  of  battle, — 
of  the  fair  white  banner  and  its  starry  cross  which 
waved  for  a  time  so  gloriously,  then  drooped  and  died 
with  a  nation's  hopes.  It  might  tell  of  the  fiercest 
bombardment  in  the  history  of  gunpowder,  when  Fort 
Fisher  fell,  after  a  strange  traffic  in  which  more  than 
a  hundred  swift  steamers  were  engaged  through  a 
beleagured  port  and  city — the  era  of  the  blockade 
running.  But  the  saddest  episode  in  its  ageless  life 
was  when  it  recently  bore  away  on  its  bosom  in  silent 
ships  to  the  unknown  sea,  thousands  of  its  own  lads 
grown  to  manhood  in  intimate  contact  with  its  waters, 
that  they  might  be  swept  across  the  broad  ocean  to 
the  continent  from  which  their  forefathers  came,  to 
bleed .  and  die,  to  make  men  free,  and  to  establish  a 
peace  upon  the  earth,  which,  after  more  than  two 
years  cessation  of  strife,  seems  now  still  far  away. 

In  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear,  we  seem 
to  have  reached  at  last  a  community  consciousness. 
We  have  a  composite  picture  arranged  for  dramatic 
presentation,  of  facts  that  are  proved  on  high  author- 
ity, and  which  have  been  compiled  and  woven  into  a 
harmonious  whole  by  many  minds,  each  contributing 
something  of  its  own  interpretation  of  the  things  which 


Foreword  17 

were  enacted  on  this  New  Hemisphere.  It  is  no  small 
achievement  to  have  brought  out  in  orderly  procession 
that  series  of  events  which  is  the  biography  of  Wil- 
mington from  the  Colonial  Period  to  the  present  Era 
of  Progress;  it  is  no  small  achievement  to  have  in- 
spired so  many  citizens  of  our  town  with  the  desire 
to  look  into  the  old  landmarks;  and  it  should  be  a 
matter  of  real  pride  that  those  who  have  undertaken 
it  have  persevered  through  a  long  period  of  patient 
seeking  for  accuracy  of  detail,  discarding  non-essentials 
to  get  at  the  really  significant  crises  of  the  life  of  Wil- 
mington. We  cannot  fail  to  admire  the  high  standards 
which  they  set  up  and  consistently  maintained  to 
collect  the  facts  for  this  Pageant,  in  no  wise  content 
with  anything  less  than  the  very  truth.  Like  all  per- 
fectly honest  endeavor,  it  will  have  a  lasting  place  in 
the  history  of  the  section,  and  the  painstaking  effort 
to  set  a  true  course  for  the  goal,  will  not  be  without 
its  influence  on  those  of  the  younger  generation,  who 
will  find  that  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  can 
be  depended  upon  for  real  historic  data. 

James  Sprunt. 


THE  LIVE  OAKS  OF  THE  CAPE  FEAR 


THE  PROLOGUE 


(19) 


[The  Pageant  is  announced  by  three  heralds  with  a 
salvo  of  trumpets.] 

[The  Spirit  of  Wilmington  enters.  She  is  a  stately 
woman,  in  white  flowing  garments,  bearing  on  her 
shield  the  seal  of  Wilmington.  With  her  enters  a 
Chorus  of  Attendant  Spirits.] 

The  Spirit  of  Wilmington 

Time  turn  back  your  written  pages 
That  the  product  of  the  ages, 
These,  who  dwell  upon  the  shore, 
Those  may  see,  who  went  before. 
Here  may  see  their  joys  and  trials, 
Happinesses,  self-denials. 
Spirits,  go,  bring  Venture  here, 
Patron  of  the  Pioneer. 

[The  Spirits  dance  off,  returning  with  Venture, 
dressed  in  flowing  green,  bearing  a  sword.] 

Venture 

Here  where  Past  and  Present  meet, 
Wilmington,  I  bid  you  greet 
Red  men  fierce — though  some  were  true, 
When  a  friendly  heart  they  knew. 
See  the  settlers  who  were  daring, 
Sturdy  folk,  all  hardships  sharing. 


(21) 


22  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Down  the  ages  here  resounding 
Echoes  from  the  distant  founding 
Of  our  city.     Hear  rejoicing 
O'er  success,  and  proud  men  voicing 
Gladness,  that  through  toil  and  strife 
They  have  brought  a  town  to  life! 

See  the  pirates,  famed  in  story, 
Heroes  of  a  doubtful  glory, 
Executing  darkest  plot, 
Making  hard  the  settlers'  lot. 

Not  by  facts  or  records  stable, 
But  through  legendary  fable 
And  by  supposition  old. 
Know  you  of  the  storied  gold 
On  Money  Island,  where  they  say 
Blackbeard  hid  his  chests  away. 

These  I  led  at  my  own  beckoning 
Forth  to  face  a  future  reckoning ; 
Some  to  triumph,  some  to  die, 
Good  and  evil  passed  they  by. 

Living  shadows  in  Time's  glass, 
Venture  calls  them,  lo,  they  pass! 


[The  Spirit  of  Wilmington  retires  to  a  dais  at  the 
right  where  she  can  observe  the  pageant  of  events. 
Venture  stands  by  her  side.  The  Spirits  dance  off. 
During  the  Prologue  and  the  Interludes,  the  Spirits 
dance  an  harmonious  accompaniment.] 


Olljf  Jirat  fart 

The  Natives,  the  Pioneers  and  the  Pirates 


(23) 


THE  FIRST  EPISODE 
The  Springtime  Gathering  of  the  Indians,  1663 


(25) 


We  made  a  purchase  of  the  river  and  land  of  Cape 
Fear,  of  Wakoosa,  and  such  other  Indians  as  appeared 
to  us  to  be  the  chief  of  those  parts.  They  brought  us  store 
of  fresh  fish  aboard,  as  mullets,  shads,  and  other 
sorts,  very  good. 

ANTHONY  LONG, 
WILLIAM  HILTON, 
PETER  FABIAN. 

[Lawson:  History  of  North  Carolina,  quoted  in  Sprunt's 
Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  29.] 


26) 


EPISODE  I. 

®I|f  Springtime  (fiatl|mng  of  tl\t 
3lttbian0,  lHfi3 

The  Characters: 

Watcoosa,  Chief  of  the  Cape  Fear  Indians* 

Mahaiwee*,  Watcoosa' s  daughter 

LEELINAW^  another  daughter 

WAHGEGWANEE^  a  scout  and  interpreter 

Other  Indians  of  various  tribes,  having  come  from 

the  back  country  for  their  Springtime  Feast' 
Captain    William    Hilton,    an    Englishman    sent 

from    the   Barbadoes   to   explore   the    Cape   Fear 

River 
Anthony  Long,  in  Hilton's  party 
Peter  Fabian,  another  member  of  the  party 
Other  Englishmen  of  the  Expedition 

The  Time:    The  spring  of  1663* 

The  Place:     Crane    Island,  in  the   Cape  Fear  River 

[The  Indians  are  gathering  for  their  great  Spring 
Festival.  The  squaws  are  making  yopon  tea,  and 
cooking  fish  and  game  which  the  men  bring  in.] 
[A  brave  comes  in  crying,  "Watcoosa,  Chief  Watcoosa.''] 
[Watcoosa  and  his  two  daughters  enter.  The  Chief 
sits  in  the  place  of  honor,  with  a  daughter  on  either 
side.] 


1  Little  is  known  of  the  Indians  who  lived  on  the  Cape  Fear.  S.  A.  Ashe 
says  they  "are  said  to  have  been  Congarees,  a  branch  of  the  old  Cheraws, 
James  Mooney  and  Fred.  A.  Olds  say  they  are  possibly  Siouan. 

^  Fictitious  names. 

^Sprunts  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  14. 

^December  1,  1663  is  the  correct  date  for  the  land  purchase  from  Watcoosa, 
but  the  action  here  is  put  in  the  spring  so  as  to  include  the  picturesque  Spnng- 
time  Feasts  of  the  Indians. 

(27) 


28  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Watcoosa 

Di  gwege.  Gawl  oo  loss  ah.  Gaw  geh  oo  lootch  ha. 
Gah  law  ned  i  gi  stell  lah.  A  tsi  yu  wi  yah.  Aw  si 
aw  gi  yel  lah  ye  tsaw  lah.  Le  ye  tsal  skiis  si.  E 
tsal  ski. 

My  children,  the  long  winter  is  over,  and  the  Spring 
Festival  is  at  hand.  Manitou  has  blessed  us.  The 
Cape  Fear  Indians,  the  mighty  tribe  of  the  Sapona\ 
give  welcome  to  you  all,  and  ask  that  you  will  help 
them  celebrate  with  dance  and  feasting  the  coming 
in  of  Spring.     Let  the  dance  begin  . 

[The  dance  begins.] 

[Cries  of  "Daw  gwa\^^  an  Indian  cry  of  lamentation, 
are  heard.     The  dancers  stop,  listening  intently.] 

[Wahgegwanee  runs  in,  excited  and  out  of  breath.] 

Wahgegwanee 
Ni  he.     Ha  tu  gah  gah ! 
Woe  is  me!    Watcoosa  hear! 


^Sapona  is  an  Indian  name  for  the  Cape  Fear  River. 

^Although  it  is  thought  that  the  Cape  Fear  Indians  were  perhaps  Congarecs, 
or  possibly  Siouan,  the  liberty  has  been  taken  of  putting  their  conversations  in 
the  Cherokee  dialect,  and  also  using  Cherokee  customs.  If  the  Congarees  were 
a  branch  of  the  old  Cheraws,  and  if  the  Indian  tradition  is  true  "that  before  the 
coming  of  the  Englishmen  the  principal  body  of  that  tribe,  called  Cheraw- 
(or  Chero-)  kees,  after  a  long  fight  with  the  Catawbas,  removed  to  the  mount- 
ains" (Ashe  in  Sprunt's  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  25),  we  are  not 
far  wrong  in  choosing  this  dialect.  Another  determining  factor  in  our  choice  is 
that  we  have  a  Cherokee  Indian  Reservation  in  our  State,  and  the  Cherokees 
are  the  only  large  tribe  now  remaining  in  the  State. 

George  Allen  Owl  of  Ravensford,  Swain  County,  North  Carolina,  has 
made  the  translations  into  the  Cherokee.  He  is  one  of  a  few  of  the  Reservation 
Indians  who  can  speak  and  write  Cherokee.  The  Cherokee  language  has  its 
own  alphabet,  but  is  put  into  the  English  letters  here,  to  give  an  idea  of  its 
pronunciation. 


The  Springtime  Gathering  of  the  Indians,  1663       29 

Watcoosa 
Daw  tah  dun  ni? 
What  news  have  you? 

Wahgegwanee 
[Pointing  to  the  river.] 

A  ni  you  neg  gah ! 

The  pale  faces  are  coming! 

[The  other  Indians  take  up  the  cry  of  lamentatioti.] 

Watcoosa 

[Rising  with  dignity.] 

Ches  di  Wahgegwanee.  Watcoosa  guest  ya  dah  sky 
e  hah.    Oo  nul  stite  dah  di  nel  li.    E  gah  lee  ge  sest  di. 

Peace,  Wahgegwanee,  peace,  my  children,  Watcoosa 
does  not  fear  the  pale  faces.  We  will  give  them  fish 
and  furs  and  they  will  be  our  friends. 

Wahgegwanee 

[Pointing  to  the  river  where  a  boat  is  seen  nearing  the 
shore.] 

Ni! 

They  are  here! 

[Several  Indians  cry,   "Ah  ni  look   kH",   "They  are 
here!'',  and  start  toward  the  river.] 


30  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Watcoosa 

E  jen  nah.     Di  g  ne  hest  sti.     E  jalk  kest  sti.     E 
g  yu  wi  yah  hi. 

Go,  each  in  order  with  his  gifts,  remember  you  are 
Cape  Fear  Indians. 

[The  Indians  go  quietly  in  single  file  and  wait  for  the 
boat  to  land.] 

[Captain  Hilton,  Anthony  Long,  Peter  Fabian 

and  others  from  the  boat  come  forward.  The  Indians 
offer  their  gifts.  Watcoosa,  with  his  daughters, 
comes  slowly  down  to  meet  them.] 

Watcoosa  and  the  Interpreter* 
[Addressing  Captain  Hilton.] 

E  g  you  neg.     Eh  gawn  di  g  sauch  jah  aw  si  ah  gi 
yel  lah. 

Mighty  pale  face,  you  come  from  the  big  sea-water. 
You  are  welcome. 

[Captain  Hilton  is  taken  aback.    Not  knowing  what 
else  to  do,  he  bows.] 

Watcoosa  and  the  Interpreter 

Watcoosa  jal  stite  cha  neh  huh,     Gaw  law  gwe  ski 
del  li.     Le  whisk  ski. 

Watcoosa  friend  to  pale  face.     He  give  game  and 
furs.    Pale  face  give  fire-stick  and  fire-water. 


'All  the  speeches  of  Watcoosa  and  the  Interpreter  are  spoken  first  in  Chero- 
kee by  Watcoosa,  and  then  in  English  by  the  Interpreter. 


The  Springtime  Gathering  of  the  Indians,  1663      31 

Peter  Fabian 

[Aside  to  Hilton.] 

Zounds,  the  patriarch  hath  an  eye  for  the  main 
chance;  but  tell  him  we  must  have  more  than  fish,  we 
must  have  land.     Have  at  him.  Captain. 

Captain  Hilton 

[Aside  to  Fabian.] 

Peace,  Peter,  peace.  Try  to  look  solemn.  This  is 
no  Vauxhall  comedy. 

Peter  Fabian 

[Pulling  a  long  face.] 

Ahem! 

Watcoosa 

[Aside  to  his  daughters.] 

Mahaiwee  00  gu  we  yah  hi  ah.  Squeest  00  do  li. 
Ji  gah  yu  li  you.  Awg  soo  le  gawge  de  gul  li  hu  i. 
E  gah  lee  geh  sest  di.     Daw  tah  dun  ni  Mahaiwee? 

Mahaiwee,  this  is  a  mighty  pale  face  chief,  he  will 
ask  much  from  the  Cape  Fears.  I  grow  old  and  can- 
not lead  my  warriors  into  battle.  I  must  make  peace. 
You  are  fair  to  look  at.  I  will  give  you  to  him  for  a 
wife,  and  he  will  be  friend  to  Watcoosa.  What  you 
say,  Mahaiwee,  will  you  go? 

Mahaiwee 

Cha  yu  ga  ghen  nah.     Oo  yaw  e  di  cunt  di  yu. 

O  father!  No!  I  could  not  leave  you  and  my  sister, 
Leelinaw.     I  do  not  like  his  great  white  face. 


32  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Watcoosa 
Ah  seh  jan  nu  sti. 
Child,  you  must  help  me. 

Leelinaw 

A  gih  dawd  da.  I  ghen  nah.  Ah  gwa  do  H  ah  gwen 
nu  sti.     Daw  tah  du  ni  Mahaiwee? 

Father,  I  have  a  plan;  though  I  am  the  younger,  I 
have  the  bolder  spirit.  I  will  go  too  and  be  his  wife, 
then  we  shall  be  together;  so  big  and  rich  a  chief  as 
he  would  want  two  wives.  Besides  I  should  so  love 
to  travel.    What  do  you  say,  Mahaiwee? 

Mahaiwee 

E  youst  ti  gwa  geh  su.  E  yah  gwa  dun  ti.  Guest 
aw  si  yeek  di  cu  ti  you. 

Whatever  you  wish  I  will  do.  I  could  not  bear  to 
leave  you  and  I  do  not  like  his  great  white  face. 

Watcoosa 
Leelinaw  he  skii  yah  yah. 

Leelinaw,  you  are  a  bright  child.  It  is  the  greater 
honor  that  I  give  two  daughters  . 

[By  this  time  the  Englishmen  are  surrounded  hy  the 
curious  Indians.  Watcoosa  comes  toward  the 
group,  having  procured  the  peace  pipe  from  one  of 
his  braves;  he  motions  the  men  to  be  seated,  and 
passes  around  the  pipe.  The  daughters  of  Wat- 
coosa remain  in  the  background.] 


The  Springtime  Gathering  of  the  Indians,  1663       ZZ 

Watcoosa  and  the  Interpreter 

Watcoosa  00  nah  lee  you  neg  ga.     Tal  de  gu  yah 
kass  da  jah  dah  lee. 

Watcoosa  friend  to  pale  face.     Watcoosa  give  two 
daughters  to  pale  face  chief  to  wife  . 

[There  is  a  great  sensation  among  the  Indians  and  they 
talk  excitedly  among  themselves.  The  daughters  come 
forward  and  bow  before  Captain  Hilton.  Hilton 
and  Long  are  thunderstruck;  Peter  Fabian  is 
irrepressibly  amused.] 

Peter  Fabian 

[To  Hilton.] 

Captain,  you  have  all  the  luck.  I  wonder  if  he  has 
any  more  daughters.  I  wouldn't  mind  a  few  myself. 

Captain  Hilton 

'Sblood!  This  is  no  jest.  You  know  I  have  a  wife 
already. 

[He  consults  with  Long.] 

Peter  Fabian 
This  is  not  England,  Captain;  if  the  girls  are  willing — 

Anthony  Long 

[Interrupting  him.] 

Cease  your  ribald  jesting,  Peter,  this  is  life  or  death. 
The  Chief  grows  impatient.  Tell  him,  Captain,  that 
for  fire-sticks  and  fire-water  we  must  have  more  than 

^Sprunt  records  in  Tales  and  Traditions  of    the  Lower  Cape  Fear     {1896), 
the  tradition  of  Watcoosa's  offering  his  two  daughters  to  Hilton. 


34  A  Pageant  oj  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

wives;  we  must  have  land.  Tell  the  old  Turk  that 
you  will  accept  his  offer,  plus  the  land;  but  are  not 
prepared  to  receive  your  wives  as  is  befitting  to  the 
daughters  of  a  chief.  Tell  him  you  will  go  on  to  pre- 
pare a  suitable  home,  and  will  come  back  in  state  to 
take  them  thither.  Give  him  fair  words,  Captain;  we 
are  but  few,  and  they  a  mighty  tribe. 

Peter  Fabian 
[To  Hilton.] 

Take  them  by  proxy.  Captain.  I  was  ever  willing 
to  do  a  favor  for  a  friend. 

[Long  suppresses  him.] 

Captain  Hilton 

I  am  slow  of  speech  and  these  girls  abash  me  strange- 
ly, but  I'll  do  my  best.  [To  Watcoosa.]  Watcoosa, 
Chief  of  the  Cape  Fears,  hail ! 

[The   Interpreter   explains   Hilton's   proposals   to 
Watcoosa  as  they  are  made.] 

Peter  Fabian 
Hear !     Hear ! 

Captain  Hilton 

You  do  me  honor.  The  pale  face  chief  will  ever  be 
your  friend.  Your  daughters  will  be  treated  as  befits 
a  chief's  wife. 

Peter  Fabian 
Wives,  man,  wives! 


The  Springtime  Gathering  of  the  Indians,  1663       35 

Captain  Hilton 

But  each  wife  must  bring  a  goodly  share  of  land  as 
dowry.  For  this  you  shall  have  fire-sticks  and  fire- 
water. I  am  not  yet  prepared  to  receive  your  daughters. 
I  go  now  and  make  ready  their  home.  In  four  days 
I  will  come  again  with  many  gifts.  [He  seems  exhausted 
by  his  effort.]     Wh-ew! 

Peter  Fabian 
[To  Hilton.] 

Fine,  Captain,  fine!  You  will  soon  be  used  to  three 
wives,  you  old  Solomon. 

Watcoosa  and  the  Interpreter 

[With  dignity.] 

Aw  si  ni  hi  tsa  jel  li  tsic  god  dah.  Chas  yel  liwg 
gaw  yeek  chuck  t  yes  di.     A  gwege  tsi. 

It  is  well.  The  land  is  yours.  Is  not  the  Cape  Fear 
big  enough  for  the  pale  face  and  the  red?  My  daugh- 
ters will  wait  for  you  here. 

[The  white  men  go  down  to  the  boat,  say  good-bye  to  the 
Indians,  and  row  off.  The  Indians  follow  in  the 
direction  of  the  departing  boat,  the  tivo  girls  standing 
apart.] 

Mahaiwee 
Leelinaw,  yu  gah  gah  look  gi  g  gaw  watt  tah. 

Leelinaw,  he  will  not  come.  I  know,  I  saw  it  in 
his  eye. 


36  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Leelinaw 

Squaw.  Chest  hi  naw  sell  lah  ah  gi  daw  du.  You 
nah  gu  lunk  gah. 

I  saw  it  too,  but  do  not  tell  our  father.  He  would 
be  angry  and  go  on  the  war  path.  The  young  one 
that  laughed,  he  would  have  taken  us. 

Mahaiwee 
Gaw  si.     Ah  gi  yel  lu.     Ah  ni  yu  wi  yah  hi. 

I  am  glad.  I  do  not  care  for  any  man.  But  I  like 
them  best  with  nice  red  faces. 

[Watcoosa   signs   to   his   daughters,   and   they  follow 
him.] 


THE  SECOND  EPISODE 
The  Founding  of  Wilmington,  1735 


(37) 


This  roadstead  proved  to  be  unsafe  in  stormy  weather 
and  because  of  that  fact  and  of  the  growth  of  a  village  IS 
miles  farther  up  the  river  called  New  Liverpool,  after- 
wards Newton,  and  lastly  Wilmington,  which  absorbed 
the  trade  of  the  two  branches  of  the  river  near  that  point, 
and  prospered,  a  gradual  exodus  from  Brunswick  began 
and  continued.  So  that  while  Wilmington  flourished 
and  became  the  capital  of  the  Province,  Brunswick 
dwindled  and  during  the  Revolutionary  War  was  ivholly 
abandoned. 
[Sprunt:  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  45.] 


(38) 


EPISODE   II. 

Sfyp  J^nunbtttg  of  litlmmgton,  ir35f 

The  Characters: 

John  Maultsby,  an  early  settler  in  Newton 

John  Watson,  an  early  settler  and  surveyor 

Jehu  Davis,  an  early  settler 

Roger  Moore,  owner  of  a  large  plantation  at  Orton 

Maurice  Moore,  his  brother 

Gabriel    Johnston,    Governor    of    the  Province  of 

North  Carolina 
Michael  Higgins,  surveyor 
Joshua  Granger,  surveyor 
James  Wimble,   surveyor 
Citizens,  laborers,  and  men  in  the  stockade 

The  Time:     May  13,  1735 

The  Place:  The  water  front  in  the  village  of 
Newton  (an  early  name  for  Wilmington) 

[The  street  has  a  busy  appearance.  Market  wagons  are 
being  loaded  and  unloaded  by  the  river.  Men  are 
carrying  produce  of  all  kinds  to  the  boats.  Every- 
thing indicates  a  thriving  town.  John  Maultsby, 
John  Watson  and  Jehu  Davis  come  in  from  the 
right;  Roger  Moore  and  Maurice  Moore  from 
the  left.     They  meet  at  the  stockade.] 

Jehu  Davis 

Good  sirs,  now  you  know  my  mind.  There  is  no 
other  site  that  can  compare  with  this.  Just  think 
you  of  the  convenience  of  the  situation.  It  is  the 
meeting  of  the  two  great  branches  of  the  Cape   Fear 


(39) 


40  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

River,  The  depth  of  the  water  is  sufficient  to  receive 
vessels  of  considerable  burden;  it  is  here  most  proper 
that  the  town  be  erected.  Good  friends,  do  I  speak 
sooth  ? 

Roger  Moore 

Master  Davis,  you  speak  sooth  in  all  but  one  thing* 
All  you  say  is  true  of  Brunswick,  but  not  of  Newton- 

Maurice  Moore 

[Pointing  to  the  scene  at  the  river  front.] 

At  Brunswick,  we  can  double  that. 

Jehu  Davis 

Aye!  Brunswick  is  a  goodly  place,  but  I  have  it  on 
authority  that  the  Governor  hath  decided  that  this 
shall  be  the  town. 

Roger  Moore 

An  His  Excellency  hath  already  decided,  I  stand 
by  his  decision. 

Maurice  Moore 
Spoken  like  a  true  man,  brother. 

A  Man  In  the  Stockade 
[He  is  drunk.] 

Faith,  sirs,  the  sooth  falls  from  you  like  honey  from 
the  heavy  laden  bee.  An  I  were  free  from  this  stock- 
ade, my  voice  should  go  with  yours — my  voice  and 
that  of  all  my  companions  in  misfortune.  [To  the 
other  men  in  the  stockade.]  How  say  you,  friends, 
are  we  not  one  in  mind  and  voice  with  these  fair  gen- 
tlemen? 


The  Founding  of  Wilmington,  173$  41 

The  Men  in  the  Stockade 
[Laughing.] 
Yes,  yes,  Newton,  Newton  forever! 

John  Maultsby 

Peace,  peace,  you  noisy  clowns.  These  are  weighty 
matters  to  be  decided  by  those  constant  in  spirit  and 
full  in  judgment.  Wag  not  thy  tongue  so  freely  at 
thy  betters! 

Jehu  Davis 

Good  Master  Maultsby,  be  not  wroth  with  the 
poor  fellows.  Belike  their  fault  was  but  a  trifle.  Tell 
us,  fellow,  how  came  you  to  be  housed  like  this? 

A  Man  in  the  Stockade 

A  trifle  as  you  say,  fair  sir  .  .  .  but  a  trifle  too 
much  ...  I  came  too  often  by  the  Dram  Tree'. 
Had  it  not  been  for  that,  I  had  been  as  constant  .  .  . 
modest  .  .  .  and  sober  .  .  .  as  Master  Maultsby  him- 
self. And  so  it  was  with  all  of  these.  [To  the  other 
men  in  the  stockade.]  How  say  you,  lads!  Are  we 
not  dutiful  .  .  .  grave  .  .  .  and  .  .  .  purged  in 
judgment? 

The  Men  in  the  Stockade 
Yes    .     .     .    yes!    .     .     .    We  are    .    .    .    we  are. 


1  An  old  cypress  tree  "the  passing  of  which  was  signahzed  in  'ye  olden  time  by 
the  popping  of  corks....  Lilie  a  grim  sentinel,  it  stands  to  warn  the  out-going  man- 
ner that  his  voyage  has  begun,  and  to  welcome  the  incoming  storm-tossed  sailor  to 
the  quiet  harbor  beyond."  Sprunt's  Tales  and  Traditions  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear, 
1896,  p.  35. 


42  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Jehu  Davis 

Enough  for  now,  good  friends.  Governor  Johnston 
will  this  day  be  here,  and  I  will  speak  to  him  con- 
cerning you. 

John  Watson 

Look  where  the  Governor  comes  with  Masters 
James  Wimble,  Michael  Higgins  and  Joshua  Granger, 
— a  goodly  set  of  surveyors. 

John  Maultsby 

Let  us  go  meet  his  Excellency. 

[All  the  men  remove  their  hats,  and  go  forward  to  meet 
Governor  Johnston  and  the  surveyors.  The  men 
at  the  river  stop  work  and  come  fonvard  to  see  the 
Governor.] 

Jehu  Davis 

Your  Excellency  is  most  welcome.  An  it  please 
you,  I  and  my  friends  will  recount  for  your  under- 
standing why  we  deem  this  the  goodliest  site  for  our 
town  and  township  as  against  Brunswick. 

Governor  Johnston 

Good  Master  Davis,  we  have  gone  into  all  that — I 
and  my  surveyors — and  we  are  full  decided  that  this 
shall  be  our  town. 

The  Men  in  the  Stockade 
Bravo!     Bravo!     Newton  and  Johnston  forever! 


The  Founding  of  Wilmington,  1735  43 

Governor  Johnston 

My  men,  what  do  you  here  so  poorly  housed?  You 
shall  have  something  more  befitting  than  a  mere  stock- 
ade. A  goodly  jail  I  shall  have  built  for  you.  [Laughter 
in  the  crowd.]     But  not  at  Newton. 

Hear  all  of  you,  both  you  within  the  stockade  and 
you  without.  This  day,  I,  Gabriel  Johnston,  by  God's 
grace  Governor  of  this  Province,  do  proclaim  this 
spot  the  site  and  situation  of  the  town  and  township 
of  Wilmington,  named  in  honor  of  my  friend  and 
benefactor  Spencer  Compton,  Earl  of  Wilmington  and 
Viscount  Pevensey.     [The  crowd  cheers.] 

And  furthermore,  this  day  the  land  office  shall  be 
opened  here,  the  Court  of  Exchequer  shall  meet  here, 
likewise  the  New  Hanover  Court  and  Council.  All 
this  I  decree  by  the  advice  and  consent  of  his  Majesty's 
Council  and  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province*. 
[More  cheers  from  the  crowd.] 

Hear  me,  good  friends  and  gentlemen,  this  day  shall 
be  a  gala  day  in  Wilmington;  all  shall  spend  the  hours 
for  their  pleasure,  and  you,  my  friends  in  the  stockade, 
the  day  is  yours  as  well.  The  freedom  of  the  town  is 
yours.  Look  to  it  though,  that  when  next  we  meet, 
it  be  not  in  the  same  fine  jail  I  told  you  of!  [Much 
laughter.] 

[To  the  surveyors,  Davis,  Maultsby  and  Watson.] 
What  say  you  friends,  shall  we  go?  There  is  much 
business  to  be  done  and  already  the  sun  is  high.  [They 
go  out.] 

[The  men  from  the  stockade  go  out  in  the  opposite 
direction,  cheering  and  calling,  '^Johnston  and  Wilmington 
forever!''] 

"The  historical  material  in  Governor  Johnston's  speech  is  adapted  from 
Swann's  Collection  of  Public  Acts;  North  Carolina,  Chapter  LV,  p.  99. 


THE  THIRD  EPISODE 
The  Treasure  of  Money  Island,  1719 


(45) 


If  sailor  tales  to  sailor  tunes, 

Storm  and  adventure,  heat  and  cold, 
If  schooners,  islands,  and  maroons 

And  Buccaneers  and  buried  Gold, 
And  all  the  old  romance,  retold 

Exactly  in  the  ancient  way. 
Can  please,  as  me  they  pleased  of  old, 

The  wiser  youngsters  of  to-day: 
—  So  he  it,  and  fall  on! 

[Stevenson:  Treasure  Island.] 


(46) 


EPISODE  III. 

The  Characters: 

Edward     Teach,     better     known     as     Blackbeard, 

famous  pirate 
Captain  Redfield,  Blackbeard's  right-hand  man 
Francesco    ^ 

_  y  members  of  Blackbeard's  crew 

Pedro  I 

Roger  ^ 

Other  members  of  his  crew 

The   Time:     1719 

The  Place:  An  island  off  the  mainland,  now  known 
as  Wrightsville  Beach 

[A  schooner  is  lying  off  shore.  The  pirate  crew  in  gay 
turbans  and  sashes  may  be  seen  on  deck.  They  are 
laughing  and  drinking.    Some  of  the  men  are  singing.] 

Fifteen  men  on  the  dead  man's  chest — 

Yo-ho-ho,  and  a  bottle  of  rum! 
Drink  and  the  devil  had  done  for  the  rest — 

Yo-ho-ho,  and  a  bottle  of  rum! 

[Blackbeard  and  Captain  Redfield  come  up  from 
the  hold.  With  a  gesture  Blackbeard  silences  the 
crew.] 

Blackbeard 

Ho,  lads!  An  there  be  four  sober  ones  amongst  you, 
let  them  step  forward.  [Four  pirates  come  forward.] 
Francesco,    Roger,    Pedro   and    Pierre!      Into  the  hold 

1  This  episode,  though  of  an  earlier  date  than  the  preceding  one,,  is  placed 
here  for  dramatic  emphasis. 

2  Stevenson's  Treasure  Island. 

(47) 


48  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

with  you,  lads.  Bring  forth  the  chests  and  digging 
tools.  Lower  the  boat,  load  the  chests  and  pull  for 
shore.  [The  men  follow  the  orders.  Blackbeard 
and  Redfield  step  into  the  boat,  and  the  four  sea- 
men man  the  oars.  Blackbeard  calls  to  those  left 
on  the  ship.]  I  will  be  back  anon.  Look  that  there 
be  one  of  you  sober  enough  to  receive  me.  [He  signals 
to  the  oarsmen  who  rapidly  make  for  the  shore,  sing- 
ing as  they  row.] 

[On  landing,  Blackbeard  and  Captain  Redfield 
come  forward,  leaving  the  men  near  the  boat  to  amuse 
themselves  shaking  dice.] 

Blackbeard 

Bob  Redfield,  I  would  entrust  you  with  a  most  im- 
portant service.  There  lives  no  man  that  I  so  pin 
my  faith  to  as  to  thee.    Wilt  do  this  for  me,  Bob^? 

Captain  Redfield 

Aye,  sir,  your  wishes  are  my  orders. 

Blackbeard 

Well  then,  'tis  this.  I  am  something  overstocked. 
Before  I  sail  again  I  wish  to  deposit  some  of  my  treas- 
ure. Thou  knowest,  Bob,  how  the  coast  is  larded 
with  my  gold.  There  is  a  lonely  island  hidden  in  these 
marshes  that  suits  my  fancy.  There  will  I  bury  the 
greatest  treasure  of  them  all.  It  shall  be  our  Money 
Island.  Wilt  thou  stay  and  guard  it?  These  same 
four  trusty  buccaneers  shall  stay  to  aid  you.  Give 
them  a  stoup  of  rum  three  times  a  day,  and  Old  Nick 
himself  hath  not  four  braver  followers.  Does  this 
suit  thy  will? 

^The  conversation  between  Blackbeard  and  Captain  Redfield  was  in  part 
taken  from  Andrew  J.  Howell's  Money  Island,  whose  story  is  the  inspiration  for 
this  episode. 


The  Treasure  of  Money  Island,  lyig  49 

Captain  Redfield 
Your  wishes  are  my  orders,  sir. 

Blackbeard 

Swear  then,  by  the  Holy  Virgin,  that  thou  wilt 
faithfully  watch  over  this  treasure;  that  thou  wilt 
give  no  information,  nor  unfold  to  any  man  whomso- 
ever, the  reason  for  thy  life  in  that  particular  spot. 
Swear! 

Captain  Redfield 

[Taking  off  his  hat  and  raising  his  right  hand.] 
Captain,  I  so  swear. 

Blackbeard 

Thy  hand  with  the  oath,  Bob.  I  thank  thee.  And 
if  in  any  special  need  I  send  for  some  pieces  of  eight, 
trust  no  one  who  comes  without  an  order  stamped 
with  my  signet.  Look,  keep  this.  [He  takes  a  signet 
from  his  pocket  and  hands  it  to  Redfield.]  Is  all 
well.  Bob? 

Captain  Redfield 

All  is  well.  Captain,  I  have  given  my  oath,  and 
naught  but  death  shall  break  it! 

Blackbeard 

[Calling  to  one  of  the  crew.] 
Francesco ! 

Francesco 
Aye,  aye,  sir! 


50  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Blackbeard 
Come  hither,  man. 

Francesco 

[Leaving  the  game,  he  comes  forward.] 
Aye,  aye,  sir! 

Blackbeard 
Art  thou  sober,  'Cesco? 

Francesco 

{Swaying  slightly.] 

Aye,  aye,  sir. 

Blackbeard 

[Mocking  him.] 

Aye,  aye,  sir!  'Tis  all  the  English  that  he  hath. 
Art  thou  drunk,  'Cesco? 

Francesco 
Aye,  aye,  sir! 

Captain  Redfield 

[Laughing.] 

Zounds,  methinks  he  tells  the  truth;  he  is  part  sober 
and  part  drunk. 

Blackbeard 

He  is  soberer  than  e'er  I  saw  him  these  ten  years. 
But  drunk  or  sober  'tis  a  good  lad,  tried  and  true. 
'Cesco,  call  the  other  lads  here. 


The  Treasure  of  Money  Island,  17 ig  51 

Francesco 

[In  a  drunken  voice.] 

Pierre     .     .     .     Pedro     .     .     .     Roger     .     .     . 

{The  men  stop  their  game  and  come  forward  to  join 
Francesco.] 

Blackbeard 
My  men,  for  ten  years  ye  have  sailed  with  me. 

The  Men 
Aye,  aye,  sir! 

Blackbeard 

In  all  these  years,  in  fair  times  and  in  foul,  have  I 
ever  failed  you? 

Francesco 
Aye,  aye,  sir! 

[The  others  suppress  him  and  cry,  "Nay,  nay,  sir!"] 

Blackbeard 

Then  will  ye  do  me  one  more  service,  faithfully  and 
true? 

The  Men 

Aye,  aye,  sir! 

Blackbeard 

All  hands  to  the  oars  then.  We  have  a  long  jaunce 
in  the  dark.  Once  under  way,  we  will  unfold  our 
secret. 

[The  men  return  to  the  boat  shouting,  "Aye,  aye,  sir!''] 


52  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Blackbeard 

[To  Redfield.] 

'Sblood,  these  "aye,  aye,  sirs!"  will  be  the  death 
of  me.  I  tell  thee  what,  Bob,  thou  hadst  best  get 
thee  a  good  English  wife  that  can  say,  "Nay,  nay,  sir!" 

Captain  Redfield 

[Laughing.] 

With  all  my  heart,  sir! 

[They  all  get  into  the  boat  and  row  out  of  sight,  singing 
as  they  row.] 

Come  all  you  men  and  maidens  as  wishes  for  to  sail, 
And  I  soon  will  let  you  quickly  hear  of  where  you 
must  aroam. 
We'll  embark  into  a  ship,  which  her  topsails  is  let  fall, 

And  all  unto  an  island,  and  never  more  go  home. 
Especially  you  ladies  that's  anxious  to  rove, 

There's  fishes  in  the  sea,  my  love,  likewise  the  buck 
and  doe. 
We'll  lie  down  on  the  banks  of  some  pleasant  shady 
grove. 
Thro'  the  wild  woods  we'll  wander  and  we'll  chase 

the  buffalo. 
Thro'  the  wild  woods  we'll  wander,  and  we'll  chase 
the  buffalo.* 

Blackbeard 
Ho !     For  Money  Island !     Ho ! 


^The  Buffalo,  an  old  Buccaneer  song  from  Sea  Songs  and  Shanties,  collected 
by  W.  B.  Whall.     James  Brown  &  Sons,  Publishers,  Glasgow. 


RESIDENCE  OF  LORD  CHARLES  CORNWALLIS  IN  APRIL  1781. 
In  tin  bajsntmi  wa;  a  mili'.ary  prison.    St.  James  Church  is  in  the  foregroiitid. 


[The  Spirit  of  Wilmington  and  Venture  advance 
to  the  center  of  the  stage.  The  Spirits  now  appear 
dancing  with  scarlet  scarfs.] 

The  Spirit  of  Wilmington 

Spirits,  who  my  words  attend, 

Beg  of  Courage  that  she  lend 

Her  presence  in  attendance  here. 

Sponsor  in  an  age  when  fear 

Had  made  of  men  the  slaves  of  kings. 

Courage,  by  the  life  she  brings 

To  all  men's  hearts,  inspired  the  folk. 

So  that,  throwing  off  the  yoke 

Of  bondage,  stood  they  hand  in  hand — 

Colonials  in  Freedom's  land! 

[The  Spirits  depart  and  presently  return  with  Courage 
dressed  in  flowing  scarlet  garmefits,  holding  a  torch 
of  liberty.] 

Courage 

O  Wilmington,  to  you  I  show 

Powdered  wig  and  furbelow ; 

Customs,  manners  of  the  land 

And  Welcome  with  an  ovitstretched  hand. 

Versed  in  wit,  in  grace,  in  song — 

Yet  these  men  could  right  the  wrong, 

Drop  the  book  and  take  the  gun. 

Fighters  till  the  cause  was  won 

For  Freedom.     Then  the  Stamp  Act  bold 

And  Moore's  Creek  Bridge  were  stories  told. 

[The  Spirit  of  Wilmington  retires  to  the  dais.  Ven- 
ture and  Courage  remain  with  her,  the  Spirits 
dancing  off.] 

(53) 


(S\^e  ^Honh  Part 

Colonial  and  Revolutionary  Wilmington 


(SS) 


THE  FIRST  EPISODE 
The  Reception  to  Flora  Macdonald,  1774 


(57) 


upon  the  arrival  of  the  heroine  {Flora  Macdonald)  in 
Wilmington  there  was  a  general  turnout  of  people  and 
she  and  her  daughter  ivere  treated  uith  great  distinction. 
A  great  hall  was  given  in  her  honor  and  tradition  says 
that  she  was  especially  pleased  by  the  attentions  paid  to 
her  daughter  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  town. 

— ^Waddell. 


(58) 


EPISODE  I. 

5Il|?  ^tttptxon  to  Mom  ifflarbnnalb,  irr4 

The  Characters: 

Flora  Macdonald,  Scotch  loyalist,  noted  for  her 
act  of  loyalty  in  saving  the  life  of  Bonnie  Prince 
Charlie. 

Annie  Macdonald,  her  daughter 

George  Washington,  distinguished  visitor* 

JosiAH  Martin,  Royal  Governor  of   North  Carolina 

Hugh  Waddell,  Colonel,  distinguished  in  military 
annals  of  the  State 

Cornelius  Harnett,  Son  of  Liberty;  representative 
in  the  Assembly  for  Wilmington;  Pride  of  the 
Cape  Fear.  He  gave  his  wealth  and  life  for  the 
cause  of  the  freedom  of  America. 

William  Hooper,  able  jurist;  prominent  member 
of  the  Safety  Committee;  presided  over  the  meet- 
ing of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Wilmington  District, 
which  was  the  first  movement  to  provide  a  Revo- 
lutionary Government;  later,  a  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence. 

Robert  Howe,  wit,  scholar,  famous  soldier;  later, 
on  Washington's  staff. 

Alexander  Lillington,  prominent  member  of  the 
Safety  Committee;  later.  Colonel  of  the  Minute 
Men  of  the  Wilmington  District,  and  hero  of 
the  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek  Bridge. 

John  Ashe,  well  known  Colonel 

Samuel  Ashe,  distinguished  General 


'In  reality,  George  Washington  visited  Wilmington  at  a  later  time,  April 
20,  1791,  occupying  the  house  on  the  comer  of  the  present  Dock  and  Front  Streets. 


(59) 


60 


A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 


James  Moore,  Colonel  of  two  regiments  to  serve  in 

the  Continental  Army;   in   command   at   Moore's 

Creek. 
Maurice  Moore,  learned  jurist  and  judge;  author 

of  the  celebrated  letter  to  Governor  Tr>'on,  signed 

"Atticus." 


Frederick  Gregg 
William  Campbell 
William  Wilkinson 
George  Moore 
Frederick  Jones 

John  Quince 
Francis  Clayton 
Robert  Hogg 
John  Ancrum 
Archibald  MaclainE/ 
John  Robinson 
James  Walker 


)Sons  of  Liberty,  organized  in 
1765. 


members  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  elected  Novem- 
ber 23, 1774.  Thiscommit- 
tee  continued  to  use  its  in- 
fluence during  1779-81 
when  it  exercised  con- 
stant vigilance  over  the 
Tories,  who  were  support- 
ed and  strengthened  by 
the  British. 


William  Hill 
Samuel  Small 
Samuel  Swann 
Abner  Nash 
Sampson  Mosely 
George  Merrick 


prominent  Revolutionary^  fig- 
ures. 


Mistress  Tom  Hooper 
Mistress  Jack  Walker 
Mistress  Robert  Howe 
Mistress  Eleazar  Allen 


The  Reception  to  Flora  Macdonald,  iyy4         61 

Mistress  DeRosset 
Mistress  Schaw 
Mistress  Rutherfurd 
Other  Guests 

Zip  Coon  )    ..... 

Old  Dan  Tucker  }   ^'^^^^'^ 
Other  musicians 
Negro  servants 

The  Tlme:     1774 

The  Place:    An    Assembly    Hall    in    Wilmington, 
North  Carolina 

\In  the  receiving  line  are  Governor  Martin,  Mistress 
Flora  Macdonald,  her  daughter  Annie  Mac- 
donald, and  George  Washington.  An  old  negro 
servant  announces  each  guest.  The  fiddlers  play 
while  the  guests  are  arriving.  When  the  company 
has  assembled,  the  music  for  the  minuet  is  played, 
and  the  dancers  take  their  positions  for  the  dance\ 
After  the  minuet  the  company  adjourns  to  the  re- 
freshment room  with  much  hilarity.] 


A  f  *J  ??  ""^  °^  *^"°,^  "^^  reception  to  Flora  Macdonald  was  given  at  a  later 
date  than  the  events,  that  follow  in  the  next  scene.  However,  the  event  serves 
here  to  portray  a  typical  Colonial  gathering. 


THE  SECOND  EPISODE 

Resistance  to  the  Stamp  Act,  1766 


(63) 


^?r»    --    -TSK&r 


JRa^ 


EPISODE  II. 

EpHTHtanrr  tu  thr  §lamp  Art.  ITfifi 

The  Characters: 

Wtt-tj^m  Tryon,  Royal  Governor  of  the  Pro\'mce 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Queen's  Guard 

William  Fexxington.  His  Maje5t>-'s  Comptroller 

Colonel  John  Ashe,  leader  of  the  miHtia  that 
kept  stamped  paper  from  being  landed;  Speaker 
of  the  Assembly  who  repHed  when  Tr\'on  asked 
what  they  would  do  about  the  Stamp  Act:  ''It 
will  be  resisted  to  blood  and  death." 

Colone:l  Hugh  Waddell,  leader  with  Ashe  in 
keeping  the  Diligence  from  landing  the  stamped 
paper 

Cornelius  Harnett,  head  of  the  detachment  de- 
manding Comptroller  Pennington 

Colon'el  James  Moore,  also  with  the  detach- 
ment 

The  militia  from  Brunswick  and  New  Hanover 
Counties 

Negro  slaves  of  Governor  Tr\-on 

The  Tdie:     February- 21,  1766 

The  Place:     Russellborough,  about  half  a  mile  to 
the  south  of  Orton.     Before  Governor  Tr\^on's   palace. 

[Th€  members  of  the  militia  enter — some  on  horseback, 
some  afoot,  Jiaving  left  their  horses  farther  aivay 
from  the  house.  The  company  has  just  come  from 
Brunsu^ick  where  they  let  Captain  Phipps  of  the 
Diligence  know  that  stamps  should  not  he  landed.] 

(65) 


66  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Colonel  Ashe 

At  least  we've  kept  the  stamps  from  being  landed'. 
Our  guards  will  see  that  the  Diligence  and  the  Viper 
do  no  harm.  Phipps,  of  the  Diligence,  seemed  very 
calm — quite  a  philosopher. 

Colonel  Waddell 

Which  is  more  than  Tryon  will  be  when  he's  aware 
we're  here.  Moore,  please  fetch  Comptroller  Penning- 
ton. [Moore  goes]  Tryon  will  try  all  blandishments 
to  move  us  from  our  purpose,  but  we'll  get  Pennington. 

Colonel  Ashe 

Why  did  you  let  our  guard  separate  and  part  go 
on  the  river? 

Colonel  Waddell 

A  rather  prankish  thing,  dear  Ashe.  The  men  did 
swear  they'd  have  a  souvenir  of  this  same  ship  that 
brought  the  damned  stamped  papers. 

Cornelius  Harnett 
And  here  they  come,  the  boys. 

Colonel  Waddell 

[Laughing.] 

They'd  have  a  souvenir ! 

[The  militiamen  break  into  hearty  laughter  and  good- 
naturedly  slap  each  other  on  the  hacks,  as  six  men 
carry  in  on  their  shoulders  one  of  the  English  ship's 
boats  in  great  triumph.] 

•November  28,  1765,  at  Brunswick. 


Resistance  to  the  Stamp  Act,  1766  67 

The  Militia 

[Shouting  wildly.] 

Bravo!     Bravo!    A  bold  feat,  lads! 

Colonel  Ashe 
And  how  came  you  with  this? 

One  of  the  Men 

The  nearest  thing  to  stamps  that  we  could  lay  our 
hands  on.  We  watched  and  waited  near  the  Diligence; 
and  when  our  Southern  sun  proved  too  good  tonic 
for  those  English  knaves,  we  borrowed  this  little  chip 
from  them.  And  now  we'll  carry  it  to  Wilmington, 
and  what  a  celebration  we  shall  have — with  flags  and 
lights  and  crowds — such  joyous  crowds! 

[Governor   Tryon    is   announced,    and   attempts   to 
conciliate   Ashe,   Waddell   and   Harnett   in   his 

welcome.] 

Governor  Tryon 

In  right  good  time  you've  come,  my  friends.  The 
'cue  is  just  done  roasting. 

Colonel  Ashe 

We  have  not  come  to  feast  with  you,  your  Honor. 
Our  business  we'll  dispatch  and  then  we'll  leave  you. 
Our  men  have  pigs  on  the  other  side  Cape  Fear; 
they  came  not  this  long  way  to  eat  your  pigs. 

One  of  the  Men 

You  mean,  sir,  we  came  to  get  the  English  pig — 
Comptroller  Pennington. 

^Febniary  19,  1766. 


68  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Colonel  Waddell 
Be  quiet,  sir. 

[Negro  servants  enter  with  platters  of  barbecue.] 

Governor  Tryon 

You  must  not,  men,  refuse  our  Carolina  hospitality. 

Cornelius  Harnett 

Your  Carolina  hospitality  is  stamped.    We'll  have  the 
stamps;  you  keep  the  hospitality. 

Governor  Tryon 
Such  unbecoming  words  from  men  of  Wilmington ! 

Cornelius  Harnett 
Our  courtesy,  I  fear,  is  lacking.     We  are  brief  and 
to  the  point;  we  want  Comptroller  Pennington.     You 
know  your  house  is  sheltering  him. 

Governor  Tryon 
But— 

Colonel  Waddell 

Do  you  remember  November  sixteenth  last,  when 

Stamp-Master   William    Houston   resigned   his   ofifice?^ 

If  you  forget  this,  Tryon,  our  Mayor   DeRosset*   and 

several  Aldermen  will  help  you  bring  it  back  to  mind. 

Governor  Tryon 

[Annoyed.] 

Ah,  come,  my  friends,  a  little  toothsome  bit,  and 
then  to  business.    The  barbecue  grows  cold. 

'Houston  resigned  at  the  Court  House  at  the  intersection  of  the  present 
Front  and  Market  Streets,  November  16,  1765. 

"By  a  careful,  discriminating  reading  of  all  the  subject-matter  at  our 
command,  it  will  be  easily  seen  that  the  indignation  of  the  people  of  1765  was 
not  directed  against  Houston,  nor  against  any  conduct  of  his,  but  against  the 
principle  of  the  British  Stamp  Tax."  J.  O.  Carr,  in  Sprunt's  Chronicles  of  the 
Cape  Fear  River,  p.  101. 

^Moses  John  DeRosset. 


Resistance  to  the  Stamp  Act,  1/66  69 

Colonel  Waddell. 

To  hell,  sir,  with  your  barbecue.  Men,  throw  it  in 
the  river. 

[The  militiamen  take  the  trays  from  the  servants  and 
throw  them  into  the  river.  Tryon  is  too  amazed  to 
remonstrate  with  them.] 

Cornelius  Harnett 

The  banquet's  over,  sir;  and  now  to  business.  Where's 
William  Pennington? 

[The  three  leaders  face  Tryon  menacingly.] 

Governor  Tryon 

Pennington  came  into  my  house  for  refuge,  he  is  a 
Crown  officer,  and  as  such  I  will  give  him  all  the  pro- 
tection my  roof  and  the  dignity  of  character  I  hold 
in  this  province  can  afford  him. 

Cornelius  Harnett 

We  would  not  insult  you,  but  we  must  be  detained 
no  longer. 

Governor  Tryon 

An  insult  that  will  not  tend  to  any  great  consequence 
when  you  have  already  offered  every  insult  you  could 
offer,  by  investing  my  house  and  making  me  in  effect 
a  prisoner,  before  any  grievance  had  been  presented 
to  me. 

[Tryon  goes  off  in  a  rage.] 

'This  disposition  of  the  banquet  took  place  in  1766. 

"These  speeches  are  recorded  by  Tryon  in  a  letter  to  the  Right  Honorable 
Henry  Seymour  Conway,  one  of  his  Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  State. 


70  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Colonel  Ashe 

Another  William  Houston  resignation!  I  doubt  it 
not.  These  English  knaves  must  finally  yield  to  our 
determination  or  they'll  find  out  of  what  good  stuff 
our  Carolina  men  are  made. 

[Tryon  returns  accompanied  hy  Pennington.] 

Comptroller  Pennington 

Yes,  Tryon,  I  am  resolved.  Rather  resign  my  office 
than  do  any  act  contrary  to  my  duty.' 

Cornelius  Harnett 
I  hope  you  won't  do  that,  sir.' 

Governor  Tryon 
Your  resignation,  Pennington.     Ink  and  paper. 

[Servants    bring    ink    and    paper,    and    Pennington 
writes  out  his  resignation,  and  hands  it  to  Tryon.] 

Comptroller  Pennington 
To  be  in  force  at  once,  sir. 

Governor  Tryon 
Good,  Pennington. 

[Tryon  retires;  Pennington  remains.] 


'These  speeches  are  recorded  by  Tryon  in  a  letter  to  the  Right  Honorable 
Henry  Seymour  Conway,  one  of  his  Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  State. 


Resistance  to  the  Stamp  Act,  i'j66  71 

Cornelius  Harnett 

And  now  an  oath,  sir;  for  you  shall  never  leave  us 
free  till  you  have  sworn  that  you  will  never  issue  any 
stamped  papers  in  this  Province. 

Comptroller  Pennington 
If  I  am  compelled  to,  I  will  swear. 

Colonel  Waddell 
Is  that  your  oath? 

Comptroller  Pennington 
So  help  me  God ! 
[Pennington  leaves.] 

Colonel  Waddell 

Now  back  to  Wilmington.  I've  picked  my  men  to 
go  to  Fort  Johnston. 

Cornelius  Harnett 

A  word  before  we  go,  you  Sons  of  Liberty.  There 
are  more  clouds  ahead;  I  would  we  all  were  bound  by 
common  oath.     What  say  you  men? 

The  Militia 
An  oath !    An  oath ! 


•Colonel  Waddell  with  an  armed  force  marched  to  Fort  Johnston   (now 
Southport)    to  take  possession  of  it,  February  19,  1766. 


72  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Cornelius  Harnett 

But  be  not  moved  by  momentary  whim.  Give  this 
your  sane  deliberation.  We'll  meet  again  and  pledge 
ourselves.  See  how  this  fits  our  needs,  my  men,  for 
the  defense  of  our  country:  "We  do  unite  ourselves 
under  every  tie  of  religion  and  honor,  and  associate 
as  a  band  in  her  defense  against  every  foe;  hereby 
solemnly  engaging  that  whenever  our  Continental  or 
Provincial  Councils  shall  decree  it  necessary  we  will 
go  forth  and  be  ready  to  sacrifice  our  lives  and  fortunes 
to  secure  her  freedom  and  safety."' 

The  Militia 
We  will  make  this  pledge  at  once. 

Cornelius  Harnett 
May  God  bless  us  in  this  our  resolution. 

[Waddell  and  his  men  go  on  their  way  to  Fort  John- 
ston. Harnett,  Ashe,  Moore  and  their  men  go 
in  the  opposite  direction  to  Wilmington — some 
taking  up  the  boat,  others  mounting  their  horses  and 
riding  aivay.] 


iThis  actually  occurred  later,  on  June  19,  1775,  when  the  citizens  of  New 
Hanover  met  and  made  this  pledge. 

^The  historical  facts  in  the  foregoing  scene  are  taken  from  The  Stamp  Act 
on  the  Cape  Fear,  by  Colonel  A.  M.  Waddell,  North  Carolina  Booklet,  Vol.  1. 
No.  3. 


THE  THIRD  EPISODE 
The  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek,  1776 


(73) 


Eighteen  miles  northwest  of  Wilmington,  North  Caro- 
lina, on  a  low  sandy  bluff  overlooking  a  deep,  wide  creek 
whose  sluggish  waters  flow  into  the  Black  River,  a  tribu- 
tary of  the  Cape  Fear,  there  stands  to-day  a  simple  brown- 
stone  monument  with  this  inscription  on  its  western 
face: 

In  Commemoration 

Of  The  Battle  Of 

Moore's  Creek  Bridge, 

Fought  Here 

27th  February,  1776. 

The  First  Victory  Gained 

By  The  American  Arms 

In  The  War  Of  The 

Revolution. 

The  right  to  this  direct  claim  to  precedence  in  Revo- 
lutionary success  and  material  glory  is  one  of  North 
Carolina's  greatest  historic  possessions. 

[M.  C.  S.  Noble:  The  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek  Bridge, 
North  Carolina  Booklet,  Volume  III.] 


(74) 


EPISODE  III. 

ail|f  Sattb  of  ManxtB  (UrttK  IT7B 


The  Characters: 


Cornelius  Harnett 
John  Quince 
Francis  Clayton 
William  Hooper 
Robert  Hogg 
Archibald  Maclaine 
John  Ancrum 
John  Robertson 
James  Walker 
George  Moore 
John  Ashe 
Sam  Ashe 
James  Moore 
Frederick  Jones 
Alexander  Lillington 


members  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Safety,  freeholders  of 
New  Hanover,  newly 
elected  committee  mem- 
bers, and  others,  who, 
having  met  and  ap- 
pointed d  e  1  e  g  a  t  es  to 
a  Revolutionary  Con- 
gress in  New  Bern, 
August  25,  1774,  are 
now  preparing  to  consid- 
er the  threatening  Tory 
forces  assembling  under 
I  General  Macdonald, 
Colonel  McLeod  and 
others,  assisted  by 
Governor  Martin. 


Minute  Men 

Other  citizens,  among  whom  is  Parker  Quince 
The  Time:    February  9,  1776 

The  Place:  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  Before 
the  Court  House  at  the  intersection  of  Front  and 
Market  Streets. 

[The  crowd  of  citizens  assembled  is  greatly  excited. 
From  time  to  time  men  and  women  of  the  town  stop 
for  a  few  minutes  to  hear  what  is  going  on  before 
resuming  their  errands.] 

(75) 


76  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

William  Hooper 

Sirs,  it  has  been  decreed  by  the  Royal  Governor 
that  no  legislative  body  must  meet  in  our  Province, 
but  since  we  met  to  elect  delegates  to  the  Revolutionary 
Congress  in  New  Bern  it  now  becomes  necessary  to 
appoint  suitable  and  efficient  committees  for  the  vigi- 
lant protection  of  our  common  and  sacred  rights.  It 
is  also  here  and  now  a  suitable  time  to  indorse  the 
action  of  the  Boston  Tea  Party  and  to  assume  that 
the  "Cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  all"/ 

A  Citizen 

[Enthusiastically.] 

Aye,  aye!  The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  common 
cause  of  all  America.     Hurrah! 

Cornelius  Harnett 

We  will  sacrifice  our  lives  and  fortunes  in  order  to 
secure  the  safety  and  freedom  of  our  country.  Let 
any  and  all  who  will,  subscribe  to  the  relief  of  our 
suffering  countrymen  in  Boston. 

Parker  Quince 

I  will  equip  a  ship  and  take  a  load  to  their  relief. 

[A  Courier  enters.] 

A  Courier 

Sirs,  the  enemy  is  assembling  and  is  even  now  at 
our  doors.  The  British  fleet  is  momentarily  expected 
with  reinforcements. 

[Excited  exclamations.] 

■■Sprunt's  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  110. 


The  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek,  iyy6  77 

Cornelius  Harnett 

They  mean  to  crush  our  spirit,  take  away  our  rights, 
and  reduce  our  Province  to  subjection. 

Colonel  Lillington 

We  will  never  submit  to  injustice  and  oppression. 
The  idea  of  subjection  is  abhorrent  to  all  freebom 
Americans. 

Colonel  Moore 

I  will  assemble  the  Continental  troops  at  once. 

\H.e  goes  out.] 

Colonel  Lillington 

Our  Minute  Men  may  now  be  called  to  act  their 
part.  I'll  summon  them.  [To  the  Bugler.]  Bugler, 
the  call. 

[The  Bugler  sounds  the  call  to  arms.] 

Colonel  Ashe 

And  I  will  hurry  with  the  Independent  troops  to 
Campbellton.  Colonel  Purviance  will  remain  here 
with  the  militia  for  the  protection  of  Wilmington. 

[The  Minute  Men  having  assembled,  Lillington  calls 
them  to  attention  and  they  march  out  amid  cheers 
from  the  crowd.    A  Courier  runs  in  with  a  dispatch.] 

The  Courier 

The  Tory  forces  are  rapidly  gathering  at  Cross 
Creek  and  danger  seems  imminent.  The  Macdonalds, 
McLeod,   and   Campbell   are   in   charge.      Flora   Mac- 


78  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

donald  is  using  her  utmost  influence  to  augment  their 
force.  Not  only  is  she  stirring  up  resistance  to  the 
Whigs,  but  she  is  accompanying  the  Tory  forces  to 
encourage  the  men  with  her  own  fine  spirit/ 

Cornelius  Harnett 

Against  an  army  of  eleven  hundred  determined  men, 
Macdonald  will  find  his  march  to  the  east  halted, 
me  thinks. 

[Cheers  from  the  crowd.] 

Voices  From  the  Crowd 
He  will  never  reach  Fort  Johnston! 
[Another  Courier  runs  in  with  a  dispatch.] 

Cornelius  Harnett 

[Reads.] 

Macdonald  has  changed  his  plans.  With  danger 
threatening  on  all  sides  he  is  pushing  towards  Wil- 
mington. But  our  General  has  ordered  Colonel  Cas- 
well to  join  him  at  Corbett's  Ferry  to  cut  off  the  Tory 
march.  [Cheers  from  the  crowd.]  Lillington  and  Ashe 
are  to  join  Caswell  and  make  a  forced  march  to  Moore's 
Creek. 

[  Vociferous  cheers  from  the  crowd.] 
[Another  Courier  rtms  in.] 


*Caruthers:  Revolutionary  Incidents  of  the  Old  North  State, 


The  Battle  oj  Moore's  Creek,  1776  79 

The  Courier 

Macdonald's  army  has  crossed  the  river  and  is 
advancing  toward  the  Creek.  But  Lillington  and 
Caswell  have  reached  the  crossing,  undermined  the 
bridge,  thrown  up  breastworks,  and  the  battle  is  on. 
McLeod  and  Campbell  have  fallen  pierced  by  a  score 
of  bullets.  Dozens  of  men  have  fallen  into  the  stream 
never  to  rise  again,  while  all  who  have  succeeded  in 
getting  across  are  either  mortally  wounded  or  taken 
prisoners. 

[Another  Courier  arrives.] 

The  Crowd 

Bravo !     Bravo ! 

The  Courier 

The  Tory  army  scattered  panic-stricken,  when  "Old 
Mother  Covington"  was  turned  upon  them.  The 
stream  is  full  of  dead  and  dying.  Only  twenty  men 
succeeded  in  getting  over  the  bridge  alive,  and  these 
are  mortally  wounded.  But  we  have  not  lost  a  man! 
{Great  excitement  in  the  crowd.]  The  Whigs  have 
captured  850  prisoners,  1500  rifles,  350  guns  and  shot 
bags,  250  swords  and  dirks,  with  much  other  valuable 
equipment,  including  wagons,  horses,  medicines  and 
supplies,  besides  money  discovered  to  the  value  of 
$75,000. 

Cornelius  Harnett 

Friends  and  countrymen,  God  is  with  us!  May 
our  cause  prosper  as  this  our  first  victory  happily 
portends.  Let  us  go  and  assemble  all  loyal  citizens 
for  a  service  of  thanksgiving  and  praise. 

[The  people  go  off  cheering  ivildly.] 

MacRae's  Flora  Macdonald  has  been  drawn  on  for  some  of    the  historical 
materials  of  this  scene. 


[The  Spirit  of  Wilmington  with  Venture  and 
Courage  now  advance  to  the  center  of  the  stage. 
As  the  Spirit  of  Wilmington  speaks,  the  Spirits 
waving  blue  scarfs  enter.  They  are  accompanied 
by  Loyalty,  dressed  in  fiowitig  blue,  carrying  a 
Confederate  flag.] 

The  Spirit  of  Wilmington 

A  friend  whose  staunchness  will  not  fail 
Is  Loyalty.     All  hail!     All  hail! 

Loyalty 

I  bring  you  times  of  happiness 

Of  planters'  life;  until  distress 

Of  war  and  yellow  fever  came. 

But  everlasting  is  the  fame 

Of  those  brave  souls  who,  from  the  sea 

To  Wilmington,  the  way  kept  free — 

Brave  leaders  and  their  daring  aides, 

Who  ran  Confederate  blockades. 

[The  Spirit  of  Wilmington  retires  to  the  dais.  Ven- 
ture, Courage  and  Loyalty  remain  by  her;  the 
Spirits  dance  off.] 


(81) 


®l|t  ®ljtrb  Part 

Confederate  Wilmington 


(S») 


THE  FIRST  EPISODE 
A  Plantation  Wedding,  1861 


(85) 


When  'Lincoln's  call  was  made  for  y 3,000  men  'to  put 
down  the  rebellion,'  the  whole  of  the  Cape  Fear  section 
was  fired,  and  with  scarcely  any  exception  looked  upon 
secession  and  war  as  the  inevitable  outcome. 

[Sprunt:  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.    271, 
narrative  of  Mrs.  William  Parsley.] 


(Sfi) 


EPISODE  I. 

A  plantation  WeJiJiing,  IBBl 

The  Characters: 

Bob  Harrison,  the  groom 

Agnes  Harrison,  the  bride 

W.  L.  DeRosset,  Captain  of  the  Wilmington  Light 

Infantry 
O.    P.    Meares,    Captain   of   the   Wilmington    Rifle 

Guards 
James  I.  Metts,  later  Captain  of  Company  G,  of 

the  Third  North  Carolina  Regiment 
C.  Cornehlson,  Captain  of  the  German  Volunteers 
James    Stevenson,    Lieutenant    Commanding    the 

Cape  Fear  Light  Artillery 
Mrs.  James  C.  Stevenson 
John  L.  Cantwell,  Colonel  of  the  30th  Regiment, 

North  Carolina  Militia 
O.  A.  Wiggins,  Captain,  Company  E,  36th  North 

Carolina 
Mrs.  O.  a.  Wiggins 
Henry  Savage,  Captain,  Company  G,  18th  North 

Carolina 
Mrs.  Henry  Savage 
Other  wedding  guests 

SciPio,  negro  bodyguard  and  slave  of  Harrison 
Slaves,  musicians  and  dancers 

The  Time:    April  15,  1861 

The  Place:    An   old   plantation   near  Wilmington, 
North  Carolina 

(87) 


88  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

[The  scene  opens  with  the  darkies  gathered  about  two 
of  their  number  who  are  playing  the  fiddle  and  the 
banjo.  They  are  singing  chanties,  John  Kooner 
songs,  and  plantation  melodies.] 

[SciPio  enters  excitedly.] 

SciPio 
Marse  Bob  and  his  bride  am  acomin'  disaway! 

[Excitement  among  the  negroes.  Amid  merriment  and 
laughter,  the  wedding  party  enters.  The  bridesmaids 
and  groomsmen  enter  two  by  two  forming  an  arch 
through  which  the  bride  and  groom  advance  to  the 
center  of  the  stage.  The  wedding  party  forms  about 
them,  the  darkies  filling  in  the  background.] 

Bob  Harrison 
Scipio ! 

SciPio 
[Bowing  and  scraping.] 
Yassir. 

Bob  Harrison 
Tell  the  fiddlers  to  play  a  reel. 

Scipio 

[To  the  darkies.] 

You  lazy  niggers,  ain't  you  got  sense  'nough  ter 
know  what  Marse  Bob  wants  you  ter  do,  'thout  him 
havin'  ter  tell  you.     Now  gib  us  a  sho  'nough  reel. 

[A  Virginia  Reel  is  danced  by  the  wedding  party.] 


A  Plantation  Wedding,  1861  89 

Agnes  Harrison 

[To  her  husband.] 

Bob,   dear,   let  us  rest,   and   watch   the  games  the 
negroes  have  been  practicing  for  us. 

Bob  Harrison 
That's  right,  I  reckon  you  are  tired.     Scipio! 

SciPio 

Yassir. 

Bob  Harrison 

Now  show  us  those  dances  you  have  been  practicing 
to  welcome  your  new  mistress. 

Scipio 

Yassir.     [Turning  to  the  other  darkies.]     Come  on, 
you  niggers.    We's  gwine  ter  celebrate. 

[Led  by  Scipio,  the  darkies  go  through  the  cotton-pick- 
ing and  the  corn-shucking  dances,  the  wedding  party 
watching  and  chatting  lightheartedly.  Colonel 
Cant  WELL  enters  in  militia  uniform,  evidently 
much  perturbed.] 

Colonel  Cantwell 

Forgive   me   for   interrupting   the   festivities,   but    I 
have  a  summons  from  the  Governor. 

Bob  Harrison 
From  the  Governor? 


90  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Colonel  Cantwell 
[Taking  a  telegram  from  his  pocket,  reads.] 

Colonel  John  L.  Cantwell, 

Commander  of  the  Thirtieth  Regiment, 
North  Carolina  Militia, 

Wilmington,  North  Carolina. 

You  will  at  once  assemble  the  Wilmington  Light 
Infantry,  the  German  Volunteers,  the  Wilmington 
Rifle  Guards,  and  the  Cape  Fear  Artillery,  proceeding 
as  soon  as  possible  to  Forts  Caswell  and  Johnston, 
to  take  them  without  delay,  and  to  hold  them  against 
all  comers. 

John  W.  Ellis, 
Governor. 

[A  momentary  silence  follows.  Then  Captain  W.  L. 
DeRosset,  of  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  steps 
forward.] 

Captain  DeRosset 
I  will  assemble  my  men  at  once. 

Bob  Harrison 
You  mean,  John,  it's  war? 

Colonel  Cantwell 

Yes,  war.  The  Secretary  of  War  has  demanded  two 
regiments  of  North  Carolina  troops  to  help  suppress 
the  rebellion,  and  Governor  Ellis  has  answered  him  in 
the  only  way  a  North  Carolinian  could. 

*Spnmt's  ChronicUt  of  the  Cape  Fear  Riter,  p.  279. 


A  Plantation  Wedding,  1861  91 

Captain  DeRosset 
When  do  we  start? 

Colonel  Cantwell 

As  soon  as  we  can  assemble  the  companies.  The 
boat  is  ready  at  the  foot  of  Market  Street  to  take  us 
down  the  river. 

Lieutenant  Stevenson 
[Coming  forward,] 
I  am  ready. 

Colonel  Cantwell 

I  left  orders  with  one  of  your  lieutenants  to  muster 
out  the  Cape  Fear  Artillery.  Your  men  are  assembling 
at  the  Armory. 

[Stevenson  salutes.     DeRosset  and  Stevenson  go 
out.] 

Colonel  Cantwell 
James  I.  Metts! 

James  Metts 
Ready,  sir. 

Colonel  Cantwell 

The  Rifle  Guards  are  meeting  before  the  Court 
House. 


92  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

James  Metis 
I  will  join  them. 

[He  salutes  and  withdraws.] 

[Cantwell  calls,  one  by  one,  the  other  men  in  the 
party.  As  their  names  are  called  they  report  for 
duty  and  go  out  to  join  their  respective  companies. 
Only  Harrison  is  left.    Cantwell  turns  to  him.] 

Colonel  Cantwell 

Bob,  you  are  my  Adjutant,  and  I  have  a  right  to 
excuse  you  from  duty. 

Bob  Harrison 
I  am  going. 

Colonel  Cantwell 
But  your  bride 

Agnes  Harrison 
I  would  not  keep  him  from  such  a  glorious  adventure. 

Bob  Harrison 

That's   the   way   to   talk!     We'll    lick   the   damned 
Yankees  before  the  watermelons  get  ripe,  eh,  Scipio? 

SciPio 
Take  me,  Marse  Bob. 


A  Plantation  Wedding,  1861  93 

Bob  Harrison 

[Slapping  him  on  the  hack.] 

Of  course  I  will.     Do  you  suppose  I  am  going  to 
black  my  own  boots?    Come,  let's  get  ready. 

[All  leave;  Cantwell  going  in  one  direction,   Har- 
rison, Agnes  Harrison  and  SciPio  in  another.] 


THE  SECOND  EPISODE 
Running  the  Blockade,  1862 


(95) 


The  month  of  September,  1862,  was  one  of  great 
calamity  to  Wilmington.  The  alarming  forebodings  of 
the  visitation  of  yellow  fever  in  a  pestilential  form  had 
ripened  into  a  certainty.  .  .  The  blockade  was  being 
maintained  with  increased  vigor.  .  .  Panic,  distress, 
mute  despair,  want  had  fallen  upon  a  population  then 
strained  to  its  utmost. 

[Sprunt:  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  284; 
Dr.  Thomas  F.  Wood  in  his  sketch  of  Dr.  J.  H. 
Dickson.  1 


(96) 


EPISODE  II. 

Sunning  tlj?  llnrkai^,  1H62 

The  Characters: 

Mrs.  Arm  and  DeRosset,  mother  of  Captain  W.  L. 

DeRosset,  president  of  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society 
Mrs.  Alfred  Martin,  vice-president  and  co-worker 
Mrs.  Bob  Harrison 
General  W.  H.  C.  Whiting,  in  command  of  the 

fortifications  of  the  Cape  Fear 
Dr.  George  Thomas,  port  physician 
Captain  J.  N.  Maffitt,  commanding  the  Confed- 
erate steamer  Lilian 
SciPio 
Citizens,  sailors  and  stevedores 

The  Time:     September  29,  1862 

The  Place:    The  waterfront  of  Wilmington,  North 
Carolina 

[The  wharves  are  piled  high  with  cotton.  Sailors  and  steve- 
dores from  the  compresses  are  lounging  about.  There 
is  an  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  and  the  air  is  filled 
with  a  pall  of  heavy  black  smoke  from  the  burning 
tar  barrels  in  the  streets.  Except  for  the  men  on  the 
wharves,  the  streets  are  practically  deserted.] 

[Mrs.  DeRosset  and  Mrs.  Martin  enter  with  market 
baskets  on  their  arms,  evidently  returning  from  the 
morning's  shopping.] 

Mrs.  DeRosset 
Isn't  it  dreadful?    $500  for  a  barrel  of  flour! 

(97 


98  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Mrs.  Martin 

And  $50  for  a  ham!  I  don't  see  how  people  are  to 
live  with  prices  so  high. 

Mrs.  DeRosset 

I  heard  this  morning  of  a  new  substitute  for  coffee. 
It  is— 

{The  conversation  is  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
General  Whiting,  who  salutes  the  ladies  with  a 
sweeping  how.] 

General  Whiting 

And  how  are  you,  good  ladies  of  the  town,  this 
morning? 

Mrs.  Martin 

In  excellent  health,  but  there  are  many  sick  here, 
and  many  are  dying  with  the  yellow  fever. 

General  Whiting 
If  necessary,  have  you  room  for  some  wounded? 

Mrs.  DeRosset 

Always. 

General  Whiting 

The  bockade  runner  Lilian  is  expected  today  from 
Bermuda,  and  I  fear  that  she  will  have  a  hard  fight 
to  cross  the  bar.  The  cordon  of  blockading  cruisers 
grows  tighter  every  day. 


^  Running  the  Blockade,  1862  99 

Mrs.  DeRosset 
We  will  be  ready. 

[Mrs.   DeRosset  and  Mrs.   Martin  go  out.     Dr. 
Thomas  enters  with  a  newspaper  in  his  hand.] 

General  Whiting 
What  of  your  patients,  doctor? 

Doctor  Thomas 

You    know    Dr.    Dickson    died?      Bad,    bad.      Van 
Bokkelen  is  also  dead.     Read  this. 

[Handing  him  the  paper.] 

General  Whiting 
[Reading.] 
They  praise  your  work  very  highly. 

Doctor  Thomas 
The  praise  belongs  to  the  ladies. 

[Mrs.  Harrison  comes  in.] 

Mrs.  Harrison 

Have   you    seen   Scipio,    Doctor?      Good    morning, 
General  Whiting. 

'Sprunt'e  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  285. 

'There  were  comparatively  few  people  left  in  Wilmington  during  the  yellow 
fever  scourge,  as  the  men  were  anxious  to  move  their  families  to  safety.  Mrs. 
DeRosset  and  Mrs.  Martin,  though  not  in  the  yellow  fever  epidemic,  were,  as 
noted,  conspicuous  in  their  care  of  the  wounded  soldiers. 

Dr.  Dickson  and  others  "remained  to  nurse  the  sick  during  the  horror 
and  few  survived."  446  of  3000  inhabitants  remaining  in  the  city  died  within 
three  months.     Sprunt's  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  287. 


100  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

General  Whiting 
Good  morning,  child,  you  are  looking  too  pale. 

Doctor  Thomas 

Mrs,  Harrison,  they  need  workers  at  the  emergency 
hospital.     Some  wounded  are  expected. 

Mrs.  Harrison 

Thank  you,   Doctor,   I  will  go  there.     And  if  you 
see  Scipi 


Doctor  Thomas 
I  will  send  him  to  you. 

[Mrs.  Harrison  nods  and  goes  out.] 

Doctor  Thomas 

You  know,  General,  neither  Mrs.  Harrison  nor  the 
darky  will  believe  that  Bob  is  dead.  Besides  her  work 
for  the  soldiers,  he  is  her  only  comfort.  The  rascally 
negro  has  been  missing  for  three  days,  now.  I  hope 
he  hasn't  left  her  for  good. 

[A  little  boy  runs  up  from  the  wharf,  calling — ] 

The  Boy 
The  Lilian  is  docking ! 

[A  crowd  begins  to  gather  as  the  Lilian  moves  slowly  to 
the  dock  under  the  burden  of  her  crippled  engines, 
and  moors  at  the  wharf.  Captain  Maffitt  and 
others  come  ashore.] 


Running  the  Blockade,  1862  101 

General  Whiting 
Maffitt!     And  never  a  scratch !     Any  one  hurt? 

Captain  Maffitt 
Never  a  man,  but  we  had  a  perilous  run! 

General  Whiting 
How  did  you  pass  the  blockade? 

Captain  Maffitt 

We  were  in  great  danger  because  we  were  loaded  to 
the  hatch  combings  with  gunpowder  for  Lee's  Army. 
Just  to  the  north  of  Cape  Lookout  we  were  chased 
and  attacked  by  the  Shenandoah.  We  were  on  the 
point  of  lowering  the  boats  when  a  boiler  burst,  and 
we  lost  sf)eed.  She  forged  ahead  in  the  fog,  ignorant 
of  our  position.  We  limped  behind  and  lost  her,  hav- 
ing been  under  continuous  fire  for  four  hours. 

Doctor  Thomas 

Sounds  as  though  Providence  took  a  hand,  doesn't 
it,  General? 

General  Whiting 

The  fog  was  fortunate. 

Captain  Maffitt 

It  was  indeed,  and  it  helped  us  over  the  bar,  too. 
We  were  hailed,  and  a  voice  roared  at  us,  "Heave  to, 
or  I'll  sink  you."  They  could  have  done  it  very  easily, 
so  our  bridge  shouted  back,  "Aye,  aye,  we'll  stop  our 
engines",  and  while  the  cruiser  thought  we  were  wait- 
ing for  her  boats  to  be  lowered,  we  slipped  under  the 
cover  of  the  fort. 

^Spnint's  Derelicts,  p.  263  fif. 


102  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

General  Whiting 

Tell   me,   did   you   learn   anything   of   the   corvette 

Florida? 

Captain  Maffitt 

We  met  her  the  second  night  out,  came  alongside, 
and  took  on  some  packages  of  opium  for  the  hospitals. 
And  when  we  dipped  our  ensigns  in  parting,  I  think 
it  was  the  only  time  that  the  Confederate  flag  has 
saluted  herself  on  the  high  seas/ 

General  Whiting 
Captain  Morris  was  well? 

Captain  Maffitt 
Very.    He  is  a  gallant  spirit,  if  there  ever  was  one. 

Doctor  Thomas 
He  is  indeed. 

\A  diversion  is  created  by  the  advent  of  SciPio,  who 
stumbles  down  the  gang-plank  of  the  Lilian  looking 
half  dead  and  much  bedraggled.] 

Doctor  Thomas 
Why  Scipio,  where  have  you  been? 

SciPio 
I  done  been  most  'roun'  de  worl'  by  now  I  reckon! 

*Sprunt'8  DertUcts,  p.  263  ff. 


Running  the  Blockade,  1862  103 

Captain  Maffitt 

We  picked  him  up  the  first  night  out  of  Bermuda. 
He  was  drifting  in  a  ship's  boat  out  on  the  open  seas, 
frightened  to  death. 

SciPio 

I  sho'  wuz.  I  had  done  been  out  dar  mos'  a  month 
'thout  nothin'  ter  eat  'cep'en  a  loaf  er  bread,  an'  you 
know  a  loaf  er  bread  aint  nothin'  ter  a  nigger  what's 
got  a  appetite  lak  I  is  got. 

Doctor  Thomas 

How  in  Heaven's  name  did  you  get  way  out  on  the 
ocean.? 

SciPio 

I  wuz  lookin'  for  Marse  Bob,  an'  I  stowed  away  on 
de  boat  ter  go  ter  Washington  an'  fin'  him.  De  Cap'n 
er  de  ship  warn't  no  decen'  man — he  turned  me  aloose 
way  out  dar,  des'  ez  soon  ez  he  foun'  me  hidin'  down 
in  the  cott'n. 

Doctor  Thomas 
He  was  a  scoundrel! 

SciPio 

Yassir.  An'  one  night  I  got  awful  scared,  kaze  I 
heerd  a  bell  aringin'  way  off  dar.  An'  I  hollered,  an' 
a  big  boat  come  along  an'  picked  me  up.  An'  dar  on 
it  was  Marse  Jeems,    whut  useter  play  wif  Miss  Agnes. 

'James  Sprunt,  purser  of  the  Lilian. 

The   run   of   the   Lilian   here  de3cribed  actually  occurred  at  a  later  date, 
1864,  but  it  is  placed  at  this  time  for  dramatic  eflect. 


104  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

General  Whiting 
Well,  Scipio,  Miss  Agnes  wants  to  see  you  now. 

SciPio 
Yassir,  I'm  agoin'! 

[Scipio  runs  out.  Dr.  Thomas,  General  Whiting 
and  Captain  Maffitt  go  out  at  the  left.  The 
crowd  of  onlookers  has  dispersed.] 


THE  THIRD  EPISODE 
The  Fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  1865 


(165) 


Thus  fell   Fort    Fisher  after    three  days'    battle  un- 
paralleled in  the  annals  of  the  war. 

[Sprunt:  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  384; 
General  Whiting's  official  report  of  the  taking  of 
Fort  Fisher  on  the  night  of  the  15th  of  January,  1865.] 


(106) 


EPISODE  III. 

all|p  Jail  of  Jort  3Ft0l|?r,  lBfi5 

The  Characters: 

General  Braxton  Bragg,  who  had  replaced  Gen- 
eral Whiting 
Aides   of  General  Bragg 
Bob  Harrison 
Agnes  Harrison 
SciPio 
Citizens  of  Wilmington 

The  Time:    January  15,  1865 

The  Place:   A  street  in  Wilmington,  North  Carolina 

General  Bragg 
Is  everything  ready  for  the  review? 

The  Aide 


Yes,  sir. 


General  Bragg 


Tell  Mrs.  Bragg  to  leave  town.  There  is  no  danger, 
but  it  is  best  to  be  prepared  for  the  worst.  Tell  her 
to  get  everything  ready,  and  when  the  review  is  over 
I  will  come  to  see  her  off. 

The  Aide 
Yes,  sir. 

[He  goes  out.] 

(107) 


108  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Another  Aide 
You  think  there  is  danger  of  Fort  Fisher  falling? 

General  Bragg 

Not  the  least  in  the  world.  If  there  were,  do  you 
think  I  would  be  reviewing  the  troops?  I  would  have 
listened  to  Whiting's  letter  and  to  the  suggestions  of 
Hoke,  and  posted  them  at  the  Point.  But  I  do  not 
worry. 

[He  laughs.] 

The  Aide 
What  if  Fisher  should  fall? 

General  Bragg 

Then,  as  the  Richmond  paper  says,  "Goodbye,  Wil- 
mington." 

The  Aide 
You  place  all  faith  in  Fisher,  then? 

General  Bragg 

Why  shouldn't  I?  They  have  been  firing  at  the 
Fort  for  four  years,  and  they  haven't  hurt  it  yet.  Come 
along!  It  would  never  do  for  me  to  be  late  to  the 
review. 

[They  go  off.] 

[Guns   are   heard    booming    in    the   distance.      Several 
citizens  enter.] 


The  Fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  1865  109 

The  First  Citizen 
Fisher  is  in  danger. 

The  Second  Citizen 
I  fear  so. 

[They  pass  on.  A  Confederate  Soldier  enters, 
limping.  His  uniform  is  old  and  torn,  his  face 
covered  with  a  straggly  heard.  He  sits  for  a  moment 
on  a  box  to  rest,  looking  about  with  an  air  of  intense 
longing,     SciPio  enters.] 


[Rising.] 

The  Soldier 

Scipio ! 

Yassir. 

SciPio 
The  Soldier 

Where  is 

your 

mistress? 

Scipio 

Fo'  de  love  er  Gawd,  ef  it  ain't  Marse  Bob!  Yassir, 
de  missus  and  me,  we  ain't  never  b'Heved  you  wuz 
dead,  no  sir,  we  knowed  you  wasn't. 

Harrison 
What? 

Scipio 

Yassir,  eb'rybody  else  said  we  wuz  plum'  crazy, 
but  we  kep'  er  tryin'  ter  fin' — 


110  A  Pagean  oj  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Harrison 

Take  me  to  Miss  Agnes,  right  now.     No,  I  have  a 
commission.     You  go  find  her. 

The  Third  Citizen 
[Coming  in.] 
Bob  Harrison? 

Harrison 
The  same. 

The  Third  Citizen 
How?     I  can't  understand. 

Harrison 

I  was  wounded  and  left  dying  on  the  field,  made 
prisoner,  and  finally  recovered.  I  was  exchanged, 
and  landed  yesterday  at  Fort  Fisher.  Colonel  Lamb 
sent  me  up  today  to  ask  Bragg  to  send  General  Hoke's 
men  back  to  aid  the  Fort. 

The  Third  Citizen 
How  goes  the  fight? 

Harrison 
The  Fort  is  doomed. 

The  Third  Citizen 
I'll  take  you  to  Bragg  at  once. 
[A  Courier  from  the  Fort  rushes  in.] 


The  Fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  1865  111 

The  Courier 
Fort  Fisher  has  fallen! 

Harrison 
Fallen? 

The  Courier 

Colonel  Lamb  is  mortally  wounded,  and  General 
Whiting  made  prisoner. 

{Exclamations  of  dismay  from  the  citizens.] 

The  Courier 

The  General  seeing  the  Federal  flags  planted  on  the 
traverses,  called  on  the  troops  to  follow  him.  They 
fought  hand  to  hand,  and  took  one  traverse.  Just 
as  the  General  was  climbing  the  other  and  had  his 
hand  on  the  Yankee  flag  to  tear  it  down,  he  fell,  wound- 
ed in  two  places.  A  half  hour  later  Colonel  Lamb 
was  shot  through  the  hip.  In  the  hospital  he  said, 
"I  shall  never  surrender,"  and  General  Whiting  re- 
plied, "If  you  die.  Lamb,  I  will  assume  command, 
and  I  will  never  surrender." 

Harrison 

And  yet  it  fell? 

The  Courier 

Major  Reilly  made  the  last  gallant  stand,  and  his 
men  did  all  that  mortal  men  could  do. 

[Agnes  Harrison  enters  with  Scipio.] 

^Sprunt's  Chronicles  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  p.  386. 


112  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Mrs.  Harrison 
Bob! 

[They  embrace.] 

Harrison 

Agnes ! 

SciPio 

Yassir,  I  done  tole  her  dat  ef  she'd  quit  cryin'  you'd 
bring  her  some'n  pretty.  I  hope  you  got  lots  er  things 
out  er  dem  Yankees,  kaze  now  they's  done  got  every- 
thing we  used  ter  have. 

[Harrison,  Mrs.  Harrison  and  Scipio  go  out.] 

[Enter  Bragg  ivith  his  aides.] 

[The  Courier  comes  in,  and  salutes.] 

The  Courier 

Fort  Fisher  has  fallen,  sir. 

General  Bragg 
Fisher  fallen?     Well  then  Wilmington,  goodbye! 


2Il|f  Sttt^rluii^ 


[The  Spirit  of  Wilmington,  Venture,  Courage 
and  Loyalty  advance  to  the  center  of  the  stage  fol- 
lowed now  by  the  Attendant  Spirits,  with  gold 
colored  scarfs.  At  the  Spirit  of  Wilmington's 
command  they  dance  out,  returning  immediately 
with  Progress,  likewise  in  gold,  with  a  ship's 
model  in  her  arms.] 

The  Spirit  of  Wilmington 

Spirits,  go  on  dancing  feet 
That  our  hearts  and  hands  may  greet 
Whom  you  bring  to  join  our  train — 
Progress — or  all  else  were  vain. 

Progress 

Wilmington  behind  me  stand 
Whene'er  a  crisis  is  at  hand. 
You  bravely  stood,  as  nations  know, 
At  call  to  arms  four  years  ago. 

Now  that  peace  has  come  once  more, 
Turn  your  gaze  upon  our  shore ; 
See  our  port,  a  growing  pride, 
Foreign  vessels  side  by  side 
With  our  boats;  and  ship-yards  vast. 
May  the  Future  bless  the  Past! 

[The  Spirit  of  Wilmington  retires  to  the  dais,  Ven- 
ture, Courage,  Loyalty,  Progress  and  the 
Attendant  Spirits  grouped  about  her.] 


(113) 


Sijf  a^ourtl?  Part 

The  Present  and  Future  of   Wilmington 


(US) 


THE  FIRST  EPISODE 
The  Call  to  Arms,  1917 


(117) 


These  are  the  deeds  which  should  not  pass  away 
And  names  that  must  not  wither,  though  the  earth 
Forgets  her  empires  with  a  just  decay. 


(118) 


EPISODE  I. 

®Ij?  (KaU  to  Armfi,  IBIZ 

[In  response  to  the  bugler's  call  to  arms,  there  assembles 
a  host  of  soldiers  and  sailors  accompanied  by  represen- 
tatives of  the  various  war  time  organizations:  Red  Cross 
nurses,  canteen  workers,  motor  corps,  work-room  workers, 
home  service  workers,  and  Juniors;  workers  of  the  National 
Special  Aid,  Salvation  Army,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Y.  W.  C.  A., 
Boy  Scouts,  Hemenway  Drum  and  Bugle  Corps.  The 
Service  Flag  of  New  Hanover  County  is  unfurled  as  the 
Star  Spangled  Banner  is  played.] 


(119) 


THE  SECOND  EPISODE 
The  Future  Port  of  Wilmington 


Oil) 


Bear  in  mind 
Your  labor  is  for  future  hours. 
Advance!     Spare  not!     Nor  look  behind! 
Plow  deep  and  straight  with  all  your  powers! 

R.  H.  H.  HoRNE. 


(122) 


EPISODE  II. 

®ljf  3\xtmt  Port  of  litlmmgtan 

[All  the  players  of  the  Pageant  assemble  on  the  water 
front  to  review  the  Procession  of  Ships,  suggesting 
the  future  of  Wilmington  symbolized  in  the  develop- 
ment of  her  port.  As  the  ships  pass  in  review,  all 
join  in  singing,  America,  the  Beautiful,  with 
particular  emphasis  on  the  last  verse.} 

O  beautiful  for  patriot  dream 

That  sees  beyond  the  years 
Thine  alabaster  cities  gleam, 

Undimmed  by  human  tears! 
America !     America ! 

God  shed  His  Grace  on  thee 
And  crown  thy  good  with  brotherhood 

From  sea  to  shining  sea! 


(123) 


APPENDIX 


(124) 


QIl|^  piagprB  of  tl|f  Pag^atit. 

Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies Alexander  Pope 

The  Heralds Masters  Ernest  Beale,  Robert  Grady,  David  Harris, 

Peter  Brown  Ruffiti,  William  Whitehead,  Thomas 
Darst,  Jr.,  Sothern  Hatchell 

The  Spirit  of  Wilmington Mrs.  Frank  Ross 

Venture Miss  Helen  Menzies 

The  Attendant  Spirits Misses  Evelyn  Harriss,  Caroline  Bear,  Chris- 
tine Butler,  Dorothy  McNair,  Elizabeth 
Campbell,  Ruth  DeWilt,  Charlotte  DeWitt, 
Lillian  Newell,  Mary  Bethany  Sivley,  Mag- 
gie Cantwell,  Miriam  Weeks,  Jean  McCabe 

Watcoosa.__ Mr.  Lacy  Hunt 

Mahaiwee Mrs.  A.  B.  Skelding 

Leelinaw Mrs.  Walter  Storm 

Wahgegwanee Mr.  James  E.  McClaren 

Medicine  Man._ ..Mr.  Harry  Hubbard 

William  Hilton Mr.  Leslie  Hummell 

Anthony  Long Mr.  W.  D.  MacMillan,  Jr. 

Peter  Fabian._ Mr.  Edward  Hardin 

Indian  Chief ...Mr.  Henry  Number ger 

Indian  Girls     Misses  Mazie  Vaughan,  Mary  Lane,  Beverly  Northrup, 
Mary  Allen  Skelding,  Nannie  Burr,  Bettie  Willard, 
Lillie    VanLeuvan,   Nellie  Longfellow,   Dorothy  Old- 
ham, Ruth  Marshall,  Charlotte  Maffitt,  Margaret  Grant, 
Mary  W.  Pearsall,  Rachel  Hunt,  Helen  Bleeker,  Mary 
Scott,  Helen  Farmer,  Kitty  Cor  belt,  Zelle  Williams, 
Lillian  Grant,  Anna  Love,  Louise  Dick,  Thelma  Snipes, 
Hazel  Knight,  Mary  Benson,  Nellie  Goodlet,  Rena 
Yates,   Ideala   Crocker,   Erma   Motte,   Janie   Pigott, 
Emma  Greett,  Elizabeth  Duffy,  Nell  Hubbard,  Francis 
Sloan 
Indian  Boys       Masters  Roland  Divine,  Robbins  Fowler,  Charles  Bolles, 
Patterson  Pretlow,  Joel  Cook  Pretlow,  Henry  Macmil- 
lan,  John  Cantwell,  Lee  Morrison,  Mangum  Turner, 
Herbert  Goodwin,  Joe  Stone,  David  Wilcox,  Aubrey 
Parsley 
Indian  Squaws    Misses  May  Wright   Taylor,   Essie  Harriss,  Sophie 
Northrup,  Josie  Wright,  Gladys  Taylor,  Mesdames 
M.  J.  Dauer,  Edward  T.  Taylor,  W.  G.  James,  Robert 
Cantwell,  Jr.,  J.  V.  Grainger,  Clarence  Maffitt 

Indian  Men Representatives  of  the  Red  Men 

John  Maultsby ...Mr.  Albert  Brown 

John  Watson Rev.  J.  E.  W.  Cooke 

Jehu  Davis Mr.  Fred  Poisson 

Roger  Moore Mr.  Roger  Moore 


(125> 


126  A  Pageant  oj  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 


Maurice  Moore Mr.  Maurice  Moore 

Governor  Gabriel  Johnston „ Mr.  Louis  Poisson 

Michael  Higgins Mr.  Hart  McKoy 

Joshua  Granger ....Mr.  Laurens  Wright 

James  Wimble Mr.  Dorsey  Lynch 

The  Man  in  the  Stockade Mr.  George  Hewlett 

Other  Men  in  the  Stockade 

Messrs.  Wilbur  Dosher,  William  Struthers,  Frank  Briltian 

Citizens Men  jrom  the  Newport  Shipbuilding  Company 

Edward  Teach  (Blackbeard) Mr.  E.  E.  Graham 

Bob  Redfield.__ Mr.   Thomas  R.  Ames 

Francesco Mr.  John  Slocumb 

Pierre Mr.  John  Plummer 

Roger Mr.  Edward  Y.  Woollen 

Pedro Mr.  John  Hazelhurst 

Other  Pirates  Messrs.  Patrick  Gerkin,  Leader,  William  Hobbs,  George 
Dew,  John  Saunders,  Ben  Watts,  Carl  Hill,  James 
Risen,  T.  W.  Croom,  Clarence  Pales,  William  Quin- 
livan,  Fred  Hatch,  MacB.  Wilson,  0.  P.  Herring, 
Daniel  Lockjaw,  John  Foreman,  Grey  Hicks,  Harris 

Courage Mrs.  Fred  Schiller 

Flora  Macdonald Miss  Mary  Hall 

Annie  Macdonald Miss  Florence  Alley 

George  Washington.. Mr.  Theodore  Empie 

Governor  Josiah  Martin Mr.  Warren  Saunders 

Hugh  Waddell Mr.  Joseph  W.  Little 

Cornelius  Harnett Mr.  George  Peschau 

William  Hooper Mr.  Jesse  F.  Roache 

Robert  Howe Mr.  Herbert  O'Neill 

Alexander  Lillington ; Mr.  Rufus  Hicks 

John  Ashe._ Mr.  Kenneth  Burgwyn 

James  Moore... Mr.  Walter  Blair 

William  Campbell Mr.  W.  W.  Black 

Francis  Clayton Mr.  Clayton  Giles 

John  Ancrum Mr.  James  Hasell  McKoy 

Robert  Hogg Mr.  Eugene  Beery 

Archibald  Maclaine Mr.  Milton  Calder 

Frederick  Gregg -...Mr.  Hargrove  Bellamy 

William  Hill __ Mr.  R.  D.  Cronly,  Jr. 

Samuel  Small Mr.  Commodore  Chinnis 

Sampson  Moseley. Mr.  Charlcton  Symmes 

Abner  Nash ^...Mr.  Kenneth  Burgwyn 

James  Walker Mr.  Sidney  MacMillan 

Colonial  Ladies  Mesdames  Clayton  Giles,  A.  S.  Williams,  Thomas  H. 
Wright,  Sidney  MacMillan,  F.  B.  Gault,  J.  B.  Hat- 
chell,  Thomas  Green,  Philip  Delano,  John  L.  Ham- 
mer, Henry  Taylor,  Misses  May  Hardin,  Elizabeth 
Sloan 


The  Players  of  the  Pageant  127 


Dancers  in  the  M-mxrE/iMisses  Katherine  Elliot,  Mary  Giles  Bellamy, 
Lucy  Murchison,  Ruth  Pleasants,  Mary  Pic- 
kett, Fannie  Grainger,  Harriet  Bellamy,  Alice 
Walker 

Messrs.  W.  Foivler  Morrison,  Sam  Norlhrup, 
Walker  Taylor,  Jr.,  R.  Willard  Cantwell, 
Thomas  R.  Whitehead,  John  Dennen  Corbett, 
J.  Larry  O'Neill,  James  Ha  sell  McKoy, 
Maurice  Moore 

Zip  Coon Mr.  William  Ham^annon 

Old  Dan  Tucker Mr.  Sam  Ruark 

Other  Fiddlers The  High  School  Orchestra 

Messrs.  George  Leftwick,  Kenneth  Scott,  William  King 

Butler... Levi 

Governor  William  Tryon _ ..Mr.  Cyrus  Hague 

William  Pennington Mr.  Emmett  Bellamy 

Negro  Slaves The  High  School  Orchestra 

Militia... Men  from  Delgado  and  the  High  School 

Parker  Qthnce Mr.  Robert  Cantwell 

George  Moore Mr.   John  Murchison 

Couriers  Messrs.  George  Pick,  David  Bradshaw,  John  Bunn,  James 
Rtissell,  Montrose  Hinnant,  Elmore  Hinnant,  Thomas  H. 
Wright,  Robert  Tate 

Colonial  Girls Misses  Amanda  Springs,  Katharine  Brothers 

Loyalty Mrs.  Hugh  Colder 

Bob  H.4RRISON Mr.  David  Oliver 

Agnes  Harrison Miss  Katherine  Taylor 

W.  L.  DeRossett Mr.  Burke  Bridgers 

James  I.  Metts — Mr.  Edwin  Metts 

O.  P.  Meares.__ Mr.  Robert  Williams 

C.  Cornehlson Mr.  Charles  Parmelee 

James  Ste\t:nson - Mr.  T.  E.  Brown 

John  L.  Cantwell Mr.  Paul  Cantwell 

C.  A.  Wiggins Mr.  Octave  Wiggins 

Henry  Savage ...Mr.  James  Durham 

Mrs.  Armand  De  Rosset Miss  Jane  MacMillan 

Confederate  Ladies  Misses  Crowingshield,  Annie  Balzcr,  Carrie  Too- 

mer,    Theodosia    Cantwell,    Athalia    Bunting, 

Mesdames  J.  Gilchrist  McCormick,  H.  E.  Rodg- 

ers,  James  Durham,  M.  A.  Spooner,  M.  M. 

Riley,   Fred   Willefs,  Robert   Williams,  J.   I. 

Campbell,  Thomas  Speeden,  A.  M.  Hall,  Daniel 

Lockfaw,    Ledley   Symmes,    R.    H.    Hubbard, 

Misses  Burnett  Owens,  Marie  Lockfaw,  Eliza 

Davis 

Bridesmaids   Misses  Laura  Parsley,  Kate  Faison,  Julia  Faison,  Sue 

Lovering,    Margaret    Elliott,    Marjorie    Willard,    Mela 

Rountree,  Carolyn  Northrup,  Sue  Northrup 


128  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Flower  Girls  Misses  Elsie  Cleve,  Mahle  Gore,  Mollie  Holton,  Mary 
Wilson,  Aletha  Ellis,  Connie  Watson,  May  Walters, 
Matlie  Fergus,  Alberla  Batson,  Beltie  Jenkins,  Naomi 
Penny,  Annie  McDaniels,  Hazel  Smith,  Lucille  Smith, 
Mary  Huey,  Geneva  Matthews,  Minnie  Sandlin,  Edith 
Walters,  Minnie  Jones,  Leonora  Mills,  Thelma  John- 
son, Mary  Etta  Marshburn,  Vera  Milton,  Maurine 
Dyer,  Nannie  Capps,  Margaret  Mote,  Pauline  Futch, 
Thelma  Shephard,  Mary  Lewis  McNaull 

Confederate  Men Wilmington  Lodge  of  Elks 

Plantation  Slaves Colored  Spiritual  Singers 

Mrs.  Alfred  Martin Mrs.  James  Sears 

W.  H.  C.  Whiting Mr.  James  F.  Sears 

George  Thomas Mr.  George  Thomas 

John  Newland  Maffitt Mr.  Clarence  Maffitt 

A  Boy Mr.  Frank  Hall 

James  Sprunt Mr.  Peter  Brown  Ruffin 

Braxton  Bragg Gen.  James  L  Metts 

Aides Messrs.  Fred  E.  Little,  J.  0  Reilly 

Boys  in  the  Street  Messrs.  Jack  Sullivan,  Walter  Been,  Charles, 
Peschau,  James  Allen,  James  E.  Holten,  Tom 
Croom,  Daniel  Ellis 

Citizens Messrs.  R.  H.  Hubbard,  John  Hall 

Progress Mrs.  Cyrus  Hague 

The  Spirit  of  War Miss  Rosa  Thompson 

The  Nation.... Miss  Bessie  Burkheimer 

Participants  in  the  1917  Call  to  Arms,  Representatives  of  the  various 
patriotic  organizations 


A  pageant  of  tir?  ICowi^r  (Enpe  Iftwc 

Under  the  Direction  of 
ELIZABETH  B.  GRIMBALL 

Executive  Committee 

Mr.  James  H.  Cowan,  Chairman  (Chamber  of  Commerce) 

Mrs.  John  DeWitt  (North  Carolina  Sorosis) 

Mrs.  Louis  T.  Moore  (Colonial  Dames) 

Mrs.  W.  G.  Whitehead  (United  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy) 

Mrs.  L.  B.  Sasser  (Young  Women's  Christian  Association) 

Mrs.  Herbert  Bluethenthal  (North  Caiolina  Sorosis) 

Mr.  W.  H.  Stone  (Wilmington  Automobile  Association) 

Major  W.  A.  Graham  (Superintendent  of  the  Public  Instruction) 

Mr.  Robert  S.  Carver  (Rotary  Club) 

Mr.  Louis  Poisson  (Young  Men's  Christian  Assocoation) 

Mr.  Theodore  James  (American  Legion) 

Mr.  Fred  Banck  (Wilmington  Lodge  of  Elks) 

Mr.  Addison  Hewlett  (Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of 

New  Hanover  County) 
Mr.  W.  H.  Struthers  (Kiwanis  Club) 
Mr.  George  Honnet  (Retail  Merchants  x\ssociation) 

Authors 

Mrs.  John  DeWitt  Mrs.  Herbert  McClammy 

Miss  Ehza  Davis  Miss  Athalia  Bunting 

Mrs.  Herbert  Bluethenthal 

Contributors  to  the  Text 

Mrs.  Malcolm  Little  Mrs.  I.  C.  Wright 

Mrs.  O.  G.  Kelly  Mrs.  Gaston  Phares 

Mrs.  C.  Meister  Mrs.  J.  B.  Cranmer 

Mrs.  E.  V.  H.  Peschau  Miss  Margaret  Gibson 

Mrs.  R.  A.  Parsley  Mrs.  Clayton  Grant 

Mrs.  M.  G.  Saunders  Mrs.  Henry  Bear 
Mrs.  J.  B.  Sidbury 

Cast  Committee 

Mrs.  W.  G.  Whitehead,  Chairman 

Mrs.  A.  M.  Waddell  Miss  Leonora  Cantwell 

Mrs.  Fred  Schiller  Miss  Carrie  Myers 

Mrs.  J.  V.  Grainger  Miss  Jennie  Murchison 

Mrs.  A.  M.  Hall  Mr.  James  H.  Cowan 

Mrs.  Sidney  MacMillan  Col.  Walker  Taylor 
Mrs.  Lawrence  Sprunt 


(129) 


130  A  Pageant  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear 

Costume  Committee 

Mrs.  Louis  T.  Moore,  Chairman 
Mrs.  E.  K.  Bryan  Mrs.  Clarence  Maffitt 

Mrs.  D.  C.  Love  Miss  Kate  Fairley 

Mrs.  Andrew  Harriss  Mr.  V.  B.  Rann 

Mrs.  James  Menzies 

Dancing  Directors 

Miss  Leonora  Cantwell  Miss  Bessie  Burkheimer 

Director  of  Lighting 

Mr.  Raymond  Hunt 

Director  of  the  Chorus 

Mr.  E.  H.  Munson 

Spiritual  Singers 

Rev.  Frank  Dean 

Auditorium  Committee 

Mr.  C.  C.  Chadbourn,  Chairman 
Mr,  Herbert  A.  Lynch  Mr.  James  Wade 

Mr.  James  F.  Cause  Major  J.  R.  D.  Matheson 

Publicity  Committee 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Burkheimer,  Chairman 
Mr.  James  Cruikshank  Mrs.  J.  B.  Sidbury 

Mr.  Thos.  H.  White  Miss  Margaret  Gibson 

Ship  Committee 

Capt.  Jas.  S.  Williams,  Chairman 
Mr.  C.  D.  Maffitt  Mr.  Fleet  Williams 

Mr.  E.  A.  Metts 

Book  Committee 

Mrs.  Herbert  Bluethenthal,  Chairman 
Mrs.  L.  B.  Sasser  Mr.  Robert  Carver 

Mrs.  John  DeWitt  Mr.  John  DeWitt 

Finance  Committee 

Mr.  C.  VanLeuven,  Chairman 
Mr.  J.  F.  Roache  Mr.  J.  Holmes  Davis 

Mr.  E.  Fred  Banck  Mr.  Clarence  LeGrand 


W    80 


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